Why is the starting position weak of Spain? When you have conquered the Iberian peninsula, you have an almost as good position as England. And I am not using the patch (I think I am not the only one) but instead I am using mods for the bugs, so when I lock gibraltar, the only problem is the Pirenees (I still don't know how to spell them - someone please tell me) And if you coquer Tolouse, that will be the only city/castle which needs defense until you conquer further. And yeah Knights of Santiago...they rule.