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Last update:01 July 2022
On this page you will learn more about vassals.
We’ll start with who the vassals are and how many of them you’re free to have.
Then we will focus on the interactions and relations with vassals.
Who is a vassal?
Having vassals is necessary due to the limit of titles you might own.
They, in return, will be paying taxes and sending people to your army.
To check what vassals you have, bring up the kingdom management window and select theVassalstab.
Each of your vassals provides you with two types of resources (1): gold and levies.
Each character can have a maximum of one senior and have their vassals at the same time.
There is also a rule according to whichvassal of my vassal is not my vassal.
This influence your interactions with vassals, as these are only possible with vassals under your direct command.
A specific bang out arepowerful vassals.
These are the vassals who provide you with the highest income.
There are always several of them, depending on the rank of your primary title.
Powerful vassals also have a greater influence on domestic politics.
Vassal limit
As with the titles, there are limits to the number of your vassals.
Vassals with a title lower than the count (i.e.
barons) are not included in the vassal limit.
Exceeding the limit reduces the income from vassals by 5% for each vassal above the limit.
The best way to deal with the vassal limit is to manage your kingdom’s titles hierarchy.
Another way to reorganize the title hierarchy is to delegate rule over vassals.
you could assign a vassal under your rule to another vassal of yours with a higher rank title.
Similar to giving titles, handing over vassals is a good way to improve relationships with your subjects.
At the same time, maintaining an organized feudal hierarchy is an essential part of managing your kingdom.
They also affect your income and military strength, which is why you should pay attention to them.
you’re able to also designate an heir at this level.
One of the common mistakes you might make is to treat authority as something unchangeable.
However, your crown authority shouldn’t only increase.
The ability to reach new levels of authority depends on your culture having the right innovations.
Another thing is that increasing the crown authority is not always the optimal decision.
Then choose the pen and parchment icon (1) under the portrait of the chosen vassal.
If the change is possible, you will see the Feudal Contract window.
You will find obligations (2) of your vassal at the top of the window.
They apply to both taxes and levies that they provide to your army.
Each time you increase the vassal’s obligations, you will be penalized.
Whereas lowering taxes will improve the vassal’s opinion of you.
Below, you will find special types of contracts (3).
Thanks to the specialization, your vassals will provide more gold, levies, or prestige.
It is easy to guess that reckless tax increases will quickly ruin your vassals' opinion of you.
It is worth using the hooks you gather during the game on vassals To avoid negative consequences.
you could also interact with vassals using a dialog window.
To do this, pop pop the vassal character window and then right-hit their image.
Vassals' opinion and factions
Your vassals are the most important characters in your kingdom.
The stability in all your lands depends on how you treat them.
A group of powerful and disgruntled vassals can trigger a civil war or even break out of your control.
You will find the information on the vassal’s opinion in the character window below the character’s portrait.
Hovering the cursor over the icon will display a list of modifiers that affect it.
Vassals can form a faction - organized groups united against their liege strive to achieve specific political goal.
To check which factions currently act in your kingdom, bring up the faction window (1).
Each of the active factions has a separate section with detailed information.
At the top, (2) it’s possible for you to find faction’s purpose.
Its Military Power is shown below (3).
It is the ratio between the combined military strength of all faction members and yours.
Lower, there is the faction Discontent rate (4).
If a faction’s Military Power is greater than 80%, its Discontent rate increases.
If it reaches 100%, the faction will deliver you an ultimatum.
you’re free to also refuse, which will lead to a civil war.
The latter usually pose a slightly smaller threat, as peasants rarely have real military strength.
However, they should not be underestimated as they have an irritating tendency to incite rebellions during major crises.
The easiest way to deal with a faction' is to meet its demands.
These, however, are often unacceptable because, for example, they involve the loss of territory.
In such situations, you have to take high measures.
It is important to keep the military strength of the faction below the indicated level.
How to improve relations with vassals?
you might do it with the appropriateSwayyou can choose from the character’s dialog window.
Whether or not you succeed depends on several factors, primarily your diplomatic skills.
They will immediately start organizing an enemy faction, so it is a waste of time.
It is sometimes better to start an open conflict right away with some characters.
A vassal with a high opinion of you will most likely leave the enemy faction with time.
you could find the Sway scheme in the dialog window in thePersonalcategory.
The latter solution is not an scheme and provides immediate results.
Another thing is that giving gold is only successful once in a while.
One of the best ways to improve relations with vassals is good old corruption.
It is not just about sending gold but using your authority to take care of your vassals' interests.
However, it is worth paying attention to modifiers related to the desire to have certain titles.
If any of your vassals are claiming one of your titles, consider whether you need it.
You will also get a bonus for the mere fact of doing so.
As much as granting titles, handing over vassals influences the opinion about you.
Importantly, this throw in of action also works the other way around.
Granting titles and handing ober vassals, like sending gold, has some limitations.
A slightly less efficient way to improve your opinion is by giving your children under custody.
The opinion of your vassals can also taken care of in a long-term strategy.
This will happen if you decide to focus on developing your character’s diplomacy skills.
The highest level of fame,TheLiving Legend, adds 60 to the opinions of all characters.
It is also worth bearing in mind cultural and religious factors.
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