Neighbourly Relations

[.Suetonius.]

I play as the English and have tried very hard to keep my neighbouring Factions on-side. I married one of my girls into the French Royal Family in year one and kept things sweet with them for the next three decades. They even broke off their alliance with the HRE to support me. Very nice. 30 years later and all of my neighbours hate my guts with hostile factions on every front. What is the tipping point? One minute im in bed with the French, the next they declare war on me along with 3 other nations? I presume this is because Ive become powerful (through rebel settlements and trade development - never been in an opposing faction's territory). Ive even offered money to be friends again. We've gone from charming foreigners to unbearable tyrants in one turn! So ive decided to unleash hell on the French/HRE/danish/moors and try assassinate his holiness' arse pronto before the inevitable crusade arrives on my shores. Any tips on how to prevent a world war?

[Metellus]

If you haven't been excommed I suggest you hold out and wait until His Holiness excomms the other factions for attacking you. May make the others see the errors of their ways. And work on getting your own candidate as pope. Oh, and see my sig too

[2ltben]

Sending gifts to those you want to keep as friends is very advisable. A thousand florins or so every few turns is enough to keep them in line, bump up payments a bit if you want them as a reliable friend. Sending gifts and keeping factions in good relations is an excellent way to improve your reputation and foreign standing. If they trust you, they won't attack unless you shouldn't trust them.