Playing MTW on my Laptop when away on business, leaving RTW at home

Decided on a Hard game with Late France.

Surrounded by countries who seem to just wait a few turns and attack me. Italy doesn't wait, I am invariably invaded by turn 2. The swiss follow later on. The English, Aragonese later and finally the HRE. When Spain gets a single clear shot at any territory it takes it with no delay - 4 stacks !!

Eventually I am at war with all my neighbours, no way of stopping it.

After several games where I lose or give up I find that by building spearmen and auto fighting my battles I can actually stay alive and start winning.

Still, it peeves me, why does this happen - is there no diplomatic game on Hard - is it just a slugfest for everyone when they play France ??

Note I do try to use princesses and Diplomats, but they start off in Ile de France, so not next to a port. By the time I get one to Italy They have already invaded me.

The pope never excommunicates them even when I don't fight back. When I do fight back on my own territory he excommunicates me even if we are allied (he often offers me an alliance, I always accept).

My question is - What am I doing to incurr this mass hate ??? I want to learn diplomacy, but my neighbours keep attacking me, en-mass and quickly.....

Ta

Negator.