Quote Originally Posted by jepva
The reason the HRE is sending spies is that one of its victory conditions is to destroy Milan!!!! It helps before starting a game to know what each faction's victory conditions are. Its useful for determing who you should be allied with - preferably a faction which is required to destroy one or more factions which YOU are required to destroy.
Thanks. Where can I see these victory conditions? I don't recall seeing this kind of condition in the grand campaign screen where I can choose the faction. Or are you referring to the short campaign?

Incidentally, they approached me, and I was already at war with Sicily and Venice, while I want to go take Marseille from France. So I could use a 'friendly' neightbor for a while...