It came to pass that in the summer of 1066, Harald Hardrada did invade England with Eystein Orri, the rebel Tostig of Northumbria and Eorle Sigurd of Orkney. They landed at the Humber estuary and marched up that river, burning and pillaging as they went. At six o'clock on a summer's morn, with the mist dissipating in the bright sunlight, he was met by Harold Godwinsson who gave him battle. (A 300AP DBM battle of my Vikings vs Terry's Anglo-Danes, using the 2.2 amendments) Battle was joined next to a small tributary of the Humber. There was a large hill on the far side of the river close to the English, while on the far right, between the two armies, was a couple of patches of wild wood. Harald Hardrada drew his army up in four divisions. Tostig was on the far side of the river to the left with his household men and Flemish mercenaries. Harald formed his household and hird next to Tostig on the near side of the river. On Harald's right, Eystein drew up his household and hird, with some archers and javelinmen ready to sweep through the woods. Sigurd had made much of his bravery that morning and had demanded first blood. So he and his household, with eight companies of unruly raiders and the bersirks, had formed up in front of Harald and Eystein in the very centre of the fields. Harold Godwinsson had drawn his men into three divisions. Harold, his household and the raised freemen drew up next to the river opposite Hardrada, while (another) Tostig formed his household and freemen next to him, opposite Eystein. As they looked towards the Viking host, they could see that Eorle Sigurd's raiders and bersirks were opposite the junction between their two divisions. Harold Godwinsson had brought with him a Norman knight, Siwward, who came with four companies of Norman horse. Siwward was formed up on the opposite side of the river with some huscarles and freemen on the top of the hill, facing the rebel Tostig of Northumbria. Hardrada had Landwaster raised and marched forward with his men. Similarly did Eystein and Tostig move forward, banners flying. They saw Sigurd raise his magic standard (woven by his three sisters, said to be witches) and move off. The raiders and bersirks beat on their shields and started running towards the enemy shouting their battle cries. The English also started forward. Siwward moved his knights around the hill and formed a line. Eystein had sent some men off to scout the nearest wood, but they found nothing. The armies marched forward. On the far side of the river, Siwward halted his knights with some difficulty and started to bring his foot down off the hill when he saw the rebel Tostig slow and extend his line as he approached the centre of the field. It was obvious that Tostig was not going to come much further forward. The two armies met in the centre of the field. First to fight was Sigurd's bersirks and raiders. They crashed into the English shieldwall, and a great push developed. Harald's Vikings were next to meet in battle against the household of Harold Godwinsson and the English freemen spear. Battle was fierce with many groups pushing into the enemy, only to be pushed back in return. Both sides started to loose men, with the Vikings losing many of the Hird on the left next to the river. Soon that flank was entirely exposed, and some of Harald's household turned to protect the flank of their king. In the centre, Sigurd's men were fighting a bloody battle with many English falling to the bright sharpness of the Viking blades. Time after time, Sigurd's men were pushed back, only to fall on the English with renewed fury. Soon a hole had appeared and the raiders started to turn to the flanks of their enemy. This was not an easy fight, as some of the English had defeated the Hird that opposed them and had turned to face the Viking raiders. Eystein then fell into battle on the left against many of Tostig's household. This fight was bloody and prolonged. On the far side of the river, Siwward the Norman had brought his foot up to the rebel Tostig's men, and with at shout, both sides fell against each other, horse crashing into the Flemish shieldwall. Screams rent the air and horse after horse fell transfixed with spears, while the Norman knights were slaughtered where they fell. Siwward himself was dragged off his horse and hacked to death by Tostig's men. However, Siwward's men did not run, but fought on, albeit with less surety of their actions. Tostig's men were pushed back, and some Flemish broke and ran, but all of the Normans were soon dead after repeatedly charging into the wall of Flemish spear and shield. Tostig himself faced a company of Normans, whom his household men eventually slaughted with their great axes. On the near side of the river, things were bleak for Harald Hardrada. The left side of his division had completely fallen, and his household was fighting a losing battle to protect his flanks. However many English had also died, and Sigurd's bersirks and raiders had broken through the English and were assaulting the flanks of both Harold Godwinsson's and Tostig's divisions. Eystein was in bloody battle against Tostig, and had killed many of Tostig's household. Finally, when the Viking army was about to run, Eystein's men were battling against Tostig's own retinue, with Tostig falling with a his head split with an axe. This was too much for the English who turned and ran, pursued by Sigurd's raiders, Harold Godwinsson's household retreating grudgingly with their king. Hardrada and Eystein stood panting for breath amongst the bloody heaps of Viking and English dead. Tostig of Northumbria was more elated, moving amongst the dead Normans and their horses. His good-for-nothing brother had met his match. Notes A very brutal battle with much hand-to-hand combat. While only the Viking raiders [Bd(F)] and bersirks [Wb(F) DBE] were impetuous, the spear and blade were all Irregular and so pursued. Once in combat, you rarely left it until your enemy was dead. The 2.2 rule that was most useful was where an Irregular element could move into contact for only one PIP, while not moving straight ahead. In almost all cases, the generals were in combat (only a Viking wuss would stay at the back), so in this case a flanking move from overlap only cost 2 PIPs, where in 2.1 it costs 3 PIPs. This sped the game up considerably, certainly made it more enjoyable (we played for ~3 hours, without this it might have been a whole lot more). It was particularly useful for the impetuous troops, stuck in edge-to-edge overlap, to be able to turn them to flank for only 1 PIP [Sigurd was the only general not to be in contact for most of the game!]. This makes the game much more enjoyable. The floating ZOD came up a couple of times, and we were very pleased not to have to do it. It's a very aggravating thing that I will never force on an opponent. The only (S) troops in the battle were a couple of Viking and some English psiloi hiding in the larger woods. They never got into battle. Overall a very close and enjoyable game. I was about 3EE off breaking when Terry's Anglo-Danes broke. I hope the 2.2 change encourages people to play more heavy infantry games. It helps speed up this type of game without a side-effect of Irregular heavy foot zig-zaging around the battlefield. I don't pretend that people will start taking Anglo-Danes to tournaments, but I found this game a great deal of fun, and that is all that counts. 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