Hello there, Darlings:
I played Greek, used to have an alliance with Gaul and Rome, among other factions. Then Rome was defeated by the Britons & Gaul was reduced to only one province (someplace on the shore of the English Channel) while I was busy fighting Carthage and the Ptolemies. Then, when I investigated my DIPLOMACY tab, I found out Gaul was no longer my ally, merely neutral. Maybe I was thinking of something else when the diplomatic notice flashed onscreen. Now I was offering Gaul to be my protectorate or my ally (whichever would sound delicious to AI), but I was repeatedly refused. I had about 3 or 4 different diplomats of mine try this, but the Gauls won't accept my offer. My one diplomat was even slapped the trait TACTLESS for his (her?) efforts. Here comes along the Spanish (Iberians) who are sniffing at the Gauls. They might gobble up the last Gallic town and I don't want to preempt the Spanish move by attacking that last town. What's wrong with diplomacy? Or what diplomatic thing did I do wrong (or did not do)?
Meiaow to y'all.