Playing as English as well. Sent a Crusade and won Egypt. Surrounded on all sides by Egyptians and gets attacked every 3-4 years by huge armies of Nubian Spearmen and Camels. Luckily I had 3 units of Knight Templars which became Chivalric Foot Knights, plus 3 FMAA and 3 Archers. Lord Gascoigne, the Crusdaer, started as a 2* general, now is 5* including the SKilled Attacker/Skilled Defenders virtues.

Then the Spanish declare war on me and invade Aragon from Castille. 8* King general across a bridge. His spearmen manage to kill 2 unit of mine on the bridge, and he got a higher hill for his archers. Then my 5 valour, +1 armour FMAA came in and killed the king, two units of spears, and completed the mass rout. The king lost his only heir in another battle and now the Spanish are no more.