14th October 1066, 7 miles North-West of the burg of Hastings two large armies have drawn up against each other. Holding the high ground is the army of Anglo-Saxons commanded by King Harold II, legally appointed monarch of the English nation. Opposing them is the army of Normandy and her allies led by Duke William the Bastard, adamant that Harold has broken a solemn vow to him that he would receive the English throne after the passing of the previous incumbent, Edward the Confessor.
Harold's army is strong in infantry with a plethora of veterans of his campaign against the Norwegian invasion in the previous month. William's army has more cavalry and the nominal backing of the Vatican. Should William win the whole socio-political structure of England that has lasted for over two hundred years shall be demolished and replaced with the feudal system established in France; the prospect of this doesn't bode well for the thanes, especially after William has pillaged and burned his way along the South-East coast.
The battle is long and arduous. Norman archers have greater range but the shield wall of the Saxons deflects the vast majority of their arrows, infantry attacks against the shield wall appear ineffectual and the cavalry cannot make headway against the tightly-packed fyrdmen and huscarls.
The situation continues until one flank of the Norman army begins to rapidly disengage.
A/N: OTL feigned retreats allow the Normans to deplete the strength of the fyrd in the shield wall and the archers change their angle of attack to achieve victory. How shall this version conclude to give Harold the victory instead?
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