Sir John Fastolf (November 6, 1380 - November 5, 1459) was an English knight and military commander in the Hundred Years' War. In Age of Empires II he appears as an antagonist in The Cleansing of the Loire, the third scenario of the Joan of Arc campaign, which references his role (and later infamy) as one of the English commanders in the Battle of Patay (1429).
In the scenario, he is spawned along with an army of rams and Cavaliers after the British lose their first Castle, attacking the player's base. Fastolf is portrayed as arrogant, frequently mocking Joan and the player's army. When he dies, he says 'I die for England!'
He is a cavalry hero and is also available in the Scenario Editor. Sir John Fastolf has the appearance of a Frankish Paladin, similar to other hero units. As a hero, he cannot be converted and can regenerate health (since The Conquerors).
Apart from the Line of Sight, John Fastolf has the same stats as Joan of Arc.
Trivia[]
- Although Fastolf will most likely be killed in the scenario, in reality he was the only one of four English commanders at Patay who was neither killed nor captured. This resulted in accusations of cowardice, which took him 13 years to clear (and even then his reputation remained tarnished). The accusations are ruled unfair today and were started by Sir John Talbot, who had replaced Fastolf as commander in the leadup to the Siege of Orleans and was one of the captured at Patay.
- Fastolf is best remembered today as the inspiration for Sir John Falstaff, a buffoonish character appearing in four William Shakespeare plays.