Papal state allying with the crusade target?

[SeekerDK]

Here is the thing. I allied with the papal state, which is usually a wise decision, giving I'm a good catholic (England) and want to stay on the good lords best side. And as a peaceful and faithful christian I obey the popes command to murder infide... Ehhmm... save christian holiness from non-believers. The papal state choices the peaceful solution and begin diplomacy with the Turks.

Ok, ok, I'm not saying that Turks can't be friends with the Papal State but "for churchs sake", why does the papal state choice to ally with the holders of the crusade target, AFTER I have already besieged it and not call of the crusade? My Crusade target is now my allies ally and my crusade army is now stuck right outside Antioch and I dare not move him of fear of mass desertion.

I think this might even qualify as a bug, as there is a trigger in place that aborts a crusade (seen it in used on Ex-comm crusade-target factions that have been recounciled) but don't know if this is because the trigger simply applies to Islam faction or it's a actually bug (might have been that Antioch was rebel when crusade was called but turned Turkish before the alliance).

On one side I would like the issue fixed (pope death didn't do it, it was the first crusade in-game and still status-quo at turn 70). I now have an (outdated) army on hold doing nothing for the last 40 turns, countless Ex-comms and recounciled'ings and yet no new crusades and a would-be-good general spawned from man-of-the-hour right before to the crusade being called but now a 40-year old virgin with some interesting traits and retinues, but very little command experience.

On the other hand, I think the situation is so hysterically funny, that I would almost like it to continue and hope for a natural break (Antioch being taken by someone else, alliance breaking or Turks attacking me). But still it is a pain, that I can't use crusades to punish Europeans that have crossed the church (pun intended :).

Any surgestions?

(I mean for the post to be sarcastic and humorous to read, I apologies if anyone sees it different)

[Sir Clive Sinclair]

Can't help with your specific issue, but sounds similar to the dumb AI when trying to buy papal votes.

They refuse your cash, then vote for you anyway.

[TheLastPrivate]

Don't join the crusade, pay the pope some cash, and just move on while believing that there was some deadly conspiracy involving your rivals and the pope :D

[SeekerDK]

Don't join the crusade, pay the pope some cash, and just move on while believing that there was some deadly conspiracy involving your rivals and the pope :D

Well that doesn't really solve the problem of no new crusades or that of the army already standing by in Antioch-region. As I said, it been like this for approximately 40 turns and it's starting to ....
. . . ... and then some.

Only fast way out I found was to attack (kill the papal alliance), finish the crusade and then crawl back begging for forgiveness. And I'm not that huge on begging (again).

[Zpartan]

Maybe being a good catholic means taking the reputation hit and continue the seige. Pope wants to look nice so he allied with them he still wants you to kill them, he's just smarter than youuu think! Yea I have no idea hasn't hapenned to me.

[SeekerDK]

Maybe being a good catholic means taking the reputation hit and continue the seige. Pope wants to look nice so he allied with them he still wants you to kill them, he's just smarter than youuu think! Yea I have no idea hasn't hapenned to me.

On the serious side, I think your giving the AI a bit to much tactical credit.
But on the historical side, you are of cause right :)

The Siege broke automatically when the papal state allied (hostilities automatically seizes between allies' allies), but it's kind of a pain that I have to re-ally with the Papal State after worth. Cost me a bundle the first time.