4. France
With French revolution still more than half a century away, you start with 8 regions under your control and presence in European and American theaters of war. Furthermore, you will be present in both North and South America, and, needless to say, have the opportunity to prevent the revolution altogether and keep Bourbons at the helm. Under Louis XIV, you’ll be able to field both vast and technologically advanced armies with which you could forestall Napoleon and erase his name from history books entirely. However, Great Britain stands tall over La Manche and you’ll eventually have to deal with them if you are to create the standing empire under fleur-de-lis flag.
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