Taking down the Papacy?

[l3asu]

Hi, I'm in Byzantine campaign and loving it, very fun an unique position they are in.

So I've moved directly westward to the point where I've captured Sicily and Southern Italy which destroyed the Sicilians. Now I plan to move on and capture Corsica and Sardinia and parts of North Africa, but right above my Souther Italian province of Naples is the Papacy and my question is what are the precautions and effects of taking down the church with the iron fist of Orthodox Christianity?

I have nothing against the church so far, but the annoying Milanese are nibbling at Naples and it would end up being unwise to march over papal lands to show them whose boss on top of that not having an adjoining province for support.

[phonicsmonkey]

Being at war with the Pope brings with it the risk that you'll end up at war with several other of the Catholic nations, either because they are currently allied with him, or because he can call a crusade against you which some or all of them will join.

taking Rome itself would seem to pose a higher risk, as he also has been known to assign missions to the human player of a catholic nation to regain Rome and restore it to the Papacy.

The jury is still out as to whether the AI factions get these missions also, but it's a plausible theory which explains other behaviour, so....

Having said that, if you go so far as to KILL the pope, you can often get peace straight away by bribing the new one....and if you are well organized you'll be able to repel any attacking catholics, crusading or otherwise

[Philbert]

If you stick east on the Italian peninsula you don't go over Papal lands at all. Naples borders Bologna there.
Once you take Bologna you have a good platform to go for Milan and Venice, though Milan and Venice will go at Bologna with all their might.
Naples will be safe then though.

[Valdincan]

As stated, many Catholic factions may declare war on you. But if you have a strong military defending your lands, you should be fine.

[sapi]

Papal guard spearmen can pose a real problem for the cavalry-heavy armies of the byzantines.

I suggest that you take them in a siege, bypassing the infantry on the walls as you blitz the town square and defend from the defender there.

Once rome has fallen, and the pope with it, you should be able to negotiate for peace with the next pope.

[l3asu]

What about taking out both Rome and the other papal province in one fell swoop with the pope inside and everything?

Will there still be a pope and papal states?