
Crusader Kings is a complex grand strategy game with many laws that players must navigate. While the game does not grant absolute monarchy to any player, regardless of rank, it does allow players to influence inheritance laws by granting more titles to their preferred heir. The game also features Investiture Laws, which only apply to Catholics and determine whether the Pope or a liege appoints bishops. Succession Laws are another important aspect, dictating how territories are divided upon a character's death and who inherits them. Players can change succession laws, but it is costly and challenging. Additionally, players can increase crown authority to gain privileges, such as revoking titles and appointing generals, but this incurs opinion penalties from vassals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Whether you are a Count, Duke, King, or Emperor, you are not an absolute monarch | You can't choose succession laws |
| The highest of the nation (the king, grand-duke or emperor) gets more votes than the lowest (barons, bishops, counts) | |
| The king gets 4 votes and most dukes get 12 votes | |
| Counts and barons get 1 vote | |
| The law decides how your territories will be divided when you die | |
| The law decides who will inherit your titles | |
| The law decides which gender will inherit your titles | |
| Investiture laws only apply to Catholics | |
| Free Investiture allows you to appoint the successor to any bishopric that is your direct vassal | |
| Absolute Crown Authority prevents your vassals from going to war (except to rebel) | |
| Feudal levies determine the percentage of your vassals' levies that must be provided to their liege in times of war | |
| Feudal taxation determines the tax rate your feudal vassals must pay | |
| City levies determine the amount of troops your cities are obligated to provide in times of war | |
| City taxation determines how much gold you collect from your cities | |
| Church levies determine the amount of troops that church vassals are formally obligated to provide | |
| Church taxation determines how large of a tithe church vassals provide |
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Crown authority
At Limited Crown Authority, you gain the ability to revoke titles and appoint generals, allowing for a redistribution of power and the placement of more suitable commanders. High Crown Authority ensures that titles can no longer be inherited by anyone outside the realm, preventing the loss of land to foreign nobles. Absolute Crown Authority prevents vassals from going to war, except to rebel, making them more manageable but also limiting your growth options.
To increase crown authority, you must gain the support of your vassals, who hold the power to approve or reject proposed laws. You can attempt to persuade them by improving their opinion of you through honorary titles, education, gifts, granting landed titles, and pressing claims. Additionally, hosting a feast every two years can help expedite the process.
In terms of laws beyond crown authority, there are various options to consider. Feudal and city levies and taxation laws determine the percentage of levies and taxes required from your vassals and cities. Church levies and taxation also fall under your jurisdiction, impacting the number of troops and tithes provided by church vassals. Succession laws are critical, determining how your territories will be divided upon your death and who will inherit your titles, with options like primogeniture, where the oldest child inherits, or house seniority, where the oldest person in your dynasty becomes the heir. Gender laws also play a role, with some cultures barring women from inheriting titles.
Understanding and effectively utilising crown authority, along with other laws, is essential for consolidating power and ensuring a smooth transition of power to your heirs in the Crusader Kings universe.
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Succession laws
Partition Succession
In partition succession, the ruler's titles are divided among their heirs, with each heir receiving a portion of the realm. The primary heir will always inherit the titles within the capital county, duchy, and kingdom. However, they may lose some counties in the process. This system can lead to the realm being split up over time, especially if there are multiple heirs.
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is a form of agnatic succession, where the oldest male child inherits all titles and lands. This law ensures that the realm remains intact and prevents the dilution of power.
Feudal Elective Succession
Feudal Elective succession allows feudal rulers to choose their successor, rather than it being determined by birthright. This can be a useful option for rulers with only one title of the same rank as their primary title, as it helps prevent the realm from splitting due to partition.
Equal (Cognatic) Law
The Equal Law, also known as Cognatic Law, allows female heirs to inherit titles and lands, in addition to male heirs. This law can be enacted at High Crown Authority.
Investiture Laws
Investiture laws apply specifically to Catholic rulers and determine whether the Pope or the ruler's liege appoints bishops. Papal Investiture gives the Pope control over bishop appointments, while Free Investiture allows the ruler's liege to make these appointments.
It is worth noting that in Crusader Kings, your authority as a ruler is not absolute, and your vassals have a say in passing laws. A majority of vassals must approve a proposed change for it to take effect.
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Gender laws
Crusader Kings is a historical grand strategy and RPG game series for PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game is set in medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, the steppes, and Tibet. Players can engage in courtly intrigue, dynastic struggles, and holy warfare.
In Crusader Kings, players can explore alternate history scenarios and upend the sexual and religious norms of the feudal world. The game features a toggle that allows players to adjust the gender equality settings. In the default position, the laws uphold a male-dominated society. However, players can flip the toggle to "equality," which applies the rules of inheritance and other mechanics equally to women and men. There is also an "inverted" setting, which creates a world where women lead and men are married off as chattel.
Additionally, the game includes a "same-sex relations" toggle that changes the game world's view on homosexuality. In the default setting, homosexuality is frowned upon by the tenets of all major religions. However, when the toggle is switched to "accepted," same-sex relations are fully accepted by all faiths, and any negative repercussions for characters are removed.
The game also allows players to change their realm's succession laws, but they can only make them stricter, such as "Male-Preferred" or "Female-Preferred" in an Equal faith, without being able to choose "Male Only" or "Female Only."
Furthermore, the game features Investiture Laws, which apply specifically to Catholics. These laws determine whether the Pope appoints bishops or if their liege does. With Papal Investiture, players cannot choose their bishops, but the piety cost for papal favors is reduced by 50%. On the other hand, Free Investiture allows players to appoint the successor to any bishopric that is their direct vassal, increasing vassal bishops' opinions of their lieges.
While the game does not have Female-Dominated religions in the base game, certain African and Eastern faiths support equality, and some Christian heresies that emerge may have gender equality as a core precept. Players can adopt these faiths by marrying into them or setting the default gender laws in the game creation screen.
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Investiture laws
While not directly related to Investiture Laws, it is worth noting that there are other types of laws in the game, such as feudal levies and taxation, city levies and taxation, and church levies and taxation. These laws determine the percentage of levies and taxes that vassals must provide to their liege. Additionally, succession laws and gender laws play a crucial role in determining how territories are divided upon the ruler's death and who will inherit the titles.
The game also features concepts such as Crown Authority, which grants privileges and carries penalties. For example, with Absolute Crown Authority, vassals cannot go to war except to rebel, making them more manageable, but the ruler must personally initiate all conquests. Increasing crown authority incurs opinion penalties with vassals.
In conclusion, Investiture Laws are a unique aspect of the game, specific to Catholics, that impact the appointment of bishops and the relationship between the ruler and the Pope. Other laws and mechanics, such as succession laws, taxation, and crown authority, also shape the player's experience and strategies in Crusader Kings.
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Taxation laws
In Crusader Kings II, taxation is a crucial feature to understand for maximizing your income. Each type of holding, such as castles, temples, and cities, has its own tax law. Here are some insights into the taxation laws and strategies to increase income:
- Holding Income: Holding income is calculated by adding the income from all buildings in a holding to the base income of that holding. The base income varies, with castles having a base income of 4, temples 8, and cities 12.
- Tax Laws: Different types of holdings have different tax laws. For example, feudal taxation determines the tax rate that feudal vassals must pay, which is often minimal due to the levies they provide.
- City Taxation: Cities are a significant source of income. The taxation laws allow you to decide how much tax to collect from them.
- Church Taxation: Church vassals can provide a substantial tithe, and you can set the amount through taxation laws. However, if they favor the Pope or Patriarch, the gold may go to them instead.
Strategies to Increase Income:
- Construction: Building income-generating structures in your own demesne provides a higher return on investment than constructing them in your vassals' holdings. Focus on building as many income-generating buildings in your demesne as possible.
- Increasing Vassal Taxes: You can increase the tax law to make your vassals pay more. However, this may require gaining support through votes or improving your relationship with opposing voters.
- Honorary Titles: To gain support for increasing taxes, you can grant honorary titles to influential voters. This can significantly improve their opinion of you and increase the likelihood of their vote.
- Gifts and Land Grants: Providing gifts or granting landed titles can also help persuade lords to support your tax laws. Additionally, having them educate your child can further improve their opinion.
- Centralization: Acquiring new lands and creating new vassals can help raise centralization and potentially gain support for your laws.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some laws in the game:
- Feudal levies
- Feudal taxation
- City levies
- City taxation
- Church levies
- Church taxation
- Investiture laws
- Crown authority
- Succession laws
Investiture laws decide whether the Pope appoints bishops or their liege does.
If you have multiple titles of the same rank as your primary title, your realm will be separated when you die.
Some ways to persuade lords to pass a law include giving honorary titles, having them educate your child, giving gifts, granting landed titles, and pressing claims.
Having more than one law as a crusader can bring challenges such as the need to manage multiple sets of rules and traditions, potential conflicts between different laws, and the complexity of navigating overlapping systems. Additionally, changing laws can be expensive and politically difficult.











































