Yes, I searched and read through the spy related posts concerning happiness (population loyalty is probaby a better label) and yes that will help. Realized it will take a while before I can get there as the castles each take 12 years to build, and then the brothel comes after that (I have built two pubs already). I seem destined to keeping a lot of peasants around, though I suppose I could spam out more woodsmen as their upkeep is lower and I can build them in both Sweden and Norway, which I both currently have.

Progress report

I have preceded to the year 1127, and won a great victory in Toulouse. The Argonese decided to add to my agony (or victories) and attacked with a far lesser number of reemergent troops, but they were much better valored and leveled (try feudal foot knights againist spearmen sometime). Fortunately a few enemy siege engines (which can't move) and regular royal knights helped (as well as my own peasants who disappeared into the woods). I lost over 1100 men to the enemy's 350 plus, but it was worth it by the end of the battle. The next turn I brought in more hardened recruits with better armor and a better general. They easily held in the next battle with much better kill rates, though I can see the Argonese possibly trying again as they still have a fair number of troops left as the Spanish seem to have deposed them from some territory.

I also won an earlier battle in Flanders where the English and the French together attempted to roust me from my emerging trading empire (it now seems to closing in on the rival trading port of Venice, even though the neighboring ports near Flanders don't trade with me). Luckily a nice handy starting defensive position adjacent to woods on either side meant that the enemy cav members couldn't approach my armies easily and enemy archers attempting to cover enemy foot soldiers were useless in the woods. If they tried funneling into the middle open meadow, I quickly cut them down by arrow or sword. This earlier battle was more decisive as the tech on each side was equal at that time (I have better troops there now, though some have been diverted to Toulouse now).

I am attempting to turtle, but everyone seems to be chomping at the bit to attack me. No wonder playing the HRE is such a challenge!