How can I get rid of vassals?

[unmerged(92459)]

Preferably without screwing up my prestige, piety, et cetera.

The problem is, my dukes have been vassalising just about every count that comes to call, and as Denmark I have little bits and peices spread out everywhere from Ireland to Anatolia, and it irritates me! Is there some way I can get rid of these hangers-on, if not in-game than by save-game editing?

 

[Sam L]

Why would you want to do that? Duke vassals give you prestige.

 

[jordarkelf]

Sounds like you're not using the beta patch. Get it to prevent implausible vassalizations.

Anyway as a king you shouldn't care about vassals of your vassals. All you need to watch out for are your direct vassals, and you should try not to have any counts as vassals since they will not give you any advantages.

 

[unmerged(133776)]

I've actually never heard of an AI ''Vassal'' accepting vassals on their own. From that Bug, I know you'll get some strange vassalizations going on, but I always assumed they'd go right for the King, not a Duke vassal of a King?

I am wondering tho, if Ninjangel isn't just getting very lucky when it comes to HIS Dukes inheriting other properties? The OP doesn't really mention how many new sub-vassals he's seeing, just mentions ''bits and pieces''. And any game of any length, a few inheritances both INTO and OUT OF your Realm is entirely possible.

 

[jordarkelf]

AI can and will pledge to AI, and counts prefer dukes over kings if these are their natural lieges.
Natural liege = whoever holds the title your capital falls under.
E.g. Zeeland is in the Duchy of Holland and the Kingdom of Germany. The count of Zeeland will try to pledge to the Duke of Holland first, King of Germany second, and only if neither is valid (either the title of Holland does not exist, or Zeeland does not border anything already belong to Germany; or Zeeland has claims on/fought a war with either), he will consider another liege of (in order of preference) same culture, same religion, fellow christian.

 

[unmerged(133776)]

Ah, that is completely new to me. I can't speak for other Realms, as I don't keep tabs on all the comings and goings, but I'm mainly going by my own Realm. FE: A Count sub-vassal peacefully declares independence from his Duke. Duke now has a claim on that Count title, but I, as the King, do not. It's not long before the Count is petitioning me to be his new Liege. I do tend to pay enough attention to my own Realm that I notice the 'missing piece' soon after they leave.

I've just never seen them re-vassalize themselves back to their former Duke. I've seen plenty of my own vassals who will peacefully leave and then shortly afterwards ask to be back in the fold with no changes in Rulers.

...or Zeeland has claims on...

That right there could be the explanation. I'll have to check those wandering-vassals to see if they get a free Claim on their former Duke's title when they peacefully leave.

 

[unmerged(92459)]

It's just ugly and annoying to have three Danish provinces in Turkey, one the vassal of Flanders, one of Ostergotland and one of some German Duke.

I'm not concerned about the piddling amount of prestige dukes get me, I play for story, not just "upping my stats". Plus, I'd like to play through and convert my game to EU3 eventually, and I don't want to be spread from France to Russia by time that rolls around.

I installed the Beta patch after I started my current game, that seemed to slow things down a bit, no more Scotland in Venice, but those already vassalised still pledged to those adjacent to them, so there's still plenty of shenannigans going on.

 

[Nimic]

Is there any point in having count vassals as a King? Seems it would just mean that you'd have more potential rebels in the event of a succession. Also, is there any point to having lots of duke titles for myself, as a King? Should I give most of them out to my counts (perhaps keep a few for potential sons)?

 

[jordarkelf]

You do not want any count vassals as a king. They give no advantage, but can spark a rebellion.
I always keep at least one or two ducal titles behind, usually of the land I have my demesne in. Since I mostly use the consanguity inheritance law, I distribute these titles to the son I want to inherit over his brothers, always keeping at least one at hand to redistribute should it be needed.

 

[Nimic]

Yeah, that's what I've been doing (except I've been keeping too many duke titles at hand). I'll get those handed out shortly, cheers

 

[Padre Pio]

You do not want any count vassals as a king. They give no advantage, but can spark a rebellion.
I always keep at least one or two ducal titles behind, usually of the land I have my demesne in. Since I mostly use the consanguity inheritance law, I distribute these titles to the son I want to inherit over his brothers, always keeping at least one at hand to redistribute should it be needed.

Gracias for this great info and tip. I have so many count vassals and I always get sleepless nights (figuratively speaking) once my king reaches the old age of 60 or above. I always experience a succession nightmare, i.e. counts decalring war/independence, because of the sudden downward hit of both my prestige and piety once a new heir ascends the throne. I am basically a hoarder of ducal titles. And now I see it's not a good practice.

 

[unmerged(133776)]

,,, because of the sudden downward hit of both my prestige and piety once a new heir ascends the throne.

Two other benefits of giving your Heir his own Ducal title(s), he gains prestige for each Duke Title given him (not sure if he gets prestige for province titles). Also, when he does inherit and ascends the throne, any vassal he brings with him take no loyalty hits.

So especially, if your ruler is way up there in years, illness, worms, wounded, and a dozen other health issues and he's barely breathing, then's most definitely the time to load your Heir up with every Duke title you can. (But just watch, your King arises from his death-bed and lives another 15 years while your heir dies the day after his oldest child - his daughter - gives birth to a son from another Dynasty and all those titles are now owned by your worst Rival.) lol

 

[Padre Pio]

Two other benefits of giving your Heir his own Ducal title(s), he gains prestige for each Duke Title given him (not sure if he gets prestige for province titles). Also, when he does inherit and ascends the throne, any vassal he brings with him take no loyalty hits.

I see. I'm still basically a greenhorn to this game and still on the learning process. I come from the other side of the globe and this whole medieval feudal setup is still basically an alien concept to me. We did have datus and rajas a long time ago but they were mostly considered as "primus inter pares" in the community, being called to discharge their power only in times of wars and emergencies. This game is fast becoming my favorite. This is a great way for me to experience a unique part in the history of a culture different from mine.

So especially, if your ruler is way up there in years, illness, worms, wounded, and a dozen other health issues and he's barely breathing, then's most definitely the time to load your Heir up with every Duke title you can. (But just watch, your King arises from his death-bed and lives another 15 years while your heir dies the day after his oldest child - his daughter - gives birth to a son from another Dynasty and all those titles are now owned by your worst Rival.) lol

I guess it's just one of the times when you are at the receiving end of one of fate's jokes in life. It's a good thing I always switch to a Salic Primogeniture law at the start of all my games.

 

[Kaleidoscope]

You do not want any count vassals as a king.

Unless you're playing historically. For example there were no dukes in England after the Norman conquest until the reign of Edward III (The Duchy of Aquitaine doesn't count - it was on the continent). Many continental Kings also had counts directly under them.

 

[Insignificant]

Sounds like you're not using the beta patch. Get it to prevent implausible vassalizations.

This, I had the same thing until the beta patch which completly fixes it.
I didn't notice any save game problems but I didn't get more than 14 years in until Sweden got me.