non warfare expansion strategies

[adecoy95]

i cannot seem to figure out ANY way to expand other than through use of the military, i know they exist, but for some reason, no way i have explored seems to work

is it even possible to inherit a territory through succession that has no soon to be dead fathers or something in them already?

 

[AttilaTheFun]

You can inherit territory through marriage; just marry the heir or holder of a given territory and make sure that the heir to the territory is you or your heir. However, you can't inherit territory itin kingdoms/empires you are not a part of that have high crown authority.

If you're an independent king or emperor, you can swear fealty to a larger kingdom, then take it over from the inside either through marriage or using a succession-change faction.

 

[tnick0225]

You can play the inheritance game, you'll just need to be patient, and sometimes use plots to get rid an child that gets in the way. It takes longer of course.

 

[adecoy95]

You can inherit territory through marriage; just marry the heir or holder of a given territory and make sure that the heir to the territory is you or your heir.

how do i make it a heir? matrilineal marriage?

 

[tnick0225]

how do i make it a heir? matrilineal marriage?

You'll probably have to wait two generations. Basically say you find a young duchess of Duchy X and marry your son and heir to her. Then their kid will be the heir to both duchy Y and your duchy.

You can matrilineally marry a third or fourth son with strong inheritable claims to a daughter of yours as well and press their son's claim for said duchy as well but that would be military conquest.

When you play the marriage game it will always take two generations usually for the inheritance to become yours. Unless your current ruler is already unmarried or childless and you need a wife.