Help me control my glorious Hispania Blob

[Ragingnorman]

Started as Asturias (Old Gods).

Finished La Reconquista, conquered West Africa (Mauretânia, Mali, Ghana) and Aquitanie, year is 987 and my empire has by far the biggest army in the world. My threat is at 65% (I'm starting to slow down in order to lower it), and I control the antipope (not a huge risk of faction revolts right now).

I want to expand through France (who borders me both in Aquitanie and Mauretânia), dominate the Mediterranean Sea and than wipe both the Abbasids and the Byzantines.

My great obstacle right now is vassal limit, I want to hold the Duchies of Granada and Valencia plus Murcia (this one without the duchy title), that means 8 demesne size (medium crown authority should be enough).

I see two options: creating Great Dukes and creating Kings (the least dangerous ones, like Navarra). Which one is better for my income and for my levy size? Is there another option that I'm unaware of?

Also, should I go Fraticelli or stay a catholic with an antipope vassal? Is there a difference in power and tax besides the fact that Catholic Pope = King and Fraticelli Pope = Duke? Going Fraticelli would improve my list of Holy War targets, and people already mob against me anyway (because of the threat), if I should go heretic how is a fast way to do it? It must be Fraticelli, for the Papacy.

 

[Robert II]

I'd use viceroy king vassals. Give them to someone content or someone who already likes you and you will be fine. You could also do with lowering centralisation and giving away one of those duchies.

Fraticelli is probably a good idea. You can now get crusades and holy wars against France and the abbasids. Making conquest that much easier.

With the theology focus there's a chance through study you can get a choice to go heretic. Unfortunately it's a random catholic heresy. The court chaplain studies cultural tech also has a similar event.

 

[jpinard]

Can't wait for responses to this. Nail be interesting to see suggestions. BTW how is the antipope helping you? Does he stay forever?

 

[Ragingnorman]

I have zero experience with viceroys, but will give the system a try. Can I revoke the title like any other excommunicated rebel vassal?

Not sure if the Papacy will still be my vassal after his death, but right now he is giving me absurde income from taxes (three times more than my second best vassal), is very helpful when dealing with factions (excommunication and prision), also help me claim entire catholic duchies without fabricated claims.

 

[Robert II]

If someone rebels then you can revoke his viceroyally like any other title.

 

[Heinrich4]

BTW how is the antipope helping you?

You can not be excommunicated. But the main reason are taxes: normally bishop either pay taxes to you or the pope. Most of the time they like the pope more than you so they also pay taxes to the pope. But if you have an antipope and your vassals like the antipope more than the real pope they will instead pay taxes to the antipope. But because the antipope is your vassal you will get a hugh income from him.

 

[The Duke of GTFO]

Cathar for fum fum fum

 

[MichaelStakely]

I see two options: creating Great Dukes and creating Kings (the least dangerous ones, like Navarra). Which one is better for my income and for my levy size? Is there another option that I'm unaware of?

If you don't already have one, create a Merchant Republic vassal and grant your antipope a theocracy; maybe give him Galicia so he'll have control of Santiago.

 

[Greybeard0815]

I have zero experience with viceroys, but will give the system a try. Can I revoke the title like any other excommunicated rebel vassal?

Not sure if the Papacy will still be my vassal after his death, but right now he is giving me absurde income from taxes (three times more than my second best vassal), is very helpful when dealing with factions (excommunication and prision), also help me claim entire catholic duchies without fabricated claims.

Your antipapacy will cease to exist when your current antipope dies. Just set up a new one, preferably of your own dynasty. I'm not sure if your antipope needs to be of your dynasty for this, but as empire you can use the claim papacy CB to claim it for him. As Emperor the Pope will become your direct vassal with all the juicy church taxes from all Catholic Europe.

Regarding Viceroyalties. You grant them as any other duchy or kingdom title and when the holder dies, you gain the title back and can give it to another vassal. Revoking it has the same consequences as with normal titles, unless you have Imperial Administration, which allows to revoke viceroyalties (though I think only duchy level ones) without penalty (save for opinion).

 

[jpinard]

But an antipope won't allow you to take part in religious wars or crusades will it?

 

[Greybeard0815]

But an antipope won't allow you to take part in religious wars or crusades will it?

If you do it like I described, he can do everything the pope can do. Even more since your puppet pope will love you for pressing his claim.

However if you don't:
Beyond excommunication in your realm and pouring church taxes your way your antipope can do nothing for you. He is basically just a pretender to the throne (aka Holy See).

 

[TheTeaMustFlow]

One possibility is to press your antipope's claim (thus vassalising the Papacy), then go Fraticelli. It's the best of both worlds except for the awkward moments when the Pope declares a crusade against you.

 

[jpinard]

When you have an Anti-Pope, what happens when the real pope declares a crusade against a Muslim nation? Can you still participate or do you not even get that option? Also, can your Anti-pope declare a Crusade?