My most epic victory came at the head of a mid English Army, well equipped, experienced and lead by my greatest general (8 star native at the time, in a defense it was well above 10 star but I don't think that matters at all). Having just wrested a citadel from the Egyptians (antioch I think), my crusading army was a bit worse for wear - and I fully intended to spend a few turns replacing the losses incurred through my ipetious assault. Unfortuantely, I didn't realize that the egyptians apparently REALLY liked this citadel to the point that they threw virtually EVERY non-essential troop into battle against my little stronghold. Outnumbered more than 5:1 it was clear that even my elite troops would be cut to pieces on an open battle, and my only hope was to hold the citadel for four turns while the remainder of my grand crusading army arrived on location.
Unfortunately, it appeared the computer was on to my little scheme and assaulted as soon as it had built seige towers and ladders. My own force of less than 800 men, though entrenched behind the mighty walls of a fully upgraded citadel was facing down an opponent sporting nearly 5,000 soldiers, though, granted, several thousand of these were militia and peasants. The battle started poorly and simply went downhill slowly - my archers and swordsmen were unable to hold the assault at the first wall and a full retreat was called to the second line of defense while a single group of heavy billmen held the line. The second defense layer faired no better than the first, and it too quckly succamb to the overwhelming mass of men pressing the walls. After yet another retreat, my army positioned itself behind the final, and presumably toughest to breach line of defense. My retinue longbowmen finally began earning their keep as they poured deadly missile fire into the massed ranks of my foes, and had I not wasted so many arrows early on in the engagmeent the attack might have been repulsed there.
Once again, the sheer weight of enemies against the walls was pushing my men back, but this time it looked as though they may just hold their ground, and what's more, though my army had sustained more than 40% casualties, the enemy army had lost several thousand men, and clearly their morale was starting to suffer (units were routinging easily at this point). Unfortunately, at this point in the game, the Egyptians decided to send in the last of ther battering rams and moved in several catapults I hadn't noticed to date, rapidly resulting in multiple breaches in the walls. Having realized what was coming I had formed the few hundred melee infantry I had into a skirmish line. Predictably, the mass of troops crashing against my lines were starting to wear heavily - my swordsmen were all but spent, and the only thing keeping them from running was the simple fact that there was nowhere left to go. Sensing all was lost, I drew my archers from the walls (they were occupying the space to keep the towers active as long as possible) and sent them into the battle against the rear lines of the enemy. Having played my last card in the battle, I just sat and watched the horrible bloodshead, waiting patiently for my army to be crushed. Then, for reasons that can only be described as "the game felt sorry for me", the front lines of the enemy began to waver and then retreat, which set off a huge chain reaction and in seconds the entire enemy army was in flight. With nothing to lose, the hundred men still standing pursued the egyptian army out of the city, across the plain and off the map. At the cost of more than 90% of my own army, I crushed the entire readily expendible arm of the egyptian military, and though my Citadel came under repeated assault until relief arrived the position was never again in danger of falling.
