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The Background
The Norman campaign walks you through a critical time in England’s history, when a conqueror claimed the throne and a new era was born. You will witness the struggle to secure a fragile rule over a divided realm and see the rise of the cross-channel Angevin Empire.
One hundred and fifty years after the arrival of William the Conqueror, King John’s rule is hanging by a thread. He has been a poor steward of the empire, losing vast tracts of land and waging expensive wars. The English barons mount a revolt, inviting Prince Louis of France to invade and take the throne. The coastal fortress at Dover – with you as his general – is the only thing standing between the continuation of England under English rule and its conquest by the French.
The Mission
The Siege of Dover is a do-or-die moment for England. You will guide Hubert de Burgh, who commands Dover Castle and inspires a fiercely patriotic response from his hardy soldiers. Dover was built to resist centuries of attempted invasions, and its defenders have been drilled to hold out at all costs. De Burgh refers to it as “the key to England.” It must remain locked.
This mission occurs close to the end of the Norman campaign and will test everything you have learned about the English civ so far. You start inside the castle’s concentric walls, holding against the initial French assault as they break through the outer wall. With the units provided to you, you must fight off the incoming attack and shore up any damaged defenses – just as de Burgh’s men did in 1216.
Once the walls are secure, you meet a new hero character: Willikin of the Weald, a crucial ally for the men defending the castle. He is a master longbowman and hits the French army camps with several ambushes, taking the sting out of their siege and making it easier for you to hold the walls. You must direct Willikin and his band of rebels to sabotage the French’s efforts: every enemy siege weapon and patrol you intercept en route to the castle will make defending it a little bit easier.
The trade-off for weakening the siege this way is having to split your attention between managing Willikin’s hit-and-runs along with building up your defense force at the castle. Scouting as much of the map as possible will give you an advantage.
King John’s loyal supporters ultimately secured his throne, and the French invasion was thwarted – but not before it left its mark on the history of England.
How To Purchase Age of Empires IV
Make history your story. Available now on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
on Windows 10/11, Steam and Microsoft Store.