William the Conqueror: 1061 to 1066
You could not have chosen a worse thing to do. When you give the order to stop and reform ranks facing the English army, many of your men simply keep on going until they reach the safety of your fortified camp at Hastings. Harold stays on his hill all day. In the evening, you admit that your mistake has cost you the campaign. In the morning, Harold's army is seen, bigger than ever, waiting casually in their ranks for you to come out. They are making camps and fortifying their lines. Starvation is what you will experience now, because the king has trapped you against the coast. The morale of your men is so shattered that you wouldn't even suggest a sally to attempt to drive the English away. You pack as many of your men on your remaining ships as you can and sail back to Normandy. William the (feckless) Bastard is how you are recalled in history.
