How to break other countries PUs?

[Fabiano79]

Im in a good game as the Hansa (made Brandeburg my marche, having lots of fun), but sadly I just saw that Austria is in a Personal Union with Hungary (ok, no problem), Burgundy (hmm, chalenge) and France (oh hell). Of course, I want to do everything in my power to avoid Austria inheriting all those countries, but what can I do?

Other question, Im ally with Poland and in a war they started against TO I occupied Altmark and end up gaining the province after the peace deal (I didnt have a say on the deal). This result in a coalition against me. I cant see how to release Altmark, theres a way?

 

[Illianor123]

That seems bad.
Striking before all three would be best.
Reduce their prestige to <0
Force them to break the union through war.
"Support Independence" the lesser partners.
Supporting pretender rebels in the lesser partners' countries.
Espionage ideas to reduce their relationships between them, and to increase unrest and improve rebel support efficiency.

 

[Fabiano79]

Austria just inherited Burgundy before I was able to do something about...I was aiming to form Netherlands, but now I think Ill expand north. Ill keep suporting rebels in Austria and hope for the best. Regarding my second question about Altmark, anyone knows?

 

[nicechinos]

I don't think it is possible to inherit such big country as France. Supporting France independence is feasible unless they have vassal attitude. I wonder what is "relative power to the liege" modifier? Beating Austria to tank their prestige might be not the best of options due to their relative strength.
You should lose AE by releasing Altmark as vassal. Alternatively if you have some CB on a weak nation you could DOW and occupy them (so they could not refuse your offer) and offer to release Altmark as a free nation. It was top AE exploit in 1.7.

 

[Illianor123]

Austria just inherited Burgundy before I was able to do something about...I was aiming to form Netherlands, but now I think Ill expand north. Ill keep suporting rebels in Austria and hope for the best. Regarding my second question about Altmark, anyone knows?

Open the diplo menu and there is a release vassal in the bottom right.

Alternatively just make sure you transfer sieges to war leader for any provinces you don't want. Once you occupy the province click on it, then the little shield icon near "occupied by you" and then selects the war leader. Or a vassal if you want them to take the land.

 

[nicechinos]

Open the diplo menu and there is a release vassal in the bottom right.

Alternatively just make sure you transfer sieges to war leader for any provinces you don't want. Once you occupy the province click on it, then the little shield icon near "occupied by you" and then selects the war leader. Or a vassal if you want them to take the land.

I think you still get AE when your vassal receives land in a peace deal, am I right?

 

[atwix]

if you want to break PU, you can do cancel vassal. Any size country can be made independant again for 100% warscore.

If the overlord has an old king, try to bottom his prestige as much as possible in the peace deal. All his PU will break if king dies while overlord has negative prestige.

Releasing Styria should give a lot of prestige loss, and might be best idea if austria has 2-3 PU. France might declare independance right after you let them release styria.

As for altmark, not sure. Do rebels need to create a core for it first? Not too familiar with the region.

 

[Fabiano79]

Thank you all. I will use my gold (Hansa was already very rich before 1.8, but now Lubbeck is just ridiculous wealthy) to support rebels in Austria and go to war as soon the austrian army become weaker than mine + poland.

Theres something that still bothers me. I cant support france independence because I dont have a positive opinion of them. They have +90 towards me, but my opinion on France is -30. How can I impprove my own opinion?

 

[nicechinos]

Thank you all. I will use my gold (Hansa was already very rich before 1.8, but now Lubbeck is just ridiculous wealthy) to support rebels in Austria and go to war as soon the austrian army become weaker than mine + poland.

Theres something that still bothers me. I cant support france independence because I dont have a positive opinion of them. They have +90 towards me, but my opinion on France is -30. How can I impprove my own opinion?

What drives your opinion of them? Heretical religion is my guess. But what else?
You could +20 from asking for military access / fleet basing rights, but after that I guess you have to wait until they improve relations with you. Could you check what's the attitude of France towards Austria? Either through diplo menu or opinion map mode.

 

[Fabiano79]

What drives your opinion of them? Heretical religion is my guess. But what else?
You could +20 from asking for military access / fleet basing rights, but after that I guess you have to wait until they improve relations with you. Could you check what's the attitude of France towards Austria? Either through diplo menu or opinion map mode.

Yes, is because religion and great power.

France is hostile towards Austria, but +9 opinion (decresing yearly). Austria prestige is 81 with a lot of positive modifiers.

 

[lordelenath]

Yes, is because religion and great power.

France is hostile towards Austria, but +9 opinion (decresing yearly). Austria prestige is 81 with a lot of positive modifiers.

Hostile is potentially enough, if they see Austria as weak they'll declare for independence. Theoretically wrecking the prestige is a decent way of breaking PUs (if you want that to happen - it can be beneficial to have PUs integrated), but it's probably rough to do versus Austria because of their Emperorship adding high prestige bonus.