@Duncan_Hardy & Kavhan Isbul: I concur that the faction system (as it currently stands) is somewhat flawed in Medieval 2. With Eras not being in the sequel, it essentially limits the game's factions to those that were major players only in the early part of the period, at the expense of those that appeared and/or rose to power later on (Golden Horde, Burgundians, Portuguese, etc.). I can only guess that CA made this design decision so as to avoid confusing and/or overwhelming new players; and while I understand that, it does end up shafting the rest of us that feel that greater variety is a good thing.