In Crusader Kings 3, invading the Kingdom of England as Duke William is a bit more complicated than it was in the previous game. In real life, the success of the Norman Conquest was by no means assured. It was a rather close-run affair, which CK3 represents pretty accurately.
Even though it's tougher this time around, the Normans still possess quite a few advantages. In particular, Duke William's martial prowess is extensive. His large family also makes forging alliances with foreign powers easier. Although each player may experience some variation in their playthrough, this guide will help ensure that history repeats itself.
Selecting A Lifestyle & Focus For Duke William
The Chivalry Focus
This is the first, and by far, the easiest decision the player must make. Selecting the Chivalry Focus, part of the Martial Lifestyle, is an excellent choice considering William will be conducting much of the war's fighting. He also benefits from a +40% increase in his experience gain due to his childhood education.
The Chivalry Focus grants a few bonuses. Namely, they are +3 Prowess, +10 Attraction Opinion, +5 Advantage. The boosts to Prowess and Advantage will come in handy. Prowess makes William more lethal in single combat, while Advantage bestows boons to the deadliness of his troops.
William's Perk Tree
Although there are often slight variations when booting a new game, William always starts with a Perk tree nearly completed. It won't take long before he earns enough experience to unlock a new perk. When that moment arrives, it's recommended to finish the Gallant tree. William will also gain the Gallant trait, which grants:
- +2 Martial
- +4 Prowess
- +20% Monthly Prestige
- +20 Attraction Opinion
Once again, the increased bonuses to the Martial and Prowess skills will ensure that William is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. It's also worth pointing out that Perk Points can be redistributed at the start of the game if William's points are allocated differently. Keep in mind, however, that this will raise William's Stress level.
Preparing For War
Knowing When To Strike
There are actually three individuals fighting for the crown of England. King Harold Godwinson, the current ruler, is fighting King Harald Hadrada of Norway at the start of the game. The player, as Duke William, is in no immediate danger in the Duchy of Normandy. This gives the player valuable security while preparing an invasion force.
Knowing when to set sail for England is a bit tricky. If the player goes too soon, King Harold's numerically superior force typically crushes William's army. Waiting too long can drain William's coffers while simultaneously giving his enemies time to recover.
The opportune moment to strike is when the Saxons and Norwegians have weakened each other enough to level the playing field. Players can keep an eye on each side's troop numbers by selecting their respective leaders. Check the war score counter frequently to see who is winning the conflict. Set sail when attrition and battle losses have weakened the enemy armies.
Event Troops, Knights, Levies & Men-At-Arms
Duke William commands a respectable, albeit numerically inferior, military force. The bulk of his strength is derived from his event troops, known as Duke William's Host. The event troops alone account for about 4,400 men.
If the player makes the correct Lifestyle choices outlined above, William can call upon 10 Knights to fight in his army. This is very important considering Knights can be highly effective on the battlefield. The more, the better.
The rest of Duke William's forces are comprised of his Levies and Men-at-Arms. These will account for approximately 1,000 men. Duke William also possesses three regiments of Men-At-Arms, composed of Bondi, Vigmen, and Mangonels. He can optionally recruit a fourth regiment, which is strongly recommended. Players may want to consider more Mangonels for faster sieges.
Forging Alliances
Taken all together, Duke William's forces will number approximately 5,500 men. Even if the player waits for the appropriate moment to strike, these numbers still won't give William an overwhelming advantage. Mercenaries are an option, but they're rather expensive. Money is better spent expanding William's Men-At-Arms pool.
Luckily, there's an even better way to obtain additional forces. Duke William possesses a large family that consists of three sons and three daughters. Before unpausing the game, it's absolutely essential to arrange at least two betrothals with foreign rulers before the AI scoops up all the valuable picks.
Worthwhile Marriages
There are two highly advantageous marriages a player can make right off the bat. These will result in alliances that will drastically tip the scales in favor of Duke William. Make these betrothal arrangements immediately before unpausing the game:
- Robert "Curthose" – Judita Premyslid (Duke Vratislav II of Bohemia)
- Cecilia – Prince Olaf Svendsen (King Svend II Ulfsen of Denmark)
One of the Perks under the Gallant tree, "Promising Prospects," will aid in the acceptance of betrothal proposals. Once these two rulers accept, and all of the player's other arrangements have been made, call them into the war. Their combined might can easily top 7,000 men, which gives William that numerical boost to defeat King Harold.
Conquering England
Since the King of Denmark is closer, he will usually arrive first in Normandy. Raise William's armies and together set sail for England. A suitable place to land is Chichester on the southern coast, a county whose supply limit should be able to support the Normans. Splitting William's army in half is fine too, but just make sure they're always in close range of each other and the Danes.
At this point, players' experiences will vary considerably. The Danes, then the Bohemians, will typically spread out and lay siege to Harold's holdings. Always keep William's armies in range of his allies. If a battle occurs, the Danes and Bohemians can converge quickly and crush the Saxons with superior numbers.
Ideally, by the time the player commences the invasion of England, King Harold would have already defeated the Norwegians. Once again, this may not always be the case. Focus on eliminating the Saxon field armies while simultaneously laying siege to the southern counties. Capturing London is worth a lot of war score, so make that a priority.
Final Tips & Strategies
Obviously, this is just one of several strategies that can be employed while playing as the Normans. Alternative marriage alliances can, of course, be sought after when an opportunity presents itself. In addition, the Strategy Focus can be employed as an alternative to Chivalry if the player wishes. Strategy benefits the army as a whole by buffing many of its stats.
For the battles themselves, it's always worth keeping in mind the terrain. Seek out land that's favorable to the defender and occupy it. Let the enemy come to you and risk greater losses. Feel free to take things slow. With that, the Norman Conquest can be won relatively easily, although securing those gains is another matter......