Should I give back Rome to the Papal states as Austria?

[Manski]

I just conquered Rome and prevented the shadow kingdom. Shall I give Rome back or keep it to myself? I am excommunicated though.

[Admod, the Equivocal]

It depends, did you add the land to the Holy Roman Empire yet? Will the pope be a prince of the empire? Gotta get that authority.

[Omniconda]

says he prevented teh shadow kingdom so no reason not to give it back really, the -2 dip rep for holding it will really hurt Austrian electon chances.

[bri]

Originally posted by Omnious:

says he prevented teh shadow kingdom so no reason not to give it back really, the -2 dip rep for holding it will really hurt Austrian electon chances.

Unless he's already past the point where there are elections...

[CondorDrake]

I'm in the same boat at the moment, it's 1476, I vassalized and diplo-annexed the balkans, got a PU over hungary and bohemia and released Aquitaine which I used to eat venice lands (all except crete and the capitol). I'm now wondering if it is worth preventing the shadow kingdom at all, since Italy would be a way to expand further and would give me coring access to iberia. The only alternative I'd see would be to try and break into poland/lithuania to get a way to the east, but that seems more than difficult / costly. Kebap is still out of my league with it's mediaval space marine troops.

[firestar587]

short answer
you shouldn't even have taken it in the first place makeing the papal states a vassal works to stop the SK and is much easier and gives you a nation to use to take over italy

[CondorDrake]

Won't force vassalizing the papal state give you an incredible amount of AE, though?

[firestar587]

Originally posted by Equinox:

Won't force vassalizing the papal state give you an incredible amount of AE, though?

not any more then any other nation if you take 2 or 3 of his provs it is only like 15-20 AE

[CondorDrake]

Sounds like a plan then, going to try that, thanks.

[firestar587]

Originally posted by Equinox:

Sounds like a plan then, going to try that, thanks.

np

[Omniconda]

As Austria
idealy you only need to core 2 papal provinces to prevent shadow kingdom which is doable without being Excommunicated.

First war take Urbino and Ancona and release Avignon, Core both and add to HRE.
Second war take the remaining 3 provinces whichwill full annex the pope.
Keep game paused - Rein in ShadowKingdom - provinces dont need to be cored or added
Unpause let event fire to return Rome giving you prestige and then return Romagna for 10 prestiage meaning you have positive relations with teh pope and thus stopping Excommunication

[FRITZ HABER]

no you don't need core. you only need roma to be held by you. my strategy is to conquer all the land from the pope but left rome alone. the last war should just take rome and took the decision and wait for a event to give rome back to papalstate

[Manski]

I gave it back and Castille got the curia. Short story he was allied to me and lifted the excommunication and I prevented the Shadow Kingdom. Win/win situation. :D

[Majacura]

I tried to prevent the shadow kingdom but the emperor died with no heir and I couldn't add the Italian provinces because the emperor, who was Nassau now, hated me...