I need advice on my Antioch game!

[VersusAllOdds]

Started playing at 1066. Since then I had an awesome game playing the Duke of Antioch. You'd be amazed how much action you can have when you're surrounded by infidel counts...

Anyway, now it's year ~1270, and I've become pretty large, got most of de jure Kingdom of Syria, and I hold 10 duchies (apart from the surrounding ones I also have Crete and Cyprus). All of my vassals are counts with no more than 1 county, and I have about 40% of barons and mayors each with about 20% of bishops as counts.

Now, my two questions are:

When should I get my independence from the Byzantine Empire? I like their protection from the holy wars, but I dunno, I guess I should look for my own destiny...
When and in what manner should I create the title of Kingdom of Syria? I'm still a duke, and although very powerful, only a duke nonetheless... I want a chance to meddle with crown authority.... However, my vassals would be insanely unsatisfied with my number of duchies held, not to mention the permanent count-duke rebellious wars....

Although being an independent king is the first thing that crosses my mind, could it be that a vassal duke is more preferable?

 

[Borne2Run]

Have the hordes appeared yet? Because I think you'll want everyone else in the Empire to help you out, unless the Khagan has the imbecile trait or something like in my recent Capua->Sicily->Byz game.

Maybe also get yourself on the throne?

 

[Ols]

I'd say form the Kingdom and figure out a way to hand out the duchies in a manner that favours you. If you can manage it, hand them out to Mayors or Bishops so they don't intermarry and create superduchies. If you can't sustain that, then give them to people that you'd expect to remain loyal or not marry other dukes/duchesses. Having a Superduchy while a kingdom can be formed seems gamey to me.

 

[der Kriegsherr]

When should I get my independence from the Byzantine Empire? I like their protection from the holy wars,

Do the Fatmids and Seljuks still exist?
If they do, don't bother. Even then, its still kind of risky: The Ilkhanate/Golden Horde could very well send all your efforts to hell the second you become independent