lots people suggest buying Bologna as the first move. I just trade ikronka, map and trade rights for bologna, then turn around and seige Ikronka, and kill the HRE emperor(it would be a nice payday if HRE had the 15k for the kings ransom, but they never do). then it's alliance with the pope and wack that snake in the grass(milan). kiss up to pope, call a crusade, send all your generals beside king and heir(since they gonna cultivate dread anyway). sell your cruade target to someone who have no hope of holding it(spain, portugal, england etc). consolidate a bit, then strike the byzantines.