Quote Originally Posted by tellapan
I welcome any thoughtful insights
If the HRE dont own Asia-Minor then go for that. It will give your economy a nice boost and give you a second direction to attack the HRE and North Africa. Its also easy to defend, Constantinople and Khazar are the only land routes in and a few ships will defend against sea attacks.
If all the nations in asia minor have large amounts of ships defending against sea attacks then build LOADS of assasins and send them at the weakest nation (the one with the least heirs). Killing the royal family will hopefully make the provences go rebel, giving you a gate in to Asia-Minor