How to Provoke a country to wage war on you

[ekkstra]

I'd like to know because i dont want to make it look like i broke the peace treaty and make myself look bad

so i want to know how to make them fight me so it looks like im defending myself if this is possible. One of

my protectorates needs my help and id like to slaughter and take their(my enemies) land.

[Blaudonner]

Sometimes, you can provoke them by making a demand and threatening them in the diplomacy screen. That can make them hostile enough to declare war on you. Doesn't always work though, I got the Austrians to hate me by -500 points and they still wouldn't declare war.

[Inhuman One]

I am guessing that unlike in rome total war and medieval 2, they can actually know fear and wont pick a fight with someone that they cant possibly defeat.

[ekkstra]

Thats what im guessing too, i just tried threatening them alot like what Blaudonner said and i have -600 something of just threats of attack and still wont fight me haha. But oh well just wanted to know...early in the game though they waged war on me like after the 2nd turn but now not so much.

[british_general]

If the enemy is real strong, just expand! They will hate you to the core for territorial expansion. Plus, threaten them, make deals with them and cancel it, and everything else.

Note: Should not work as enemy can hate you to the core as mentioned above but will not attack you and this may make your allies hate you(which is what happened to me)