Hi I just purchased the game yesterday, I was playing as some irish duchy when a message pop up saying that there are dangerous factions, like the independence of one of my vassals. My question is, how can I prevent the faction leader to declare war on me? is there a way to stop the faction?
As Machiavelli said, it is best to be both feared and loved, but better to be feared than loved, and essential not to be despised. If you go to the intrigue screen, you can keep an eye on the factions and their supporters. In particular, note two things: how much power the faction has, relative to you, and how much each of the faction members likes you. If you can keep yourself stronger than your vassals, they won’t dare revolt; maintaining a large retinue will help with this, mercenaries count, but also, keep your vassals small.
You can mouseover the plotters’ relation box (the number between
-100 and
100) and see their reasons for disliking you. Relations above 80 are generally safe. Summer fairs and feasts can help raise this; so can handing out honorary titles, money or even land. Particularly, look at what pieces of land your vassals desire; they will resent your holding a barony or county under one of their titles. A high realm diplomacy will improve your relations with anyone, and your spouse’s and chancellor’s diplomacy scores count toward this. So will prestige and piety. If you have too many duke titles, you could destroy some; but you can also unload some of your extra titles onto your heir. Give land to people who’ll like you, such as your relatives. You can make people your relatives by marriage. Educate their children in your court, and they will be hostages (Nothing bad will actually happen to them if a war does start, but people can’t declare war on you while you hold their children hostage anyway). Vassals of your own religion and culture, or at least of a culture from the same group, will like you better. Avoid actions that damage your reputation and look for ways that weaken your powerful vassals and that you can get away with. Your vassals will be happier with lower crown authority, lower taxes, lower levies and elective law.
Just surviving long enough that your reign is no longer considered short will help; Legalism and Military Organization are therefore skills that will make your realm more stable in the long term.
