Samrat Chakravartin

[Indigo Solace]

Began as the Buddhist Pala Kingdom and became the Bengal Empire easily enough. Then moved west and almost have all of Rajastan, but having issues moving south. What is left of the Deccan? Empire can't be subjugated so I'm looking for any advice in taking the rest of the subcontinent over without picking it off one county at a time.

Everything in my Buddhist campaign has gone very well so far. Currently at 956 from the Charlemagne start and my only threat was the Abbasids who I've fought and won against a few times now to push them back out of Rajastan, though that is going slow too since the Buddhist holy wars are only letting me pick that off one at a time as well. I just keep timing my attacks when they're busy with revolts and the Byzantines and now can go toe to toe with them. Any tips for the future would be greatly appreciated, especially since I haven't seen how the Mongols come to play in Rajas of India.

[battlecattle]

When I was trying to unite the Indian subcontinent, I managed to get the last kingdom (happened to be Pala) by waiting for that kingdom to have a bunch of civil wars then pressed a weak claim I had on the kingdom. Maybe marrying to get those weak claims would work for you too?

[Surimi]

Once you have an empire, it's not too hard. Just invite claimants on kingdom level titles and press their claims. Last time I did it I was working the other way around, but the principle is similar. It's important to remember that while it doesn't look it on the map India is huge. Each of its three empires has as many (if not more) provinces than most of the Empires in Europe, so it's like controlling Hispannia, Britannia and Francia simultaneously. In short, it is a big effort.

Don't forget that one of the major advantages of being an Indian ruler is how easy it is to switch between the three Indian religions. Don't be afraid to go Hindu for a generation or two if you want to take the fight to the Abbasids. Jains are also bizarrely strong at warfare, especially within India itself, due to their enormous demense caps giving them loads of troops. You can just stick with one religion the whole game, but it's kind of a waste of potential in this case.

[Zednaught]

I got my achievement by doing what Deep Hurting suggested-inviting claimants into my kingdom and pressing their claims. Once you have an empire, it shouldn't take more than 50 years to conquer the whole subcontinent.

I'd also suggest switching to Jainism while as long as your activities are confined to India and once you've gotten an empire. They make for an extremely strong and stable empire, with very little to limit you aggression.

[Indigo Solace]

Thanks for the replies

[Indigo Solace]

What's the trick with inviting claimants? I'm missing something. I conquer for them, but I'm not seeing how I'm supposed to incorporate them into my empire.

[Lord Duck®]

They have to be of your dynasty or a already landed within your empire. The title you are claiming also has to be at least 1 tier lower than your primary title

[Indigo Solace]

If I press a claim with a landed claimant and they are a different religion while I have medium authority, anything stopping me from turning around and revoking?

[Zednaught]

Don't think so. It's part of what makes Indian faiths very easy to play as.

[Andersen]

you could go islam and if your guy lives long conquer the whole area in a generation with holy wars