Names in CAPITALS indicate major players, at least within their region, Normal capitalisation indicates either minor players or odd overseas holdings.
European major powers:
- Anglo Saxon France:
France started off as Essex, in England. They were a moderately powerful nation until a fluke of luck saw the Aztecs conquer all of the old Kingdom of France, which led to the Crusade for France. Essex somehow contributed the most despite having approximately 1200 troops at the time, and the Aztecs lost the majority of France. Essex then took the much larger title of Kingdom of France, which led to the formation of the nation. France later cleansed the Aztecs out of the French region, while the Abu Empire closed in on them from the south. A series of Holy Wars and a crusade and a jihad or two led to the Aztecs being entirely throne out of Western Europe's mainland.
The Abus had repeatedly been weakened by internal strife and decadence, which led into the two other regional powers swamping their once vast Empire; France and Mauretania gradually bit into Andalusia and Leon.
- Kingdom of Cornwall, incorporating the Kingdom of Kembre (Wales) and Kingdom of Iwerzhon (Ireland), and portions of the Dukedom of Sapmi, before it was conquered in a Great Holy War.
Sadly, despite holding three Kingdom titles, Cornwall was not eligible to form the Empire of Prydain. I presume this is because Cornwall starts off as a Petty Kingdom, and that I probably would've needed to conquer Alban to gain the Empire.
Cornwall was a major competitor in the British Isles, easily expanding into Wales and portions of what was then Essex and Mercia. The Aztec invasion of the British Isles culminated in the obliteration of most of Ireland and what was then Pictland. Eventually, after repeated Northumberland and Cornish invasions, plus numerous tribal and feudal Irish revolts, they were thrown all the way back to Pictland. The final thrust occurred when a Welsh duke invaded and conquered Pictland, renaming it Alban, making a new Welsh homeland after Wales had been supplanted by Cornish immigrants. Cornwall held fast against aggressive French expansionism, until a point came where France abruptly lost their aggression once they held Leinster and Andalusia, leaving Cornwall to easily expand into the north. Additionally, Vasterbotten and Nordland in Scandinavia were inherited. Neither were particularly good colonies until Vasterbotten was made into a vassal Merchant Republic, at which point they held a duchy and were ruled by a "Grand Mayor" or "Lord Mayor" or something. Vasterbotten was a very rich republic until it was conquered by the Mordvin Kingdom of Suomi.
By game's end, Cornwall was assisting France against internal revolts, while preparing for an assault to reclaim the ancient Breton homeland of Brittany from those Muslims, the Abu Empire. Cornwall could easily call up 20,000 soldiers. While this is not much compared to the larger empires, it was still more than enough to defeat nearly every attacker.
- Kingdom of Austrasia
What was left of France after the Aztecs conquered it. Austrasia is the only place in the world retaining the French culture. They are moderately powerful, and expanded rapidly against the Aztecs once their doomstack had been whittled down, eventually placing them on a fairly even footing with the rest of mainland Europe.
- Kingdom of Lombardy
Whoo boy. The Lombards held most of Italy, and seemed content to leave the south to the Byzantines. Through simple holy wars, the Lombards took most of North Africa, losing only once, forming the Qadirid Empire. Besides that, Lombardy is a massive power, probably capable of taking Byzantium on and winning. Through most of the game they seemed content to stay within their own Italian borders, though.
- Kingdom of Denmark
Denmark got quite lucky. They were very weak for a long time, but managed to obtain provinces in as far as the Holy Lands from the Carpathians via inheritance, as well as numerous well placed European marriages. Going into EUIV, they're rated as a major power, capable of calling approximately 30,000 troops.
- Kingdom of Suomi
The Finnish native religion managed, above all others, to hold out against Christianity, finally culminating in sweeping reforms of Suomensko. By the end of the game, they were on an even troop footing with Denmark, and had continued rapidly expanding southwards against Ruthenia via Great Holy Wars, who were reduced to a few rump provinces. Additionally, Suomi conquered Cornish Vasterbotten, a very rich vassal Merchant Republic, if only because Suomi did not suffer the crushing attrition the Cornish troops suffered in Scandinavia. Finnmarku, Kola and Sapmi raids on Nordland continued well into endgame. There was also the occasional aggressive attempt against Lithuania, though Lithuania was strong enough to repel them.
- Empire of Carpathia
Hungarians arrived, promptly converted, and formed the Kingdom of Carpathia. After conquering small portions of what is now Ukraine, and winning the holy lands in a Crusade for Jerusalem, it became the Empire of Carpathia. the Empire was a strong ally, and frequently defended Christendom. Carpathia's defense of the Holy Lands and repeated attacks against Arabia and the Mukhtarids provided Byzantium with necessary breathing room to survive.
- Kingdom of Poland
Poland was a strong nation from the get-go; ongoing attacks against Germany reduced German lands to the pitiful rump state it was at end-game, other major powers took pieces of the German pie for themselves. Poland also endured numerous assaults from Lithuania, generally from fabricated claims, great holy wars from Suomi, and occasional border friction with Ruthenia, before Ruthenia was obliterated.
- Kingdom of Smolensk
The Kingdom of Smolensk, while powerful, was content to sit on its laurels and rest while the Suomi ate Ruthenia alive, until Smolensk displayed some aggression and cut the remaining Ruthenian territories in two, granting it a new border with Poland.
Byzantine Empire
Byzantium staggered a little in the early game, though by the time Carpathia claimed the holy land, Byzantium was back on its feet and expanding eastwards. At one point, they controlled up to the border with Kirtivarman Raj, but lost it in a Jihad. Byzantine Persia remains the only Christian region in West Asia. As of the end of the game, Byzantium was attempting to expand southwards against the Mukhtarids, with little success.
Kingdom of Lithuania
The Lithuanians were remarkably strong; they held against numerous Great Holy Wars and even fought off Mongol invaders a few times. Besides that, the only other notable thing the Lithuanians ever did was cede portions of land to the Teutonic Order.
- Qadirid Empire
The Qadirids grew out of a revolt in Lombard Maghreb, and successfully split off. I don't know how they managed to claim a portion all the way up north near Khotan/ Suomi, but I'm going to guess it was an inheritance from marriage with the Sunni Mongols of the region. The entire time the Qadirids existed in the game, they were either fighting internal dissent or the Lombards, usually coming off badly both times. That said, they could summon up a sizable number of troops.
- Kingdom of Mauretania
After the West African pagans were long crushed by the Abu Empire, the Mauretanians were conquered by the Aztecs. To this day, while the Mauretanians are all sunni, they follow the Nahua culture, and their ruler is considered a Tlatoani. Mauretania swept aside the ailing Abu Empire after the Aztecs were on the way out; a Mauretanian Jihad for Andalusia saw the Aztecs finally thrown out of the Old World entirely.
- Abu Empire
The Abus were a very strong Empire that grew out of the Ummayad caliphate, before it dissolved. They conquered partially into southern France and Aquitaine before being repelled by the Aztecs. At their greatest extent, the Abu Empire controlled all of Spain, much of Southern France, portions of Brittany, much of the Maghreb, and much of Mauretania, before repeated Crusades and Holy Wars took their toll, reducing them to the rump empire they were at game's end.
I can't be fucked typing the others up right now, but i'll do so if people wish.
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Topic: Crusader Kings 2 is released. (Read 2122420 times)