Btw Varyar, why don't you start as the duchy of apulia, and pledge your loyalty to byzantium? After their ruler is dead, you get to be the Emperor (if byz still have elective laws, and if apulia is still strong)... either that or start with byzantium from the start. I don't think we actually need sweden, but that's my opinion. Sweden always kicks ass in Eu2.
EDITED: the save game you posted, Lurken, must be corrupted... i downloaded it a couple of times and tried to unzip it, but i can't... it has 0kb... Am i the only one with this problem?