Rebellions

[Vara Del Rey]

How do you deal with rebellions, or better still how do you keep your population happy? I am playing as Spain, and took France, UP, Italy, and most of Africa. The unhappiness, rebellions or strikes seem to occur without a pattern even if I shut down the taxes, or or increase the garrisons. Is there something one can do as a player to improve the regions' happiness and decrease the revolt risk?
It also surprises me that Portugal, France and Morrocco are happy, while Spain, Italy and Savoy keep revolting all the time.

[Indus_Valley]

Keep an army in the area. When the workers actually rebel , they form an army in the countryside somewhere. Beat these guys in a battle and you get 2 modifiers for repression in your region screen. If that doesnt do it , just wait for the next rebellion and do it again. I'd keep taxes on to pay for the army.

You get good XP for your troops this way.

The differences you noted are probably resistance to foreign occupation - based on historical grievances I think. eg; the French don't like having Spanish masters

[django333]

Destroy any churches if the region is a different religion than your own. Destroy any schools, they cause unhappiness due to clamour for reform. Make them tax exempt and leave a full garrison in the capital. IMO religion if the biggest factor in region happiness.

[HawkDreams]

I destroy all schools, other religion churches, and entertainment centers and build nothing but my churches until the unrest settles then go back and destroy all but one of my churches and build back anything I need. The whole process never takes more than 10 turns if you send what priests you have in also. Sending in Priests before you invade works wonders in your favor also! Playing as Russia, I send all my priests into Ottoman and Polish lands to keep them busy while I deal with Sweden which makes both those nations easier for the picking once I get to them.