I started a Danish campaign in early on hard. It was interesting in that for a number of years I only held Denmark and Sweden. I tried to take Norway, but failed in a battle (repeated past) and also tried a bribe, but at the time I was short and a few years later tried again and the price had ballooned up 10x!

Portugal was also a happy bribing ground, though took 4-5x to finally snag it. I also took Sardinia and Corsica with bribes before attacks by the Sicilians ‘forced me to remove many of their ship building provinces.

The English later followed disliking my navy (though mine was smaller). Earlier the Novoguards kept attacking many after multiple attacks I took Novgorad and Livonia, my first territories taken from another faction besides rebels.

I forget how long I was only 2 provinces, maybe a good 30-50 years.

Anybody else gone this route?