One way a Dead ruler doesn't have to be game over...

[Radiohead]

Hi,

I wanted to add a quick suggestion for a case where a ruler dies without a proper heir, and hopefully one scenario where it would be nice if the game continued.

If you have a male ruler (wouldn't work with a female obviously) and your ruler dies without legitimate issue, but his wife is pregnant at the time, it would be a good feature that the game would continue until the child is born.

Once born, if the child is legally able to inherit the realm, the game would continue from there with the child as the new ruler (under a regent until he/she comes of age). This regent could be the wife or some member of council (wife's brother maybe?) and would rule the kingdom in the intrim before the new child is born and perhaps until they become of age.

I've had a few games in Crusader Kings the original end because my ruler died, even while his wife was pregnant, so this may be a nice feature, a last-ditch-effort to keep the dynasty alive sort of thing.

 

[unmerged(155641)]

I agree, but what if the child will be a girl?

 

[unmerged(133356)]

My guess is that it would depend on the law of succession in your domain.

 

[Radiohead]

I agree, but what if the child will be a girl?

Simple, if the law says a girl could succeed, then you're good and have a female ruler, if not, then it's actually game over.

 

[RedRooster81]

Posthumous succession did exist in medieval times, but it was always a tricky thing to pull off, especially if you had many kingdom titles. The regent was likely the next in line for the throne. The most famous example is Ladislaus von Habsburg (b1440), who ruled Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary, etc. until he died at age 17, at which time his realm was divided: Bohemia and Hungary elected men from other dynasties.

 

[Don_giorgio]

Posthumous succession did exist in medieval times, but it was always a tricky thing to pull off, especially if you had many kingdom titles. The regent was likely the next in line for the throne. The most famous example is Ladislaus von Habsburg (b1440), who ruled Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary, etc. until he died at age 17, at which time his realm was divided: Bohemia and Hungary elected men from other dynasties.

I would suggest the posthumus succession model used in France when King Louis X died unexpectedly and his wife Clementia of Hungary was pregnant. The late King's brother Philippe de Poitou was appointed Regent till the baby is born and if he was a boy he would succeed to the throne. In 15 November 1316 Queen Clementia gave birth to a boy and was proclaimed immediately King Jean I of France. However the boy died less than a week later and the former regent was crowned as King Philippe V (not without suspicion of foul play though). I think that a model like that could work perfectly in CKII and also could trigger some cool chain intrigue events like if the regent has high ambitions or he is first/second in line of succession he could try to get rid the mother and the child etc.

 

[Laur]

Ladislaus Posthumus was not acknowledged king of Hungary immediately after his birth despite being the son of king Albrecht because Hungary had a semi-elective succession law, and the diet had elected Wladislaw Jagello as king. It was only after the battle of Varna and Wladislaw's death in 1444 that Ladislaus party prevailed in "the elections." Philippe V "le Long" of France also had to enforce the succession laws (the Salic law) in order to be able to succeed his nephew, rather than his sister, Jeanne, who still inherited the crown of Navarra, a realm which allowed for female succession. So in the case of a ruler holding many titles, the succession should be made for each title in part according to that particular realm's laws.

 

[RedRooster81]

Ladislaus Posthumus was not acknowledged king of Hungary immediately after his birth despite being the son of king Albrecht because Hungary had a semi-elective succession law, and the diet had elected Wladislaw Jagello as king. It was only after the battle of Varna and Wladislaw's death in 1444 that Ladislaus party prevailed in "the elections." Philippe V "le Long" of France also had to enforce the succession laws (the Salic law) in order to be able to succeed his nephew, rather than his sister, Jeanne, who still inherited the crown of Navarra, a realm which allowed for female succession. So in the case of a ruler holding many titles, the succession should be made for each title in part according to that particular realm's laws.

Point well taken. It should not be easy. The more secure (ducal) titles based on primogeniture should be held in trust for the unborn child, but elective realms should put up much more of a fuss. Expect a civil war or some harsh restrictions on royal power that the nobles would want to last once the posthumous child-monarch comes of age.

 

[DreadLindwyrm]

I'd say that for an elective monarchy a child (born or unborn) is almost always going to lose anyway. There should be a strong preference from the electors for a strong leader who can lead now, rather than in say 16 years.
If they do elect a child, they then need to elect a regent.