The League of Italian States (or the minor nations becoming major powers thread)

In my Knights of St. John campaign, I have become a major power in the mediterranean through a very simple tactic: ally with everyone around you before going to war. heres what happened:

i tried to buy off sardinia and sicily from spain but they refused no matter how high the price. so, i decided to ally myself with all the italian states (genoa, venice, italian states, some others) along with the barbary states. as the head of this confederacy, we have all joined in a mighty crusade against the spanish, and we are ready to annhilate them. every spanish province in europe east of france has been taken, and all of their ports in europe blockaded. with finances effectively stopped, my league has swept across europe to get a peice of spain. now spain is down to its last legs, and i am readying an invasion which will annhilate the last of spanish resistance. i then plan to convert all their ports to trade and start raking in the cash. I'm measuring about 4000 extra bucks a turn with the trade i will get from my allies and GB/ france. once i have enough money, I will call up my allies again to take either portugal and france, or austria and then the minor countries in central europe.(i am aiming at keeping my lands close to the mediterranean so i can have secure trade depots). i have no doubt that within the next 50 turns(putting me at 1750, it was a slow start) i will have conquered most if not all of the southern european provinces(except my allies of course) and at least some of west/ central europe. using rivalries between major and minor nations to my advantage, i will show the rebel spirit and sweep across the major powers with my confederacies of the minor states of europe, effectively creating a web of strong alliances.



so do you guys have any stories about becoming a major power as a minor nation(of course using mods)

Just so you know it is my understanding that as (Malta) an island nation trade ports outside of your island won't increase trade potential

>:'( wh....what did you just say?............*contemplates throwing computer out window*

*takes a 20 minute crying break*

but i can convert the military port into a trade port so, i guess ill use other ports as.......military ports

I'm in the 1750's, about 200 something turns in with the Papal States. I have all of Italy, Venice, Corsica, New Mexico and Michigan territory. I bought Jerusualem from the Muguals but the Ottomans didn't like that move so they declared war on me and will probablly take back my 200,000 gold investment. I'm probably going to have to build up an army in Italy and launch a "crusade" to take it back :laugh4:

I used to have TX but sold it to Spain. I also briefly had another part of Iroquoi territory which name escapes me, I took that from the English when they declared an unprovoked war on me. I ended up giving it to Mexico for free since they had just emerged and I wanted a neutral nation between me and England. The US had emerged after the broke free from the French who captured PA less than two years ago. I plan to take VA from the English and give it to the US either for free or a price. I'm hoping the English make peace with me soon after they realize it was a mistake declaring war on me in the Americas!

Trade routes by sea are limited to how many ports your Capitol is linked to by land. So as the Knights of St. John, you have the one port...It annoyed me greatly as well.

perhaps i can coerce someone into taking my capital?.........probly not.....sigh.....stupid a.i...............



anyways, i'll just immediately start researching port techs and building trading ports i guess then.