Factions in neighboring realms

[Thorkel the Tall]

I am playing as Asturias in the Old Gods start and have (mostly) drive the Muslims out of Spain and form Hispania.

The year is 930 or so, and my present King is 60 years. He holds a weak claim on Aquitaine (not able to pass on). I used to be allied to Aquitaine, but with a new ruler this is true no longer, but as it is a weak claim I cannot press my claim unless Aquitaine is already a succession war (or female ruler or regency). I would like to own Aquitaine, but with 10-15 people in front of me in the succession line, murdering my way through seem unrealistic.

Luckily a recently saw that a faction was started in Aquitaine with my name on it (what a nice Aquitianean duke). So it would be great if he started a civil war, I could just offer to join the war and we could easily beat the Aquitianean king.

So my question is: can I do anything to make his faction get off the ground? Is there any way to increase the chance of having other Aquitanean dukes to join that faction? I know how it works within my realm (both from the Vassal side and the ruler side), but how does it work in neighbouring realms? Should i try to make the other Aqutanean dukes to like me (gifts, marriages etc) or does that not influence the faction? Can I use my chancelor in any way?
(note that I don't have conclave)

 

[Dragatus]

I'm not entirely sure, but I do think their opinion of you plays a role. I think they should be more willing to join the faction if they liked you better than all the other claimants or their current king.

 

[StarSword]

The other thing that's important is the vassals' opinions of their liege. Your chancellor has a Sow Dissent mission you can try using to reduce this: the targeted province's vassal's opinion of liege will lower, as will the opinion of the vassal to his liege.

 

[Thorkel the Tall]

Thank you: show dissent: should I send my Chancellor to the lieges (the King of Aquitaine) province or to the vassal's provinces?

 

[StarSword]

Thank you: show dissent: should I send my Chancellor to the lieges (the King of Aquitaine) province or to the vassal's provinces?

Vassals. Otherwise you'll just be reducing the opinion of the king's capital barons.

 

[Thorkel the Tall]

Thank you for your replies. It worked pretty well (it wasnt "my" faction who rebelled, but the civil war was enough that my claim could be pressed). My threat went from 25% or so, to around 50%, but no major factions formed, Italy joined East Francia, but they were already allied, and a few smaller north African Muslims joined together with the remnants of Ulmayed ones in Spain (still had four counties in the south).

My King however kept on living until he was 79, giving him time to also press his daughter in laws (merried to the heir) claim for Tuscany. It was me and France (the kings grandson had married a genius daugther of the French King), against Italy and East Francia, and my side won good. He continued to succesfully drive out the last Muslims in southern Spain at the age of 78 he led the major battle, he then went to France to help the french king against a major revolt, winning several large victories (he brough rougly 6k men and defeated the 7k rebel main stack), he was still seizing castles when a faction for elective monarchy broke out at home, and on the return to Spain he became infirm and died within a couple of weeks.

His son now needs to defeat the the rebelling forces, and then consider how to best use his weak claims for Italy, Lotharingen, and Bavaria. Lotharingen is owned by the French king, and he is pretty strong, and Bavaria is in the hands of East Francia and is some distance to my realm, so I think Italy is next (as Tuscany is already in the hands of the new Kings wife).

 

[StarSword]

Nicely done!

 

[Dahoota]

One thing that plays heavily into factions and voting in elective succession is culture. Getting these factions off the ground is a lot easier, almost likely, if you are the same culture as the vassals of that realm and hold some of the dejure land in that title.

Vassals will effectively never vote for someone of a different culture if someone else of the same culture is available.

One of my weirdest moments in CK2 was, while playing as an independent Italian Duke in Sicily and holding Sardinia, suddenly being installed to the elective Kingdom of Italy by faction demand. I think largely because the previous king was Lombard.