Norman Conquests: Conflicts of the Normans and Their Successors, 1053-1265

Men of Iron is a play-oriented series of games covering the wide spectrum of land battles from, roughly, the era just prior to the first Crusades to the arrival of gunpowder. This is a historical simulation game, not so much intended to show What happened, but Why things occurred as they did. The purpose of the Men of Iron series is to provide gamers with accessible, fast-playing, fun games of low complexity. To that end, much detail has been either omitted or factored into overall mechanics, but game to provides as much period flavor and historical accuracy as possible, within that stated focus.

The Normans, and their successors, had a large impact on history. Normans, from Nortmann (northman), were originally Viking raiders that settled in what would now be northern France. Normans gained territory as far away as southern Italy and Sicily, and modern day Syria. They were Crusaders, they were Kings, they were princes, and they were scoundrels. They began as raiders from the north that fought on foot and transformed themselves into Dukes, Kings, and princes that fought from horseback.

• Civitate 18 June 1053 — Normans from Sicily and southern Italy clash with the Pope and allies.
  
• Fulford 20 September 1066 — Norwegians (Vikings) come to lay claim to the English throne. Saxon nobles raise their levy and give battle in northern England.
  
• Stamford Bridge 25 September 1066 — Saxon King Harold II hurries north and catches the Norwegian invaders with their pants down.
  
• Hastings 14 October 1066 — Saxon King Harold II hears of the Norman invasion of England and rushes south. Facing off with William, Duke of Normandy, on a hill in the south of England, Harold learns that arrows are pointy.
  
• Tinchebrai 28 September 1106 — Lacking primogenitor, two of William’s children battle over his legacy. King Henry I of England and Robert, Duke of Normandy, face off in Normandy.
  
• Lewes 14 May 1264 — King Henry III, great-great-grandson of Henry I, and a coalition of his Barons clash over Baronial rights.
  
• Evesham 4 August 1265 — Edward (later Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots) fights Simon de Monfort to free his father King Henry III.
  

• Three 22" x 34" maps (2 back-printed)
  
• Two and 1/4 countersheets
• Three Player Aid Cards
• Rules Manual
• Battle Book
• Two 10-sided dice