The Saxon Revolt (original German title: Anno 782 - Sachsenaufstand) is a hidden scenario on the Age of Empires II: The Conquerors game disk. The historical background of the scenario is the war between Frankish king Charlemagne and the Saxon duke Widukind. More specifically, the scenario covers the Battle at Süntel and the Massacre of Verden in the year of 782. The player controls the Franks against the Saxons and their allies.
Release[]
The scenario was not scripted by Ensemble Studios but by scenario designer Andreas Marscheider (better known as aMa), who finished the scenario on 28 May 2000 according to the scenario's readme file.
The scenario was the winner of Microsoft's Charlemagne Scenario Contest in 2000 and the reason why it was added to the game disc of the Age of Empires II: The Conquerors expansion. While it was included in the game files, it was not available in the campaign menus to prevent copyright infringement. The only way to play the scenario therefore is to move the scenario file from the disc's "Goodies" folder to the game's scenario folder.
Versions[]
Even though the scenario originally had German texts and voice-overs, versions for other languages are also obtainable from game discs of the first expansion for the respective countries. Apart from different language versions there there are also separate versions of the scenario for The Age of Kings (.scn), The Conquerors (.scx) and Age of Empires II HD (.aoe2scenario). Andreas Marscheider himself recommended to play the original version for The Age of Kings since the scenario was designed with that version of the game.[1]
Description[]
The scenario takes us back to the year 782 AD.
The Saxons are revolting once again under their Duke Widukind. Frisian troops are on their side and support them with weapons to hold out against Charlemagne's army.
Objectives[]
- Charlemagne must survive.
- Siegfried must survive until he is in the safety of his allies.
- You must return 3 missing relics to your monastery.
Players[]
Player[]
- Charlemagne ( Franks): The player starts at a camp in Süntelberg and starts with Earl Worad (a Paladin), nine Two-Handed Swordsmen, a Monk, three Elite Skirmishers, four Skirmishers, six Pikemen, six Knights, and four Paladins.
Others[]
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- Loyal Saxons ( Franks)
- Verden ( Britons)
- Saxony's Nobility ( Teutons)
- Engern (Saxony) ( Goths)
- Westphalians (Saxons) ( Britons)
- Frisians ( Britons)
Strategy[]
The player starts the game in the Franks' camp at the Süntelberg. Try first – in the role of the Frankish general Earl Worad – to retain troops in the battle at the Süntelberg. One man - Siegfried - will survive the fight. Let him escape and follow the further instructions then.
The troops of Charlemagne cannot be reinforced until the player's arrival at the town Verden. The 50 existing units must suffice. Move them carefully through the dense Westphalian marshland as it's not suited for open battles. That will be an advantage to the enemy. Therefore, the player must divide up their forces efficiently and watch out for ambushes.
Charlemagne has to be placed at the head of the army when marching into the town of Verden. Otherwise the gate will not open. Let the rest of the troops stand in front of the gate. After massacring the Saxon nobility in Verden, the town, with all of its remaining inhabitants, are at the player's disposal. Take time to gather resources and rebuild the army.
After the massacre in Verden, Siegfried will re-appear. He is found where he hid after the battle at the Süntelberg. He knows the place where the player can cross the river Hunte to reach the other bank. If he is killed before delivering the message, the player must find their own way to cross the river.
The final task is to return the three missing relics. One of them was placed in safety by a Frankish Monk named Brother Tuck. If found, he will freely hand it over. Another relic was taken by the Frisians as war loot, and is found beyond the river Hunte. There is only one way to cross the river: taking it under control. When targeting against the Frisians, do not underestimate them. Finally the third relic is found among the Westphalians.
Outro[]
In 783 AD, the Saxons fought the Franks for the first time in two open battles. There was no victor in the first battle, the second battle, however, was won by Charlemagne due to his skills as a commander. After that the Saxons never again attempted an open battle.
In 785 AD Charlemagne reaches the river Elbe. There is no further Saxon resistance. Saxon's Duke Widukind, who was able to escape again and again in all those years, surrenders to the superior strength of the Franks and wishes to be baptized. Saxon's nobility gives up fighting. The peasants, however, carried on fighting for 20 years.
The German nation developed from the unification of Bavaria, Saxony and Franconia.
Trivia[]
- The player cannot produce naval, castle and gunpowder units in this scenario.
- In the English version of the scenario Charlemagne is called by his German name Karl der Grosse (actually Karl der Große).
- To win the game, the player does not have to destroy the Saxons and Frisians entirely despite Charlemagne's historically merciless approach.
- The Engern are a Saxon tribe known in English as Angeri or Angrivarii.
- The author's name Andreas Marscheider appears in the city of Verden.
- Andreas Marscheider is also administrator of the German scenario design community AgeArena.
- Frisians are the predecessors of the Dutch. Despite the Dutch not being introduced in Age of Empires II, a more appropriate civilization might be the Burgundians, which represent not only their namesake, but also the people living in the Low Countries.
External links[]
- = 649302724 Sachsenaufstand for Age of Empires II HD in the Steam Workshop (German version)
- Sachsenaufstand for Age of Kings on AgeArena (English version) - further below at "Engl. Version" in red text
- = 1 Andreas Marscheider on AgeArena
- Historical background on the Saxon Wars (Wikipedia)