# Crown of Aragon (阿拉贡王冠) — V3 Start 1836

## Basic Info
- **Capital**: Barcelona
- **Head of State**: King of Aragon (阿拉贡国王)
- **Government**: Constitutional monarchy with Cortes (议会). Catalan commercial tradition → merchant influence strong but within monarchical framework.
- **State Religion**: Catholic (THE Catholic great power — hosts the Pope-in-exile)
- **Technology Tier**: 2 (Mediterranean industry, shipbuilding, textiles. Not at English/German level but solid.)
- **Population**: Medium (~15-20M? Catalonia + Aragon + Valencia + Languedoc + Navarre + Sicily + Sardinia)

## Territory
- **Catalonia** (Barcelona — economic/cultural heart)
- **Aragon** (interior, agricultural)
- **Valencia** (Mediterranean coast, agriculture + trade)
- **Languedoc** (Occitan-speaking, former French territory since ~1300s. France's Francophone Project targets this.)
- **Navarre** (Pyrenean mountain kingdom, absorbed centuries ago)
- **Sicily + Sardinia** (insular Mediterranean — all that remains of the Italian empire)
- **Southern French coast** (Provence coastal strip?)
- **North African coastal outposts** (Algerian/Tunisian coast, established ~1750s)

## The Pope Problem
```
  Pope fled Rome ~1782 (Italian Napoleon conquered Papal States)
  Pope-in-exile in Barcelona/Valencia since then (~54 years)
  
  Benefits:
  ├ Aragon = de facto leader of Catholic world
  ├ Diplomatic leverage: "we shelter God's representative"
  ├ Catholic countries (Castile, S.Germany, Poland underground, Ireland) look to Aragon
  ├ Moral authority in international disputes
  
  Burdens:
  ├ Pope constantly demands: "RECOVER ROME. It is your duty."
  ├ Anti-Catholic powers (Protestant England/Germany, secular France, Orthodox GK) view Aragon with suspicion
  ├ Italian Empire: "Aragon harboring our enemy (the Pope) is a casus belli waiting to happen"
  ├ Funding the Papal court is EXPENSIVE (cardinals, bureaucracy, ceremonies)
  └ The Pope has his own foreign policy agenda → sometimes conflicts with Aragon's interests
  
  V3 Decisions:
  ├ Support Pope's crusade to recover Rome? → suicidal (Italy is Tier 1 military)
  ├ Use Pope as diplomatic tool? → leverage Catholic network for trade/alliances
  ├ Distance from Pope? → lose moral authority but gain diplomatic flexibility
  └ Expel Pope? → unthinkable (but some radicals whisper it)
```

## Core Gameplay
1. **Recover Naples?** (vs Italian Empire — hopeless alone, needs coalition)
2. **Defend Languedoc** (vs French Francophone Project — cultural defense)
3. **Pope management** (asset vs liability balance)
4. **Mediterranean naval power** (Sicily/Sardinia → sea control vs Italian dreadnoughts)
5. **North African outposts** (develop or abandon?)

## Relationships
| Country | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Italian Empire | **Primary enemy** | Lost Naples. Hosts Pope (Italy expelled). Irredentist claims both ways. |
| France | **Rival** | France wants Languedoc back (Francophone Project). Historical enemy. |
| Castile | **Iberian neighbor** | Could ally (Catholic solidarity) or rival (Iberian competition). Never merged historically. |
| England | **Former war ally** | Fought together vs France. Now distant. England is Protestant → limited Catholic solidarity. |
| Germany | **Former war ally** | Lost Italian Wars together. Both diminished. Possible renewed alliance vs Italy? |
| Pope | **Guest/burden** | See above. Unique relationship. |