Lombards

Faction Overview	Strategic Overview	History
The Lombards have the power of Valour.
Germans in an Italian land, the Lombard nation first made its appearance in the early 6th century, ousting Goths and Burgundians from new home in northern Italy. A fine land Italy may well be, but it is a home under threat. Trade and commerce are picking up, slowly coursing their way through Italian lands as the Umayyads consolidate their power. And while small, Italy's fertile plains still churn up vast quantitites of food and other treasure, so it is unsuspring that the Romans , long disappeared from the Italian scene for almost 200 years, schemed to take it back. This they did under Belisarius' great expedition, but it was one that met with failure, for the Lombards prevailed and have held on to central and northern Italy since..
So far, the alliance of the Lombards with the Avars has proven fruitful; the Avars keep the Romans busy, while the Lombards slowly grind down the last Roman forces in their old home. But there too are new enemies on the horizon which the Lombards must take into account: a savage heathen race, the Arabs, spread their gospel through corruption, deceit and the sword though the Mediterranean at a terrifying pace while to the northeast, the Lombards' distant cousins the Franks have formed an awesome empire and their ambitions must certainly include Italy. And against all this, the Roman themes still can march, and have managed to fend off the Lombards in southern Italy. Sooner or later, the Lombards must be prepared to fight once more for survival — and, in the face of Islam, possibly for their very identity too.	
Germans in an Italian land, the Lombard nation first made its appearance in the early 6th century, ousting Goths and Burgundians from new home in northern Italy. A fine land Italy may well be, but it is a home under threat. Trade and commerce are picking up, slowly coursing their way through Italian lands as the Umayyads consolidate their power. And while small, Italy's fertile plains still churn up vast quantitites of food and other treasure, so it is unsuspring that the Romans , long disappeared from the Italian scene for almost 200 years, schemed to take it back. This they did under Belisarius' great expedition, but it was one that met with failure, for the Lombards prevailed and have held on to central and northern Italy since..
So far, the alliance of the Lombards with the Avars has proven fruitful; the Avars keep the Romans busy, while the Lombards slowly grind down the last Roman forces in their old home. But there too are new enemies on the horizon which the Lombards must take into account: a savage heathen race, the Arabs, spread their gospel through corruption, deceit and the sword though the Mediterranean at a terrifying pace while to the northeast, the Lombards' distant cousins the Franks have formed an awesome empire and their ambitions must certainly include Italy. And against all this, the Roman themes still can march, and have managed to fend off the Lombards in southern Italy. Sooner or later, the Lombards must be prepared to fight once more for survival — and, in the face of Islam, possibly for their very identity too.	
Germans in an Italian land, the Lombard nation first made its appearance in the early 6th century, ousting Goths and Burgundians from new home in northern Italy. A fine land Italy may well be, but it is a home under threat. Trade and commerce are picking up, slowly coursing their way through Italian lands as the Umayyads consolidate their power. And while small, Italy's fertile plains still churn up vast quantitites of food and other treasure, so it is unsuspring that the Romans , long disappeared from the Italian scene for almost 200 years, schemed to take it back. This they did under Belisarius' great expedition, but it was one that met with failure, for the Lombards prevailed and have held on to central and northern Italy since..
So far, the alliance of the Lombards with the Avars has proven fruitful; the Avars keep the Romans busy, while the Lombards slowly grind down the last Roman forces in their old home. But there too are new enemies on the horizon which the Lombards must take into account: a savage heathen race, the Arabs, spread their gospel through corruption, deceit and the sword though the Mediterranean at a terrifying pace while to the northeast, the Lombards' distant cousins the Franks have formed an awesome empire and their ambitions must certainly include Italy. And against all this, the Roman themes still can march, and have managed to fend off the Lombards in southern Italy. Sooner or later, the Lombards must be prepared to fight once more for survival — and, in the face of Islam, possibly for their very identity too.	
Germans in an Italian land, the Lombard nation first made its appearance in the early 6th century, ousting Goths and Burgundians from new home in northern Italy. A fine land Italy may well be, but it is a home under threat. Trade and commerce are picking up, slowly coursing their way through Italian lands as the Umayyads consolidate their power. And while small, Italy's fertile plains still churn up vast quantitites of food and other treasure, so it is unsuspring that the Romans , long disappeared from the Italian scene for almost 200 years, schemed to take it back. This they did under Belisarius' great expedition, but it was one that met with failure, for the Lombards prevailed and have held on to central and northern Italy since..
So far, the alliance of the Lombards with the Avars has proven fruitful; the Avars keep the Romans busy, while the Lombards slowly grind down the last Roman forces in their old home. But there too are new enemies on the horizon which the Lombards must take into account: a savage heathen race, the Arabs, spread their gospel through corruption, deceit and the sword though the Mediterranean at a terrifying pace while to the northeast, the Lombards' distant cousins the Franks have formed an awesome empire and their ambitions must certainly include Italy. And against all this, the Roman themes still can march, and have managed to fend off the Lombards in southern Italy. Sooner or later, the Lombards must be prepared to fight once more for survival — and, in the face of Islam, possibly for their very identity too.
Faction Type: LatinNational Bonuses:
*Start with 1 extra citizen, rececive 3 for next city and 5 for all future cities
*Start with House of Worship and research religion line of research for free
*Repair Buildings 50% faster, and citizens can repair under fire without penalty
*Towers 33% cheaper
Unique Units:
* / / : Angry Mob
* : Limitanei, Slingers (consumed by Levy Crossbowmen)
**Peasant Commune: Skirmisher Levy, Levy Crossbowmen
* : Urban Militia, Axemen , Vaccari
** : Feudal Retinue
*Stable: Javelin Cavalry, Horsemen , Horse Retinue
** : Lancers
* : Gastald Macemen
Mercenaries:
* : Brigand
*Mercenary Camp:
**[Germans] German Warriors , German Nobles, German Crossbowmen
**[Turks] Turkish Archers	
Faction Type: LatinNational Bonuses:
*Start with 1 extra citizen, rececive 3 for next city and 5 for all future cities
*Start with House of Worship and research religion line of research for free
*Repair Buildings 50% faster, and citizens can repair under fire without penalty
*Towers 33% cheaper
Unique Units:
* / / : Angry Mob
* : Limitanei, Slingers (consumed by Levy Crossbowmen)
**Peasant Commune: Skirmisher Levy, Levy Crossbowmen
* : Urban Militia, Axemen , Vaccari
** : Feudal Retinue
*Stable: Javelin Cavalry, Horsemen , Horse Retinue
** : Lancers
* : Gastald Macemen
Mercenaries:
* : Brigand
*Mercenary Camp:
**[Germans] German Warriors , German Nobles, German Crossbowmen
**[Turks] Turkish Archers	
Faction Type: LatinNational Bonuses:
*Start with 1 extra citizen, rececive 3 for next city and 5 for all future cities
*Start with House of Worship and research religion line of research for free
*Repair Buildings 50% faster, and citizens can repair under fire without penalty
*Towers 33% cheaper
Unique Units:
* / / : Angry Mob
* : Limitanei, Slingers (consumed by Levy Crossbowmen)
**Peasant Commune: Skirmisher Levy, Levy Crossbowmen
* : Urban Militia, Axemen , Vaccari
** : Feudal Retinue
*Stable: Javelin Cavalry, Horsemen , Horse Retinue
** : Lancers
* : Gastald Macemen
Mercenaries:
* : Brigand
*Mercenary Camp:
**[Germans] German Warriors , German Nobles, German Crossbowmen
**[Turks] Turkish Archers	
Unique buildings:
*Peasant Commune
*Fortified Barracks
*Constabulary
*Magistracy
*Mercenary Camp
Wonders:
*Palace Complex (wonder)
*Abbey (wonder)
Upgrades:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="article-table" style="width: ;"
	Lvl 2		Lvl 2
	Lvl 2		Max
	Max 		Lvl 1
	Lvl 2		Max
	Lvl 1		Lvl 2
	 		Yes
Category:Swords of the Prophets factions