In that game I had actually started handing out King titles to relatives just because it was giving me headaches trying to keep up with the 30-odd Dukes I had by that point (having conquered much of Germany and Lithuania as well as De Jure Scandinavia). I had a Scandinavian Empire game that was into the 1300s when the patch dropped.

The question Nix linked is related, but I would argue that the new Vassal Limits that came during Charlemange do change the scenario a little.