Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned
Robert de Hauteville had migrated to Southern Italy with some Normans in the mid-11th Century. From there, the Normans would leave their mark in the region as they face Lombards, Byzantines and Muslims to carve out a kingdom for themselves within a century.The player employs the Sicilian note represented by the color Blue.
Scenarios
1. Guiscard Arrives
Many ambitious Norman barons depart from their homeland to seek for fortune and wealth in southern Italy, a land divided by the internal squabbles of Byzantines from the East and Longobards from the North and West. Among them the daring and young Robert of Hauteville, known as the "Guiscard" (Smart Fox) for his guile. Even without the support of the local barons, Robert seeks to build a fortune over the weak domains of Lombards and Byzantines.2. Roger in Sicily
News of Robert's exploit stir enthusiasm amongst the Normans. One of them is Roger of Bosso, the chivalrous, romantic brother of Robert. Enamored with the beautiful Judith d'Evreaux, Roger is eager to prove his worth even without the support of lords or an army. Just like Robert pillaged Apulia and Calabria, Roger aim his sights on the bountiful land of Sicily, under the control of Muslim masters.3. Bohemond and the Emperor
Having witnessed the defeat of Manzikert, Robert conspires to add the Byzantine Empire to his domains and plot with the local monks to advance rights on the Imperial throne. However, animosity between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope force him to entrust the invasion of Hellas to his son Bohemond. However, as he officially discarded Bohemond's mother to marry the Lombard princess Sikelgaita, who sees the boy as nothing more than an unwanted bastard. Forced to rely on a small army and local help from unexpected sources, Bohemond will have to take on the mighty armies of Byzantium with guile rather than strength.4. Bohemond in the East
As the Crusaders set forth for the Holy Land, Bohemond enlists in the army, seeking for glory and fortune even in such conditions. Soon, his audacity and cunning schemes allow him to trick his Byzantine allies and take the city of Antioch as his own. However, a serious threat looms over the city as a colossal army of bloodthirsty Turks, lead by the Seljuk commander Kerbogha, surrounds the city. With limited help and resources, will Bohemond be able to overcome this obstacle?5. Wonder of the World
After the deaths of Roger and Robert, his son Roger II inherited a beautiful kingdom encompassing all of southern Italy, a rich and prosperous crossroads of Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox culture. Fearing his ties with the latter two cultures, the Pope rallied armies to take countermeasures against Roger, resulting in a revolt of Normans lead by Roger II's brother-in-law and the appearence of armies from Pisa, Genua and Germany. Despite the immense threat though, Roger II isn't worried with war. He's rather focused on building a mighty kingdom...This campaign contains examples of:
- Anachronism Stew: Present even in the main game, but more evident here, where the Norman soldiers coming from the northern reaches of France can all speak modern Sicilian dialect even before even setting foot in Sicily.
- Arch-Enemy: The Byzantine in pretty much all scenarios but two, and even then in one of said scenarios (where Comneus is supposed to play The Cavalry), Bohemond seriously think the Byzantines are letting him fighting the Turks alone out of spite.
- Artificial Stupidity: The Seljuks in "Bohemond in the East" will periodically storm the city with thousands of troops, but since you only lose if all your units and buildings are destroyed you can move a handful of troops in the lower corner of the map, outside of their reach. This was later changed, as one of the victory conditions for the scenario became keeping at least one of the city's two castles stading.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: In the first three scenarios, your heroes will grow stronger and healthier if they fight in the frontline, impressing your soldiers and winning their loyalty.
- Book Ends: The first scenario starts in souther Italy and has you in contrast with the Drengot family of Normans. The last scenario is set in the same area (now with a bigger map to include Sicily, and part of your opponent's domains) and once again has the Drengot Normans as enemies.
- Call-Back: The first scenario calls to mind the Bari campaign and Melus rebellion, the third has a battle against the Byzantine in Greece not dissimilar to Alaric's campaign and the final scenario's outro openly mentions Frederick Barbarossa and Henry the Lion. The early scenarios also mention en passant Wilhelm the Conqueror and the battle of Manzikert.
- Call-Forward: The final mission has Emperor Lothair III talk about his grandson and heir, "The Lion Cub". Said Grandson is Henry the Lion, narrator of the Barbarossa campaign. Furthermore at the end of the mission it is mentioned that Lothair III died on the way back to the Empire. The resulting political vacuum is where the Barbarossa campaign begins.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: The first scenario alone encourages you to betray the other Normans to get troops and support, and you're free to backstab your allies as you see fit. There's even an achievement for winning without siding with anyone.
- Climax Boss: Kerbogha and his army of Seljuk Turks acts as one in the penultimate scenario of the campaign, the siege of Antioch.
- Cosmetic Award:
- "Haute Culture" for completing the campaign.
- There's also "Self-Made Man"note , "Haute, Haute, Brief Candle!"note and "Italy Jones and the First Crusade"note .
- Enemy Mine:
- "Roger in Sicily": Ibn-al Timnah starts off as Roger's prisoner and may be delivered to Emir Ibn al-Hawwas in exchange for resources, or can join Roger as an ally against all the other Emirs.
- "Bohemond and the Emperor": you can find and hire Bulgarian Konnik against the Byzantine forces and destroy some towers to let the rampaging Pechneghs hordes into Hellas, letting them deal with the Byzantine army.
- "Wonder of the World": Germans will try to force the Byzantines to join them against you... but you can bribe them to ignore the call and be quiet. You can also help the Italian forces by destroying the Saracen Pirates... but unfortunately doing so will make the Berbers pull one against you to protect the pirates.
- Foreshadowing: The third scenario has a handful of cyan Seljuk Turks in one corner of the map, stationed around the camp where the survivors of a previous Norman expedition can be rescued. The following scenario has Kerbogha represented by cyan Turks.
- Framing Device: The entire campaign is presented as the lessons of a young Frederick II (grandson of both Roger II and Frederick Barbarossa) of his Sicilian ancestors from his Arab tutor. Incidentally, the title of the final scenario, "Wonder of the World", was actually Frederick II's nickname during his rule as Holy Roman Emperor.
- Genre Savvy: The Lombards and the Byzantines in the first scenario are initially your allies and one of the factions which can provide you with a base, and in both cases, passing by their home fief will have them invite Robert to their castle to discuss matters. However, if Robert betrayed the Norman Barons to get his troops, they will turn hostile once Robert's hero unit is near their castle, wary of his betrayal.
- The Good King: Roger II is depicted as such, not only tolerating the presence of multiple cultures in his kingdom but making out the most of it, and the final victory in the final scenario can be achieved by pacific means.
- Guile Hero: Robert was even nicknamed the Guiscard (Smart Fox), and the other two players Roger and Bohemond show that they're no slouch at scheming and plans themselves.
- Heroic Second Wind: Researching Faith in the fourth scenario has you reveal the Spear of Destiny to your troops, giving all your soldiers a fighting boost for ten minutes.
- Keystone Army:
- "Guiscard Arrives": destroying a castle is enough to cause the surrender of either the Lombards in Salerno or the Byzantines in Apulia.
- "Roger in Sicily": killing the Emirs and Princes will make the entire city they ruled on surrender to you.
- "Bohemond and the Emperor": killing Alexius Comneus will instantly disband his entire army.
- "Bohemond in the East": you can win the scenario by killing Kerbogha, leader of the Seljuk army.
- Kick the Dog: Sikelgaita not only refuses to give Bohemond the resources and soldiers needed, but also mocks his attempts of invasion and his skills as a fighter if he takes too long to embark for the Hellas.
- Les Collaborateurs: Bogomil monks in the third scenario will allow you to spy on the enemy army for a limited amount of time and 1000 golds each time.
- Public Domain Artifact: The fourth scenario has a monk claiming that the Spear of Destiny is located in Antioch. While Bohemond is sceptical, he acknowledges that it could boost morale and if you research Faith you reveal the presence of the Spear to your soldier, giving them a massive fighting boost for ten minutes.
- Puzzle Boss: The Byzantine armies in "Bohemond and the Emperor" are strong and regenerate health at frightening speed, and their armies will home on your troops if you attack their buildings... however, destroying their military buildings (at least seven) will severely reduce their Healing Factor and make them vulnerable, forcing you to divide your armies to play cat and mouse with the Byzantine troops before you can face them for real.
- Taking a Third Option: In the first scenario, you can either join the Lombards against the Byzantines, side with the Byzantines to defeat the Lombards... or remain neutral, take over the Norman Baronies and take both opponents on, even at once.
- The Siege:
- "Bohemond in the East" has your crusader army of Normans holding Antioch against an endless horde of Turks attacking with multiple units from multiple sides. You have to either Hold the Line and repeal the invaders until Comneus arrives or find a way to Kerbogha's camp and murder him.
- The final scenario has you defending Sicily and Calabria from German, Normans and Italian troops from the north, with occasional incursions from Saracen pirates and the possible threat of Byzantines and Berbers joining the fray. This time you can either ally with/defeat the six opponents or go for a Wonder victory.
- Tempting Fate: The framing device for the campaign zigzags the trope. The narrator tells a young child Frederick Roger (AKA Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II) the story of his ancestor of the Hauteville family. Young Frederick wonders if he'll be as great as they will. History does remember Frederick II as one of the greatest Holy Roman Emperor, but his death would lead to the end of his house (and thus the family whose story the player has been following).
- Ungrateful Bastard: In the final scenario, the Drengots will beg for an alliance the moment you destroy one of their castles... only to turn against you anyway if you build a Wonder.
- Victor Gains Loser's Powers: In the final scenario, every enemy you defeat will provide you with the unique technologies of his civilization. This kinda encourages the player to choose wisely who to defeat in order to gain better bonuses though the easiest opponent to crush, the Drengot, give little bonuses since they're Normans too.
- Wicked Stepmother: Sikelgaita to Bohemond, smugly denying him any funds or troops and openly mocking his invasion of the Byzantines.
- Zerg Rush: The various parts of the Turkish army coming against the walls of Antioch is truly enormous. By the end of the scenario (if you opt to Hold the Line), the enemy casualties can be in the thousands. The previous scenario has the Pechnegh horde, composed of cavalry, kipchaks and tarkans ready to invade Greece if you dispose of the Byzantine garrison blocking the way...
