Castille-France PU advice?

[King_of_Spain]

I'm playing as Castille, and got a PU with France, which sounds like a potentially awesome alliance/Western European-dominating bloc if only France wasn't doing so badly... Currently they have Ile-de-France and about three other provinces with their ex-vassals (Berry, Toulouse, Brittany, and of course, Burgundy) beating them up something awful.

My first thoughts were to get them integrated as soon as possible and reconquer the vassals before it struck me that I wouldn't have reconquest CBs on them if France was technically part of Castille - is that right? If that is the case, what course of action shall I take? I reckon sending them gifts/military support etc to help them retake their stuff might be good, THEN integrating a full, strong France.

 

[unmerged(625280)]

As junior in personal union France is unable to start wars by himself so he is unable to take the provinces with conquest CB. Also I THINK junior partners don't do sepereate peace deals either so you would have to take the infamy even if you let him siege the provinces. All in all I would say insult him untill the PU breaks as it's completely useless.

 

[King_of_Spain]

As junior in personal union France is unable to start wars by himself so he is unable to take the provinces with conquest CB. Also I THINK junior partners don't do sepereate peace deals either so you would have to take the infamy even if you let him siege the provinces. All in all I would say insult him untill the PU breaks as it's completely useless.

Aww good point. Meh. What's annoying is that they used to be pretty strong...

 

[ktx2skd]

On a different perspective, if somehow you can let rebels win over land for the sake of France, it could help, if it's doable that is.

Also, if you can drag yourself & France into wars in which you are not the leader (I think offensive call-to-arms by others), then they will be able to sign separate peace deals provided you peaced out already, although we assume here that the leader won't peace before France, and most likely France's peace will cost 4 infamy/province.

Last but not least, if France is a lucky nation, then as long as they're not annexed nor reconstructed themselves, you have one lucky player out of your way, if that interests you.

 

[King_of_Spain]

That's true, I guess in that sense I would get a load of Alliance CBs and calls-to-arms from them, but then there's no need for a PU for those anyway. True as well that having them fractured provides a nice power vacuum beside me that I don't have to worry about (no French invading me while I concentrate on colonising America). I'll bide my time and see how it plays out.

 

[Boon63]

Try to help regaining their lands wih spies : fund patriot on the french culture province where France has a core. Choose countries experiencing a difficult time at this moment and you may see french provinces defecting back to France.

 

[unmerged(465279)]

If you are strong enough to defend the lands I would, and when you inherit just release France as a vassal and sell it some provinces they have cores on. You'll have a decently sized vassal!