Started playing as Venice, had real problems, so decided to try England, got the whole of the British Isles fairly quickly, wiped the Scots out after turn 5, got Rennes early as well, then got Antwerp and Bruge after 2 or 3 battles. Did a crusade and got Antioch, kept it, and from there got Jereuselem and Acre and Gaza, have kept them and have converted the population of all to at least 50% Catholic. Then did a crusade to Leon and now have that as well as Pamplona. Took Rheims from the French and Algers as well. All this by about turn 65, seems too easy.
H/VH settings btw.