Prevent neighbors from attacking

[rookie7]

Well...now Spain also declared war on me. So, I'm now at war with 7 factions and the Rebels. The thing with being at war with so many factions is that you (I at least) have to spend all your income training armies to defend your regions. I hardly have any money for upgrades. Every ceasefire offers I made is being rejected because AI knows/thinks that I stand no chance with 7 factions attacking. Also, being at war with 7 catholic factions, the chances of one of those factions winning the Pope election is pretty good. When it does win an election, your relation with the Pope drops to 3-4 and you get slapped with the excommunication threat, all the while his own faction is free to attack me.

I agree with you guys, I wish something is done because this is ridiculous and becoming pointless to play. I guess I could try bribing them with money the next time I play. As for now, I'm gonna try to build forts and defend key choke points like you guys suggested.

Just wondering, what is the most number of factions that you're at war with at the same time?

[Booga]

By the end of the game I'm at war with pretty much everybody. At that point though, it's feasible to lose a settlement or two to draw in their armies, then crush their front while they're far from reinforcements and then just sweep through their undefended lands. Excommunication isn't even that scary since just about nothing can make a dent in my economy. Just hang in there, as long as you can field armies and win battles you'll be ok. Try letting the AI have a couple provinces, so hopefully you won't share borders with so many and hopefully they'll bicker amongst themselves, or at least give you some breathing room. It may be more cost-efficient to stop trying to hold onto every single settlement and consolidate for the time being.

Also, if you can spare it, send an army off into enemy territory, preferably a capital. Once its heartland is under attack the AI will usually break off to pursue you, and if you're fast you can siege, loot and skedaddle before they catch up to you.

One more thing...don't underestimate the value of agents. Swarm a city with spies and assassins (for sabotage) and see if you can get it to rebel. Even if you don't they'll have to divert troops to keep order and money to repair the damage, which will cost them way more than your agents' upkeep. Hope that helps you a bit.