Best Italian Nation to Restore the Roman Empire

[FoundFiend574]

How has no one mentioned Savoy? You have a guaranteed French alliance before you even unpause which protects you from....well anyone attacking you. You can get away with a long as long as you have big blue watching your back. You also have good development and good ideas in case forming Italy takes a long time.

Savoy was my last attempt to restore the Roman Empire. However, I chose to ally Burgundy, Austria, and Castile to eat France, then betray Castile (as Spain). Allying France in another attempt as them might be useful, although dealing with Unlawful Territory would be kind of annoying.

 

[Blondgoblin]

I second Savoy as a good option for Minor > Italy > Roman Empire.

Savoy has good traditions of + BROT and + diplomatic relation, both are very useful for a Italy / HRE start. Savoy also has a number of different expansion options in the early game, makig it less dependent on rng. Focus on attacking anyone excommunicated by the Pope (frequently: Florence, Milan, or Provance) and move into Iberia once your ally France is willing to support you in war.

I might post some screenshots of my current Savoy game once I get home tonight. I didn't break any speed records in forming Italy, but it's late seventeenth century and I'm very much on track for forming the Roman Empire.