Managing vassalage in Crusader Kings 3 is one of the most complex and rewarding aspects of gameplay. Whether you are a small count climbing the ladder of power or a mighty emperor with dozens of vassals under your rule, understanding how to navigate feudal relationships can mean the difference between stability and rebellion. Vassalage touches nearly every system in CK3 from diplomacy and warfare to culture, religion, and succession laws. Knowing how to effectively manage your vassals can ensure your realm stays strong for generations. Let’s explore the mechanics of vassalage in detail, including how to gain vassals, keep them loyal, and deal with disloyal subjects in Crusader Kings 3.
What Is Vassalage in Crusader Kings 3?
The Feudal Hierarchy Explained
In Crusader Kings 3, vassalage refers to the relationship between a liege and a subject who controls land within the liege’s realm. A vassal pledges loyalty and military service in exchange for protection and the right to govern their own territory. The player, when acting as a liege, must keep their vassals satisfied to avoid revolts and power struggles.
There are various levels of vassalage in the feudal hierarchy, including:
- Barons– The lowest tier, rarely appearing as direct vassals unless your realm is very small.
- Counts– Rulers of counties, typically vassals to dukes or kings.
- Dukes– Holders of duchies, often serving as powerful regional leaders.
- Kings– Under emperors in empire-tier realms.
As a player, you can occupy any of these positions, which affects the number and type of vassals under your command. Managing them properly becomes more critical as your title increases.
How to Gain Vassals
Expansion and Diplomacy
There are several methods to increase your vassal count:
- Conquest– Winning wars allows you to take titles and appoint new vassals.
- Marriage Alliances– Strategic marriages can lead to claims and vassalization.
- Vassalization Offer– You can directly offer vassalage to rulers, especially if they are de jure part of your realm or much weaker than you.
- Inheritance– Titles can be inherited through family ties, bringing new vassals into your fold.
When growing your realm, it’s important not to outpace your ability to manage vassals. Expanding too quickly without the infrastructure to support your vassals can lead to instability and rebellion.
Managing Vassal Opinion
Keeping Your Subjects Loyal
Each vassal in Crusader Kings 3 has an opinion score that reflects how they feel about you. This number ranges from -100 (hatred) to +100 (absolute loyalty). Your goal as a liege is to maintain positive opinion scores with as many vassals as possible. Here’s how:
- Grant Titles– Give vassals land or honorary titles to improve opinion.
- Improve Relations– Assign your Spymaster or Chancellor to increase opinion.
- Hold Feasts and Hunts– These events can give a general opinion boost across your realm.
- Manage Religion and Culture– Vassals who share your faith and culture are naturally more loyal.
- Obey Succession Expectations– If you disrupt inheritance lines or disinherit heirs, expect backlash.
When vassal opinion drops too low, they may join factions, plot against you, or rebel. Preventative action is always better than dealing with open war.
Vassal Contracts and Rights
Customizing Relationships
Crusader Kings 3 allows you to tailor vassal contracts, especially for feudal and clan governments. Each vassal has a contract that determines:
- Tax Level– The amount of income they provide to you.
- Levies– How many troops they contribute to your army.
- Special Obligations– Like Scutage (reduced levies in exchange for gold) or Religious Rights.
You can negotiate contracts during important events or after imprisoning a vassal. However, changing contracts negatively affects their opinion unless you have a valid reason.
Managing Powerful Vassals
Some vassals will accumulate land and power over time, becoming Powerful Vassals. They will demand a seat on your council, which adds pressure to your internal politics. Satisfying these demands requires balancing competence with loyalty, as powerful vassals can become threats if ignored.
Dealing With Disloyal Vassals
Factions and Civil War
When enough vassals are unhappy, they may form factions. The most dangerous is the Independence Faction, which can lead to civil war if not addressed. To counter this:
- Use Sway Schemes– Improve individual relations to break up factions.
- Imprison Plotters– With a valid reason, you can remove key rebels.
- Divide and Conquer– Keep powerful vassals separated geographically or through titles.
Sometimes, war is unavoidable. In such cases, make sure your military is well-funded and that loyal vassals are ready to support you. Winning a rebellion allows you to revoke titles and reassert control, but repeated wars can weaken your realm in the long term.
Vassalage Under Different Government Types
Feudal, Clan, and Tribal Differences
Not all vassals behave the same way. Depending on your government type, vassal management can differ:
- Feudal– Focuses on contracts, taxes, and opinion-based loyalty.
- Clan– Loyalty is based more on family ties and opinion, and all vassals must be of the same faith for stability.
- Tribal– Less structured and more reliant on personal prestige and strength.
Understanding how vassals behave under your government type is critical to ruling effectively. Switching between government types also changes your responsibilities and strategies.
Integrating Vassals Into Your Power Base
Revoking and Redistributing Titles
Occasionally, you may need to revoke titles from disloyal vassals or restructure your realm. This should be done cautiously to avoid tyranny, which gives every vassal a reason to hate you. Valid reasons to revoke include:
- Treason or Plotting
- Criminal Activity
- Failed Rebellions
After revocation, consider awarding titles to loyal subjects, preferably those with little existing power. This prevents consolidation of land under a single powerful duke or king.
Vassalage in Crusader Kings 3 is an intricate system that mirrors the real-world complexity of medieval politics. As your realm grows, so does the need for careful management of your vassals through diplomacy, war, law, and tradition. Keeping your vassals loyal through positive relationships, balanced contracts, and strategic grants of power is essential to maintaining a stable rule. Neglect these elements, and you may find your carefully built realm crumbling under the weight of rebellion and disunity. Mastering the vassal system is a key step in becoming a legendary ruler in Crusader Kings 3.