Succession laws are those laws that govern who becomes the new ruler of a realm upon the death of the previous incumbent. Every title in Crusader Kings II has associated succession laws. If a ruler holds multiple titles, the succession laws of the highest ranked realm apply. If a ruler of, for example, king rank has multiple kingdom titles, the succession laws of each kingdom will apply for that kingdom, and the de jure territory of that kingdom.
Succession Laws
Gavelkind
With Gavelkind succession, the titles of the ruler are divided among his/her children. If the ruler has no children that can inherit, the law reverts to Primogeniture. There is no prestige penalty for having unlanded sons, and Gavelkind confers a 30% increase in max. demesne size. The oldest child of the ruler has a -10 opinion penalty towards their parent, all other children set to inherit have a +10 opinion boost, all other dynasty members have a +10 opinion boost, and all vassals have a +5 opinion boost.
In order to change the succession law to Gavelkind a ruler needs to meet the following conditions:
- Has not previously changed the succession law
- Has reigned for at least 10 years
- Is at peace
- No regency
- No vassals are fighting each other
- No vassal of count rank or higher has a negative opinion of the ruler
Seniority
With Seniority succession, all titles of the ruler are inherited by the oldest member of the dynasty. The oldest child of the ruler has a -30 opinion penalty towards their parent, all other dynasty members have a +10 opinion boost, and all vassals have a -10 opinion penalty.
In order to change the succession law to Seniority a ruler needs to meet the following conditions:
- Has not previously changed the succession law
- Has reigned for at least 10 years
- Is at peace
- No regency
- No vassals are fighting each other
- No vassal of count rank or higher has a negative opinion of the ruler
- One of the following must be true:
- The ruler is a republican Patrician
- The Crown Authority must be medium, high, or absolute
Primogeniture
With Primogeniture succession, all titles of the ruler are inherited by the oldest child. In the absence of children, inheritance passes to collateral relatives in order of seniority of their lines of descent. All dynasty members except the successor have a -5 opinion penalty.
In order to change the succession law to Primogeniture a ruler needs to meet the following conditions:
- Has not previously changed the succession law
- Has reigned for at least 10 years
- Is at peace
- No regency
- No vassals are fighting each other
- No vassal of count rank or higher has a negative opinion of the ruler
- The Crown Authority must be high or absolute
Feudal Elective
With Feudal Elective succession, all titles of the ruler pass to a single elected successor. The ruler and each lower rank vassal (e.g. dukes if the ruler is a king) can nominate a successor from among themselves and legitimate children and siblings of the ruler. Dukes are valid electors in both kingdoms and empires. The oldest child of the ruler has a -30 opinion penalty towards their parent (if not the heir), all other dynasty members have a -5 opinion penalty, and all vassals have a +20 opinion boost. If the ruler holds too many elector titles the vassals will not approve.
In order to change the succession law to Feudal Elective a ruler needs to meet the following conditions:
- Has not previously changed the succession law
- Has reigned for at least 10 years
- Is at peace
- No regency
- No vassals are fighting each other
- No vassal of count rank or higher has a negative opinion of the ruler
Tanistry
With Tanistry succession, the ruler and all vassals at one and two ranks below can nominate an heir - the Tanist - from among the members of the ruler's dynasty. Vassals will tend to favour older members from other branches of the family, especially claimants. The oldest child of the ruler has a -40 opinion penalty towards their parent (if not the Tanist), all other dynasty members have a +10 opinion boost, and all vassals have a +5 opinion boost.
In order to change the succession law to Tanistry a ruler needs to meet the following conditions:
- Has not previously changed the succession law
- Has reigned for at least 10 years
- Is at peace
- No regency
- No vassals are fighting each other
- No vassal of count rank or higher has a negative opinion of the ruler
- Celtic culture (Breton, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh)
Ultimogeniture
With Ultimogeniture succession, all titles of the ruler are inherited by the youngest child. In the absence of children, inheritance passes to collateral relatives in order of seniority of their lines of descent. The oldest child of the ruler has a -30 opinion penalty towards their parent (if not the heir), all other children who are not the heir have a -20 opinion penalty, and all other dynasty members have a -5 opinion boost.
In order to change the succession law to Ultimogeniture a ruler needs to meet the following conditions:
- Has not previously changed the succession law
- Has reigned for at least 10 years
- Is at peace
- No regency
- No vassals are fighting each other
- No vassal of count rank or higher has a negative opinion of the ruler
- The Crown Authority must be low or higher
Open
With Open succession (also known as Turkish succession), all titles of the ruler are inherited by the most powerful child. Power is determined by the rank, and then number, of titles held. The oldest child of the ruler has a -10 opinion penalty towards their parent (if not the heir).
Open succession is only available to Muslim feudal rulers, and is the only succession law available to them.
Patrician Elective
With Patrician Elective succession, the primary title (plus the county within which the capital is located) is inherited by one of the five heads of the grand Patrician families. There is uncertainty in who will inherit, but age and prestige can increase the likelihood of succeeding, as can investing money in the Campaign Fund. Patrician Elective succession is always Agnatic.
Patrician Elective succession is only available to rulers of great merchant republics, and is the only succession law available to them.
Open Elective
With Open Elective succession, all titles of the ruler are inherited by a random courtier or a new randomly generated character. This simulates the election of a hitherto unknown figure to be the new title holder.
Open Elective succession is only available to unplayable characters, namely rulers of cities, rulers of certain religious holdings, mercenary captains, and religious heads (except the Caliphs or Fylkir). It is the only succession law available to them.
Investiture
With Investiture succession, the primary title is inherited by a character specified by another ruler. With Free Investiture, the title's secular liege specifies the successor. With Papal Investiture, the Pope specifies the successor. The secular liege can change the law from Free to Papal Investiture and vice versa. With Free Investiture, bishops have a +25 opinion boost towards their liege, vassals who have their own vassal bishops have a +10 opinion boost, and the Pope has a -30 opinion penalty.
Investiture succession is only available to unplayable characters, namely rulers of Catholic temples/bishoprics.
Papal Elective
With Papal Elective succession, the title and any/all junior titles are inherited by a character elected from the College of Cardinals. Papal candidates are judged on the same criteria used for the appointment of new cardinals. At any given point there exists a Preferatus, or cardinal who is most likely to accede. There is an element of chance in the Papal Election and the Preferatus does not always accede.
Papal Elective is only avaiable for the Papacy and the Fraticelli Papacy .
Gender Laws
In addition to a main succession law, each realm has a gender law which specifies whether women can inherit.
Agnatic
In Agnatic succession, only males can inherit.
Agnatic-Cognatic
In Agnatic-Cognatic succession, women can inherit, but only if there are no eligible males.
For example, in Gavelkind, daughters receive no titles if there is at least one son, but if there are no sons then the titles are split among the daughters. In Primogeniture, daughters will inherit before brothers or uncles, and daughters with sons will be prioritised over those without.
Absolute Cognatic
In Absolute Cognatic succession, women inherit on the same grounds men do.
For example, in Gavelkind, titles are split between sons and daughters with no reference to gender. In Primogeniture, older daughters inherit before younger sons.
But the biggest advantege of having absolute cognatic succession is that it allows you to give landed titles to women