1155-1156
And so I make Johann von Habsburg, the fourth son of Stefan or something, a Count. Seriously Stefan has a ton of children.
This is because Johann has much better stats than both Hermann the Ugly and Hermann the Ugly and Whiny, which are the first two in line to inherit Stefan. And to give Johann the inheritance I will have to de-Primogeniture myself.
Of course one county isn't exactly enough, so I give another. As you can see Salic Consanguinity is the best inheritance law, as you can practically pick and choose among your children who should inherit.
And voila.
Of course if Johann inherits that means that Agen, despite being ruled by a von Habsburg, will be highly unlikely to ever come under my direct rule again, and Hermann the Ugly von Habsburg will go off to create his own branch of the von Habsburg line, just like Petros von Habsburg did in Al Amarah. Though it's not Hermann's stats that are valuable but rather the 3.20-base income of Agen! Really this failed attempt was the only way to prevent that. Alas.
Hermann the Ugly and Whiny takes his whininess to the next level!
I knew it! He has taken up residence in the court of Eberhard Haggis-propeller , son of Hartmann the Guy That Took More Than A Thousand Ducats From Me and my least loyal count! Surely there he will plot a devious plot of a thousand poisoned daggers, to take from Stefan Duke of Abydos what he views to be his rightful claim! Well let it come, Hermann! I will be prepared and turn your plot back on you in the mightiest of reversals of fortune!
Unless of course you flee back to my court six months later for some reason.
TurkWatch: 1156. Still insurmountable. However they are once again at war with Tabaristan. But it's not the Shiekdom of Tabaristan!
No, it's the independent County of Tabaristan, ruled by a Byzantine Arcruni! Explain
that one, you CK wizards!