It's almost like Alfred was Great or something. . .

You mentioned human trafficking enough times in this video that I got an ad from the Canadian Government for human trafficking awareness as a midroll

You sorely missed Count Bretislav of Plzen, 1066 start date, Bohemia, gain claims to Hungary/Bohemia and can snowball into a 4 kingdom strong empire (Bohemia, Hungary, Poland, Pomerania) within 1 lifetime. Really easy too.

He's not necessarily strong, but Count Herbert of Vermandois is the last member of the Karling house with a title in 1066. It's fun trying to reconquer Charlemagne's empire.

Alfred's brother seems to have a scripted event where he dies a few years into the game so you don't even need to assassinate him, he has died 90% of the times I've played as Alfred the Great (keep learning new things and restarting with my new knowledge) and he almost always dies before he has a child

Bill Wurtz: No one conquers the Tamil Kings AlzaboHD: Hold my Count

Gonna second Harald Finehair my god this guy is a beast, he's trucking into his 60's with 28 prowess, he's a organiser with the reaver and viking traits letting him just merrily skip over and raid the english isles without a care in the world. Got exceptionally lucky and managed to marry him to a giantess genius, giving birth to 4 giant genius sons, who all have their own Jarldoms. They all became friends with their dad with no effort from me and they are friends with their brother and heir. Life is good for the finehairs. Edit: nevermind they all contracted lovers pox from their wives.

The top 10: 10. Chieftan Heraldr "Fairhair" of Vestfold (Norse Asatru, 867) 9. Sheikh Al-Khattab of Ghat (Berber Ibadi, 867) 8. Count Rostislav Mstislavovich of Tikhvin & other unpronouncable syllables (Russian Orthodox, 1066) 7. High Chieftess Dauruma of Kano (Hausa Bori, 867) 6. Count Adalhard of Ravensburg (Franconian Catholic, 867) 5. Chima Hummay of Bilma (Kanuri Ash'ari, 867) 4. Thakur Vijayabahu of Rohana (Sinhala Theravada, 1066) 3. Sheikh Abdul-AlMadjid of Kharga (Egyptian Isma'ili, 1066) 2. Earl Afred Ethelwulfson of Dorset (Anglo-Saxon Catholic, 867) 1. Count Haesteinn of Montaigu (Norse Asatru, 867)

Kind of surprised Maredudd ap Gruffydd wasn't on here. He starts with one county in northern Wales as a vassal of Gwynedd, but is second in line to the duchies of both Northumberland and Mercia through his maternal uncle Morcar. After inheriting the two large duchies, you can easily take over the rest of Wales and reform your father's kingdom, and set your sights on the rest of the British Isles. Being Welsh, he also has the option to rid Britain of the Anglo-Saxons and gain the unique nickname "Pendragon".

2:06 Who ordered roasted Libya for dinner?

I really liked your 'Worst Rulers in CK2' video and would love a CK3 version. Great video here too.

Started as Alfred... Married some kids off... Wound up playing as the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire by 950.

AlzaboHD, just FYI the "Mother of Us All" achievement is basically impossible to get right now since Daurama still has to be alive when you control and convert all of Africa to the reformed religion. Paradox accidentally stipulated `exists = character:251187` (Daurama's char ID) in the achievements file. And in fact, sadly all achievements that require you to start as a specific character are also apparently broken right now too, since the only way to get them is completing them in one go without reloading a save file. According to the Paradox devs reloading breaks them for some unknown reason (which they are "investigating").

re: Hummay of Bilma "For reasons unknown": Historically, he takes over that region (the kingdom of Kanem Bornu) and Islamifies it around 1085.

fact not mentioned in the video: Haraldr Fairhair is.. probably.. the historical first king of norway, there's some debate about wether he has really existed, but general concensus is that he probably did even if the stories about him probably aren't all true.

yo Infante Fruella in Zamora is a good meme, cause he's blind and is the next in line to inherit the kingdom of Asturias.

Last time I was this early nothing was different and I still left a like on the video!

"Change the course of English history...." you are aware that's King Alfred the Great? Lol

"No one can conquer the tamil kings" is a valid statement until some norse breton dude with a big event army appears

If we're talking strongest count(esses), how about Infante Urraca of Zamora in 1066? All you need to do is 1) Modify your contract to guarantee a council position. 2) Become spymaster 3) Murder your liege 4) Repeat 2 more times And you are a Queen of a realm of size 26 (probably merged into one kingdom by one of the kings before he dies). It takes about 4 in-game years.

Just found this channel and quickly subscribed. You have Sseth's (un)godly voice, Isaac Arthur's eloquence and relaxing tone... yeah, we've got a winner here folks. (Oh, and a little of ISP's edginess, too!)

Another one is Raimond, count of Rouergue. Historically, he became the Count of Toulouse (in CK terms, the Duke) and was one of the principal leaders of the First Crusade In game, you start with decent traits, though nothing inheritable. Your brother is Duke and you are his heir, and he can be...dispatched. You are also married to second in line for the Duchy of Provence, and can make sure your wife inherits that title. Pretty quickly you can become the pre-eminent power of Southern France, and then start launching Holy Wars into Iberia or North Africa, and also reprise your historic role as leader of the First Crusade

The Duchy of Thaton is also interesting to play before they add in China. It's on the very edge of the map in the bottom right and seeing yourself go from this ryukyu-tier nobody to Emperor of Asia is incredibly satisfying.

Now we want to see the worst

“Bless the pain down in Africa” was worth a subscription...

I started in Ghat during my last play and had so much fun. It's nice to see different areas mentioned in your videos!

I’ve been waiting for this video! Thank you!!!

Alzabo: "It is time to cover the most powerful count in crusader kings" Me: "*EEEEY IS MY BOII*"

This man just casually dropped a roast on Libya, great content indeed

You need to continue the Inbred Dynasty video. You left us at a very interesting place. The new faith you created is still not fully embraced. He just became King of West Francia and from what it looks, the Pope is still Crusading against you. I think its time to claim the HRE for the Inbred Dwarf King.

6:49 apparently hummay was a powerful leader and in a decade or so historically he became King of Kanem so the devs buffed him for historical reasons but idk

Can't wait for the Daura campaign, I'm also playing it and it's a blast! Not ironman though, might restart to hunt that (for now) hardest achievement in the game.

Thank you! I was waiting for a list of interesting characters in ck3, especially since the map has improved greatly

Man, you have Ghat to be kidding me about that second pick

I played as the viking fair hair guy. It was a freaking blast. Conquer and execute everyone. Took over the entire continent in 2 generations.

I would had put on the list Nana Eufa of Aowyn, a 1 county child in the South West of Africa coast in 866. You are surrounded by one county Lords so that will raid each other really quickly but you can create religion really easy and making a custom kingdom is actually pretty easy. I like it because the early game is like mad Max, everyone against everyone.

The reason Chima (a title) Hummay Sayfawa has special event troops is because he was the first muslim king of Kanem-Bornu (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummay ; www.vincenthiribarren.com/pdf/Hiribarren%20-%202016%20-%20Kanem-Bornu.pdf see p3 "Islam as Imperial Cement"). He kicked out the previously ruling dynasty and recreated the Kanem-Bornu empire ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanem%E2%80%93Bornu_Empire#Sayfawa_or_Sefououwa_Dynasty_(1085-1846) )

I have been waiting since middle ages for this video to come out.

Count Zdeslav Trpimirović of Požega (867) is amazing (especially if you want to form a custom Croatian empire). Starts with 5 counties and a claim on duchy of Croatia. Managed to form an empire in 2 and a half generations

Count Eunes is really fun. I got “Kings of the Seventh Generation” achievement and still on an achievement trip. I role play Capet dynasty by let Eunes suicide and pass the title to Robert Capet. Being Capet is not necessary but fun to role play. Edit: Eudes

Someone making an up-to-date Imperator Rome guide? Praises be to you Sir! :) Also, this video was fantastic.

Privet, tovarich) Great pronunciation! But if you would say "R" like lion's growling, you'd be our true comrade =)

4:24 to womansplain a bit: The hausa where actually until this point in a matriarchal system. Why the game doesn't portrait it like that, who knows.

Count cobbo of kassel in 867 is also very strong sometimes he starts as a good administrator and a vast amount of 7 holdings one of them being göttingen with the castle of goslar and the ability to build the unique mine of rammelsberg giving you 4 monthly income a good start to build an empire.

nice reference to history of the world i guess at 8:22 "at war with the Tamil kings and nobody messes with them"

Your narration makes me feel like I'm on blind date. I love it - 11/10 would plunder again.

You deserved the subscription

We count the counts that you can count on to counter your enemies

Foulques of Touraine was the ancestor of the Plantagenets. It’s a hard start since the neighboring Duke of Champaign starts out with a claim on your county and your brother is count of Angers and Saumur. Usually he will declare war on King Philippe and after he is imprisoned and has his titles revoked they will go to you.

The Alfred referenced in the video is alfred the great so that makes a lot of sense

Haestein is back \o/

Where was Gondor when the vestfold fell? - Haraldr Fairhair

Came here faster than the spread of corona

Me: **waking up and looking at KZfaq notifications** Alzabo: **made another cool top ten** ISP: *OVERPOWERED DWARF KINGDOM* There are only two Paradox youtubers that I watch, for each side of my sanity...

If you are looking for most interesting overall starts, have a look at Prince Ashot of the Armenian Principalities (867). He starts with a full diplomat tree, as well as an additional free diplomat lifestyle trait, and the Administrator trait. He is a vassal of the Abasids, which is rough as an Apostolic, but his contract has title revocation disabled and religious protection. He starts as Chancellor, and leader of the independence faction. He can easily vassalize the independent Armenians, and quickly form the Kingdoms of Armenia and Georgia The objective of restoring Greater Armenia is super fun, (especially if you also take over / dismantle the Byzantines)

Chieftain of Traendheim is also cool in 867. 5 sons and historical Rollo at court, even that he is unplayabale via iron man.

Im playing Alfred now. His brother died in war immediately. 😂

0:49 "On the topic of booty"😂😂😂😂 You killed me

Surprised you didn’t include countess urracca of Zamora with claims on three kingdoms

I cannot subscribe twice to AlzaboHD, but i can like and leave a comment

They need to bring back the Karen and Justanids event troups! Bavandids are doable but sooo hard and sometimes impossible...

I would add an honourable mention for the count of the isle of mon off the cost of Britain, they get an amazing unique decision that turns them into awesome raiders, turns them feudal, gives a king title and gives 7500 men that can be gotten in Ironman on your first character if you plan properly.

I really enjoy playing the Occitan rulers. The Toulouse one, under west Francia. (Occitans have the Visighotic codes, enabling very early access to equality law and the high partition law) And count Guilhèm of Lyon. (Lotharingia) This one especially. Cause you can easily join the independence faction, and your liege, king Lothaire will give you the duchy title to "please" you. (he also has a personal and exclusive Duke title name. He's called the Dauphin instead of Duke.) I love the Duke of Flanders too. That guy can spew out tons of gold, and he's only a fortune builder. As early as 900 AD making 9 gold per month. You can easily blob into Lotharingia, because of the conflicts, sometimes vikings launch conquest against Lotharingia, and it splits in half, making the north independent. And you can also face the king without problems, because they usually have a weak military. But my favorite character by far is Duke Jiawei of Ganzhou. He's on a prime position for defense, you can unify the kingdom of Xi Xia very quickly, (and vassalize the other two han dukes) because he can launch holy wars. And from that onwards, very easy to form Tibet. He also has that unique religion, Taoism. If you like, you can also start as that tribal Nestorian from Wuluhai. And do both conquest and holy wars. That's such an overpowered start. I was midpoint for Tibet, sitting atop of 4k gold. Having nowhere to spend. (tribal) doing hunts, feasts and pilgrimages. I also founded the holy order. It gets a little hard close to the end. Because you get that negative opinion for being tribal and having feudal vassals. These are my personal picks. All from 867 AD start. (I don't like late starting dates. Sorry.)

9:20 I love the usage of Ducketts there.

good luck with your campain as Daurama. I cross my fingers and wait if you can do it. Thanx for turning my attention to this character, I would probably never knew about her if not you :)

"buckets of ducats" -- instant thumbs up. 9:20

Video ended 5min ago and im still chuckling at 'Bless the pain down in africa pun', absolute gold

I have played basically nothing but Haraldr Fairhair since TOG was free for ck2 (with the exception of achievement runs). I remember thinking at the time that it was a relatively small start too. I'm pretty sure it's heretical to form Sweden as the guy who's famous for forming Norway though

Prince Karl, Duke of Swabia in 867 start is a pretty fun one with some luck. Your father and liege will be declared on by your brother the duke of Bavaria, who will soon become king of Bavaria. But you have unpressed claims to West Francia, East Francia, Italy, and Bavaria once that kingdom is created. Duke Adalhard is one of your Vassals so you can also press his claims instead. You are kind of at the big dogs' mercy for a while but if you steadily build your holdings with manufactured claims and build your levies, you will eventually start seeing excellent opportunities to take over shit.

I like to play as Bolade of Benin, the first in the Benin dynasty in 867. He's got a random start and you can easily murder the entire royal family of Ife, your overlords, to get the title for yourself as well as an enormous quantity of gold as inheritance.

Shameless plug worked, +1 sub

Still waiting for that Horse video🐴

Your puns are giving me an aneurism and I love it

Why haven’t anyone mentioned the Library of Alexandria in the comments yet!!

Never stop making puns. It brings me such joy. Thank you

Excellent articulation, and humorous word play.

8:45 That county just across shore from Sri Lanka, Madurai, has 7 holdings. Prime real estate.

Ck3: Alfred the Great campaign is hard. Us : U kiddin right?

nice vid

Man, my second try was with Herald and it was exactly like you showed. Divorce wife and merry giantess, then a lots of raiding and conquering of Norway.

I'd like to add Chieftan Krak of Krakow in the 867 start, he starts with 2 holdings and he's first in line to inherit 3 more from his cousin on his northern border, so if he has an "unfortunate accident" you can create the High Chiefdom of Lesser Poland very quickly!

“Bless the pain down in Africa” you get a like

A number of interesting count starts missed here, just for people in the comments. Bretislav of Plzen 1066, Hassan of Tus 1066, Gagik of Lycandus 1066, Mu'ansar of Samarra 1066, Urraca Jimena 1066, Eadgifu the Fair of Bedanford 1066, Yusuf ibn Suleyman of Lleida 1066, Ota the Handsome of Olomouc 1066. Rostam Karenzade of Mazandaran 867, Eudes Robertine of Anjou 867, Oyo of Oyo 867.

Don't need to kill your brother as Alfred the great, his brother always dies in a year of start date

28 Libyans disliked this.

Came for the list, stayed for the wordplay

8:22 I saw that History of the World I Guess reference :)

Count of Santiago is pretty cool with a "Great Cathedral" special building and holy site perk!

The primary source of income in modern day Libya is human trafficking? That is a bigoted comment! if you have not heard Libya is rich in oil.

I assume Chima Hummay is meant to be the first Muslim king of Kanem-Bornu. He came to power historically around 1085 and founded the Sefuwa dynasty.

Love all your videos, man! I'd love to see a top ten WORST leaders in CK3. Can't wait to watch your next video, regardless. Cheers!

There's also Ras Dawit of Dambiya in the Kingdom of Abyssinia, 867. He's one of - if not the only - jewish count to start in 867. He's actually one of the two people who I know are jewish in 867, the other being the emperor of Khazaria. With him you could go for the Restore Israel decision, though there's no achievement for it. Still pretty fun to start as a count where pretty much everyone else near you hates your guts, including your liege.

I've been looking for a good Imperator guide. Looking forward to that next video.

Great video and analysis.

This comment is mad late, but Hummay was the first king of the Kanem-Bornu Empire. Probably why he has such a large host in 1066.

nice third way reference, i swear I've had multiple strokes trying to do that as mzab..

I'm still curious about cultural level kingdom titles in CK3? As a hindu, would I be allowed to create the kingdom of Egypt or something like that?

I don't have any special reasons but I've grown attached to the count of Kordofan, I like the religion you start with and it's in a very central location for conquering east Africa, and being neighbors with a feudal Duke is nice for raiding

@9:13 Abdul Walking Like an Egyptian, I see your reference there

My first ironman was count of Anjou and i made him the emperor of Asturias, King of Asturias, Badajos, England, Scotland and many other lands all the way from North Africa, France to Germany within 200 years.