This one is tough! I think I have it figured out on try #3 (very hard/very hard.) I had to drop my "no bribery" policy...after two failed attempts.

The fun part of playing Spain is that diplomacy really works and you need to be very good at it, you don't have money, you don't have armies, and you don't have much in the way of structures to build any cav or real infantry to start.

1. Key to money on the first move: disband all of those useless town militia units. This is worth 400 denarii per turn and increases population (unlike Rome, you NEED some population to get going.) This was the key to getting an economy and to upgrading towns sooner.

2. Build the money makers first! Build a mine, build traders, build low level ag, and build ports and roads. Spend as little as possible on units. Use max taxes.

3. The easy part is to ally with both Gaul and Carthage ASAP. Get trade rights.

4. Osca is both a great province, and your Achilles heel. The Julii will land there, intent on taking it. The Gauls will saunter by and attack if it is weak. You can hold it. It is the linchpin to surviving the early game. Send cav from Scallabis to Osca, avoid fighting along the way. Send the good infantry from Asturica to Osca. Buy mercs in Osca. Highest priority are Balearic slingers, buy them whenever you see them. Next up is the pila bearing infantry (you won't be able to build Scutarii for a very long time, these guys will have to do.) If you manage your economy well you can buy the best unit available every turn or two, else the Julii will buy them and attack you with them (yes, this happened to me in campaign #1.)

5. Build a couple of diplomats, don't build any other units early on. (Skirmishers and town militia don't hold up on the field and you can't afford their upkeep)

6. Bribe away brigands when you can! This is a credible method of maintaining peace without risking disaster, pay off the warlords. It is not really cheesy because it takes so much of your limited profit to do so and it is historically sensible. Some can't be bribed. However, they will stand and wait for you to build up an army that will kill them (and it can take while since some have two or three units of Balearics, plus a heavy cav leader.)

7. Dealing with the Julii in Osca. Don't attack them! Once you get enough cav and mercs in Osca you can whip them on the field so wait for them to attack. If you attack you will be at war with all of Rome, and Gaul will probably attack you as well. However, you might be able to bribe some of the Romans to go away. I did that with a few small Roman armies. Later they will land some unbribable armies and attack Osca, you should be able to kill them. (If you've bought up the mercs, the Julii expeditionary force won't be as strong as yours.) Now the key is on the same turn as you repulse them: hunt down a Julii army or diplomat with your own diplomat(s). They will take a ceasefire. Arrange trade. Result: you will not be at war with any of the Romans and you get a breather However, they will keep coming back.

8. Corduba/Cordoba. Unfortunately, Cordoba is rich and Carthage is getting kicked around everywhere, so you should take Cordoba when you have taken care of the early threats in Osca. As soon as I could build sufficient force I seiged and captured it. I enslaved rather than exterminated since I needed the population and I was having no trouble with loyalty. Taking Cordoba is worth about 2000 denarii per turn! The bad news is Gaul will break its alliance and won't trust you anymore... Note: I prepared for the Cordoba invasion by building cav stables, and experience shrines and blacksmith in Scallabis.

9. Send a diplomat to Numidia and arrange trade rights and alliance if you can. I built one ship in Cordoba to send him across. I also will march him to what is left of Carthage to arrange a ceasefire.

10. I am preparing to take Numantia from the Gauls. Haven't done it yet, and they have a full stack floating about... I've got a comfortable position built, and Gaul is in my cross hairs.