I have recently started an Expert Early French GA Campaign, just to give it a try to actually build that Krak (sounds like a daunting task).
I haven't yet hit 1100s, and the English are history already. I have never asked them to be allies (I can't afford my Influence being hit as the alliance is inevitably broken), so the only option available was to gather the men and start the slaughter. So, as my chronicles recount...
"La Guerre de Unite", or "The War of Union" as it will later be referred to, broke out in 1094. The loyalist forces comprised led by Lord Godfrey de Bouillon struck towards Anjou. The other army, under command of Lord Grand Chamberlain de Chabannes, marched towards Normandy. The last contingent, led by Lord Baldwin de Boulogne, invaded Aquitaine. The English forces surrendered both Normandy and Anjou, while in Aquitaine the defending Lord Despenser put up a decent fight. It did not save him, however. His forces, beaten in the field, were slaughtered to a man a year after. Recalled from his conquest in Wales, William II himself led his armies to Flanders. King Philippe I, who was commanding the defence at the time, decide that discretion would be the better part of valour, and conceded the province. This allowed Lord de Bouillon to mount a counterattack in 1096. The Battle of Amiens, fought on the rainy day of August 15, 1096, was the last day of the English royal line. Lord de Bouillon used the damp weather to ambush the English army, made predominantly of archers, in a forest. The personal retinues of King William and both of his sons managed to inflict heavy casualties on the attacking French militiamen and spearmen, but eventually failed to break their positions and turned tail. Only 5 out of 60 knights saw the end of the battle. King William died in battle, as his younger son, Prince Henry. Prince William, the older English heir, was captured. English archers, seeing the demise of their masters, retreated into the woods, but were pushed out of them by valiant French soldiers.
The local English lords saw this defeat of English royal line a reason enough to withdraw their support. They refused to pay ransom for Prince William, who was subsequently put to the sword, together with 223 commoners and knights who were taken prisoner in this battle. The English line ceased to exist.
The year is now 1097, and new greatness awaits France...
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