Quote Originally Posted by [b
Quote[/b] (Ludens @ Jan. 27 2004,11:41)]
Quote Originally Posted by [b
Quote[/b] (Plantagenet @ Jan. 26 2004,18:56)]4. Aquitaine wasnt obtained until the marriage of Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine (1152). Before that, Eleanor was married to King Louis VII of France, who called himself Duke of Aquitaine in her name.

5. So if you need to start England out with more territories for game balance reasons, it should own Normandy, Anjou, & Brittany, while Aquitaine should go to France.
One may argue that the claim of England on Acquitany was legitimate: they didn't conquer it by arms, but by marriage. Since the game doesn't allow this (no female rulers, and no unions of two countries by marriage), CA decided to represent England's claim to Acquitany by making it their territory. Since this is what it was for most of the 'early' period.
I agree, but I thought the original poster was asking was it English, or did they even have a claim to it, at the start of the game (1087). They didn't own it or lay claim to it until 1152.

But they did however, possess or hold claims to Normandy, Anjou, & Brittany in 1087. France, on the other hand, held suzerainty over Aquitaine prior to 1152, and Louis VII of France was Duke of Aquitaine until 1152.

So in my opinion, if he wants a more historical start, England should start Normandy & Anjou (as is), but switch Brittany for Aquitaine (same # of territories, so game-balance preserved).