Who's your favorite minor power?

[Martok]

satchef1 put up a post that got me thinking about the smaller factions, and how they can be a fun challenge. You're surrounded by guys that are bigger and more powerful than you. You can't just sit there building up your one province, so you have to expand almost immediately. At the same time, however, you must choose carefully in where you expand, lest you bite off more than you can chew!

So out of curiosity, what's everyone's favorite small faction? Feel free to list factions made playable in the mods (XL, BKB, etc.).

For myself, I would have to say the Danes--gotta love those Viking units with their Longships. In the XL mod, I also like the Scots, Bohemians, and Portuguese.