Its Italy... no wait
One of my best games yet. Got almost all Italian provinces, the one I missed out on didn't really bother me since it is poor as dirt compared to the rest. Also, all buildings built except a few in Trenton, which I only acquired about 10 years before the end of game. Even some of the ones I consider useless I built, just because I was getting over 5 magistrates per year.
Also interesting to note that I've ruthlessly ran settlement policy to promote Cosmopolitan culture, the majority of Italian culture has been assimilated. Even took the extra colonist NI just so I could run 5 settlement policies at the same time. Ancona had SP for over 200 years and it still never assimilated though. Some of the others did in less than 20 though. Roma and Lombardia included
Actually Roma is my capitol now also.
Not only extended Cosmopolitan culture far and wide, but also share the same dynasty with France, and also allied as well. We've been buddies since about halfway through the game, despite the fact they are protestant and I'm catholic.
HRE emperor as well, and it might as well be hereditary because I have 4 of the 6 electors vassalized. 2 of them diplomatically, and the other 2 as released vassals from imperial gains.
Also interesting to note that I never westernized nor reformed the military, yet my eastern military totally dominated any and everything, and despite only being at 85% research efficiency, I outtech everyone easily. Only minors are even close, and for the first time ever I actually got to tech level 70 in all categories. It was actually never possible for me to westernize because I never fell far enough behind.
As you can see, even before 1500, I led the world in income, mostly due to my trade policies and slider moves. Then in the end game, once my infamy burned off, you can see it going exponential. The game ended with Cyprus raking in over 15,000 income per year. Next closest was the OE at around 1/3 of that.