Suggestions for playing Spanish Muslims?

[airpirate]

Every single game I try to play as any of the three main Muslim factions in Spain goes as follows:
1) I expand rapidly, staying pretty stable (any succession crisis is nipped in the bud through lots of executions before a civil war starts) and forming Andalusia by my second or third heir
2) The Christian kingdoms in Spain get crushed in some capacity, in my most recent game every single one was eliminated.
3) Holy Orders become a thing and I get completely crushed by crusading Christians. In my most recent game, Christians were totally pushed out of Spain, but then the HRE attacked the emirate holding Barcelona, and then attacked me whenever a truce expired with 2-3 times the number of troops I could field. I rage quit after about four different holy wars.

Any tips?

 

[Voy]

Perhaps could change the priorities? Instead of complete domination you could focus on just waging war with the Spanish kingdoms and not conquer them since war is fun? I've never tried it, but keeping enemies alive could ensure that a game would never get boring because you lack enemies or enough activity in the region.

 

[airpirate]

Perhaps could change the priorities? Instead of complete domination you could focus on just waging war with the Spanish kingdoms and not conquer them since war is fun? I've never tried it, but keeping enemies alive could ensure that a game would never get boring because you lack enemies or enough activity in the region.

The issue isn't a boring game, it's that once Holy Orders come into being I find myself unable to effectively fight the Christians. If the christian kingdoms still exist, then they just join the crusade and I have an even smaller chance of survival.

 

[Jephery]

Holding the entire Spanish Peninsula gives you enough man power to almost take the HRE single handedly. France should be a push over for you.

Ideally, the moment you take over the Peninsula, do an Invasion of Aquitaine to neutralize France. After that, nothing should be able to stop you.

Just make sure to ally the Moroccans and Algerians and call them in to defend against the crusade.