Duel of Eagles (Box) The Battle of Mars-la-Tour, 1870

“What is certain beyond argument is that the war – and with it the future of Europe – was decided at Mars-la-Tour on 16 August 1870.” – Otto von Bismarck, Versailles, 18 January 1871

The Battle of Mars-la-Tour, most famous for von Bredow’s “Deathride” and the huge cavalry battle that occurred outside of Yron, was in fact a critical turning point in both the Franco-Prussian War and the course of European history. The French loss at this battle essentially lead to the end of the Second Empire of Napoleon III and helped give birth to Bismarck’s Second Reich.

Duel of Eagles is a two-player game depicting the entirety of this remarkable battle. One player represents Moltke’s forces marching under the banner of the Prussian Eagle, still confident from their decisive victory over the Austrians at Koniggratz in 1866. The other player commands the proud French forces fighting under the Imperial Eagle of another, but ultimately lesser, Napoleon. The players must contend with a very unusual military situation since strategic circumstances created an encounter that began as a lopsided meeting engagement and ended as a brutal slugfest, inflicting more than 30,000 casualties on the participants.

Duel of Eagles is a game of moderate complexity and size. Players maneuver brigades of infantry and cavalry along with batteries of artillery on a beautifully detailed map of the battlefield. The game applies a chit-pull Corps activation system which models the friction and confusion of battle. In addition, special Event chits represent important historical factors such as the French Chassepot rifle’s deadly “beaten zone,” the Prussian’s superior steel Krupp cannons, the initiative of Prussian Colonel Caprivi, and the lethargy of French Marshal Bazaine. A player’s proper and timely use of Event chits can often decide the battle in his or her favor.

•    One 12-page, full-color Rulebook
•    One 17" x 22" game map (two sections)
•    165 thick, double-sided, multi-shaped game pieces
•    Two player aids
•    One Set-up / Reinforcement card
•    One six-sided 12mm die
•    One white, 9" x 11 7/8" Deluxe cardboard VPG game box
•    One beautiful box cover sleeve
•    One "Wipes-A-Lot" napkin
•    One charcoal desiccant packet