The Battle of Lincoln 1067 A.D.

Odo began the harsh trek southward with his relatively few cavalry,,, but unscathed foot, being Joined en route by the remnants of William's once great Norman army, Assessing the losses of the Battle of Lincoln was horrible at best, Over 1200 cavalry had fallen or been captured; not counting the total loss of the Archbishop's entire army, amounting to over 600 horse and 1200 foot, many of whom it was feared, would as soon go over to yon Anglo-Alliance as not. In fact, this was soon borne out as Bruce the Bastard, military leader of the Archbishop's cavalry and his mounted retinue joined the Normans (Yes, new player had entered the campaign!) telling a tale of how the vast majority of the Archbishop's men decided to join the English and continue following the Papal Banner, now in the hands of the enemy. Only Bruce, himself, having no delusions about what his fate would be at the hands of the Welsh, whom he'd fought all that long day, and those hundred or so Norman knights remaining loyal to him had made it back to join Odo's survivors.

Roger, badly wounded but still able to ride, met that first night after the battle with Odo and Bruce, and decided that William, whether dead or alive could no longer claim kingship over his realm. With that much resolved, they determined that their only course of action was to fall back to London, gathering the much slower foot units who never (luckily!) made it to the battlefield as well as the garrison troops left at the various towns and cities. Also, Fitz-Osbern's small but mobile force was still in the south of England, chasing Edwin's raiding Vikings, With that much decided, they headed to War. wick and the Archbishop's cathedral to gather the Norman garrison there' for the march south.

On entexing the cathedral, though, Odo and Bruce, whether by lack of will or intent could not contain the frustration of their followers.. who felt betrayed by the Archbishop's deeds. (If the truth be known, though, they probably just wanted an excuse to fill their pockets.)

With crazed abandon they sacked and burned the town, joined by the frustrated Norman garrison who, themselves, felt deprived of any excitement in this drab, clerical place. Before nightfall, the town had ceased to exist, as flames took what the soldiers couldn't. Laden with gold and whatever else they could carry, Odo and Bruce led the men south in an attempt to link up with any other survivors of the battle. They knew that now, with the Papal Banner in the hands of the English, and their Holy Cathedral destroyed, the Saxons would offer no peace, nor suffer the Normans to exist in their country if it could be helped. All along the road to London parties of enraged peasantry attacked the column, but they were unorganized and no match for the skilled Normans who cut them down in scores.

The Anglo-Alliance troops were not following very rapidly, perhaps out of respect, but most likely as a result of looting the numerous wealthy bodies left on the field at Lincoln. Morcar had thought of declaring himself King but, knowing the temperament of his allies as well as his own men, wisely(?) decided to set up the Atheling, Edgar as King, to reign in London as Morcar's puppet. Morcar, believing himself the righteous one as a result of his credible victory, reasoned that it was the duty of all the factions to totally destroy the Norman presence, even invading Normandy itself, after which all Englishmen would be free to decide his right or not to rule. (Not that he intended to have too many challengers around!)

So it came to pass that a week after the fatefull battle, the tired, demoralized Normans rode slowly through London amid outcries and riots as the English rose up to vent their own fury at the defeated invaders, But the Normans kept their ranks and rescued the London garrison, killing many Englishmen in the process.

Odo knew, though that he couldn't hold London, surrounded on all sides by a hostile people, so once more the Normans fled. Bruce and his men to Maldon to winter, while Odo and the Normans headed for their port stronghold of Dover. Upon arriving, Roger, still not recovered from his wounds, and Odo were greatly heartened to see the many tents and cannons of a large army. In truth, Alan and Robert of Bruiges, though killed at the battles had rounded up a considerable number of knights who had survived the Lincoln debacle.

As their numbers grew, they ravaged the countryside, finally arriving at Dover, Fitz-Osbern, on hearing of the probable death of his Lord William, had taken command of the various forces, sending a large force of men north to hold the fortified towns of Maldon and Ipswitch, Robert in charge of the former and Alan the latter. When Odo joined his forces to those in Dover, a considerable Norman army, both of foot and horse was available once more.

The Normans looked at each other from their many vantage points. Who would be worthy of the crown, not just of England, but of Normandy? Odo, being William's brother, thought himself the best candidate, but Bruce the Bastard, now the spiritual leader of the Norman cause, had no claim in Normandy, but in england, that was different. Roger, too, who suffered loss of body and soul, had fantasies of holding the scepter. Even Fitz-Osbern, loyal to the last thought of the glory he could bring to his name. So it was that all that long winter the Norman losers sat together, drank together and laughed together, but each held in his head the greed felt by Morcar's Malcolm, Gryffith and Svien (Newly joined player commanding roving Vikings) King of Norway. All felt they had right, and all would stake life and reputation on it, for that was the way of things at the time.