I've had a number of memorable battles but the one instance that I know is going to remain in my mind forever is this:

Playing as Spain I was laying a seige, I honestly forget at what town, it wasn't the where that matters.

The siege was meant to be a relatively inconsequential thing in the scheme of things. Another siege that just needs to happen. The defending force was small and I had actually planned to just wait them out while dealing with things elsewhere.

The defenders decided to sally forth and the ensuing fight was going predictably. They march, we march. They charge, we charge One by one the outnumbered abd outclassed foes beging routing back to the safety of their walls.

The last unit actively engaged with my troops is their general when I get the "The enemy general disgraces himself and flees the field while his men fight on."

"Actually it's his men that abandoned him" I respond. I figure some of the routed troops must have recovered while inside the walls.

I zoom in on the view I have of the troops chasing the General as he flees back to the town when it happens....

Just as he is drawing near, the gates slam shut and his horses slam headlong into the closed gates!

I actually had to pause the game stop playing while laughing that one off.

Guess he wasn't too popular with the troops, eh?

Poor fella.