I'm playing as the Epeirotes (yes, i started another campaign, i do it every day basically) and i've been at war with them since the very first turn.

I had no real desire to conquer anything on the Italian peninsula other than Rhegion, but Rome just wouldn't accept peace and leave my land alone and so one thing led to another and i've defeated around 8 full stacks of Roman soldiers killed all their starting family members that had biographies in their trait list and taken Arpi and Capua.

I don't want to conquer the city of Rome itself, i would like to leave them with that and let them expand northwards while at peace with me, but for the sake of roleplaying what do you think i would realistically need to do before forcing them to become a protectorate?

I know Rome would never bow down and admit defeat unless something really, really catastrophic was done to them.

So, my ideas. Tell me what you think.

Conquer Rome, enslave the people, destroy the wonders, then give it back in exchange for protectorate, using the force diplomacy mod.

OR

Conquer what territory they have north of Rome, including Ariminium and Arretium, hand them to the Aedui, THEN force a protectorate when they have only Rome left.

Don't tell me to just destroy them because it's not what i want to do.