controlling Gavelkind Succession

**colio** · 21-05-2012 05:15

I am currenty on Gavelkind succession, and may ot be able to change this for a generation or two. I have an over-sized demense, which I plan to reduce.

At present, I have 2 sons, and 13 counties. My second son is only getting one county, but it is a core in my main duchy. I don't want to give it away, I spend money and time developing it, and if he gets it, I'll have to live with years of "desires duchy of Leon". I have lots of other counties he could have.

I've even noticed that if I give him lands before I die, secondary heirs still inherits something else of my core when I die.

Is there any way to control/influence what counties my sons get, and limit them away from my main duchy?

Thanks.

**BalanceofTerror** · 21-05-2012 05:19

Killing your other heirs is always the easiest way to prevent important stuff being given away to them.

**carbonfire** · 21-05-2012 05:29

Originally Posted by BalanceofTerror

Killing your other heirs is always the easiest way to prevent important stuff being given away to them.

'Tis quite sad that our most effective strategy is just to murder one's own family.

**Serathion** · 21-05-2012 10:23

I managed this problem using Free Investiture. This allows you to give the sons you dont want to inherit anything to the church, which will strip them from all their claims.

**Octavio** · 21-05-2012 12:47

serathions advice is a good one. i usually kill my wife if i have gavelkind once i have a male heir. after that, i simply marry another one that is already 40+ of age with preferably nice stats

**vz02** · 21-05-2012 13:16

Originally Posted by Octavio

serathions advice is a good one. i usually kill my wife if i have gavelkind once i have a male heir. after that, i simply marry another one that is already 40+ of age with preferably nice stats

I wouldn't do that. The big reason is that 1 male son can get some bad traits/stats and then you have a problem.

I let the nature take the course and let say I end up with 4 sons. The things I am looking at are - when born do they have something like hunchback? = kill on sight; as they grow up, they must develop diplomacy and stewardship stats (when you get him married you compensate with wife to boost stats) and if not = kill on sight; then starts the education and they must have good traits because if they get something like craven = kill on sight; and who survives to 16 is the heir

Watch out that you are on 1 son after you pass 50 years. Always remove king from leading troops and they all live at least 50 years. And the only son that has left, has to be married after 16 so he can start to produce kids.

Always hire foreign courtier for spymaster with min stat of 23 so the killing goes very, very easy.

**Goose** · 21-05-2012 13:30

Sorry to hijack thread, but if i give my son ownership of a city, will his sons takeover when he dies?

**vz02** · 21-05-2012 13:40

Originally Posted by Goose

Sorry to hijack thread, but if i give my son ownership of a city, will his sons takeover when he dies?

Depending the inheritance law.

**Goose** · 21-05-2012 13:41

Which one must i have?

and does that goes for a castle aswell? / barony?

**vz02** · 21-05-2012 14:03

Originally Posted by Goose

Which one must i have?

and does that goes for a castle aswell? / barony?

Gavelkind one. It includes all land title.

**blackfire83** · 21-05-2012 15:27

Originally Posted by vz02

Depending the inheritance law.

Aren't cities always elective?

**vz02** · 21-05-2012 15:40

Originally Posted by blackfire83

Aren't cities always elective?

I must admit I am not 100% sure, but see no reason why they should be always elective. It's easy to test. Log into some saved game you have and revoke a title and hoover over the shield.

**SlyEcho** · 21-05-2012 15:43

Cities are always elective, but if there are male adults of your dynasty in the court (the old mayor's sons) they have a good chance of being elected. The only problem is that you have to offer them marriages manually, because they won't marry anyone by themselves.

**Octavio** · 21-05-2012 15:51

Originally Posted by vz02

I wouldn't do that. The big reason is that 1 male son can get some bad traits/stats and then you have a problem.

assassinations have become somewhat expensive so, if i must choose between my realm being split due to gavelkind and on the other hand a single heir that might have bad stats, i definitely choose the latter. my heirs get educated by the most brilliant so they usually get very high stats anyway

**Poulern** · 21-05-2012 15:55

I usually give all my land to my main son once death seems within reach or the outer lands are the ones im losing( E.G. russian steppes as a swedish king.)

**Goose** · 21-05-2012 16:03

Barony stays within if i run gravelkind then? but not cities?

**dauncosony** · 21-05-2012 16:52

I'd just give the surplus demesne to your primary heir and just let gavelkind do what it's supposed to do: Reclaim your land through conquest from your brother instead of murdering your sons.