Its Impossible to form Hispania starting out as an OPM

[unmerged(569711)]

Im talking not in the Jimena dynasty

I just can't start out as a king, i HAVE to work my way up. I always feel like im cheating if I start out as a King.

But even If what I usually do happens....I gain my independence as the count of Viscaya and overthrow Navarra and become Duke of Navarra. Those SARACENS stomp me into the ground pretty soon.

Its impossible.....

All I want to do is start out as a count and eventually form Hispania, and I just dont want to be a Jimena I like creating my own character and Dynasty and I think its cheap for me to just kill a couple people and then control all the spanish kingdoms

So if you think its possible could you guys give me some advice on how to do it? I want to be a count and work my way up to king and become Emperor of Hispania without being a Jimena

 

[OrdepNM]

I manage to do it as the count of Coimbra, as you start married to the only daughter of the duke of Portucale, who was unfortunate enough to die after having another daughter, so my count's wife got the dukedom and our son inherited it. Later I saw an opening when Castille beated Galicia in a war and I immediatly DOW for independence for a quick victory. Afterwards I conquered south and managed as I saw an opening with the various players fighting eachother. The christian kings left me alone which I was thankful for.

Alot of this boils down to luck, how much do the andalus kingdoms break apart? How much do the christian kings weaken them? Etc. I'd say play the long game and dont jump the gun unless you see a good opening.

 

[unmerged(533203)]

User ruler designer on the Kingdom of Aragon. You'll be a King, but with a single county.

If you really want to be a count, start as a vassal of Barcelona, and try Holy war a OPM Muslim or two or your fellow vassals. Holy warring is easy if they're already all righting the likes of Castle or Aragon, and if you are Holy warred, France usually comes to your aid.

Also, a fairer start date for everyone I find is the Alexiad.

 

[whosthebestcop]

I've done it numerous times as El Cid in 1094 start. It extremely hard to do it if you want to be independent the entire time. I usually end up swearing fealty to the Papacy especially since Valencia is a coastal county Genoa usually declares war with their republic CB in within the first year.

Once you have 10-20 counties you can easily gain Independence from the Pope and swarm every other Iberia realm.

 

[leksu]

The easy way is just not starting as a Christian OPM count, but rather as a Muslim OPM Sheikh.

 

[unmerged(569711)]

apart from Coimbra and El Cid, which is in 1094 I think. Are there any others where perhaps I can use ruler designer? Really doesn't matter if I am independent I would overthrow my king. One issue as Asturias de Santillana is that the King conquers a bunch of provinces and then keeps them for himself which means I can't snatch land from other vassals despite my massive success in forcing the King to lower Crown authority and then changing law to elective (so mad I wasnt a duke GAH)

 

[unmerged(569711)]

also why doesnt Castille keep taking over Galicia and/or Leon instantly all the time?

Is the ai smart enough to assassinate?

 

[unmerged(569711)]

The thing that sucks is that I was insanely good at taking over all of Iberia in CK1, always managed to start as an opm count non Jimena character and overthrown them unite the Christians and force the Muslims out. Even start conquering Africa!

 

[Casiru]

Starting as the count in Navarre you just have to wait for the fighting to start then you can win the duchy no problem, if your quick you can start invading the one province counts while the big ones are at war. A claim on the king of Aragon and you have 2 duchy's and should be able to take on Barcelona within 10 years.

Make sure you are married into HRE or France as they will help you with doomstacks if your attacked, then its just holy wars until you hopefully own more territory than the Jimena's at which point you can start using CB's to tear the land from them and form the empire.

Its a simple strategy that requires you to kick everyone while they are down and quickly. Exploit every advantage and you should have no problem taking the empire within 100 years.