In the tumultuous world of
Europa Universalis 5 (EU5), peace is a fleeting illusion. Eventually, every ruler must resort to war to survive, expand, or simply secure their destiny. However, international law—even in the 15th century—demands a formal pretext: a
Casus Belli (CB), or justification for your war.While fate or diplomatic maneuvering might occasionally hand you a valid reason, often you must take matters into your own hands and
fabricate claims to forcefully seize the land you covet. The complex web of menus and interlocking systems in
EU5 can make even this fundamental task feel overwhelming.This guide aims to cut through the clutter, providing a clear, step-by-step roadmap for how to successfully fabricate claims and forge a credible Casus Belli, allowing you to expand your territory efficiently and legitimately.
Europa Universalis 5: How To Fabricate Claims
The Necessity of a Casus Belli
Technically, you can declare war without a Casus Belli, known as a 'No-CB War.' However, this approach incurs substantial penalties, including significant stability hits, increased war exhaustion, and higher costs in the peace treaty negotiation.A successful
fabricated claim grants you a
Conquest Casus Belli, which is invaluable because it provides concrete benefits when you win:
- Reduced Core-Creation Cost: It makes the land cheaper to integrate.
- Reduced Local Autonomy: It helps stabilize the newly conquered provinces faster.
Fabricating claims is the ideal, diplomatic way to pave the path for territorial expansion. You have two primary pathways to achieve this in
EU5.
Method 1: The Espionage Route (Spy Network)
The most common and flexible method for generating territorial claims is by utilizing your diplomatic corps to establish a covert Spy Network in the target country.
Building the Network
Select Target: Click on the nation you wish to conquer.Initiate Covert Action: Select Covert Action from the diplomatic menu.Deploy the Diplomat: Choose Build Spy Network. Your diplomat will now be occupied and will start accumulating Spy Network Progress in the target nation monthly.- Proximity and Espionage Ideas will affect the speed of this network construction.
Reach the Threshold: You generally need to accumulate a minimum of 20 Spy Network Progress to attempt a standard claim fabrication. Building this network can take anywhere from several months to well over a year, depending on various factors. Patience is a virtue of the spymaster.Creating the Claim
Access Hostile Actions: Once your Spy Network reaches the required size (20 or more), click on the target nation again.Fabricate the Casus Belli: Browse the list of Hostile Actions. You will find the option to Create Casus Belli (or "Fabricate Claim") highlighted if the requirements are met.Select Province: For territorial claims, you will then select the specific, validprovince you wish to justify conquering (usually a province that borders you or one accessible across a single sea zone).Claim Fabrication Timer: Initiating the claim begins a fabrication timer. Once this timer finishes—which can take several months—you will officially gain the Conquest Casus Belli, valid for a set number of years, allowing you to declare war on legitimate grounds.Key Rule: You must be at peace with the target nation to construct a spy network and fabricate a claim. This action often serves as a necessary preliminary step before a major conflict.
Method 2: The Political Route (Parliament)
Certain government types grant the ability to secure a Casus Belli through theinternal mechanics of your political institutions, specifically theParliament. This method is generally less flexible but can be faster if managed correctly.
- Open Government Interface: Click on the Government button in the top left corner of your screen.
- Access Parliament: Click on the Parliament button within the Government window.
- Check for Request: Within the Parliament interface, you may find an option to initiate a "Fabricate Casus Belli" or "Prepare for War" request.
- Secure Support: This option typically requires the support of over 50 percent of the Parliament to pass. You must ensure the Parliament is currently in session andthat you have successfully convinced the voting Estates (Nobility,Burghers, Clergy, etc.) to support your motion, often by agreeing totheir agendas or requests.
- Acquire CB: If the request passes, you will instantly gain a Casus Belli against atarget nation within diplomatic range. This method is often limited to a single claim every few years, making it less scalable than theespionage route but useful for immediate needs.
Post-Fabrication Strategy
Once you have secured your Casus Belli, the path to war is open. Remember that the ultimate goal of fabricating a claim is not just starting a war, but integrating the land efficiently.
- Declare War: Use the newly created Casus Belli to declare war on the target nation via the diplomatic interface.
- Peace Deal: After winning, ensure you demand the provinces you fabricated claims on in the peace treaty to benefit from the reduced core-creation and autonomy costs.
By mastering both the covert spy network and the political maneuveringrequired by the Parliament, you ensure that your nation can alwaysgenerate the justification needed to fuel its expansion, transformingambition into historical reality.
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