The Normans and their successors have had a considerable impact on history.
The Normans, from Nortmann (man of the north), were originally Viking raiders who settled in what would be northern France today. The Normans conquered territories as far afield as southern Italy, Sicily and present-day Syria. They were crusaders, kings, princes and scoundrels. They began as raiders from the north who fought on foot and evolved into dukes, kings and princes who fought on horseback.
How many games include a battle against a papal army?
Very few, so Norman conquests visit Italy and the Norman Count of Apulia fights with the Pope and captures him. Expanding the definition to include Norwegian king Harald (III) Hardrada (undoubtedly a man of the North) and his invasion of England, we can include the three battles for the throne of England in 1066, including the most famous of the Normans, William the Conqueror, and his invasion of England. Then we follow William I's two sons, the Duke of Normandy and the King of England, as they vie for his lands years after his death.
We end with the Barons' War between William I's great-great-great-grandson, Henry III, and his barons, led by Simon de Montfort.
