The beginning for any faction is crucial. Suggest playing the English first, as they are easier and you can set yourself up and expand into the French territory. Also, are you having difficulty running your economy, or with battles, deciding what is most useful to build (which will affect your economy and troop building)? There are many threads here to help you with all these issues, take heart, I haven't played recently, but I haven't won with all the factions (finished only the English, French, Spanish, and the Byzantines if memory serves me right). I remember trying the Turks several times, got my head handed to me a few times. Also remember trying the Germans once, ouch, tough going.