My most enjoyable battle was in my first campaign as English (on normal). Had no idea how to play the game but was having fun learning. Controlled from Navarre and Aragon to former HRE empire. The Almohads decided to launch invasions up and down my coast and a land invasion against Aragon. Spent next ten years fighting over Aragon - Almos had 7,000+ troops Incl. Jihad) camped in Valencia & Castile. This war was seriously draining my troops from central europe and my drive east had faltered badly.

I made a mistake and sent too many troops from Navarre to plug losses in Aragon and the wily AI then invaded Navarre.

4,000 Almos vs 1,800 English with AI having better general. I was still learning so daunting odds for me (I was still using longbowmen to skirmish at this time and they did surprisingly well&#33. Battle started with my troops in a forward position facing downhill. I beat off the first wave after concentrating missile fire on AUM (by this stage I really hated these guys after they walloped me in our first clash).

I pulled my troops further back up the fill to anchor my flank with woods. All my reserves were in. Beat off 2 more waves and my guys were now seriously tired and at less than half strength and I was getting worried. Next wave came and I made a final charge downhill. I did not expect them to hold. My exhausted troops were wavering but my only unit of cmaa (my favourites) I had held back now came to my rescue pounding downhill into flank of enemy line and it crumpled. My men could rest a little but as next wave came on I decided they could go on no more and they marched off the field, defeated but not broken. I had a mere 600 men left out of original 1,800 but had killed or captured 3 times that. I was very proud of my men that day.

I finally learned how to use Jinettes - 1 unit had 300 kills alone and they were still there at the end. To watch this unit launch their javelins and then charge in and rout an enemy spear unit (pre patch) and then capture all but 2 of them was great to watch.

I then spent the next hour pulling units from every province in my empire to retake Navarre (but that's another story).