A Catholic emperor can hold the Papacy as a vassal after successfully pressing an antipope's claim. However, emperors' ability to employ kings (or equivalent) as vassals makes management of large realms considerably easier, as is their ability to assimilate kingdoms via de jure drift once the kingdom is fully held by the empire. Comply with specific religious and/or cultural conditions (since patch 2.0, most conditions only apply to the AI).Įmpires are very large and difficult to form.Pay 600 wealth plus 400 piety (or equivalent) (wealth cost is gradually reduced as the character amasses piety, with 50% discount at 1000 piety).Hold either two kingdom titles, or an empire-rank title.Control at least 80% of its de jure territory.To create or usurp an empire, a character needs to: The portrait of emperor (or equivalent) has a golden border adorned by gems. The title is held by Emperor-ranked characters only. An Empire is the highest tier of landed titles in Crusader Kings II, above kingdom.
