I always like the English for the longbows and the HRE for the Gothic knights (although it takes a long time to get them). However, I have a certain affection for the Byzantines as I had read Byzantium history a long time ago, and as successors to the Romans always felt they were a forgotten corner of history, when you mention the word Byzantium to most people the reply is always “Who?” So it’s great to see them in a way come alive in the game, and attempt to conquer the world, although I always do it slowly building up trade, fending off the Crusades/Turkish and building up the infrastructure to survive.