Well, just as I had stated that XL worked better for me, my XL game did the CTD! Playing the Novgorods, I was attacked by the Danish by 4000+ men (i had ~2500). That scenario repeatedly crashed the game when loading up the battle-screen. I finally had to choose an alternative course of action, that is, I retreated to my stronghold instead of trying to command in person, and then I attacked in the next turn. That worked (i.e. the game did not CTD and I won :-) ).