History Characters / MedievalIITotalWar

* DropTheHammer: Armed with a heavy armour-piercing warhammer, a shield and plate armour, the Venetian Heavy Infantry are some of the greatest heavy infantry since the Roman legions.

Religion: Pagan\\

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Religion: Pagan\\

Religion: Pagan\\
Notable Units: Guachichil Warriors

Religion: Pagan

Religion: Pagan\\

Religion: Pagan\\

Notable Units: Deisi Javelinmen

* ArchEnemy: The Turks, who are pushing west along the Anatolian peninsula and represent an existential threat to the empire. In the Short Campaign the Turks have to be eliminated as a win condition.

* BladeOnAStick: The Voulgier infantry fight with a Voulge, a curved-bladed polearm of French origin.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Scotland in this game is depicted as "Film/{{Braveheart}}-land". Their best units are highlanders going for the Mel Gibson's William Wallace look, complete with ahistorical kilt and blue woad. Averted by their late-game units, who follow the medieval fashion and wouldn't have looked so out of place in Scotland at the time.

* UsefulNotes/MeltingPot: A medieval European example. Sicily is a mish-mash of Norman, Christian and Muslim influences, and this is reflected in their units.

* AnAxeToGrind: Many Danish units are armed with axes instead of swords, and this gives them significantly more punch against heavily armoured troops than even their decent stats would indicate.

* AnAxeToGrind: Tabardaiyya are normally found around the Sultan's palace, guarding him and keeping him safe. Their weapon of choice is the tabar axe, similar in size and function to the famous Danish greataxe.

Culture: Southern European\\

* NonIndicativeName: The Holy Roman Empire is not Roman in culture or origin, it continually feuds with the Pope, and it doesn't even qualify as an empire in the classic sense, being a collection of feuding petty kingdoms and fiefdoms instead.

The Kingdom of Denmark in 1080 has only recently embraced Catholicism, but their style of warfare is still influenced by the Vikings. Infantry have axes, cavalry have axes, even archers have axes... Starting in Arhus, Denmark has the Swedish and Norwegian rebels to subjugate, or maybe it can take on the rebels in northern Germany?

Notable Units: Famiglia Ducale, Genoese Crossbowmen, Genoese Crossbow Militia, Carroccio Standard,

Notable Units: Varangian Guard, Kataphractoi, Fire Ships

Notable Units: Norse Axemen, Obudshaer, Norse War Clerics

Notable Units: Tabardaiyya, Mamluks, Royal Mamluks

Notable Units: Longbowmen, Sherwood Archers, English Knights

Notable Units: Lancers, Noble Knights, Aventurier

Notable Units: Forlorn Hope, Zweihanders, Gothic Knights

Notable Units: Battlefield Assassins, Magyar Cavalry, Bosnian Archers

Notable Units: Famiglia Ducale, Genoese Crossbowmen, Genoese Crossbow Militia

Notable Units: Tuareg Camel Spearmen, Christian Guard, Lamtuna Spearmen, Camel Gunners

Notable Units: Hussars, Polish Nobles, Strzelcy, Lithuanian Cavalry

Notable Units: Portuguese Arquebusiers, Portuguese Knights, Aventuros

Notable Units: Boyar Sons, Tsar's Guard, Cossack Musketeers

Notable Units: Highland Nobles, Highland Rabble, Highland Pikemen

Notable Units: Tercio Pikemen, Conquistadores, Jinetes

Notable Units: Sipahi Lancers, Janissary Archers, Janissary Musketeers, Janissary Heavy Infantry, Ottoman Infantry, Qapukulu

Notable Units: Venetian Heavy Infantry, Stradiots, Venetian Archers

Italian merchant republic with ambitions of a maritime empire, starting in control of the island of Crete. Tough Italian spearmen and Venetian Heavy Infantry form the backbone of their armies. Really hates Milan.

Notable Units: Hussars, Polish Nobles, Strzelcy

Poland forms the eastern front of Christendom, and is known for fantastic cavalry, at least later on in the game.

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Hailing from isolated Novgorod, the faction of Russia faces rebels galore. Russia eventually gains both great melee and missile cavalry, playing quite differently from any other faction.

Notable Units: Tercio Pikemen, Conquistadores

Notable Units: Janissary Musketeers, Ottoman Infantry, Qapakulu

* BornInTheSaddle: The Turks have exceptional cavalry, like the famous Sipahi lancers and Qapakulu.

Famously described by Voltaire as "neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire" the Holy Roman Empire starts out in Germany with lots of regions, but also lots of potential enemies. Care must be taken that the HRE does not run into too many conflicts at once... In the case that it needs to fight though, the HRE is fairly well-rounded and its signature unit is the Zweihander, used to slice through enemy formations.

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Notable Units: Tuareg Camel Spearmen, Christian Guard, Lamtuna Spearmen

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Having recently taken England from the Saxons, England actually represents the Norman realm ruled by William the Conqueror, as shown by its control of Caen in Normandy in northern France. English longbows only get better and better as time goes on, and never lose their utility as long range armor piercing archers. The greatest obstacle in unifying the British Isles is Scotland, and after taking care of them, you can conquer just about anywhere with longbows backed by tough English Knights!

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* BladeOnAStick: The Voulgier infantry fight with a Voulgier, a curved-bladed polearm of French origin.

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A remnant of the Roman Empire that lives on in the east!

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* KillItWithFire: Naffatuns are men who throw burning pots of Naphtha, a sticky burning concoction, at enemies. Needless to say even the most heavily armoured troops are not safe and even the bravest warriors are unnerved at the prospect of a fiery death, but they are few in number, short ranged and not the greatest fighters in melee.

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* KnightInShiningArmour: Where would England be without her English Knights? Clad in steel plate and exceptionally well trained, English Knights lack the wild abandon of their mainland counterparts in France and Germany.

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Byzantium is the shadow that remains of the old Roman Empire. It is a mere shadow because despite retaining the civilised ways of the Roman legacy, the Byzantines have done little to further it. Despite boasting the world's trade capital and home of Orthodox Christianity in Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire is well past its zenith and is now in steady decline. The outer regions of the empire have been slipping from the Emperor's grasp for decades now. To the west, the Normans have taken southern Italy, and in the east the Turks have moved into Asia Minor after their decisive and terrible victory at Manzikert. The latter of these two losses was the worst defeat the Empire had suffered in its entire history. To make matters worse, general corruption, chaos and dissent has lead to some of the other provinces closer to home to rebel. If the Byzantine Empire is to once again become the dominant power of the east, then it will first need to reclaim its heartlands wholly before encroaching upon the borders of another power. The Byzantine legacy is long and predominantly proud, but unless the Emperor can turn things around in a hurry, it is a legacy that will soon end.

Denmark is a relatively new kingdom in the world of Christendom, emerging from centuries of paganism under Viking rule. Exactly one hundred years ago, Harold Bluetooth, the Viking King of the Danes, embraced Christianity, not just personally, but also on behalf of his people. The Danes have no illusions that maintaining such authority abroad is an easy feat, having lost control of England within the last half century. So it would seem that both diplomatic and militaristic expansion are something the Danish Kings are yet to master. Arguably the most expedient move that the present King Knut II could now make would be to try to take the Scandinavian lands to the north rather than continue to negotiate with them. No mortal army could possibly dream of approaching Norway or Sweden's northern reaches, making the region an ideal set of easily defendable homelands. Crossing the Baltic Sea is also an obvious option that offers the Danes several access points into Eastern Europe without having to deal with the Imperial forces in Saxony. It is more than little ironic that the Catholic powers of Europe that have secured Denmark's future are now the main obstacles to seeing that future improve.

At a time where religious intolerance is common throughout the known world, Egypt stands out as an enlightened melting pot of religions and ideologies. Descendents of Mohammed's daughter Fatima, the Fatimid rulers of Egypt are Shiite Muslims, but Sunnis, Jews and Christians still hold offices and government positions. Unlike the age of the Pharaoh, bloodline is now considered secondary to ability and talent in Egypt, making it a very progressive and balanced nation. Though the problems facing the Egyptians close to home aren't anything a decisive ruler can't deal with, any Egyptian forays into the Holy lands will no doubt be subject to Catholic invasion from across the Mediterranean. Regular military pilgrimages by European Christians to Jerusalem seem an inevitability, as do counter-attacks from other Muslim powers such as the Turks. Expand and consolidate quickly and the world could be your oyster.

Having recently wrestled control of England from the Saxons, many would expect the conquering Normans to be somewhat spent and weakened. However, the new rulers of England have swiftly replaced and improved the taxation system so as to replenish their coffers in quick time. Most importantly, William the Conqueror came with the support of the Pope, as well as a mixed force of well-trained infantry, archers and heavy cavalry. England's new masters have a more modern approach to the art of warfare, and the will to utilise the country's rich resources to maximum effect. Though they presently face trouble on multiple fronts, the English are in a rather promising position. The Scots to the north are isolated from the rest of Europe, and should be easy to wear down without a strong ally from the mainland. The French royal forces are more than a match for the armies in Normandy, but they also have enough fronts to deal with right now that they are unlikely to be able to drive them from the continent anytime soon.

France is a shining example of feudalism in its rawest, and arguably, most delicate form. The French lords eagerly embrace the system that splits the country up into smaller provinces, duchies and fiefdoms, actively building up their forces to ensure their own security and power. About the only thing the French lack at this point is a sense of unity. The Ile de France may be where the monarchy resides, but the royal family rarely leave Paris. This is not because of a great love for the city, but rather because the surrounding lands are under the shadow of bastions owned by "Robber Barons" that serve their own interests. Frankly, the way things are now, the King isn't truly safe to wander a kingdom that is supposedly his. Even less pressing concerns like Spanish and Milanese expansions will soon become a royal headache for the monarchy if France does not establish solid fronts to the south.

The Holy Roman Empire is a particularly misleading name for Europe's largest collective of kingdoms and fiefdoms, regardless which way one looks at it. For starters, it is the Byzantine Empire that truly carries on the legacy of the ancient Romans, and the notion that the Kaiser (the Germanic name for "Emperor") truly serves the Roman Catholic Church is presently quite laughable. The Empire itself is Europe's middle ground, centrally located, with opportunities to expand in almost every direction, but also potential competition to come with each opportunity. It is a far cry from the days of Charlemagne when all of Western Europe answered to the Emperor. Now France is a separate entity, Italy has become a formidable group of city states, the Danes block the route into Scandinavia and the kingdoms to the east are more of a threat than a place to lay claim to.

Exactly a full millennium since the birth of the Messiah, the Christian Kingdom of Hungary was born when Pope Silvester II sent the "Holy Crown" to signify that the pious noble István I, had become the founding Christian monarch of the realm. Dying without leaving an heir, pagans soon once again assumed control of Hungary, but it would seem this is a land Christendom was destined to call its own. Regardless what László's first move is, nothing will change the fact that Hungary has become Catholicism's physical front line against all other faiths - Something that will doubtlessly bring great glory, yet even greater bloodshed.

Milan is a city of both possibility and problems. The Archbishop of Milan was until very recently the most powerful political figure in Northern Italy, with the city well and truly under his thumb. Though still Catholic, the Milanese are breaking free from the control of the church to form a mighty, expanding municipality. Though better positioned to expand into the rest of Europe than the other Italian peoples, the Milanese are also the most likely to have to confront the Northern European powers first, and will need to consolidate their position swiftly by working their way into the nearby provinces that the French and Germanic forces have not secured... yet.

The Moors were originally a nomadic people, the original inhabitants of Mauretania on the north coast of Africa. They rose from obscurity in the 8th century when they converted to Islam, and proceeded to spread rapidly in several directions - including north-west into the Iberian peninsula. They soon had almost total dominion over all of Iberia with the exception of the lands to the north where some resilient Christians held fast, but Islamic Spain was a collection of cities more than a true caliphate - until now. Once weak, uncultured and disorganised, the kingdoms of Leon and Castile are now unified in their challenge against Islamic rule of the peninsula, and look set to actually launch a genuine offensive to revive their Reconquista. Their heroes such as El Cid are extremely admirable adversaries, as men who are driven with what they believe to be a noble purpose always are.

The Kingdom of Poland is still a relative infant, but an infant that already appears to boast a considerable grip on the lands around the capital of Krakow. The Polish people can attribute their rapid rise out of obscurity to the Drang nach Osten (Drive towards the East) of the Holy Roman Empire, which saw the Kaiser searching for allies to help crush the Polabian Slavs. However, the lack of an immediate Imperial threat does not ensure that the Poles have an easy option to expand either. The Hungarian King László is simply too formidable and familiar with Polish ways to make moving southward a viable option, making securing the lands of the Baltic Sea the most appealing choice... Despite the fact it involves beating the Danes, the Russians and the Reich to the draw.

Of all of the European royal courts, Portugal is the youngest, having only just recently come of age, growing from county to Kingdom. As is typical at this stage of life, there have been more than a few growing pains for Portugal, and its inaugural King, Afonso Henrique. As if being recognised as the sovereign of a land were not hard enough at the best of times, Afonso's own mother attempted to seize power for herself before he was forced to defeat and then exile her! Some of the Portuguese believe that the best tyranny to face is that of distance. Poised on the edge of the civilised world, perhaps Portugal's fortunes lie across the seas and oceans, rather than across her immediate borders.

The Rus' are a people divided, though that is hardly a character judgement for the folk who live in the largest single kingdom in Europe. Kiev may actually be the royal capital of this Kingdom, and the site where the Rus' embraced Christianity, but it is far to the north that the true power of the realm currently lies. Positioned just off the eastern end of the Baltic Sea, Novgorod is presently one of the most important trade hubs in the region, while in Kiev, disputes over succession have destroyed any sense of organisation or unity. The fledgling kingdoms of Poland and Hungary to the southwest are just as well placed to move and assume control of the Rus' capital. Byzantium to the south is also desperate to restore its former glory by taking new territories. Unless they can start recruiting from several population centres at once again, they will not be able to field a force capable of stopping any of the serious foreign powers at all.

William the Conqueror may have undisputed claim over the Kingdom of England, but he must still deal with the Celtic Lords of Scotland should he have designs on calling himself monarch of the British Isles. Scotland may have a proud track record of defying much greater powers south of the border, including the mighty Roman Empire, but some of the highland nation's more brilliant scholars are now preaching caution to Canmore. The Britons are no longer a distant set of islands on the edge of civilisation, and to continue to think of this position as being truly secure would be to lie to one's self. The arrival of the Normans, with their heavy cavalry is proof that continental powers are now capable of arriving in force across the sea, and that warfare itself is evolving. At present, the French would appear to be Scotland's most logical ally.

Although Sicily's proximity to Rome has given the island a rich history, it now stands as a true fledgling among the European powers. Six years before the Normans successfully conquered England, their first true island invasion was launched against the Saracens that occupied Sicily... with more than a little encouragement from the Papacy. King Roger I's nation may be a relative infant, but with an island capital, southern Italy under his control and a healthy relationship with the Papal States, it is an infant that looks likely to survive the journey to adulthood. It would seem that the Normans will once again have to take to the waters to expand their latest kingdom. Close to home, other islands like Sardinia and Corsica make tempting targets for invasion. However, the Sicilians will need to look over the horizon to have a hope of long term survival. To the east, the Byzantine Empire is fractured and relatively vulnerable, and there's ample opportunity to take advantage of the chaos on the Iberian peninsula to the west.

Any man who is born on the Iberian Peninsula would call himself a "Spaniard", so when King Alfonso VI declared himself the "Emperor of all Spain" three years ago, it was a truly bold claim. After all, not since the times of the Western Roman Empire has one noble court truly ruled the peninsula unopposed. Currently, the Moors hold southern Iberia quite tightly, and Portugal's declaration of independence really proves Alfonso wrong. The first moves for the King of Spain are obvious, but beyond Iberia, there is far less certainty. The king of France may be cowering in Paris to avoid facing other French noble robber barons, but crossing the Pyranees to take his southern fiefdoms is more likely to unify his people than split their loyalties. The Spaniards have always shown an affinity for the water, and make fine seafarers. Who knows, perhaps the great empires of the future will be forged at sea rather than on dry land - If so, the people who mastered this art of war first would inherit the earth.

The Turks may very much be relative newcomers to both Anatolia and the Holy Lands, but the impact that they have had upon these realms since they migrated from the steppes east of the Caspian has been profound enough to shake the pillars of the oldest and mightiest neighbouring dynasties. Having seized control of the Abbasid Caliphate from the Buyids, and utterly crushed the Byzantines at Manzikert, the Turks have restored unity to the eastern Islamic region, making them arguably the greatest power Arabia or Persia has seen for centuries. In the foreseeable future, arrogance and complacency are likely to be the biggest threats to the mighty Seljuk Empire. To expect Byzantium to underestimate Turkish forces after the slaughter of Manzikert would be folly, and it can be taken as given that they will attempt to regain control of Anatolia. So long as the Turks manage to combine their new system of centralised government with their innate abilities as mounted warriors, then their position in this corner of the world looks most secure. After all, [[TemptingFate how likely is it that an even more fierce and formidable race of nomadic warriors sweep down from the steppes?]]

The city of canals is a reminder that starting from a great defensive position is an ideal foundation upon which to build an empire. With the city itself perched on the Ri'Alto island and the Venetian Lagoon serving as a massive moat for the city, Venice is a natural fortress. Although the Venetians do not boast a noteworthy land army, they are the leading seafarers of the time. this gives them the ability to confidently defend their capital from direct attack, as well as establish trade routes more readily than most any other major power. Through clever diplomacy, Pietro Orseolo, "Doge" of the Venetian Republic was able to isolate the marauding pirate Slavs into small, manageable groups that he then forced to surrender. this opened the door for Venice to evolve from an isolated trading city into a European power in its own right.

On open plains and under a pale blue sky, around mountains and rugged mesas, the many Apachean tribes roam far and wide over the north of the New World. Most peoples of the Apachean tribes hunt bison on the plains and live in hide tents that are easily constructed and taken down, so they can follow the movements of the herds. Some tribes use dogs to haul their belongings and carry trade goods, which they exchange for goods such as corn. The Apachean warriors are brave, fearless, and highly skilled at warfare, whether using bows, spears, hatchets, or weapons taken from their enemies. The tribes have a deep spiritual connection with the land, passed down through stories of heroes and spirits. Spiritual dances are often practised to bring improvements to the lives of the tribes, such as rain and good harvests. Although the tribes fight amongst themselves, they band together to fight off foreign invaders, including the Chichimecs to the south, and other nearby enemies. Woe betides the enemy who angers the Apacheans enough to go on the warpath.

The Aztec Empire of the Triple Alliance dominates the heart of the New World. Formed by the three great cities of Tlacopan, Texcoco, and the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, it is ruled by Moctezuma II, the ‘Hueyi Tlatoani’, or great speaker. Made up of three separate tribes, the Aztec alliance acquires its name from the dominant Mexica tribe, known amongst the others as the ‘Aztecs’. The Alliance rules over many nearby city-states, enforcing tribute on pain of invasion and sacrifice. There have been many troubling portents for the Aztecs lately. A comet has been seen streaking through the heavens, the temple of Huitzilopochtli was destroyed by a great fire, and another temple was destroyed by a bolt of lightening! For the Aztecs, these are sure signs of defeat and conquest. If these omens were not worrying enough, a mysterious ghost woman has been seen wailing through the night and strange visions of men riding deer have been seen. The Aztecs are surrounded by enemies - the Tlaxcalas to the east, Tarascans to the west and Chichimecs to the north.

The Chichimec tribes are a fractured and nomadic people. When they roamed the scrubby deserts to the north of the hated Aztecs, the Chichimeca were prone to vicious infighting and raiding, especially between the two major tribes, the Zacatecos and the Guachichil. A recent series of events have forced the Chichimeca to put their internal disputes aside. With the Aztecs sending out more and more raiding parties from the south to capture people for their lurid sacrifices, and the rumour of strange new men appearing far to the south, the tribes of the Chichimeca are now unifying and mobilising for war! The Chichimec themselves are a fierce and hardy people, well-versed in hunting and guerrilla warfare. Many Chichimec warriors ritually paint themselves with red dye before going into battle. The Aztecs are very cautious when launching raids into Chichimec territory, as they are often turned into ambushes by the crafty Chichimec commanders.

The Mayan people of the New World are not dominated by one ruling aristocracy. Instead, they are formed from many small city-states, each with their own royalty and a large temple for worshipping their gods. The Mayan people have a long history when compared to their Aztec neighbours, spanning over a millennia, during which the Mayan’s riches, power, and territory waxed and waned. The Mayans are once again on the rise, with many strong city-states, including the Itza Maya, Kowoj Maya, and K’iche Maya. They are resettling previously abandoned areas and creating new settlements. With many proud temples being raised to the great Kukulcan, the quetzal-feathered serpent god, the Mayans believe that destiny is once again at hand. The reinvigorated Mayans are now in a position to strike out across the New World, spreading their influence amongst all the peoples, from small nearby villages all the way to mighty Tenochtitlan itself!

The Tarascan people have a bloody past, something they share with others who have had contact with the warmongering Aztecs. Having been at war with the Aztecs for over a hundred years, the Tarascans have fortified their common border, preventing the Aztecs from moving into Tarascan lands. However, things are now changing. The Aztecs, in fear of a great calamity, have been repeatedly raiding Tarascan lands in search of sacrifices to quench the thirst of their gods. Under the wise leadership of Tangáxuan II, the Tarascans have begun to rapidly increase their military forces. They are all too aware that the Aztecs will soon attempt to invade their country and capture them all for blood sacrifice.

The recent history of the Tlaxcalans is one of hatred and bloodshed. With the misfortune of having the belligerent and powerful Aztecs as neighbours, the Tlaxcalans have been in a state of war for the last hundred years. These so-called 'flowery wars' are little more than the Aztecs harvesting able-bodied Tlaxcalan warriors for their sacrificial altars. Only the fear of becoming weakened and vulnerable to other nearby enemies has kept the Aztecs from total invasion. This fear is now fading as the Aztecs increase in power, thrusting the Tlaxcalan army into a constant state of alert. A new development has brought a surprising shift in the balance of power. Strange, new men dressed in metal, who ride deer-like creatures and wield fearsome, new weapons, have been encountered. Could these people be convinced to help in the fight against the hated Aztecs, or will they too attack the Tlaxcalans?

England’s invasion of Ireland which began some one hundred years ago is still well under way. English lords have now divided up sections of their Irish conquest amongst themselves, each ruling his section mostly independently, as their King now focuses his attention on issues closer to home. The Irish chieftains have determined their best chance of driving the English from their lands is to throw their support behind one man, fellow chieftain Brian O’Connor, who they have recently appointed King of Ireland. As their English overlords are no longer unified, the Irish people ready themselves for conflict under the banner of their new King, confident that once they reclaim their own lands, they are more than capable of taking the fight to England and beyond.

Norway has used its considerable naval power to control the Isle of Man and Orkney Islands for many decades now and has only recently shown interest in establishing a greater presence on the Scottish mainland. While King Haakon remains in Norway, dealing with issues at home, he has placed his son Magnus Haakonsson in charge of the war effort in Britannia. As the Norwegian people look to establish a foothold on the British mainland, they may choose to adopt their traditional naval raiding approach of surprising and sacking poorly defended settlements, before returning to the ocean as quickly as they appeared. Scotland is Norways first obvious target for expansion, however it may be in their best interest to assault the east coast of England or Northern Ireland, as the factions in these regions will surely be distracted with their own war efforts.

Determined to prevent the ongoing English encroachment into Welsh territory, Llewelyn ap Gruffydd has now declared himself King of Wales, and with the help of his brother Daydd, recently succeeded in liberating the people of Gwynedd Is Conwy from their English overlords. With these defiant acts, Llewelyns intentions are now apparent to all, and open warfare on the Welsh English border is nigh. Llewelyns greatest strength is his ability to unify the Welsh people, something which the English nobles are most aware of, and they will surely seek to end his life as quickly as possible in an effort to break the spirit of the Welsh people who follow him. As Welsh armies are primarily comprised of light infantry and archers, their generals will need to employ clever tactics to ensure their forces can overcome the armoured juggernaught that is England. If Llewelyn is successful in ending the English threat to Wales, many believe he will not simply be content with this victory, and will instead look to ensure the Welsh people are never again threatened by another faction of the British Isles.

Labelled as heathens by their neighbours, the Balts are some of the last remaining pagan worshippers in the region. Under the leadership of the great Mindaugas, they have been compelled to unify under the banner of the Kingdom of Lithuania. The new Kingdom achieved some early military success and earned respect as a true nation of the region. The gods have been with them so far, bringing hope that their culture and beliefs will continue to prosper through many Lithuanian generations. Lithuania is locked in a bitter war with the Teutonic Order and their parent nation, the Holy Roman Empire. Lithuania can draw much strength by holding to the old ways. Following the pagan Gods of Perkunas, Giltine, and Dievas will unleash religious warriors that instil fear in the hearts of all men. However, surrounded by Christian armies on all sides, the Lithuanians may be forced to change their ways to avoid death, enslavement, or exile at the hands of the Christians.

The Teutonic Order, fuelled by a need to redeem their souls through conquest, has grown into an unrivalled military power on the shores of the Baltic. Their religious fervour comes at a great cost to the lives of their pagan and Orthodox neighbours, but even their fellow Catholics are not exempt. They war with many and are trusted by none. Poland looks on with fear, concerned where the fervent expansion of the Order will take them next and when they will turn their greedy gaze to Poland. The Orthodox people of Novgorod, always mindful of the atrocities they suffered during the Order’s failed attempt on their great city, stand strong and ready for further assaults. Denmark remains neutral, but grows wary of the Order’s presence in the Baltic and watchful of their increased interest in trade. The Holy Roman Empire watches the Order’s actions like a proud parent, but the knights are forging their own great empire. It is the pagans of Lithuania, however, that feel the full force of the Order’s zeal and the sting of their swords. Hunting pagans has become almost a sport with so-called “Crusaders” flocking in from the West to kill their share.

* ArchEnemy: To the north, the Holy Roman Empire looms over Venice, and to the east the Byzantines represent Venice's greatest obstacle in founding a Mediterrainean trade empire.

* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: The Forlorn Hope, prisoners and volunteers desperate for glory, armed with thick armour and heavy swords and thrown into wall breaches and pike formations. They are strong, but lack discipline.

* ACommanderIsYou: Brute[=/=]Specialist (Shock Infantry). Denmark has some of the best infantry available to any faction - Dismounted Huscarls, Viking Raiders, Norse Axemen and soon Obudshaer and Swordstaff Militia. However the rest of the army is rather subpar, with basic archers and crossbowmen. Heavy cavalry is quite decent however.

* ACommanderIsYou: Generalist/Economist. Quite strong all-around army, with some really outstanding units such as the Tabardariyya and the Mamluks. Holds some of the richest provinces in the game, and as such boast a very powerful economy. It's hard to go wrong with Egypt really.

* ACommanderIsYou: Brute Force/Elitist. France has some of the best heavy infantry and cavalry in the game, but also fields very good late ranged units in their Aventuriers (armoured crossbowmen) and Scots Guard (armoured longbowmen) and very good gunpowder artillery later on.

* ACommanderIsYou: Elitist[=/=]Specialist (Two-handed Swords): Has some of the best heavy troops in the game, both infantry and cavalry, but more focused on infantry with hefty two-handed swords, devastating on the charge but suffer in a protracted melee due to the lack of a shield, and also drop like flies when shot at. Though like the Byzantines they are lacking in late-game technology and professional troops.

* ACommanderIsYou: Guerilla early on, Elitist/Brute later. Has some of the best skirmisher units in the game that stay useful throughout the game, but later gets things like Conquistadores from New World settlements (both mounted and on foot), Portuguese Arquebusiers and Aventuros (elite pikemen).

* ACommanderIsYou: Spammer early on, later Ranger, Technician or Generalist, depending on the playstyle: Lots of cheap troops early on. Good all around roster mid-game, with excellent cavalry units, both melee and missile. Like all the Eastern factions, it relies more on cavalry (especially missile cavalry) then western Europeans.

* CripplingOverspecialization: Scotland is considered one of the lower tier kingdoms in the game, as they are heavy infantry specialists in a game and time period where cavalry was king. As many Scottish units are lacking shields and armour, they also drop like flies when missile troops shoot at them or when they are counter-charged.

* ACommanderIsYou: Guerrilla/Ranger early on, Brute force/Technician later. Starts out with mostly light infantry and ranged units, later gets Qapukulu, Janissary units and Monster Bombards, becoming a real force to be reckoned with.

* ACommanderIsYou: Spammer early on, Specialist/Technician later, Economist throughout. Starts with lots and lots of cheap and better-than-average militia, but later gets units like Stradiots (one of the best light cavalry in the game), Venetians Archers and armor-piercing Venetian Heavy Infantry. Venice is in a good starting position to build a trade empire and benefits a lot from gunpowder technology.

* ArmyOfTheivesAndWhores: The Forlorn Hope, prisoners and volunteers desperate for glory, armed with thick armour and heavy swords and thrown into wall breaches and pike formations. They are strong, but lack discipline.

* ArmyOfTheivesAndWhores: The famed Janissary troops, made up of levies of Christian boys and prisoners who have converted to Islam, often at the point of a sword. They are renowned for their courage and skill.

* NationalWeapon: Nearly Russian units prefer axes over swords in a fight, but Bardiche axemen particularly strike fear into the hearts of their enemies, right before striking at their enemies!
* PalletteSwap: Novgorod in the ''Teutonic'' campaign is functionally the vanilla Russia with a new colour scheme. They have all the same units.

%%!Apachean Tribes
%%!!!Culture: Native American
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Koitsenko

%%!The Aztecs
%%!!!Culture: Mesoamerican
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Jaguar Warriors

%%!Chichimec Tribes
%%!!!Culture: Mesoamerican
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Guachichil Warriors

%%!The Mayans
%%!!!Culture: Mesoamerican
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Hornet Throwers

%%!The Tarascans
%%!!!Culture: Mesoamerican
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Priests of Quetzalcoatl

%%!The Tlaxcalans
%%!!!Culture: Mesoamerican
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Priests of Quetzalcoatl

%%!Ireland

%%-->Notable Units: Deisi Javelinmen

%%!Norway

%%-->Notable Units: Gotland Footmen

%%!Wales
%%!!!Culture: Northern European
%%!!!Religion: Catholic

%%--Notable Units: Saethwyr

[[folder:Crusades Campaign]]

%%!Principality of Antioch
%%!!!Culture: Northern European
%%!!!Religion: Catholic

%%-->Notable Units: Marshall of the Hospitallers

%%!The Kingdom of Jerusalem
%%!!!Culture: Northern European
%%!!!Religion: Catholic

%%-->Notable Units: Marshall of the Templars

[[/folder]]

%%!Lithuania
%%!!!Culture: Eastern European
%%!!!Religion: Pagan

%%-->Notable Units: Dievas' Guard

%%!The Teutonic Order
%%!!!Culture: Northern European
%%!!!Religion: Catholic

%%-->Notable Units: Ritterbruder

* BadassGrandpa: Sultan Al-Zahir, your starting faction leader, is sixty years old and can lead troops into battle and fight.

* AnAxeToGrind: Many Danish units are armed with axes instead of swords, and this gives them significantly more punch against heavily armoured troops.

Notable Units: Lancers, Aventurier, Scots Guard

* ACommanderIsYou: Brute Force/Elitist. France has some of the best heavy infantry and cavalry in the game, but also fields very good late ranged units in their Aventuriers (armoured crossbowmen) and Scots Guard (armoured longbowmen) and very good gunpowder artillery later on.

* KnightInShiningArmour: What France is famous for. France is largely flat and has a large noble population, so heavy cavalry on the charge is a key component of warfare.

* KnightInShiningArmour: The Gothic Knights, so named for the distinctive style of their plate armour, are the elite German heavy shock cavalry.

Notable Units: Battlefield Assassins, Magyar Cavalry

Notable Units: Famiglia Ducale, Genoese Crossbowmen and Genoese Pavise Crossbowmen

* NationalWeapon: The axe, especially the Bardiche.

* CadreOfForeignBodyguards: The Varangian Guard, Scandivanians and Englishmen fighting as royal bodyguards for the Byzantine emperor, in the classic nordic style of war - two-handed great axe and round wooden shield, in mail.

* HornyVikings: The days of the viking raids have come and gone, but many Danish units retain a nordic flavour.

* SlaveMooks: Mamluks and Royal Mamluks.

Notable Units: Longbowmen, English Knights

Notable Units: Famiglia Ducale, Broken Lances

* NationalWeapon: The crossbow, wielded by Milanese and other Italian militias and favoured for ease of use and stopping power.

Notable Units: Camel Gunners, Christian Guard, Berber Spearmen

* BornInTheSaddle: The Turks have exceptional cavalry.

!The Byzantine Empire
!!!Culture: Greek
!!!Religion: Orthodox

-->Notable Units: Varangian Guard, Kataphractoi, Fire Ships

!Denmark
!!!Culture: Northern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Norse Axemen, Obudshaer, Norse War Clerics

!Egypt
!!!Culture: Middle-Eastern
!!!Religion: Islam

-->Notable Units: Tabardaiyya, Mamluks, Royal Mamluks

!England
!!!Culture: Northern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Longbowmen, English Knights

!France
!!!Culture: Northern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Lancers, Aventurier, Scots Guard

!The Holy Roman Empire
!!!Culture: Northern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Forlorn Hope, Zweihanders, Gothic Knights

!Hungary
!!!Culture: Eastern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Battlefield Assassins, Magyar Cavalry

!Milan
!!!Culture: Southern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Famiglia Ducale, Broken Lances

!Moors
!!!Culture: Middle-Eastern
!!!Religion: Islam

-->Notable Units: Camel Gunners, Christian Guard, Berber Spearmen

!Poland
!!!Culture: Eastern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Hussars, Polish Nobles, Strzelcy

!Portugal
!!!Culture: Southern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Portuguese Arquebusiers, Portuguese Knights, Aventuros

!Russia
!!!Culture: Eastern European
!!!Religion: Orthodox

-->Notable Units: Boyar Sons, Tsar's Guard, Cossack Musketeers

!Scotland
!!!Culture: Northern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Highland Nobles, Highland Rabble, Highland Pikemen

!Sicily
!!!Culture: Southern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Norman Knights, Muslim Archers

!Spain
!!!Culture: Southern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Tercio Pikemen, Conquistadores

!The Turks
!!!Culture: Middle-Eastern
!!!Religion: Islam

-->Notable Units: Janissary Musketeers, Ottoman Infantry, Qapakulu

!Venice
!!!Culture: Southern European
!!!Religion: Catholic

-->Notable Units: Venetian Heavy Infantry, Stradiots, Venetian Archers

-->Notable Units: Tabardaiyya, Royal Mamluks

The Turks may very much be relative newcomers to both Anatolia and the Holy Lands, but the impact that they have had upon these realms since they migrated from the steppes east of the Caspian has been profound enough to shake the pillars of the oldest and mightiest neighbouring dynasties. Having seized control of the Abbasid Caliphate from the Buyids, and utterly crushed the Byzantines at Manzikert, the Turks have restored unity to the eastern Islamic region, making them arguably the greatest power Arabia or Persia has seen for centuries. In the foreseeable future, arrogance and complacency are likely to be the biggest threats to the mighty Seljuk Empire. To expect Byzantium to underestimate Turkish forces after the slaughter of Manzikert would be folly, and it can be taken as given that they will attempt to regain control of Anatolia. So long as the Turks manage to combine their new system of centralised government with their innate abilities as mounted warriors, then their position in this corner of the world looks most secure. After all, how likely is it that an even more fierce and formidable race of nomadic warriors sweep down from the steppes?

* ACommanderIsYou: Guerrilla/Ranger early on, Brute force/Technician later. Starts out with mostly light infantry and ranged units, later gets Qapukulu, Janissary units and Monster Bombards, becoming a real force to be reckoned with.