Essential Strategies for Gaining Legitimacy in Crusader Kings 3 (CK3)

With the introduction of the Scythe update in Crusader Kings 3, a vital mechanic known as Legitimacy has arrived. This system plays a crucial role in measuring the respect and authority a ruler has among their vassals and offers various bonuses depending on the legitimacy level. Let’s explore what Legitimacy means, ways to enhance it, and strategies to prevent its decline.

Ways to Boost Legitimacy in CK3 (Crusader Kings 3)

Legitimacy interface in CK3 — Image by Pro Game Guides

Securing high legitimacy is vital for a stable reign, as it can significantly influence your governance. Below are effective measures to enhance your legitimacy in CK3:

Victorious Wars: Winning wars, including civil conflicts, boosts your legitimacy along with vassal opinions. This strategy aligns well with a focus on the Martial lifestyle.
Title Creation: Establishing new titles like duchies or kingdoms offers a substantial legitimacy increase.
Hosting Events: Organizing feasts, hunts, and pilgrimages enhances your ruler’s Popular Opinion, thereby increasing legitimacy. I prefer feasts and pilgrimages as they yield additional Prestige and Piety, respectively.
Royal Courts: Regularly convening your court (available through the Royal Court DLC) increases vassal opinion and contributes to legitimacy.
Grand Activities: Engaging in grand events like tours and tournaments (found in the Tours and Tournaments DLC) can positively affect legitimacy, although I recommend only participating when chances of winning are high to prevent loss.
Spreading Legends: Sharing illustrious tales about your reign can enhance how your subjects view you and substantially boost legitimacy (included in the Legends of the Dead DLC).
Freeing Valuable Prisoners: Granting freedom to significant prisoners without demanding a ransom can also raise legitimacy, with the amount gained dependent on the prisoner’s status.

Aside from these active choices, various passive factors influence your ruler’s baseline legitimacy. Here’s what to monitor:

Birthright Traits: Certain traits such as Bastard, Born in the Purple, or Sayyid can affect your ruler’s initial legitimacy.
Congenital Traits: Positive traits like Beautiful enhance legitimacy, while negative traits such as Inbred reduce it.
Diplomacy Skills: High Diplomacy and traits like Just or Diplomat improve vassal opinions and subsequently bolster legitimacy.
Court Grandeur: Achieving or exceeding expected court grandeur levels can provide a legitimacy boost, influenced by your court’s artifacts.
Previous Ruler Connection: A strong bond between the current ruler and their predecessor can elevate legitimacy, particularly if the former ruler enjoyed high legitimacy.

Defining Legitimacy in CK3

Counties impacted by plague in CK3 — Image by Pro Game Guides

In Crusader Kings 3, Legitimacy signifies a ruler’s authority and the degree of respect they command for their claim to the throne. A ruler with high legitimacy finds it easier to govern their realm, make diplomatic choices, and stave off rebellions. Conversely, low legitimacy can spark dissent, uprisings, and instability within the kingdom.

Legitimacy is measured on a scale from 0 to 5, with the top level known as Ordained Ruler. Each legitimacy tier brings distinct advantages or drawbacks. The level is also affected by the rank of your ruler, the power dynamics of your vassals, and your ruler’s cultural and dynastic heritage. For instance, if your required legitimacy level is Aspiring, and you achieve True Ruler status, you unlock additional bonuses. Conversely, if required to be Rightful yet sitting at Recognized, you face penalties for not meeting expectations.

Counts and Dukes require less legitimacy than Kings and Emperors to govern effectively. Additionally, the era of your rule influences legitimacy needs, with tribal leaders needing less legitimacy than those ruling during the High Medieval period.

Complete Guide to Legitimacy Perks and Penalties in CK3

Below is a detailed overview of every Legitimacy tier in CK3, including the advantages gained for surpassing it and the penalties incurred for falling short, starting with Aspiring as the minimum legitimacy requirement:

Level	Bonus For Exceeding	Penalty For Falling Short
Aspiring	Short Reign duration -10%	None
Recognized	Short Reign duration -25% Slight Reduction to Claim Casus Belli cost. Slight Increase to Marriage Acceptance.	Short Reign duration +15% Slight Increase to Claim Casus Belli cost. Slight Penalty to Marriage Acceptance. Slight Penalty to Vassalization Acceptance.
Rightful	Short Reign duration -50% Popular Opinion +10 Regular Reduction to Claim Casus Belli cost. Regular Increase to Marriage Acceptance.	Short Reign duration +35% Popular Opinion -10 Regular Increase to Claim Casus Belli cost. Regular Penalty to Marriage Acceptance.
True	Short Reign duration -65% Popular Opinion +20 Increased Reduction to Claim Casus Belli cost. Greater Increase in Marriage Acceptance.	Short Reign duration +65% Popular Opinion -20 Greater Increase to Claim Casus Belli cost. Greater Penalty to Marriage Acceptance.
Ordained	Short Reign duration -100% Popular Opinion +30 Large Reduction to Claim Casus Belli cost. Massive Increase in Marriage Acceptance.	Short Reign duration +100% Popular Opinion -30 Massive Increase to Claim Casus Belli cost. Massive Penalty to Marriage Acceptance.

Strategies to Maintain Legitimacy in CK3

Subjugation conflict between adversarial kingdoms in CK3 — Image by Pro Game Guides

Having a strategy for retaining Legitimacy is as important as acquiring it. A drop in legitimacy can severely undermine your rule. Here are some actions and scenarios that can diminish your legitimacy, along with preventive measures I typically employ:

Defeat in Wars: Losing battles is a quick route to diminished legitimacy. Be prudent in choosing engagements and only fight when assured of success.
Yielding to Faction Demands: Surrendering to factions displays weakness and adversely affects your legitimacy. Aim to negotiate or deploy schemes to destabilize opposing factions.
Dealing with Plagues: Inaction during a plague outbreak can result in loss of Vassal Opinion and Legitimacy. Taking decisive measures like quarantining areas can help manage this.
Tyrannical Acts: Engaging in tyrannical measures, such as unjustly revoking titles, will rapidly erode legitimacy. Strive for a fair and just rule.
Unveiled Schemes or Secrets: If a harmful scheme is uncovered or a damaging secret comes to light, legitimacy can suffer. Keep secrets safeguarded and avoid risky plots by ensuring your Spymaster has strong Intrigue skills.
Excommunication: Being cast out by your faith’s authority significantly impacts legitimacy. Cultivate a positive relationship with religious leaders or work swiftly to lift an excommunication.

As your rank increases, the legitimacy required becomes more significant, so remain vigilant in your decision-making as it becomes increasingly difficult to regain Legitimacy later in the game.

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