Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement

A New Duke of Milan is the final scenario of the Sforza campaign in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten.

Intro[]

The Republicans hated Sforza; the Milanese loved Sforza; Sforza joined with the Venetians to conquer Milan; the Milanese hated Venice; the Republicans were willing to make deals with Venice. The young man and I were plunged into the intricate world of Condottieri, and dukes, and republics, and new principalities. "So what did Sforza do? His life always has downs, but he finds a way up," the youth said.

Sforza had started life as a bastard son of a contract hound. He lost his father and had to grow up quickly to take control of his Brigata. Brigata Sforza was a shining star among the mercenary companies, but he was quickly tossed into jail for a single mishap. He had redeemed himself and gained the hand of the daughter of a duke, but was still an unclear heir. After conquering the duchy for the new heirs, the Golden Ambrosian Republic, he was cast out without a town to call his own.

"Indeed, a good observation. Sforza went to the Venetians for support and decided it was time to conquer Milan for himself. The Milanese did not blame Sforza, and instead grew in their hatred of the Republicans." These scholars and professors had made a grave mistake. Sforza began to take city after city with the dubious help of the Venetians. When he marched on Milan itself, the people would not view him as a conqueror, but a liberator.

Introduction[]

This scenario is very challenging, because the player must first build up a defensive position while under constant attack, and then move out to control the countryside. Once this is done, the player must defeat a powerful and unexpected attack by a new faction, and then the city, the scenario and the campaign are won.

Players[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.

Player[]

Enemies[]

  • Milanese Army (CivIcon-Italians Italians): The Army of Milan has some outposts throughout the countryside, and the player can destroy these to limit the Army of Milan's attacks, but most of its unit producing structures are inside the City of Milan (Yellow) in the Northeast, which the player is not strong enough to take down without siege or a navy. Thus, the principal means of neutralizing the threat the Army of Milan is to accomplish the three objectives of 1) defeating Abbiategrasso (Red), the City of Milan's Ally to its immediate west, by destroying its Town Center, 2) taking over the Milanese Countryside's (gray) granaries in the Northeast and 3) destroying its Markets in the Southern corner. This will make the both City of Milan and the Army of Milan the player's allies.
  • Abbiategrasso (CivIcon-Franks Franks): As noted, the city of Abbiategrasso is allied with the City of Milan and will constantly attack the player with a never-ending stream of relatively weak troops. A well placed Castle or two can neutralize this threat. To permanently neutralize this faction, its Town Center must be destroyed. Then it will resign. This is one of the three initial objectives the player must meet. Hint: the player may not make siege weapons, but petards are available in the Castle for blowing up Gates and towers.
  • Milan's Countryside (CivIcon-Italians Italians): This faction mostly represents the economy of the city outside the walls. It has some scattered towers and economic buildings, including a Town Center, several Lumber Camps, and numerous Mills, and it has various military units protecting several villagers who are out gathering resources. As the player asserts control over the countryside and its resources to lay siege to the City behind its walls, the player will naturally eliminate the gray faction. Of particular note, the gray faction controls Markets in the south and granaries in the northeast, each guarded by some towers and military units, and the player must take these over.

Enemy → Ally[]

  • City of Milan (CivIcon-Italians Italians): The city of Milan has powerful, upgraded units such as Arbalests and Hand Cannoneers, but they mostly stay behind the walls of the city of Milan (in the Northeast) which are well fortified with Bombard Towers and other fortifications. They occasionally sally out to battle the player if the player's forces approach too close to the city, and sometimes appear further outside the walls to attack the player's base in the south along with the green and red forces. Once the player accomplishes the initial objectives set forth above, and the Venetians backstabbing attack is defeated, the City of Milan will call for Sforza to enter the city and will become his ally.

Ally → Enemy[]

  • Venetians (CivIcon-Byzantines Byzantines): The scenario notes that the Venetians have been aiding Sforza in his campaign against Milan. They do not appear until the player accomplishes the initial objectives in the siege. At that time, they "betray" Sforza and launch an attack against him. This attack consists of several waves of combined arms, including considerable amount of siege weapons. A mobile force of cavalry that can quickly move to head off the various waves of the attack is advised. Once the attack is broken, Sforza may enter the city and he is made Duke by his supporters and the scenario and the campaign are won.

Walkthrough[]

The player starts out in the southwestern sector of the map, surrounded on all sides. Milan (yellow) lies in the middle, with various allies (Milanese countryside - gray, and Abbiategrasso - red ) backing it up. The goal is not to siege Milan directly, but go after its supporters. The main threat initially is Abbiategrasso, who owns a city just west of Milan. Shortly after starting, the player will be given three Villagers.

The player will come under attack frequently, but they can find gold, stone, and other resources nearby. Setting up an initial defense (one Castle just north of the starting position on a hill, flanked by Guard Towers) will help hold off enemy attacks. The player should garrison their archers for added firepower, and build a Monastery to recruit Monks and convert a defense force to their cause.

It will be rough going for a while, as the player will have to consistently ring the town bell to call their Villagers in from attacks by green and Abbiategrasso. Green is untouchable (they are located in Milan itself), while red will send a steady stream of attacks. Fortunately Abbiategrasso stays in the Feudal Age throughout, so their troops are weak and easily convertible to the player's side.

After holding off dozens of attacks and building up the economy, it's time to strike. Abbiategrasso should be the first target. They are located north/northwest of the player's starting position, in the upper corner of the map. Milan has a lot of defenses in the area (Bombard Towers, Bombard Cannons towers, and lots of archers). Once the players destroy the Abbiategrasso enemy's Town Center, they'll surrender. They also have a relic, which should be stolen.

Once Abbiategrasso is destroyed, the player will get some messages talking about cutting off Milan. This is a three part objective. After destroying Abbiategrasso, the player have two smaller targets to destroy as well. There is a trade outpost (guarded by towers and soldiers) southeast of the player's starting position, and granaries (also guarded by towers) in the far northeast of the map. These are the next two priorities. Alternatively, the player can take these two out first, as doing so will grant regular food and wood tribute. To get the food tribute, the player must protect the three granaries, which convert to the player's side after the towers are destroyed. They provide a steady stream of tributes of 60 wood. To get a regular series of tributes of 60 wood, the player must build a Market in the same palisade enclosure where the Milanese countryside (gray) Markets are located. The player must decide whether that getting that income stream going by attacking the gray strongholds in the north and south first is worth postponing the attack on Abbiategrasso. Either way, Abbiategrasso is a much more irritating target, as gray will never attack.

The player should keep building their defenses, however. Once the remaining two targets are eliminated, thereby cutting off Milan, some important dialogue ensues. Venice betrays the player, and sends troops to their base. The player's forces should return immediately, making sure the Castles and Towers are garrisoned with Archers or Villagers to hold off the Venetian attacks.

After about 10 minutes of attacks, Milan will offer a truce, and ask Sforza to come to their Castle. The scenario and the campaign is now over.

Outro[]

Sforza was actually invited into the city by the starving people of Milan, and practically elected duke with Bianca Maria as his duchess. Sforza had not touched the Milanese countryside, and quickly rebuilt any accidentally destroyed farms. He immediately imprisoned the Republicans but, astonishingly, he eventually granted them amnesty. This mercenary who seemed to only love gold wrote the Peace of Lodi with Milan's old enemy, Florence. "So that is how a private person becomes a public man." I replied, "Yes. A bastard contract hound becomes the most powerful duke in Italy. So, my friend, what are you writing? And what is your name?" He replied, "I am making a book for princes on how to rule their kingdoms. And my name is Nicolo Machiavelli."

Trivia[]

Before The African Kingdoms, the player can research Redemption to convert enemy's buildings, as a result, it is possible to create navy and Siege Weapons. Redemption is no longer available since The African Kingdoms.

Campaigns in Age of Empires II
AoE2-DLCicon-0 The Age of Kings
CampaignIcon-WilliamDE William Wallace Difficulty easy PC: Marching and Fighting · Feeding the Army · Training the Troops · Research and Technology · The Battle of Stirling · Forge an Alliance · The Battle of Falkirk
Xbox: Preparing for Battle · The Battle of Stirling · Forge an Alliance · The Battle of Falkirk
CampaignIcon-JoanDE Joan of Arc Difficulty easy An Unlikely Messiah · The Maid of Orleans · The Cleansing of the Loire · The Rising · The Siege of Paris · A Perfect Martyr
CampaignIcon-SaladinDE Saladin Difficulty medium An Arabian Knight · Lord of Arabia · The Horns of Hattin · The Siege of Jerusalem · Jihad! · The Lion and the Demon
CampaignIcon-KhanDE Genghis Khan Difficulty easy Crucible · A Life of Revenge · Into China · The Horde Rides West · The Promise · Pax Mongolica
CampaignIcon-BarbarossaDE Barbarossa Difficulty easy Holy Roman Emperor · Henry the Lion · Pope and Antipope · The Lombard League · Barbarossa's March · The Emperor Sleeping
AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors
CampaignIcon-AttilaDE Attila the Hun Difficulty easy The Scourge of God · The Great Ride · The Walls of Constantinople · A Barbarian Betrothal · The Catalaunian Fields · The Fall of Rome
CampaignIcon-ElCidDE El Cid Difficulty easy Brother against Brother · The Enemy of my Enemy · The Exile of the Cid · Black Guards · King of Valencia · Reconquista
CampaignIcon-MontezumaDE Montezuma Difficulty easy Reign of Blood · The Triple Alliance · Quetzalcoatl · La Noche Triste · The Boiling Lake · Broken Spears
Battles of the Conquerors Icon Battles of the Conquerors Tours · Vinlandsaga · Hastings · Manzikert · Agincourt · Lepanto · Kyoto · Noryang Point
Hidden scenario The Saxon Revolt
AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten
CampaignIcon-AlaricDE Alaric Difficulty hard HD: All Roads Lead to a Besieged City · Legionaries on the Horizon! · Emperor of the West · The Sack of Rome
DE: The Battle of the Frigidus · Razing Hellas · The Belly of the Beast · The Giant Falls · A Kingdom of Our Own
CampaignIcon-DraculaDE Vlad Dracula Difficulty medium The Dragon Spreads His Wings · The Return of the Dragon · The Breath of the Dragon · The Moon Rises · The Night Falls
CampaignIcon-BariDE Bari Difficulty medium HD: Arrival at Bari · The Rebellion of Melus · The Great Siege
DE: Arrival at Bari · The Rebellion of Melus · Loose Ends · The Best Laid Plans · The Onrushing Tide
CampaignIcon-SforzaDE Sforza Difficulty medium HD: An End and a Beginning · O Fortuna · The Hand of a Daughter · The Ambrosian Republic · A New Duke of Milan
DE: Mercenaries and Masters · His Own Man · Prodigal Son · Blood and Betrayal · Viva Sforza!
El Dorado Icon El Dorado (removed) Tales of La Canela · The Split · The Amazones · The Cannibals
CampaignIcon-PrithvirajDE Prithviraj Difficulty medium HD: A Promising Warrior · The Digvijaya · The Elopement · Battles of Tarain
DE: Born of Fire · The Digvijaya · Hand of a Princess · The Fate of India · The Legend of Prithviraj
Battles of the Forgotten Icon Battles of the Forgotten Bukhara · Dos Pilas · York · Honfoglalás · Langshan Jiang · Kurikara · Cyprus · Bapheus · Kaesong (cut)
AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms
CampaignIcon-TariqIbnZiyadDE Tariq ibn Ziyad Difficulty medium The Battle of Guadalete · Consolidation and Subjugation · Divide and Conquer · Crossing the Pyrenees · Razzia
CampaignIcon-SundjataDE Sundjata Difficulty medium Hunted · The Sting of the Scorpion · Djeriba Gold · Blood on the River Bank · The Lion's Den
CampaignIcon-FranciscoDE Francisco de Almeida Difficulty hard The Old World · Lion of Africa · Ruins of Empires · Estado da India · A Son's Blood
CampaignIcon-YoditDE Yodit Difficulty hard Path of Exile · The Right Partner · A Fallen Crown · Broken Stelae · Welcome Home
AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas
CampaignIcon-GajahMadaDE Gajah Mada Difficulty medium The Story of Our Founders · Unconditional Loyalty · The Oath to Unify Nusantara · Serving the New King · The Pasunda Bubat Tragedy
CampaignIcon-SuryavarmanIDE Suryavarman I Difficulty easy Usurpation · Quelling the Rebellion · A Dangerous Mission · Challenging a Thalassocracy · Nirvanapada
CampaignIcon-BayinnaungDE Bayinnaung Difficulty hard The Burmese Tigers · The Mandalay Cobra · The Royal Peacock · The White Elephant · The Old Tiger
CampaignIcon-LeLoiDE Le Loi Difficulty hard The Dai Viet Uprising · The Mountain Siege · The Battle at Hanoi · Reaching South · A Three-Pronged Attack · The Final Fortress
AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition
CampaignIcon-TheArtOfWar The Art of War Difficulty easy Early Economy · Booming · Rushing the Enemy · Fast Castle Age · Defending Against A Rush · Land Battle · Destroying a Castle · Naval Battle · Battle Formations
CampaignIcon-Pachacuti Pachacuti Difficulty medium A New Power Arises · The Field of Blood · War of Brothers · The Falcon's Tent · Like Father, Like Son
00 historical battles normal Historical Battles Difficulty easy Scn 09 bukhara normal Bukhara · Scn 10 dos pilas normal Dos Pilas · Scn 01 tours normal Tours · Scn 11 york normal York · Scn 12 honfoglalas normal Honfoglalás · Scn 02 vinlandsaga normal Vinlandsaga · Scn 03 hastings normal Hastings · Scn 04 manzikert normal Manzikert · Scn 13 kurikara normal Kurikara · Scn 14 cyprus normal Cyprus · Scn 15 bapheus normal Bapheus · Scn 16 lake poyang normal Lake Poyang · Scn 05 agincourt normal Agincourt · Scn 06 lepanto normal Lepanto · Scn 07 kyoto normal Kyoto · Scn 08 noryang point normal Noryang Point
Event scenarios Mongol Raiders · Barbarossa Brawl · Mangudai Madness · The Siege (co-op)
AoE2-DLCicon-5 The Last Khans
CampaignIcon-Tamerlane Tamerlane Difficulty easy Amir of Transoxiana · Gurkhan of Persia · Harbinger of Destruction · Sultan of Hindustan · Scourge of the Levant · A Titan Amongst Mortals
CampaignIcon-Ivaylo Ivaylo Difficulty hard A Most Unlikely Man · An Unlikely Alliance · Tsar of the Bulgars · Echoes of Heroes · Where the One-Eyed Man is King
CampaignIcon-Kotyan Kotyan Khan Difficulty hard Raising the Banners · The Battle at the Kalka River · Saving the Huts · Blood for Blood · A New Home
AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West
CampaignIcon-EdwardDE Edward Longshanks Difficulty easy Vain Ambition · A Man of God · Of Castles and Kings · Toom Tabard · Hammer of the Scots
CampaignIcon-DukesDE Grand Dukes Difficulty medium A Kingdom Divided · The Wolf and the Lion · The Cleansing of Paris · Unholy Marriage · The Hook and Cod Wars · The Maid Falls
CampaignIcon-HautevillesDE The Hautevilles Difficulty hard Guiscard Arrives · Roger in Sicily · Bohemond and the Emperor · Bohemond in the East · Wonder of the World
Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes
Algirdas icon Algirdas and Kestutis Difficulty easy Family Affairs · No Man's Land · The Tatar Yoke · A Worthy Opponent · In the Shadow of the Throne
32 jadwiga normal Jadwiga Difficulty hard The Matter of the Crown · Star of the Poles · Duel of the Dukes · The Siege of Vilnius · Vytautas' Crusade · The Fruits of Her Labor
Jan Zizka icon Jan Zizka Difficulty medium The One-Eyed Wanderer · Courage and Coin · The Iron Lords · The Golden City · The Emperor's Fury · Warrior of God
AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India
Babur Icon Babur Difficulty easy Pearl of the East · The Last Timurids · Into India · The Battle of Panipat · The Rajputs
Rajendra Icon Rajendra Difficulty hard The Successor · Deeds of the Father · Rising Star · Sacred Waters · Slaying the Vritra
Devapala Icon Devapala Difficulty easy Dissatisfaction · Desire · Renunciation · Liberation? · Enlightenment
AoE2Icon-MountainRoyals The Mountain Royals
Tamar Icon Tamar Difficulty hard Takeover · Yury's Revenge · The Protectorate · Tamar the Builder · The Queen in the Panther's Skin
Thoros Icon Thoros II Difficulty easy Outlawed · The Emperor's Revenge · Caught in the Crossfire · Bloody Crestwaves · Of Turncoats and Traitors
Ismail Icon Ismail Difficulty medium The Red Hats · Road to Royalty · Alexander Safavi · The Fallen Amir · Khata'i
Aoe2 hb Victors and Vanquished
VictorsAndVanquished Campaign Icon
Victors and Vanquished
Difficulty easy Scn 23 charlemagne Charlemagne · Scn 39 drake Drake · Scn 26 finehair Finehair · Scn 25 ironside Ironside · Scn 38 nobunaga Nobunaga
Difficulty medium Scn 36 fetih Fetih · Scn 21 gaiseric Gaiseric · Scn 24 ragnar Ragnar · Scn 27 robert Robert · Scn 37 shimazu Shimazu · Scn 32 stephen Stephen · Scn 33 temujin Temujin · Scn 22 vortigern Vortigern
Difficulty hard Scn 35 constantine Constantine XI · Scn 30 karlsefni Karlsefni · Scn 31 komnenos Komnenos · Scn 34 mstislav Mstislav · Scn 28 otto Otto · Scn 29 seljuk Seljuk
Advertisement