I also unexpectedly struggled with Shahibdia. I gathered what seemed like a decent army, attacked the city... and realized that the army wasn't that great after all. I gathered more. Attacked again. And then HE started throwing berserkers and mind control spells at me!!! My troops were scattered in a flash, and my own army was defeated!!!
Okay, I thought, we're not fools either. I reached the Necropolis, threw all the orcs (except the cyclops) into the grinder – and got undead. I hired all the undead troops I had, upgraded them all, and, satisfied, went to Shahibdia, picking up about 25 upgraded titans along the way (on whom, like on the undead, mind control spells don't work). I barely managed to take down this nasty little town, losing almost my entire army, as the enemy started casting divine retribution.
And then Alaric came... Luckily, I had about 50 cyclops left in the Necropolis. Taking them and about 100 mages with 200-300 golems and a few titans (all I could afford), I easily defeated Alaric in his own castle.
I also thought about turning everyone into necromancers after reading the messages here, but there's a catch – with necromancers, all sorts of things related to their blood don't work, and besides, I was so annoyed that I still defeated him with my own army, which I'm very proud of))) and I also defeated Alaric very quickly, in just a week, with the remnants of my army + a two-week army from my main castle, so everything is good, I'm playing the next one))) and I wish the same for you) good luck)))