Realistic & Expanded Byzantine Succession
Hi! Welcome to REBS!
Crusader Kings III has long been devoid of an accurate system that portrays how the Imperial Throne often changed hands: through simple usurpation and palace coups. The Empire was not an “elective” realm like the vanilla acclamation system suggests, but rather a system where emperors usually appointed their own family as successors, until their dynasty was overthrown by an usurper.
Roman succession was never standardized. In theory, anyone could assume the emperorship.
This mod reworks the vanilla system of overthrowing your liege during a regency to function specifically within the Byzantine Empire, in order to simulate the realistic and often brutal struggle for the throne between different and frequently obscure upstarting dynasties. Now you should get constant usurpations, save for when there are exeptionally well-liked and good emperors; note that just like real history, even good emperors do get coups; and they can defeat them (Alexis I and Basil II did for example)
You may now Seize the Purple through:
- Diplomacy
- Court intrigue
- Open force
This mod adds a full palace-coup system, a casus belli, and a faction for Byzantium, as well as deep post-coup consequences. The Default byzantine succession is set as primogeniture, as realistically emperors would always want their family to succede them, and there wasnt a real "acclamation" system where the successor was determined, instead, dynasties would be changed upon coups, usurpations and such
- Fixed an Issue where the AI would constantly change succession laws
- Fixed an Issue where the "fate of the former emperor" still fired to the usurper despite failing the coup attempt
Choose a Diplomacy, Intrigue, or Prowess approach, each with its own event chain and risks, if you have enough prestige and gold.
Let us remember how even successful emperors such as Alexis I and Basil II still had to face several conspiracies against them.
A dedicated faction that can be created, joined, and pressed by AI or players to overthrow the reigning emperor.
It will trigger the same system described above.
A custom CB to seize the purple is added to make coups a real political and military threat.
I suggest using the mod “More Interactive Vassals” if you intend to use this option, as otherwise you will have to face alone the might of the Empire as a revolting governor.
New fate options for deposed emperors, including:
- Forced monastic vows on the Male-kin of the deposed emperor
- Mass executions of male kin or house members in-realm
- Title confiscations to the latters
Inspired by real Byzantine precedent: dynastic purges, forced vows, and palace coups — echoing the ruthless politics of emperors like Justinian II, whose son for example was also murdered following his father.
The mod is still being iterated. It is my second mod, and I am not an expert modder at all, so it may contain bugs.
If you are a modder and would like to help stabilize, improve or expand it, I would greatly appreciate your help — please reach out. ANY SUGGESTION IS WELCOME!
Chinese Transaltion made by user @無壹
German, French, Russian and Spanish Translations by user @Ravyn
