How many wars can the AI start on Noble?

[traius]

Also note that the AIs who employ the "Dagger" strategy (Boudica, and a few more I can't think of off the top of my head) will circumvent most, if not all of the usual criteria and just DoW you.

If you have a couple AI friends nearby who hates (or at the very least, dislikes.... diplo rating varies) the angry AIs who are plotting against you, bribe them to DoW on whichever AI is about to DoW on yourself - it will instantly override any of their existing war plans.

Also getting a religious fanatics/zealots (i.e. Isabella/Saladin) to share a religion makes for a good lapdog/meatshield.

I'm not sure if getting the AI to DoW on them once they've already plotted works. Certainly if they haven't begun to plot, this stops them from plotting.

This is very anecdotal, but I recently saw shaka DoW on a guy and his two vassals while already in a (losing!) war against another guy and his two vassals!

EDIT: Unless that's an inane dagger. I don't know but would bet shaka can dagger.

 

[ThorHammerz]

I'm not sure if getting the AI to DoW on them once they've already plotted works. Certainly if they haven't begun to plot, this stops them from plotting.

This is very anecdotal, but I recently saw shaka DoW on a guy and his two vassals while already in a (losing!) war against another guy and his two vassals!

EDIT: Unless that's an inane dagger. I don't know but would bet shaka can dagger.

There's a thread floating around somewhere that details all the nuances on how the AI plots wars (including the whole war-plan overriding).... To be a more specific, an AI who gets DoW'ed by another civ will have its current war plans overridden.

Although I'm not sure the bribe cost of getting your ally to DoW the other guy is necessarily affordable/economical (well, that's just my personal opinion.... I hate giving AIs free techs if I can help it), if you're already in a position to get WHEOOHRN'ed -> DoW by a civ who could give you a lot of trouble. "Kiting" AI stacks and/or forcing them to heal is usually enough to stall the war long enough for me to bring enough siege to collateral their SoD/run it over afterwards, and subsequently get a favourable peace treaty (although it really depends on who....)

Never knew an AI could plot and declare war while midway through one though... (Must really be a ruthless dagger.... although that's Shaka for you ... plus the AI have different bribe thresholds with other AIs).

 

[IIHAAETTEAAHII]

Just want to get back to you guys and let you know how it turned out.

After replaying several hundred years it seems that these wars were all triggered by a misunderstanding. The Civs in question had a bunch of settlers and though I had land past my borders that was available for homesteading. So once I was able to show there wasn't any available land they all packed up and went home. Everybody's Pleased except Alex because I kept 2 of his cities.
Strangely enough everybody started attacking Fredrick. In fact he had the same four AIs declaring on him at one point in the game.
Finding a Goodie Hut with Astronomy helped me secure a source of Iron on a Barbarian continent ahead of the caravels.

Really, that's not how it works at all. AIs really aren't that smart; if you think they use such complicated casi belli, you're thinking wrong. The only direct reason for declaring war is when you refuse to pay tribute; otherwise, it's best to think of their war declarations as completely random (although they usually declare war on neighbours), with some factors deciding who they can attack. Things which prevent them from declaring war on you are:
1. You have a more powerful army
2. They like you

These are relative; Catherine even declares at friendly, and Montezuma can declare on people with a larger army.

You're lacking on both points (otherwise they wouldn't declare), although the first isn't that severe; after all, if you're already in war with someone, they measure the strength of both coalitions and so even declare when your army is more powerful. The second though is problematic and your fault. Look at the religions. Everyone but Caesar and Saladin and everyone who is attacking you is a buddhist; converting to buddhism would have make them like you. Alexander and Genghis might have started a war regardless; Asoka and Qin however wouldn't have been so eager to join in on a fellow Buddhist.

 

[Mec AntiKythera]

These are relative; Catherine even declares at friendly, and Montezuma can declare on people with a larger army.

My understanding is that Catherine will not DoW on her own at Friendly, but she can be bribed to DoW on someone she is at Friendly with. Slightly off topic but worth mentioning.

 

[IIHAAETTEAAHII]

My understanding is that Catherine will not DoW on her own at Friendly, but she can be bribed to DoW on someone she is at Friendly with. Slightly off topic but worth mentioning.

Which is obviously which happened in the OP's situation.

 

[Ghpstage]

Montezuma can declare on people with a larger army

The majority of AIs can, possibly all. Monty's only a special case in that you need over 1.95 times his power to prevent him planning a war.