This is long. The important information is followed by pictures. Lots of events clustered together in a wall of text can be skimmed.

Result of last poll:

Consequence: Harold II musters his housecarls but leads them away from battle. Beset by indecisiveness, he waits and watches from Warwick as his standing army eats into his gold.

September 15 – Hardrada arrives in Yorkshire with 12,000 men. Thousands of loyal men in Yorkshire are cut off from Harold’s army, leaving it vastly outnumbered.

October 1 – Hardrada sends 4,000 men to lay siege to Westmorland, while 8,000 continue to plunder York.

October 1 – William lands in Middlesex. Harold’s levy from Kent manages to take another route in time, but others are not so lucky.

October 24 – An outbreak of disease in Appleby, Westmorland, forces the attackers to retreat.

November 30 – York, Yorkshire falls to Hardrada. It becomes clear that it is the end of days for Harold, sandwiched between two larger armies.

December 5 – St Peters is razed by Hardrada.

December 19 – Catterick, Yorkshire falls to Hardrada.

December 27 – Westminster, Middlesex falls to William.

December 29 – Scarborough, York falls to Hardrada and Yorkshire is now lost.

December 29 – London, Middlesex falls to William.

-The Year 1067-

January 1 – Seeing no other option, Harold marches his men to Cornwall. At least they will spend their last days on the beach. It is winter though; his men are not comforted.

January 3 – St Pauls is razed by William.

January 14 – Hardrada arrives in Durham.

January 15 – Tottenham, Middlesex falls to William and Middlesex is lost.

January 17 – St Cuthbert is razed by Hardrada.

February 4 – William arrives in Wessex and finds Winchester already abandoned.

February 6 – Harold’s fort at Durham falls to Hardrada.

February 10 – Southampton, Wessex falls to William, and Wessex is lost.

February 20 – William arrives in Dorset.

February 24 – Harold’s funds run dry. His men are promised their payments are merely delayed.

February 26 – Wareham, Dorset falls to William.

March 2 – Sherborne is razed by William.

March 3 – Dorchester falls to William.

March 14 – An envoy arrives in Cornwall from the 15 yr old child king of France. He has taken a fancy to Harold II’s 12 yr old daughter, and offers his hand in marriage to her. Harold II accepts on the condition of a military alliance.

March 17 – William arrives in Devon and discovers of Harold’s position. He thinks it a good time to put an end to Harold’s misery.

March 25 – The child king of France accepts Harold’s offer and joins forces with him. Unfortunately his forces are presently caught up in defending against the Holy Roman Empire’s claim over Zeeland.

March 31 – The Battle of Cornwall Beach. The battle lasts merely 12 minutes, as William is informed that his liege, Philippe of France, has ordered an end to his conquest. From that day on, the Bastard is known as William the Shunted.





March 31 – Meanwhile, Durham is lost to Hardrada.

April 13 – Hardrada returns to Appleby, Westmorland and conquers it.

April 19 – Viking raiders plunder Kent, but Harold is unconcerned with them.

April 24 – Harold takes out a hefty loan in order to continue to pay his men.

April 27 – Lowther, Westmorland falls to Hardrada.

April 30 – Hardrada razes Cartmel, Westmorland.

May 4 – While Hardrada rampages in the north, Harold digs in at Wessex and hopes against the odds for a quick end to Philippe’s other war.

May 9 – Hardrada arrives in Lancashire.

May 17 – King Svend II of Denmark suggests a marriage between his heir and Harold’s sister. Harold believes now that God is truly on his side and anxiously accepts, shipping off his sister immediately to this king in the hopes of another alliance. Svend, however, does not respond.

May 18 – Lancaster, Lancashire falls to Hardrada.

May 19 – Harold’s advisors inform him that they have learned that Svend has an ancestral claim to the kingdom of England, and that perhaps shipping off his daughter was ill-advised.

May 20 – Preston, Lancashire falls to Hardrada.

May 24 – Furness, Lancashire is razed by Hardrada and Lancashire is lost.

June 2 – Hardrada arrives in Chestershire.

July 9 – The Holy Roman Empire and King Philippe finally meet on the battlefield. King Philippe’s army is decimated.

August 26 – Chester, Chestershire falls to Hardrada.

August 29 – Halton, Chestershire is razed by Hardrada.

October 17 – Macclesfield, Chestershire falls to Hardrada.

October 24 – The Duke of Mercia rallies men to assault the holding of a disloyal vassal count in Worchester, and his army is inadvertently caught up in battle against Hardrada as he arrives in Derbyshire, thinning the Viking’s army slightly.

December 10 – Philippe’s ships are seen near Yorkshire! This takes everyone, including Harold, by surprise. Philippe’s war with the Holy Roman Empire is still on-going, but it would seem Philippe has given up Zeeland and instead has honoured his alliance with Harold, though a little warning would have been nice. Harold wastes no time in marching north.

-The Year 1068-

January 12 – Derby, Derbyshire falls to Hardrada.

January 22 – The armies of Harold and Philippe combine in Yorkshire. The tables are turned!

January 22 to February 26 – Many of the northern forts are reclaimed.

February 26 – Harold and Philippe march on Hardrada’s last known position. That night, as they make camp, one of Harold’s Dukes (also his brother-in-law) reveals to him details of his court chaplain’s sexual preferences. They are, Harold agrees, repulsive and worthy of imprisonment. But is now, just before a battle, a good time to make an enemy of an advisor? Harold does not think this a difficult decision, and keeps the information to himself.

March 2 – Chesterfield, Chester falls to Hardrada.

March 8 – The Battle of Burton. The English/French alliance arrives in the bishopric of Burton to find the Vikings defiling holy relics in a celebration of sorts. Many are not dressed for battle. The Norwegians’ fury in the face of their doom is spectacular but not enough, and the invading army is shattered. They are last seen fleeing – screaming and naked but for their horned helmets – into the Welsh countryside.

March 9, 1068 to November 30, 1069 – The Great Rebuilding. The north of England is in ruins, but slowly it returns to its former glory.

November 30 – Harold’s funds again run dry, but he finds willing lenders. He is regarded as blessed by god. They are starting to call him Harold the Unforsaken.

-It is the year 1069-

April 6 – Hardrada is found in Wales! He is now little more than skin and bones. He promises untold Nordic wealth in return for his freedom. This, Harold finds most acceptable. Harold repays all of his loans with much to spare.

It is April of 1069, and Harold II remains on the throne.

The next poll is now on my facebook wall but hopefully you read this before seeing it.

Yes, I am indeed playing this in Iron Man mode and King Philippe really did call off William just at the start of battle.