5 Historical Inaccuracies In Crusader Kings 3
For the sake of gameplay, every game gives up some historical truth. The same is true for Crusader Kings 3.
Crusader Kings 3 is a big strategy game that takes place in the Middle Ages. It tries to be historically accurate, but the game has to come first, so there are more than a few mistakes in the game’s history.
The Middle Ages were a long time, and Crusader Kings 3 takes place not only in Europe but also in North Africa and much of Asia. So, it would be nearly impossible to show the depth of cultures, religions, and types of government at any one point in time without taking away from the fun of the game or making it too hard.
Low Infant Mortality Rates
No matter what data are used, it is clear that the death rate for babies was much higher in the Middle Ages than it is today. For example, giving birth was much more dangerous for both the mother and the baby when doctors didn’t know certain things and there were no tools. Cesarean sections could be used as a last option, but they always killed the mother.
If babies made it through birth, their chances of living would get better as they got older. However, because of certain diseases and the lack of modern supplements, the danger didn’t end until the end of youth. Crusader Kings 3 does show some of this, but the developers decided that it would be too frustrating for most players to have to deal with their heirs dying all the time, especially if they were born with the best traits and were excited to play as them when they took over. So, the rate of babies dying in CK3 is lower than it was in real life.
Councils
In Crusader Kings 3, councils are made up of a Chancellor, a Realm Priest, a Steward, a Marshal, and a Spymaster. These roles are the same no matter the society, type of government, or rank. Some of these offices existed in real life and did similar things to what they do in Skibidi Toilet. However, each realm would have been ruled in its own way, and this would have changed over time.
Still, this is a necessary historical error because the council system is fun to play with and because managing your council in CK3 is key to keeping your realm stable.
The Complexities Of Feudalism
Even though feudalism may seem hard and confusing to new Crusader Kings 3 players, it was even harder and more involved in real life. In fact, even the word “feudalism” is hard for scholars to understand. Still, after the Normans took over, the King of England was officially a vassal of the King of France because he held certain duchies, such as Normandy and Aquitaine.
This, along with the fact that vassals were expected to pay respect to their liege, which was a pretty humiliating idea for a king, led to a lot of trouble. In Crusader Kings 3, on the other hand, a vassal can only have one liege, and things are pretty simple. This makes for enjoyable and fair gameplay. Another mistake in history about feudalism is that the organization of emperors, kings, dukes, and counts is the same everywhere. This might be pretty close to the truth for some places and times in Europe, but because the Middle Ages were so big, most places are distorted. The Byzantine Empire is probably the most obvious example of feudalism in CK3. Each part of the empire had its own rules and ways of doing things.
Coats Of Arms In Crusader Kings 3
In Crusader Kings 3, coats of arms and heraldry are very important because they make it easy to spot noble houses, dynasties, kingdom titles, and other things. Players can now see their coat of arms proudly displayed on the surcoats of their characters, making for some of the best outfits in CK3.
But since the game starts in both 867 and 1066, most of the coats of arms you see early on will be wrong, since armor wasn’t really used until the 12th century, and only in parts of Europe at that time. Many societies would have used some kind of identification and symbolism, but it wouldn’t have been standardized the way it was in the High and Late Middle Ages, especially in Western Europe.
The Lack Of Power That The Church Has
In the Middle Ages, the church of Christendom had a lot of power and wealth. For example, bishops were their own feudal masters and owned large estates. They were also often the younger sons and brothers of nobles. This gave them a lot of political power, especially when joined with the power of Archbishops, Cardinals, and the Pope at the top of the church hierarchy.
In Crusader Kings 3, this political affect is rarely felt. The Realm Priest just gives more taxes and levies based on how they feel about the ruler, and the Pope can excommunicate people and give them indulgences, claims, divorces, and gold. One of the best mods for CK3, The Catholic Trinity, tries to build on this by adding sainthood, which is missing from the game, as well as investiture, the College of Cardinals, and a lot more.