How I manipulate the Golden Horde

[NobleJms]

It all just happened yesterday. While I, playing as Danes and own northeastern Europe, was having major battles with the Egyptians, who was both technologically and militaristic superior than me and it owned southeastern Europe and whole Germany, the Golden Horde just suddenly appeared (well...I didn't know that they would come at 1230). Since it was merely two years ago that I lost about 3000 men (about 1/4 of all of my armies) to the Egyptians, and most of my forces were in Denmark and England, I was like hells no Fighting with the Mongols would basically mean losing all the territories I have northeastern Europe and me going back to Denmark.

Then I suddenly got a fantastic idea , although risky. I first gave up all provinces bordering the ones where Mongols invaded, so I wouldn't have to fight war with the Mongols. The Egyptians aren't' so generous, however. They defended their provinces and went to war with the Horde. I immediately sent a princess to the Mongolian Khan, and guess what... it worked. The Horde became my ally and instead of going westward like they did in real history, they went south, right to Cairo. As a result, I began to mop up all that was left of the Egyptian forces in Europe (about 5 full armies). Now I controlled not only Scandinavia, England, and the whole Eastern Europe down to Greece http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif

[Seven.the.Hun]

well done, yes, i do like to ally with them if they are around...that is if i am not playing as them, http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ...
they do make useful allies, although most allies rarely proove useful at all other than trading benefits,

[Crazy Duke]

I have once similar situation, playing with Spanish, sent my princess, have allied with Golden Horde, and on the end, when only we stayed on the map, start fighting, and that was my first map conquering, two years ago.

[Tepes]

I've never seen the Golden Horde getting too powerful or even truly important.
In my games, when the Horde arrives the Byzantines or Russians already control the area and are usually powerful enough to completely destroy the Mongols in a few turns.

[Drewman]

I usually help the Horde along to become more powerful.

The more troops that are in Khazar in 1230, the more troops the Golden Horde will appear with. So I always invade in 1230 with several stacks, then pull back and let the Horde run wild with 25,000 men.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[Mouzafphaerre]

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I utilized the stack provinces strategy with a variation: Let the Russians (Novgorod) live. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I kept Livonia, Lithuania and Novgorod for myself and garrisoned them with the best available armies (mostly spearmen types, melees and projectiles). The Horde appeared in the rebel Khazar and quickly expanded, causing them to disconcentrate. A crusade with chivalric seargant etc. support easily finished them off (almost).

Not to mention buying their generals with 6 or 7 loyalty. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif When you have 200,000 in the coffers and 20,000 annual profit, you become somewhat generous.

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