It seems to vary, i would say every 4 or 5 years - but it can be longer or shorter. In an italian campaign i was playing he respawned with 3000+ men (large unit size) generally good to high quality. In the subsequent respawns it has been 6000+ every time, again high quality units. It has actually become boring, in addition i have no money to train replacements.

The thing that irritates is that if i give up rome, he will reappear with a far superior force than he ever had & consequently be a serious threat. Its a pity that whoever controls rome &/or the papal states cant "be" the pope.

Don Coyote