Age of Charlemagne Campaign - Need tips for playing as Charlemagne

[Phobos]

Hello everyone, I just tried to play a campaign in AOC as Charlemagne's kingdom and I got utterly destroyed. I didn't manage to handle properly how stretched out my lands where and the AI was declaring one war after another on me. I have a good understanding of AOC's mechanics since I finished a campaign as Mercia, but I need tips for this era's big boy. Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance.

[Teh_Diplomat]

Strike up as many non-aggression pacts as possible - gifts if necessary, and take stock of the Provinces you wish to maintain control over, and must control to build an effective fighting force. Only take settlements you know you can defend, or don't mind potentially losing.

Everything else, can be attacked, taken away from you, which buys you the necessary time in order to strike out and eradicate your enemies.

Essentially you start out much like the Mercians (threats abound), however you have much more territory, thus you can afford to lose some of them in the short term, in order to gain it all back over the course of your transition from early to mid-game.

[Phobos]

Originally posted by Teh_Diplomat:

Strike up as many non-aggression pacts as possible - gifts if necessary, and take stock of the Provinces you wish to maintain control over, and must control to build an effective fighting force. Only take settlements you know you can defend, or don't mind potentially losing.

Everything else, can be attacked, taken away from you, which buys you the necessary time in order to strike out and eradicate your enemies.

Essentially you start out much like the Mercians (threats abound), however you have much more territory, thus you can afford to lose some of them in the short term, in order to gain it all back over the course of your transition from early to mid-game.

I see, I have no choice but to give up on lands like the eastern territories to sustain the kingdom. Gonna try it, thanks!