I've gotten to Very Reliable before.

Usually as a northern/western european faction... So I have only a couple neighbors to make peace with and no Muslims or orthodox factions who hate me. Then I act like I am afraid of the world and bribe everyone until their treasury bursts.

Bascially, you have to be a total pushover/suck-up to everyone.

Not my style. Once I got their trust, I broke their spines over my knee and trampled over their remains. I don't mess around. I went from being beloved ally of all Europe to despised and feared ruler of the whole world in only a few short years of bloody conquest. Oh, the massacre...

One bit of advice... don't trust anyone. The nicer people are, the more suspicious you should be. Approach every situation with caution and never lower your defenses. When it applies to this game anyway... which isn't too far off from real life.

Don't believe me? Look at the businessmen and politicians. Life is nothing but constant war to them. That is why they are in power. They made war on you and won, and you didn't even realize it.