Claim Fabrication & Acquisition

The lifeblood of expansion in Crusader Kings III is the acquisition of new territory. While outright conquest through war is common, the ability to fabricate claims on titles provides a more controlled and often less costly method of territorial expansion. Understanding how to acquire claims is fundamental to growing your realm.

Fabricating Claims:

The primary method of fabricating claims is through your Chancellor. Ass your Chancellor to the "Fabricate Claim" task in a target county. The success of this task depends heavily on your Chancellor's Diplomacy skill and the target county's ruler. A higher-skilled Chancellor and a weaker target increase the likelihood of success.

When your Chancellor successfully fabricates a claim, you will receive a notification, and a new claim will appear on the target title. This claim can then be used to press your right to that territory in a war.

Types of Claims:

Fabricated Claims: These are claims created by your Chancellor. They are typically for a county title.
Inherited Claims: If a character in your dynasty holds a claim on a title, and that character dies, their claim can be inherited by their heir. This is a powerful way to acquire titles without direct fabrication.
Event-Generated Claims: Certain events can grant characters claims on titles.
Marriage Claims: Marrying a character who holds a claim can sometimes allow you to press that claim through your spouse, especially if they are of your dynasty or if you have specific marriage traditions.
Vassal Claims: Your vassals may also hold claims on titles. If they are strong enough, they might press these claims themselves, potentially expanding your realm indirectly.

Pressing Claims:

Once you have a claim on a title, you can declare war to press that claim. The "Declare War" button will become available on the target title's screen. The casus belli (reason for war) will be "Claim."

The strength of your claim can influence the war score you gain and the difficulty of the war. Stronger claims are generally easier to win wars for.

Strategic Considerations:

Target Selection: When fabricating claims, prioritize counties that are part of a duchy you wish to form, are strategically important, or are held by rulers with whom you have poor relations.
Chancellor Skill: Always ass your highest-skilled Chancellor to fabricate claims. If your current Chancellor is not skilled enough, consider educating a child with a focus on Diplomacy or finding a courtier with high Diplomacy to appoint.
Vassal Claims: Keep an eye on your vassals' claims. If a vassal has a strong claim on a neighboring territory, they might declare war independently. This can be a great opportunity to expand your realm if they are successful and you are their liege.
Succession: Be mindful of how claims are inherited. If you have a child with a strong claim on a neighboring kingdom, plan your succession to ensure that child inherits both titles.

Mastering the art of claim fabrication and acquisition is essential for any ruler aiming to expand their dynasty's influence and secure their legacy.