How to gain Legitimacy in CK3 (Crusader Kings 3)

Legitimacy is an essential new mechanic introduced with the Scythe update in Crusader Kings 3. This system helps determine how much respect a ruler commands from their vassals and provides various perks depending on the level. So, let’s break down what legitimacy is, how you can increase it, and the steps you should take to avoid losing it.

How to Increase Legitimacy in CK3 (Crusader Kings 3)

Gaining legitimacy is essential as it can mean the difference between a stable reign and a chaotic one. So, here are all of the key actions that increase your legitimacy in CK3:

• Winning wars: Every successful war increases your legitimacy, including civil wars. This also boosts the Opinion of your vassals. Best paired with the Martial lifestyle.
• Creating titles: Creating new titles, like duchies or kingdoms, will provide a significant legitimacy boost.
• Hosting feasts, hunts, and pilgrimages: Hosting events that improve your ruler’s Popular Opinion is an excellent way to gain legitimacy. I prefer hosting feasts and pilgrimages as they not only provide Legitimacy but also Prestige and Piety respectively.
• Holding court (Royal Court DLC): Regularly holding court helps your Vassals improve their Opinion about you, and also provides some Legitimacy.
• Hosting grand activities (Tours and Tournaments DLC): Similar to holding court, participating in grand activities can positively impact your legitimacy. But I generally do them only if I'm confident of winning, since losing at a tournament can be quite detrimental to your character.
• Spreading legends (Legends of the Dead DLC): Spreading legendary tales about your rule improves how your subjects perceive you, also providing large amounts of Legitimacy.
• Releasing valuable prisoners: Letting valuable prisoners go free without demanding a ransom provides Legitimacy. The amount you gain depends on the rank of your prisoner.

While these are all active decisions you need to make, your ruler's baseline legitimacy level, is passively influenced by various factors. These are all the factors you need to look out for:

• Birthright traits: Certain traits such as Bastard, Born in the Purple, or Sayyid can influence your ruler's starting legitimacy.
• Congenital traits: Positive traits like Beautiful can provide legitimacy, while negative ones like Inbred will reduce it.
• Diplomacy skills: High diplomacy and traits like Just or Diplomat improve your Vassal Opinion and also provide Legitimacy.
• Court Grandeur: If your court’s grandeur level matches or exceeds expectations, it provides a legitimacy boost. This is influenced by your Court's artifacts.
• Connection to the previous ruler: If your realm's current ruler is closely connected to the previous one, legitimacy will be higher (especially if the previous ruler had high legitimacy).

What is Legitimacy in CK3?

In Crusader Kings 3, Legitimacy represents a ruler's standing and how much their subjects respect their claim to the throne. If you're a ruler with high legitimacy you will have an easier time managing your realm, making diplomatic decisions, and preventing rebellions. Conversely, low legitimacy can lead to unrest, rebellion, and general instability within the kingdom.

Legitimacy is ranked on a scale from 0 to 5, with the highest level being Ordained Ruler. Each level influences the bonuses or penalties your ruler will receive. Your legitimacy level also scales depending on your rank, the power of your vassals, and your ruler’s cultural and dynastic standing. For example, if your required Legitimacy is Aspiring, you're at True Ruler, and you'll get additional bonus perks. Similarly, if you're required to be at Rightful and you're at Recognized, you'll get a penalty for falling short.

Counts and dukes need less legitimacy to manage their realms than kings and emperors. Your ruler’s era also impacts how much legitimacy is needed, with tribal rulers requiring less than those in the High Medieval period.

All Legitimacy Perks and Penalties in CK3

Here's a complete breakdown of every Legitimacy level in CK3, the perks you get for reaching or exceeding it, and the penalties you face if you fall behind with Aspiring being the required Legitimacy:

How to Keep Legitimacy In CK3

Now that you know how to gain Legitimacy, you also need to know how to keep it. Losing legitimacy can be quite devastating to your rule. Here are some of the actions and events that will cause you to lose legitimacy, and the strategies I follow to avoid them:

• Losing wars: Nothing makes you lose Legitimacy faster than losing a war. Be cautious when choosing your battles. I usually don’t engage unless I'm confident of victory.
• Accepting faction demands: Giving in to faction demands weakens your Legitimacy, showing that you’re unable to keep control. Instead, try negotiating or using schemes to weaken the factions.
• Plagues and diseases: If a plague reaches your realm and you fail to take action, you will lose Vassal Opinion and Legitimacy. Acting decisively, like quarantining areas or moving your court, can mitigate this.
• Tyrannical actions: Performing tyrannical actions, like revoking titles without cause, will rapidly drain your legitimacy. Try to maintain a just and fair reign to avoid this.
• Discovered schemes or damaging secrets: Having a hostile scheme discovered or a secret exposed can negatively impact your legitimacy. Try to your secrets well-guarded and avoid risky schemes by getting Spymaster with at least 20 and above Intrigue.
• Excommunication: Being excommunicated by the head of your faith can seriously damage your legitimacy. Try to have a high Opinion with religious leaders, or work to get your excommunication lifted as soon as possible.

The higher your rank, the more legitimacy you will need to maintain, so try to be mindful of your decisions as it will get much harder to gain Legitimacy in the late game.

For more on Crusader Kings 3, check out CK3 Traits Tier List – Crusader Kings 3 on Pro Game Guides.