Malcolm Rivera
Gaining land in CK2 can be achieved through various diplomatic strategies, such as marriage alliances, inheriting land, and installing favourable rulers through vassalization. One effective approach is to marry a child to someone in another realm, which automatically creates a non-aggression pact without the need for a formal alliance. This can be strategically manipulated to gain land, particularly when combined with inheritance laws. Additionally, players can invite claimants to their court, grant them land or a title, and then press their claim through war. High diplomacy skills and a chancellor with good foreign affairs capabilities are also essential for successful vassalization, which can lead to acquiring land without direct warfare.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chancellor's diplomacy rating | 12 and above |
| Chancellor's skill | Should be good |
| Characters with claims | Invite them to your court |
| Vassalization | Offer to rulers of the same religion |
| Marriage | Marry a child to someone in another realm |
| Jade Dragon DLC | Offers an array of CBs |
| Conclave DLC | Favours create opportunities to gain control of claimants |
| Claimants | Can be invited after using a favour to educate them into your religion |
| Claimants | Can be gained by using a favour to arrange a betrothal/marriage with one of your kinsmen |
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What You'll Learn
Marry a child to someone in another realm
Marrying a child to someone in another realm can be a useful strategy in Crusader Kings 2. While it does not directly result in land acquisition, it offers several benefits that can indirectly lead to territorial expansion. Firstly, it establishes a non-aggression pact between your realm and your child's spouse's realm, reducing the likelihood of conflicts between the two factions. This can be strategically advantageous, especially when dealing with powerful neighbours.
Additionally, such marriages can lead to inheritance of land and titles. If your child inherits titles from their spouse, it can result in an expansion of your realm. For example, a player starting as a Duke in 1066 recounted how they eventually married an Empress, inheriting a size 300 Empire. This highlights the potential for significant territorial gains through strategic marriages.
Moreover, the spouse of your child can be called upon to assist in your wars, providing military support. However, this is a double-edged sword, as they can also call upon you to join their wars, and declining may result in prestige loss and negative opinion modifiers.
When arranging marriages, it is essential to consider the age and fertility of the prospective spouse, as well as their stats and traits. Marrying someone younger and without fertility-reducing traits increases the likelihood of having more children to continue your dynasty. Spouses with high stats and positive traits can positively impact your demesne limit, state statistics, and the traits of your children. For example, a spouse with high Stewardship can increase your demesne limit, allowing you to hold more territories.
In conclusion, marrying a child to someone in another realm in Crusader Kings 2 can be a viable strategy for expanding your influence and territory. It offers opportunities for inheritance, establishes non-aggression pacts, and provides potential military support. However, it is important to carefully consider the potential consequences and choose spouses with desirable traits and stats to maximise the benefits.
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Inherit land through marriage
Diplomacy is an important aspect of CK2, and marriage is a key diplomatic tool. Marrying your family members to those with titles can add to your kingdom when your offspring inherit both your and their titles. If you marry a child to someone in another realm, you don't have to create an alliance, but you can still manipulate things to your benefit.
One strategy is to marry your heir to the heir of another title, so that when your heir becomes your successor, they will also inherit the other title. If your heir marries someone with a title of the same level as yours, they will no longer be your vassal. Therefore, it is safer to marry them to someone with a title one level lower than yours.
Another strategy is to marry an unmarried female ruler. If you have a son with her, he will inherit both her and your titles. If you have a daughter, you can nominate her to be your heir, and she will inherit both her parents' titles. You can then assassinate any other heirs to ensure that your daughter inherits.
The order in which a married couple with titles dies can influence the final liege of their child. The child will follow the higher title, so if one title is higher than the other, it will leave your kingdom. If the titles are of equal rank, the child will stay with the realm that landed them first. Crown laws may also prohibit titles from passing through inheritance.
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Invite claimants to your court
One way to gain land in CK2 is by inviting claimants to your court. There are two ways to invite people to your court: the first is by using the claimant button for a territory, county, or duchy. When you do this, a list of claimants for that title will appear with red or green buttons by their portrait. The green ones will join your court, and you can press their claims. However, unless you give them some other land in your realm or they are a member of your dynasty, they will be independent after you win the claim war.
The second way to invite people to your court is by using the character search button in the lower right of the game screen. This is for inviting courtiers to your court, such as potentially better council members. As a rule of thumb, they must have a negative opinion of their own lord and a positive opinion of you, with a difference of at least 75 points between the two opinions. You can increase their opinion of you by giving them a gift of money (a base of 20 gold) to bring the difference above 75.
With certain DLCs, you can gain control of claimants by using favors. Some claimants may be susceptible to invitation by favor, as long as they are not councilors or close relatives of their liege. Young claimants can be invited after using a favor to educate them in your religion, and female claimants can be gained by using a favor to arrange a betrothal or marriage with one of your kinsmen.
You must land the claimant before enforcing demands, unless the claimant is of your dynasty or the target title is a de jure vassal of yours. Granting a county is the most common, but you can also grant a barony-level title, a city, or a temple, if you don't mind having vassals of a different government. Keep in mind that you can only grant secular titles to unlanded women if you have absolute cognatic succession law, and theocracies to unlanded women if your religion allows female temple holders.
Landing claimants can deplete your demesne, so you must complement claim wars with religious wars, title revocation, or use of the "Revoke Vassal Title" plot.
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Use religious wars to conquer regions
Religious wars are a great way to conquer regions in CK2. These wars are typically referred to as "holy wars" and are a common way for players to expand their realm. Here are some tips on how to use religious wars to your advantage:
Know the Requirements: Different religions have unique requirements for declaring holy wars. For example, Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian rulers can ask their religious head to condone an invasion of another realm following the same religion. This requires having a claim on the target's primary title or having a smaller realm than the target. Muslims can seek to conquer all territories in a de jure kingdom belonging to a ruler of a different religion, including other Muslim denominations.
Border with Disorganized Infidels: If you can gain a border with a region of disorganized infidels, you may be able to conquer the entire region through a series of holy wars. Look for regions where the followers of a different religion are disunited or distracted, as this will give you a strategic advantage.
Utilize Powerful CBs: Some religions have access to powerful Casus Belli (CBs) that allow followers to conquer or invade entire kingdoms. For example, the Tribal Invasion CB is unlocked through a combination of religion and culture, and it can be a quick way to expand your territory.
Timing is Key: When declaring a religious war, choose your timing wisely. Attack when you are confident of a quick victory through assaults, or when the coreligionists of your target are distracted or weakened. This will help prevent other followers of their religion from joining the defense.
Convert to a Religion with Advantages: If you want access to powerful CBs, consider converting to a religion that offers advantages in warfare. For example, Pagan religions that reform can gain a religious head and unlock the Great Holy War (Crusade CB), which can be a powerful tool for expansion.
Remember the Drawbacks: While religious wars can help you conquer regions, they also have potential drawbacks. Holy orders and religious heads can never be targeted, regardless of religion. Additionally, losing a religious war can result in significant prestige loss and penalties.
By following these strategies, you can effectively use religious wars to conquer regions in CK2. Just remember to balance your expansionist ambitions with the potential risks and rewards of each conflict.
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Vassalize rulers of the same religion
In Crusader Kings II, there are several ways to gain land through diplomacy. One way is to marry a child to someone in another realm. While this does not automatically create an alliance, it does create a non-aggression pact. Marriages can also be used to manipulate things to your benefit, including through murder.
Another way to gain land is by using claimants. With certain DLCs, you can attack your neighbours, but this can cause issues with prestige loss. The Jade Dragon DLC, for example, offers an array of casus belli (CBs). However, it is important to note that not every CB will give you an opportunity to expand your realm, so pay attention to what exactly you stand to gain by fighting a war. Some useful CBs include subjugation, invasion, and holy wars.
Additionally, you can expand your realm by taking advantage of religious wars, title revocation, or using the "Revoke Vassal Title" plot. If you can gain a border with a region of disorganized infidels, you may be able to conquer the entire region through a series of holy wars. Coreligionists are likely to join in defence against a holy war, so choose your timing wisely. Smaller "religious" wars, such as County Conquest (Pagan), do not allow non-allies to join. Some religions have access to powerful CBs that allow followers to conquer or invade entire kingdoms.
Furthermore, landing claimants can deplete your demesne, so it is important to complement claim wars with other strategies. You can also use favours to gain control of claimants, especially if they are not councilors or close relatives of their liege. Young claimants can be invited after using a favour to educate them into your religion, while female claimants can be gained by using a favour to arrange a betrothal or marriage with one of your kinsmen. However, remember that you must land the claimant before enforcing demands, unless they are of your dynasty or the target title is a de jure vassal of yours.
Finally, it is worth noting that the ruler of an independent realm is unlikely to convert to a heresy, but it can happen. Certain DLCs, such as Sons of Abraham, can influence religious conversion. Additionally, characters at the highest rank in their religion's monastic society can instantly convert any realm province to their religion. When a ruler converts to the attacker's religion, the rest of the realm is forced to convert as well, including courtiers, vassals, and the capital province.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can gain land through diplomacy in CK2. One way is to marry a child to someone in another realm. While this does not require a formal alliance, it automatically creates a non-aggression pact and can be manipulated to your benefit. You can also marry an Empress and inherit her empire.
You can find characters with claims, invite them to your court, give them land or a title, and make them your vassal. Then, you can press their claim in war.
You can also gain land by taking advantage of certain CBs, such as subjugation, invasion, and holy wars. Additionally, with the Jade Dragon DLC, you can attack your neighbours, although this may result in serious issues with prestige loss.
