Re: Disappearing trade route
If their capital (Istanbul) is taken all their trade in now redirected to an other port. This is usually the port in Anatolia. For some reason, the game doesn't reset the trade route and human players loose their trade route. This is a bug. Ending the trade agreement and getting a new one can solve the problem.
Re: Disappearing trade route
That would seem to be it; my Thugee just walked past Istanbul where there is now an Austrian flag flying.
Thanks.
On a side note, the same Austrians, despite having taken all of the Ottoman territories in Europe, are lagging severely in the prestige department.
Re: Disappearing trade route
Most likely because their naval prestige is very low, same reason why Russians rarely are in top 5 unless played by human.