Something I'd like to recomend everyone check out is Machiavelli's "The
Prince", a book actualy written for Nobles such as those found in the
Birthright settling. As a handbook of Medieval politics it's truely
impressive.
As an example: At one point it looked like an upstart vassal was going
to rebel by hireing large numbers of Mercinary troops, so the PC
supported regent performed an espionage action and bribed the Merc
commanders to desert if the rogue vassal declaired war (worked too!)
Has anyone else come across helpful books such as this?

Grendel Todd