Strategies for Catalonia?

[The_Pope]

I get kicked by those moslems. Im playing in normal/normal. I conquer Granada but few years later i get busted by the muslims of Cordoba or Sevilla. I cant amass an army to confront those HUGE muslims ones (on average of 1500 men each muslm army).

Perhaps the only way is to make some politics and a marry or two and setup a good position for achieving the title of king of Leon or Castilla and then try the Reconquista? If so, that would take many years, and time is escencial. Furthermore, a war betwen catolics in Iberia might benefit a LOT the muslims.

It sucks the fact that you cannot ally with other kingdoms or duchies, that way i could manage to form a defensive alliance in Iberia agaist the infidels.

 

[november]

You can pledge allegiance to, say, France.

 

[Earl Uhtred]

I seem to be doing OK with Catalonia. This is my learning game.

Aragon got us in deep doodoo within weeks by getting into a war with Granada. Meanwhile Almeira attacked Navarra. I should probably have sat back and allowed the Paynim to overrun my useless liege but I put my balls on the line breaking the siege in his home province with everything I could muster. But not before allowing the King to call up my remaining domain forces. While Aragon remained at war, of course, these forces just sat there, not moving, not disbanding.

I kicked Granada's broken expeditionary force around the Pyrenees a bit and finally made piece with them for a small indemnity. At this time Saragossa had joined in against Navarre which was on the ropes. I decided to take advantage and DoWed Saragossa, overrunning the whole show (but Saragossa itself, which fell to Gausfred of Roussillon and ended up an independent bishopric) and massively increasing my domain.

My economy was by now completely buggered and it didn't help I was paying 80% of my income in dues to my one-province liege. Using the prestige I had built up I laid claim to Jaca and backstabbed Sancho. It was over almost instantly and I'm now a free duke. Valencia just declared war on Tarragonna, though, so it'll be a while before I'm able to afford any improvements / titles.

I should be Duke of Saragossa before long. I hope the Bishop will fall into line. I can also create the Duchy of Spanish Marche which I plan to give my heir (now in Urgell). If I can defeat Valencia I'll make myself King of Aragon in the end.

I'm only six years in but I'm reasonably confident about future prospects.