Damon Mcknight
As a member of the Holy Roman Empire (HRE), players often face challenges when attempting to expand their territory due to interference from Austria. Austria, as the leader of the HRE, has the ability to join wars between members and often defends them, making it difficult for players to conquer new lands. However, there are strategies that players can employ to navigate this challenge and achieve their expansionist goals. One approach is to become the emperor oneself, which grants the ability to take lands without repercussions. Another strategy is to wait for the emperor to be engaged in another war and then seize the opportunity to expand. Additionally, forming alliances with nations outside the HRE, such as Muscovy, can provide support and deter Austria from intervening. Players can also exploit updates that introduce Free Cities, which the emperor will always defend, to their advantage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game | Europa Universalis IV |
| Difficulty | High |
| Strategies | Become emperor, wait for the emperor to be at war, ally with the emperor, form a "Neo-Russia", switch to Protestantism, become France's friend, play game of thrones with electors, become invincible elsewhere |
| Suggestions | Use enforce peace, marry and ally with electors, be opportunistic, attack allies instead of targets, use vassals, ally with bigger princes, focus on target and annex |
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What You'll Learn
Become emperor
One of the ways to expand the HRE is to become emperor. This can be achieved by switching to Protestantism once the centers of reformation have appeared, as Austria will be weaker if CoRs are in the HRE and not in Sweden. Another strategy is to ally with the emperor and other nations, and then go to war. It is also beneficial to pay attention to the alliance and war status of everyone involved and sometimes it is helpful to attack an ally of your intended target, rather than the target directly.
One user's strategy was to marry and ally with four other electors, join every single war, and enact a few reforms. They eventually had the mission to PU Bohemia and Hungary. They then got into a defensive war with France, which they won, and this allowed them to unite the HRE.
However, becoming emperor may not be a long-term solution as it may not be possible to last more than 1 or 2 rulers as emperor if you start expanding inside the HRE. It is also difficult to annex more than a few provinces without getting a coalition formed against you.
Therefore, it is important to be opportunistic and strategic in your expansion. For example, you can use vassals to take land, improve relations with everyone, and use chain wars to avoid unlawful territory.
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Wait for the emperor to be at war
One strategy to expand the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) when playing as an HRE minor is to wait for the emperor to be at war. This is because the emperor of the HRE, typically Austria, will defend members against other members only under certain conditions. Firstly, they will defend members if they are allied with the defender, including through Free City status. Secondly, they will defend members if the attacker is declaring a no CB war. In the new update, the emperor will always come to the aid of a Free City if it is attacked. However, for non-free cities, the emperor will only defend them under the aforementioned conditions.
Therefore, by waiting for the emperor to be at war, you can increase the chances of successfully expanding the HRE. This is because the emperor may be less likely or able to intervene and defend other members when they are already engaged in a conflict. This strategy can be particularly effective if the emperor is embroiled in multiple wars or if they are facing powerful enemies that demand their full attention.
Additionally, it is important to consider the factors that influence the emperor's decision to intervene. These factors include their manpower, relative strength of alliances, and their opinion of the attacker. By improving relations and maintaining a high opinion with the emperor, you may be able to deter them from defending other members and even gain their support for your expansion efforts.
However, it is worth noting that even if the emperor is at war, they may still intervene in certain situations. For example, if you are attacking a Free City or a nation they are strongly allied with, they may still come to their aid. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider your targets and alliances before declaring war.
Moreover, becoming the emperor yourself can grant you more freedom to expand. As the emperor, you can make decisions that benefit your expansionist goals and take territories without facing opposition from the emperor. However, this strategy may be more challenging to execute as it requires diplomatic manoeuvring and securing the support of electors.
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Ally with the emperor
One way to expand the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) is to ally with the emperor, who is often Austria. Improving relations with the emperor can be done through diplomatic actions such as improving relations, royal marriages, offering access, sending gifts, subsidies, guaranteeing safety, and influencing great powers. Maintaining a very high opinion of the emperor, around 140 or above, can deter them from interfering in your wars and may even result in them aiding you.
Another strategy is to wait for the emperor to be embroiled in a war and take advantage of their distraction to expand. This can be combined with allying the emperor, as they will be less likely to interfere if they are occupied elsewhere. Additionally, forming alliances with nations other than the emperor may also deter Austria from joining wars against you.
Becoming the emperor yourself is another option, though this may not be a long-term solution as it can lead to internal instability within the HRE. However, it can provide an opportunity to take territories within the HRE. It is important to maintain good relations with electors and other influential nations to increase the chances of being elected emperor.
Overall, allying with the emperor, taking advantage of their distractions, forming external alliances, and even becoming the emperor yourself can be strategies to expand the HRE while dealing with a defensive Austria.
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Exploit Burgundy's dead HRE states
The Kingdom of Burgundy was a name given to various successive kingdoms centred in the historical region of Burgundy during the Middle Ages. The heartland of historical Burgundy correlates with the border area between France and Switzerland. The Burgundians were an early Germanic tribe or group of tribes. They appeared in the middle Rhine region in the third century AD and later moved west into the Roman Empire, in Gaul.
The first documented, though not historically verified, King of the Burgundians was Gjúki (Gebicca), who lived in the late 4th century. In the course of the Crossing of the Rhine in 406, the Burgundians settled as foederati in the Roman province of Germania Secunda along the Middle Rhine. Their efforts to enlarge their kingdom down the Rhône river brought them into conflict with the Visigothic Kingdom in the south. The decline of the Kingdom began when they came under attack from their former Frank allies. In 534, the Burgundian lands were annexed by the Frankish Empire. While there was no longer an independent Burgundian kingdom, Burgundy remained one of the three main polities that together defined the core Frankish realm.
In modern usage, "Burgundians" can sometimes refer to later inhabitants of the geographical Bourgogne or Borgogne (Burgundy), named after the old kingdom, but not corresponding to the original boundaries of it. Between the 6th and 20th centuries, the boundaries and political connections of "Burgundy" changed frequently. In modern times, the only area still referred to as Burgundy is in France, which derives its name from the Duchy of Burgundy.
As for exploiting Burgundy's dead HRE states, here is a strategy that can be employed:
- Weaken France as much as possible by releasing vassals and reconquering their cores that France holds.
- Become a partner of France in the BI event to instantly integrate all subjects, and then become independent.
- Trigger the Burgundy inheritance chain by ensuring there is no truce with France and having at least one free diplomat.
- Abdicate with Charles, or continue with general conquest until his death.
- When the inheritance fires, become a French subject, and then immediately declare independence.
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Dismantle the HRE
Dismantling the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) in Europa Universalis IV as a minor nation can be challenging, but it can be achieved through a combination of strategic alliances, opportunistic expansion, and careful management of the Emperor and electors. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Build Alliances and Improve Relations
Start by forging strong alliances with nations that can counterbalance the power of Austria and the Emperor. Nations like France, Denmark, and Russia can be potential allies, as mentioned in one source. Additionally, try to maintain good relations with the Emperor and electors by improving your opinion of them. This can deter Austria from intervening in your wars and may even lead to their support.
Step 2: Expand Opportunistically
Look for opportunities to expand your territory, especially when the Emperor is preoccupied with other wars. This can involve declaring wars on nations that are not part of the HRE or targeting allies of your intended targets, as direct attacks on HRE members may provoke a response from Austria.
Step 3: Become Emperor
Becoming Emperor yourself can be a powerful tool for dismantling the HRE. As Emperor, you can take advantage of the position to expand and consolidate power, knowing that you can relinquish the title later. This approach requires careful management, as unchecked expansion as Emperor may shorten your reign.
Step 4: Dismantle HRE from Within
Once you have built sufficient power and influence, it's time to dismantle the HRE from within. This involves occupying the capitals of electors and hitting the "dismantle HRE" button. You don't need to declare war on all electors, but focus on those you have allied with and ensure the rest of the electors are on your side.
Step 5: Manage the Aftermath
After dismantling the HRE, you will have significant power and influence. You can now focus on other expansionist goals, such as forming "Neo-Russia" by expanding eastward or even conquering the entire world.
Remember, dismantling the HRE as a minor nation is a complex and dynamic process that requires adaptability and strategic thinking. Each playthrough may vary, so stay vigilant and seize opportunities as they arise.
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Frequently asked questions
One way is to become emperor, another is to wait until the emperor is embroiled in a war. The easiest way is to become invincible somewhere else and then come back for the HRE.
After forming a PU with Bohemia and Hungary, you can eat Venezia whole and then go after the Ottomans. Abuse unlawful territory—making HRE members release minors they gobbled up gives you authority. Remove all Protestants and pass all reforms except the last one. Conquer all you can within the HRE but keep as many princes around.
Make some good alliances and wait for Austria or the emperor to fight something like the Ottomans. When they are occupied, start easy wars, take everything, and give one land back per war.
