Crusader Kings 3: How to Gain Legitimacy

How to Gain Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3

By Lidia Rozo | 2024-09-03 08:38:59

Discover How to Gain Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3 with this excellent and detailed explanatory guide.

The "Scythe" update for Crusader Kings 3 introduced a new mechanic called Legitimacy, which gauges the public's acceptance of a ruler's authority. A ruler's legitimacy is influenced by factors like successful military campaigns, social initiatives, public opinion, and adherence to cultural norms. Conversely, failed wars, widespread diseases, economic hardship, and unpopular policies can erode legitimacy.

The significance of legitimacy varies based on a ruler's rank. While counts and dukes require minimal legitimacy to maintain their authority, powerful monarchs need substantial public support to effectively govern their realms. In Crusader Kings 3, low legitimacy can hinder various actions, making it difficult to enact laws, collect taxes, maintain order, and expand territory. Additionally, low legitimacy can make a ruler vulnerable to rebellions, plots, and foreign invasion.

On the other hand, high legitimacy can provide significant advantages, granting rulers greater authority and influence. With high legitimacy, rulers can more easily enact laws, collect taxes, maintain order, and expand their territory. They can also appoint loyal vassals to key positions, suppress rebellions, and forge alliances with other rulers. Furthermore, high legitimacy can enhance a ruler's prestige and reputation, making them more respected by other rulers and the general public.

Legitimacy is a dynamic mechanic that can fluctuate throughout a ruler's reign. Rulers must constantly strive to maintain or increase their legitimacy through wise governance, successful policies, and public relations. Neglecting legitimacy can lead to instability, unrest, and ultimately, the downfall of a ruler's dynasty.

How to Gain Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3

Checking Your Ruler's Legitimacy

To view your ruler's current Legitimacy level, simply hover your cursor over the crowned head icon located in the bottom-left corner of your screen. This icon doesn't open a menu, but it will display your Legitimacy level.

Legitimacy Levels and Requirements

The Legitimacy bar always has five levels: Aspiring, Respected, Renowned, True, and Ordained. The exact Legitimacy points required to reach each level depend on several factors, including:

Vassal Power and Loyalty: Powerful vassals who dislike you require more Legitimacy. Family members and nobles you personally empower need less.
De Jure Titles: More vassals with de jure titles increase Legitimacy, while those with foreign titles decrease it.
Dynasty Loyalty: Vassal houses that have served your dynasty longer require less Legitimacy.
Ruler Rank and Cultural Era: Kings and emperors need more Legitimacy than counts and dukes. Additionally, your ruler's rank and cultural era influence Legitimacy requirements.

Maximum Legitimacy

The highest Legitimacy level any ruler needs to meet is "True." This means that every ruler can benefit from the bonuses associated with "Ordained," the highest level.

Legitimacy Bonuses and Penalties

Crusader Kings 3 applies various bonuses and penalties based on your ruler's Legitimacy level compared to the expected level. These bonuses and penalties can significantly impact your realm's stability and prosperity.

High Legitimacy Benefits:

Reduced vassal discontent: High Legitimacy can help prevent vassals from rebelling or demanding concessions.
Increased diplomatic influence: Legitimate rulers are more respected by other nations and have greater diplomatic leverage.
Improved succession stability: A high Legitimacy level can help ensure a smooth transition of power after your ruler's death.

Low Legitimacy Consequences:

Increased vassal discontent: Low Legitimacy can lead to increased unrest among your vassals, making it more difficult to maintain control of your realm.
Decreased diplomatic influence: Other nations may be less willing to form alliances or trade agreements with a ruler with low Legitimacy.
Increased risk of succession crises: A low Legitimacy level can make it more likely for rival claimants to challenge your succession.

Strategies for Increasing Legitimacy

To increase your ruler's Legitimacy, consider the following strategies:

Strengthening your dynasty: Marry your ruler to members of powerful and respected dynasties.
Empowering loyal vassals: Grant favors and rewards to vassals who are loyal to your dynasty.
Expanding your de jure territory: Conquer or inherit lands that are part of your de jure titles.
Avoiding unnecessary wars: Engage in wars only when they are necessary and can be won decisively.
Managing your vassals effectively: Maintain a balance of power among your vassals to prevent any individual from becoming too powerful.

Short Reign Duration:

Level 1: Offers a minor reduction in reign duration, accompanied by small bonuses to popular opinion, marriage and alliance acceptance, and a slight discount on personal claim casus belli.
Level 2: A moderate reduction in reign duration is coupled with more substantial benefits, including a regular discount on personal claim casus belli, small bonuses to marriage and alliance acceptance, a slight reduction in the likelihood of claimant factions forming, a slight discount on scales of power swings, and a reduction in the number of counties required to create titles.
Level 3: A significant reduction in reign duration is accompanied by significant benefits, such as a large discount on personal claim casus belli, moderate bonuses to marriages, alliances, claimant factions, scales of power swings, and counties required. However, this level also introduces major drawbacks, including a reduction in renown and penalties to alliances and claimant factions.
Level 4: An extreme reduction in reign duration is paired with maximum benefits, including large bonuses to claim casus belli, marriages, alliances, claimant factions, scales of power swings, and counties required. However, this level also comes with extreme drawbacks, such as a significant loss of renown, penalties to vassalizations, marriages, alliances, claimant factions, and scales of power swings, and a potential for increased instability.

Legitimacy and its Impact on Rulership

A ruler's Legitimacy level significantly influences their ability to maintain control and expand their territory. High-ranking rulers with Legitimacy exceeding their expected level receive a substantial bonus to their Vassalization attempts, allowing them to more easily incorporate new lands and subjects into their domain. Conversely, rulers with Legitimacy below expectations face significant penalties, making it difficult to assert authority and maintain stability.

Factors Affecting Legitimacy

A ruler's initial Legitimacy is determined by a complex interplay of various factors, including:

Birthright: The circumstances of a ruler's birth, such as being a legitimate heir, a bastard, or born in the purple, can have a profound impact on their Legitimacy.
Congenital Traits: Physical attributes, like beauty or deformity, can influence public perception and, consequently, a ruler's Legitimacy.
Dynasty Splendor: The overall prestige and reputation of a ruler's dynasty can enhance or diminish their Legitimacy.
Personal Attributes: A ruler's personal qualities, such as their diplomacy skill and traits like Just and Diplomat, can significantly affect their ability to build relationships and maintain public support.
Court Grandeur: The opulence and splendor of a ruler's court can contribute to their Legitimacy by demonstrating their power and authority.
Cultural and Religious Factors: Adherence to cultural and religious norms, particularly in relation to gender roles and traditions, can impact a ruler's Legitimacy.
Previous Ruler: The Legitimacy of the previous ruler can influence the perception of their successor.
Succession Changes: Recent modifications to succession laws can create uncertainty and potentially undermine a ruler's Legitimacy.
Age: A ruler's age can affect their perceived maturity, experience, and ability to lead.
Dynastic Connection: The relationship between a ruler and their predecessor, such as being a direct descendant or a distant relative, can influence their Legitimacy.

Increasing and Decreasing Legitimacy

A ruler's Legitimacy is not static and can fluctuate based on their actions and random events:

Actions that increase Legitimacy:

Releasing prisoners without demands: Demonstrating mercy and generosity can enhance a ruler's reputation and Legitimacy.
Winning wars: Military victories can bolster a ruler's authority and increase their Legitimacy.
Creating titles: Granting titles to loyal vassals can strengthen their loyalty and increase their support for the ruler.
Hosting events: Organizing feasts, hunts, pilgrimages, and other social events can help a ruler connect with their subjects and build goodwill.

Actions that decrease Legitimacy:

Capture: Being captured by enemies can damage a ruler's reputation and undermine their Legitimacy.
Losing wars: Military defeats can erode a ruler's authority and weaken their Legitimacy.
Losing titles: Revoking titles or losing them through rebellion can alienate vassals and diminish a ruler's Legitimacy.
Yielding to faction demands: Succumbing to the demands of powerful factions can weaken a ruler's authority and damage their Legitimacy.
Plagues affecting personal domains: Natural disasters, such as plagues, can be seen as a sign of divine displeasure and can harm a ruler's Legitimacy.
Inaction during plagues: Failing to address the needs of their subjects during a crisis can further damage a ruler's Legitimacy.
Tyrannical actions: Oppressing subjects, abusing power, or violating laws can alienate the population and undermine a ruler's Legitimacy.
Failed schemes: Foiled attempts to manipulate or deceive others can expose a ruler's weaknesses and damage their reputation.
Publicly exposed secrets: Scandals or embarrassing revelations can tarnish a ruler's image and reduce their Legitimacy.
Excommunication: Religious condemnation can alienate a ruler's subjects and damage their Legitimacy, particularly in societies with strong religious influence.
Marrying outside the nobility: Marrying a commoner or someone from a rival dynasty can challenge a ruler's legitimacy and alienate their noble supporters.
Disinheriting dynasty members: Denying inheritance rights to family members can create resentment and division within the dynasty, potentially undermining a ruler's Legitimacy.

Legitimacy Levels and Game Progression

The amount of Legitimacy required to change levels increases as a ruler progresses through the game. This makes it more challenging to improve Legitimacy in later stages but also less vulnerable to negative events. As a result, Legitimacy tends to be more volatile in early-game tribal nations compared to large, late-Medieval empires.

We hope that the information detailed here on How to Gain Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3 has been very useful for your enjoyment and progress in this interesting and active game.

Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, Linux, macOS

Genre(s): Grand strategy, role-playing

Developer(s): Paradox Development Studio

Publisher(s): Paradox Interactive

Engine: Clausewitz 2 + Jomini

Release date: 1 September 2020

Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer

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How to Gain Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3

How to Gain Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3

Checking Your Ruler's Legitimacy

Legitimacy Levels and Requirements

Maximum Legitimacy

Legitimacy Bonuses and Penalties

High Legitimacy Benefits:

Low Legitimacy Consequences:

Strategies for Increasing Legitimacy

Short Reign Duration:

Legitimacy and its Impact on Rulership

Factors Affecting Legitimacy

Increasing and Decreasing Legitimacy

Actions that increase Legitimacy:

Actions that decrease Legitimacy:

Legitimacy Levels and Game Progression

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