The Ambrosian Republic is the fourth scenario of the Sforza campaign in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten. It is based on the namesake Golden Ambrosian Republic, when Duke Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan has died and the Duchy of Milan has been replaced with a republic. This scenario is depicting the capture of Pavia, the siege of Piacenza, and the siege of Caravaggio.
Francesco Sforza is now the Captain-General of the Ambrosian Republic, most of the nearby Italian towns are on the Venetians' side, while Cremona remains loyal to Milan (the Republic), and Pavia is neutral in the conflict before Sforza could subjugate it for the republic. After Sforza gains Pavia's allegiance, the player is set to reconquer Piacenza by destroying four of their towers. Then the player is to visit Cremona, before preparing to besiege Treviglio, Vailate, and Mozzanica (all under Venetian control). Later, the player is to defeat the Venetian navy invading Cremona, before besieging Caravaggio.
Intro[]
Visconti died in 1447. This should have meant that Sforza would become Duke, but matters were greatly complicated when Visconti's relatives all lay claim to the riches of Lombardy. Alfonso V of Aragon, Charles of Orleans, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, the Hapsburgs... "And of course, the people did not want a foreign man to rule over them," said my scholar-noble, and I nodded yes.
The scholars and professors of Milan convinced the people to revert Milan back to a Republic. Sforza was immensely popular, and the Republicans gained further support by asking Sforza to become Captain General and reconquer the surrounding towns who decided to quietly rebel after Visconti's death. The young man asked, "Sforza did not wish to force himself over the will of the people, and so he must have been content in his new role?"
"Ha, ha!" I laughed. "Content? Sforza might have led an easier life as Captain General than as Duke! They were paying him, and the rest of us, exceedingly well. But yes, if he tried to force himself to be the new Duke, the people would rise up against him, anyway. Is it better to be loved or feared?" This struck a cord with my friend, and he began to attack the parchment. I continued, "Many cities were breaking away, and it was up to the new Captain General of the Golden Ambrosian Republic to reign them in!"
Players[]
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Player[]
- Player (
Italians)
Allies[]
- Cremona (
Italians): Located in the southeast, south of the Po River. It is the only loyal vassal city to Milan, and once the player reaches there, the player will have access to the Archery Range, which clicking on it would produce a hand cannoneer for 50 gold each. Later, after conquering the three Venetian towns, the player is to defend Cremona from the Venetian navy invading from the east of the Po River. - Locals ( Italians): A village in the middle of the map, where after the player visits Cremona, would have access to their Barracks and Archery Range, which clicking on them would respectively produce Long Swordsmen (40 gold each) and Genoese Crossbowmen (30 gold each).
Ally, potential enemy[]
- Pavia ( Italians): Located in the west of the map, and at the point where the Ticino River meets the Po River. It is neutral in the conflict between Milan (Ambrosian Republic) and Venice. In the beginning, Francesco Sforza is to visit their Castle and persuade them to join him, in order to gain access to their Siege Workshop, which clicking on it would produce a bombard cannon for 200 gold each. At this point, the player would also take over their Bombard Cannons which would immediately start bombarding Piacenza. In order to prevent the Pavesi from revolting, the player must keep at least 5 units garrisoned in their castle.
Enemies[]
- Rebels ( Italians)
- Venetians ( Italians): The nemesis of Milan, they are in control of three towns - Treviglio, Vailate, and Mozzanica, where the player is to destroy their castles, and the player may optionally destroy their Blacksmiths to obtain upgrades. Later, they will have navy attacking Cremona from the east of the Po River.
Enemy to ally[]
- Caravaggio ( Italians): Located in the north of the map, pro-Venice, and being the strongest enemy in this scenario. After defeating the Venetian navy, the player is to take down their castle and make them surrender.
- Piacenza ( Italians): Located in the southwest, south of the Po River, and being a former vassal of Milan defected to Venice. The player is to reconquer Piacenza by destroying any four of their watch towers. Since then, the player would have access to the stable (marked with flags), which clicking on it would produce a Knight for 100 gold each.
Storyline/gameplay[]
Francesco Sforza is leading a band of Condottieri and Hand Cannoneers from the west, and Sforza is to travel to the Castle in Pavia to persuade them for their allegiance. Then the player would take control of Pavesi Bombard Cannons at the south gate, and they would start bombarding Piacenza. The player is to reconquer Piacenza by destroying four Piacentini Watch Towers.
Throughout the game, the player must garrison five untis in the Pavesi castle at all time, in order to maintain their loyalty and have access to their Siege Workshop, which clicking on it would produce a bombard cannon for 200 gold each. Otherwise, the Pavesi will revolt against the player.
Once the player reconquers Piacenza, the player would have access to the Stable (marked with flags), which clicking on it would produce a Knight for 100 gold each. At this point, the player shall prepare for the siege on the Venetian-controlled Treviglio, Vailate, and Mozzanica, aiming to destroy their castles. Additionally, the player may opt to destroy their Blacksmiths in order to acquire some blacksmith technologies.
Then the player is set to visit Cremona, in order to get access to the Archery Range, which clicking on it would produce a hand cannoneer for 50 gold each. At this point, the player would also gain access to the Locals' Barracks and archery range, which clicking on them would respectively produce Long Swordsmen (40 gold each) and Genoese Crossbowmen (30 gold each).
After all the three Venetian castles are destroyed, the Venetian admiral Andrea Quirini will bring a fleet of War Galleys and Cannon Galleons to siege Cremona, and the player is to annihilate the Venetian navy. Though the player cannot build a navy in this scenario, the player can easily defend Cremona by garrisoning Genoese crossbowmen in the Cremonesi watch towers.
After defeating the Venetian navy, the player is set to destroy the castle in Caravaggio. They are very well-defended, and being the strongest enemy in this scenario. Once the player enters the city, there will be Venetian relief force, consisting of Champions, Condottieri, and hand cannoneers, coming from the northeast of the city.
As the Caravaggini castle is being destroyed, they would surrender, and Sforza must go to the torch on the road in the northeast of Caravaggio to Brescia, in order to win the scenario.
Outro[]
"I don't understand why the Republicans thought making Sforza into their enemy was a good idea. They promised Brescia to him, but they made peace with the city behind his back in the middle of his siege. Brescia stayed independent. Sforza had nothing," I shrugged. The scholar said, "If Sforza was more feared, they wouldn't have dared to betray him. The Republicans must have thought he was weak." Sforza had Bianca, the heir to the Dukedom, but he didn't pursue it; maybe they saw it as a sign of weakness. I reminded my friend that Sforza was beloved in Milan and this would later work to his advantage.
