Barbarossa

Barbarossa is the name of an emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The Barbarossa Campaign on Age of Empires II follows the emperor in his conquests in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Holy Roman Emperor
The objective of this scenario is to claim dominance over the other European Duchies by claiming the Relicss that each team possess. Barbarossa begins on an island in the centre of the map, surrounded on all sides by various Central European enemies:
 * Austria (blue) - one of the weaker teams on the map, but their Relic is defended by a Castle. They are also close in proximity to the stronger teams of Bohemia and Bavaria.
 * Bavaria (green) - one of the stronger teams on the map, they are relatively the counterparts of Saxony, having a small fort to the south.
 * Bohemia (cyan) - begin off with negligeable forces and a limited amount of villagers, but are the only team (besides you) to begin on the Castle Age, so build up quickly and become one of the more powerful opponents on the map. Their distant location also makes it difficult to attack them, as you have to trapse through Austria first.
 * Burgundy (purple) - they are one of the weakest opponents on the map, and the most easily accessible from your initial base, it is reccomended you claim Burgundy's relic first. They are also the only Franks on the map.
 * Saxony (yellow) - one of the stronger opponents on the map, they have a fortress to the north, guarded by Stone Wall. They are Goths.
 * Swabia (orange) - one of the weaker teams on the map, their army is predominantly Spearmen and Knights.

Henry the Lion
Barbarossa must defeat Poland {Blues/Goths) who reside in a scattered non-nucleated base in the east of the map. Barbarossa is allied with Saxony, Bavaria and Henry the Lion. Henry the Lion quickly changes to enemy, and his large army will make things difficult, but he can be defeated. Saxony and Bavaria provide you with resources, as you begin with no villagers. However, villagers can be obtained from Henry the Lion by Convertion.

Pope and Antipope
Barbarossa must convert the magnificent Cathedral in the Italian city of Milan (blue). Your allies with Carcano (yellow), who possess a small fort and army, but may be defeated later on in the game.

The Lombard League
Barbarossa must construct a Wonder in one of the Lombard League cities. The opponents in this mission are:
 * Padua (green), the largest army on the map, they launch an attack on Barbarossa at the beginning of this mission using Trebuchets, Paladins and Teutonic Knights, amongst other powerful units. Their fortified city is in the northern corner of the map.
 * Venice (purple) - situated in the centre of the map, with a large fortress on the mainland, with a Castle and large army on an island offshore. They have the largest navy on the map.
 * Verona (yellow) - the smallest city on the map, they lack a Castle to begin with, though build one relatively quickly. They are protected by the practically adjacent city of Padua, and are the furthest away opponent.

Henry the Lion also features in this level, betraying Barbarossa as he did in the second level of the campaign.

Barbarossa's March
Barbarossa must sail across the Sea of Marmara to reach the Hospitallers camp in the south. He must threaten Constantinople (blue) in order to use its navy. You do not have any villagers on this level.

The Emperor Sleeping
Barbarossa's army must get the deceased Emperor Barbarossa's body (hidden in a pickle barrel) to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. He encounters Saladin and the enemy city of Damascus along the way, and is allied to Richard the Lionheart (orange/Britons)