La Bataille de Hanau

La Bataille de Hanau is a Napoleonic wargame covering the Battle of Hanau in October 1813, as Napoleon’s Grande Armée retreated west after the defeat at Leipzig.

An Austro-Bavarian force under General de Wrede attempted to block the French line of retreat near Frankfurt, expecting to face a disorganised column of stragglers. Instead, they found themselves facing the Imperial Guard and Napoleon himself.

Part of the Vive l’Empereur series, the game uses a regimental scale that sits between broader brigade-level systems and more detailed battalion treatments. It is designed to capture Napoleonic battlefield formations, command friction, and the clash between a retreating but still dangerous French army and a coalition force determined to stop it.

This edition is a complete refit of the older Hanau game, with a new map, new counters, and updated series rules. It also includes the second day’s battle setup, covering de Wrede’s attempt to attack the French after the Emperor’s departure.

Contents include: one 56 x 86 cm map, 111 unit counters, 54 markers, a 40-page full-colour series rulebook, 4 pages of full-colour battle-specific rules, five player aids, and two scenarios.