We are back in the 12th century with the Barbarossa Campaign in mission number four, where Barbarossa is once again determined to conquer Italy. The Italians have rebelled against the Rule of Barbarossa once more, this time, multiple cities at once who have formed the Lombard League. This League was a powerful medieval alliance of northern Italian city-states formed in 1167. Its primary purpose was to resist the aggressive attempts of Barbarossa to assert direct Imperial control over Northern Italy. What makes the alliance so unique is that these Italian communes (like Milan, Venice, Verona, and Bologna) were notorious for fighting each other. However, Barbarossa’s heavy taxation and installation of strict imperial governors forced these rival cities to band together for survival. 

Chris

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music: Teuton Intro Music of the official AoE II Soundtrack