Interesting Duke, Count tier historical characters?

[Vyce]

Looking for a bit of a challenge or to get immersed in a historical dynasty.

 

[zijistark]

Here's one:
1018 (Cnut the Great bookmark):
Friderich von Hohenstaufen, Grafo (Count) of Staufen and Helfenstein in the heart of Swabia. His von Luxembourg liege holds the stem duchy of Schwaben, but he's actually Bavarian (the Hohenstaufens are all definitely Swabian). He is literally the first ruler of House von Hohenstaufen on record. Can you emulate his dynasty's rise to power and infamy within the HRE and without?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenstaufen

 

[chancelier]

Count Eudes / Odo II of Blois in 1018 might be interesting to play. He was quite quarrelsome; he fought everybody; neighbors, his liege, the emperor. He invaded County of Champagne and became the first member of the house of Blois to hold both Blois and Champagne. Through his mother he was the grandson of the King of Burgundy, so he tried to make himself king there, but failed. He was offered the crown of Lombardy, but defeated. Maybe you can give him a crown which he desired so much.

Another interesting character might be Count Edgar of Oxford in 1066. He was the last member of the royal house of Wessex; he should have been the king of England but we all know what happened there.

 

[Staxxy]

The King of Vaspurakan holds a tiny titular kingdom in 1018. To the north, byzantines and other armenians, to the south, arabs turks and persians. There is a lot of room for expansion and christianization, and a lot of ways to fail and die horribly at the hands of anyone, throughout the campaign (even endgame).

 

[Metaluis90]

Trying to emulate Matilda di Canossa in her start at 1066 iin Tuscany has been one of my most enjoyable games in CK II