No, no, no, guys. No Eleutheroi as shadow-faction.

What I am saying is that, through traits and some coding, you can cause generals to defect to the Eleutheroi. The idea is that the player's faction is divided by civil war, and is in charge of the "legitimate" faction. Since history is written by the victors, that's fine by me. And it could allow gargantuan empires to spin apart by centripetal force.

Basically, when it happens, you get a message, like, "GENERAL REBELS! This general has raised his standard against your legitimate rule! Blah, blah, blah." It would make sense if a populares general revolted because an optimate is the head of the Romani, or if a king dies, and the heir's brother revolts in order to challenge him. Just make him Eleutheroi and let the player deal with him. If the Eleutheroi wins, well, the game's over anyway. If the player reconquers the rebel's territory, horray. If the game continues but that stuff is never regained, well... Dynasties have divided, both claiming legitimacy over the throne, and never reunited themselves.