I'm not sure whether I have permission to attack

[DirtyACE]

Ok here's the situation:

I'm playing as Spain. I hold the entire Iberian peninsula, Bourdeaux, Toulouse, Marrakesh, and Algiers. The French became excommunicated earlier in the game and so I launched a crusade to take Toulouse, and this put me in war with them. Afterwards the pope died, and so the French were no longer excommunicated. However, I stayed in war with them, even though after taking Toulouse, I did not launch any additional attacks on them. Right now it looks like the French are sending three armies against me which are already on my lands, however, I'm not sure if I can attack them. It says in the diplomacy that I'm in war with them, but they have good standing with the pope, my standing is perfect. The pope hasn't done anything obviously because the French have not been excommunicated. I'm think to quickly destroy the three armies and launch an attack on Marseille and Angers.

I would appreciate any advice.

[Commander_Vimes]

the problem with the pope is that he always tells u to stop "shedding the blood of your fellow christians" so u just have to blitz them as quickly as possible

[DirtyACE]

Yeah i know. I had that message before once, but they're on my lands right now, with three armies, I think I should be able to kick them out or wipe them off the map. That's what I'm thinking, in the first turn I'll destroy their armies and in the second I'll siege two of their cities.

[Snipafist]

When the pope wishes you to cease hostilities, you still have the right to defend yourself. So long as the enemy army is on your turf, you can attack. Similarly, if the enemy is blockading your port (AND ONLY IF THEY'RE BLOCKADING THE PORT), you may attack their ships with yours without making the pope angry with you for being the agressor. Do not, I repeat DO NOT fight the enemy armies in their own turf or engage their navies on the open sea if you're desperate to keep the pope's approval.

In situations like yours, it's often best to keep a strong point to defend, like a bridge or a castle. Let the enemy come to you and keep trouncing them in battle while on your turf. This will net you a good amount of battle chivalry as well as command bonuses and other positive traits as well. Eventually, the pope will tire of their warmongering and excommunicate them. Then it's open season!

[Gorrrrrn]

Agree with snipafist.

Find bottlenecks that are easily defended and defend in strength. If the French are being aggressive they'll attack you.

Be careful that you don't leave yourself open to being flanked, ie there are places where there are 2 bridges near each other. You'll need to cover both or else risk having an army at the bridge being attacked from two sides. Fun if one attacking army is small but no fun if both are full-stackers.

[parvus]

if they attack u, they'll b excommunicated again. send a diplomat to wrong and constantly giv him money. that way, when u attack teh french, u can recuperate ur relationship with the papal states

[Ippius]

Don't attack yet. Bribe the Pope and be as nice to him as possible. While doing so *force* the enemy to attack u by putting them in a situation where they have to attack u.

[Violent Dave]

Your best possible situation is if they get excommunicated. You are also in the spot to deal a pretty decisive blow if they have 3 full stacks wondering around your territory. Odds are they'll just mill about because they're afraid of the pope. This should give you plenty of time to position your armies to wipe them all out in a turn.

[DirtyACE]

Thank you for all your advice guys and/or gals. I took a chance (because my standing with the pope is perfect) and wiped out two full french armies (which were on my territory) in one turn. Milan also had an army roaming around my territory, so I put a small unit of pilgrims in front of them to see if they would attack them and they did. So in the same turn I also destroyed one of Milan's armies and got a heroic battle marker as well. Afterwards the pope told me to sieze hostilities towards Milan for 7 turns, so I did this. However, the pope still has not said anything at all about the French. Also the funny thing is that both myself and the French are in pretty good standing with the pope and it doesn't look like at all either one of us will get excommunicated. So I followed up my previous attacks on the French with a siege of their citadel at Angers. I took it in one hell of a battle and afterwards defended it against a French siege, and still no word whatsoever from the pope. In the mean time, Milan sunk one of my ships which was carrying an army. For this they became excommunicated immediately. Now the English are out for Milan's blood. They are marching from Caen 1.5 stacks to Milan's city of Dijon. For a second I thought the English were going to jump on me too, because their armies were toward Angers, however, they went around my citadel and are on course towards Milan's city.

So right now I'm planing to join a crusade on Tunis, since Sicily is excommunicated too and also launch an attack on the French city of Marseille. I'd also like to ally myself with the English and help them keep Milan under control.

I must say, so far this campaign has been very exciting.