The first campaign I ever played with the HRE was a lot of fun. They are smack in the middle of Europe and If you're not careful you're gonna get excom'd and at war on multiple fronts.

Anyway, I decided the Milanese had life a little too good, and in an effort to unite my northern empire with the one province the HRE get in Italy I made a push against their capital, Milan. I thought my well trained army of dismounted fuedal knights, mailed knights and a solid backbone of archers would be enough to sweep in and take Milan before they could react. I was wrong..

Sure the initial siege went well but just as I was about to attack the city a full stack appeared on my armies southern flank. Facing a sally-battle with another army at my rear wasn't my idea of fun so I had to withdraw. The commander in charge of the expedition to Italy was the very best the empire had to offer, so I was confident about his ability to hold off the poorly equipped militias the Milanese sent against me.

The first battle went smoothly, camped on the slope of a mountain I had picture perfect ground to take advantage of my archers range on the Milanese, They were picked apart and by the time they hit the lines they were not even a threat. That's the end of the story right? haha.. WRONG

Another stack appeared and clashed against my army before I could move it (it was the Milanese' turn.. after all ). This one was a much better troop mix and took it's toll on my army. I lost quite a bit of men but still won the battle. Again, I'm thinking this is the end.

It wasn't. A third stack appeared and slammed into my weary army. By this time my numbers had been thinned so greatly that even though my troops were of better quality they just couldn't hold their position. The army was utterly destroyed and one of my only competent generals was dead. I never saw vanilla AI act so mercilessly, and never have since (I play with mods now ).

Still the defeat was significant, I lost two provinces on the border with the Milanese in the resulting war before I could get a ceasefire. It taught me a lesson I still haven't forgotten.

Do not mess with Milan.