Thanks for the continued advice. I owned the northen half of the map from East to West - British Isles to Khazar. Including Scandinavia, Denmark, most of the German states down to Swabia and Bohemiaand allso Poland and Volnyha (sic?).

I have now reconquered all of France my raiding party in Spain has raized three provinces and is heading to Granada to demolish buildings there, as straits of Gibraltar are still a choke point for trade as this is where the majority of the ships appear.

The Spanish have suffered a swath of rebellions all over the middle east and north africa and right on the cue the Pope re established himself and excommunicated the Spanish king, and retook the southern half of Italy.

I think I've got him on the ropes. I haven't been able to get back in to the black to produce more troops to replace losses so have let some of the Russian provinces rebel. The golden Horde have made a reappearnace as well so I lost Khazar but the Spanish lost tthe one south Armenia?

Thanks for the advice re the outlaw general. It was the first time I've had that vice for a general - unfortunately it didn't come in time to save him!