Every faction leader starts uncrowned. A crown makes the realm far more stable (loyal generals, less unrest, fewer usurpers) but costs a 20,000 florin ceremony and upkeep every turn. It's optional on Medium, worth it on Hard and essential on Very Hard.
How to get crowned
Become fit for the crown
Your faction leader needs Authority 6+ and Piety 6+, the "Fit for office" trait (not idiot, senile, mad, paranoid, absent-minded, slothful or badly unhealthy), and must not be a regent, a usurper, or excommunicated. His trait then changes from Uncrowned to "Fit for the Crown".
Shortcut: a leader with Strong Legacy or better (see below) becomes "Ready to be Crowned" without the Authority/Piety requirement, and later skips the land requirement too.
Own every settlement on your faction's crown list (below, or the map in the faction panel). Leaders with a Strong Legacy don't need them.
Go to a coronation city
End the leader's turn inside one of your coronation cities with the required building built. He must be the city's governor (white scroll on his icon), the city can't be under siege or disillusioned, and you need 20,000+ florins in the treasury.
Make room for the crown
The crown is an ancillary and a character can carry at most 8, so he must have 7 or fewer when crowned.
Coronation
Next turn the crown appears, 20,000 florins are paid for the ceremony, and his trait becomes Crowned. From then on the upkeep is charged every turn.
Strong Legacy shortcut
Father's Legacy is worked out when a son comes of age (and updated if the father later earns it). It needs 2 points for Strong Legacy, which opens the shortcut crown route:
Father…
Legacy points
Father was a crowned king
2
Father destroyed another faction
2
Father had Command 10
1
Father had Piety 10
1
Father had Authority 10
1
Father was a great victor (Vanquisher 3+, again at 7+)
So a crowned king's son usually inherits the crown: he still needs the coronation city, ceremony money and governorship, but not the lands or high Authority and Piety.
Benefits & costs
Crown on the leader
+2 Authority, +1 Law, +1 Local popularity, +2 Line of sight. Every faction's crown gives the same.
Loyal generals far from home
A crowned leader counts as near the capital up to 50 tiles away (uncrowned: 20-30), and generals far from the capital lose loyalty much more slowly.
Less unrest
While the king is uncrowned, every settlement you own gets extra unrest: +4% in long-held provinces, rising to +9% in newly conquered ones. It fades as a province settles into your realm, but never below +4% until you're crowned.
Fewer usurpers and plotters
Fewer civil wars; some rebellions happen less often or not at all.
Less corruption
Under an uncrowned king, governors more than 80-100 tiles from the capital can become Corrupt or Embezzlers.
Smaller warmonger penalty (Very Hard)
Each settlement taken outside your own lands adds 3-9 aggressivity when crowned, 6-18 when uncrowned (less with a diplomatic leader). At 25+ you're a warmonger: more unrest and worse relations.
Heirs
Sons get Strong Legacy (+2 Authority and the shortcut to the crown). Royal children can get an Inspiring Teacher.
Buildings
Mints and some faction-unique buildings need a crowned king or give more with one. See your faction below.
Costs
Coronation ceremony
20,000 florins, paid once.
Court upkeep
5,000 florins every turn (pagan factions: 2,000), taken straight from the treasury - it doesn't show in the finance panel.
Keeping it
Each new faction leader starts over. His son inherits the right (Strong Legacy) but must be crowned again, paying the ceremony again.
If the leader becomes unfit (bad health or mental traits) or the faction is excommunicated before his coronation, he drops back to Uncrowned.
The AI can be crowned anywhere once it holds its (usually shorter) list of lands.
By faction
Abbasids Caliph
Crowned in
Sauad al-Irak (Baghdad) with Bayt al-Hikmaholy city
Lands you must hold
Diyar Mudar (Édessa)Diyar Bakr (Hisn Kayfa)Šark al-Ġezīra (Al-Mawsil)HalabĠarb al-Ġezīra (Ar-Raqqah)Aš-Šām (Dimašqu)Nefud (Tayma)Al-Heġāz (Makkah)Bahrain (Al-Ahsa)Basra (Al-Basra)Sauad al-Irak (Baghdad)Wasit (Al-Wasit)
Not needed with a Strong Legacy.
AI version (8 settlements)
Diyar Mudar (Édessa), Diyar Bakr (Hisn Kayfa), Šark al-Ġezīra (Al-Mawsil), Halab, Ġarb al-Ġezīra (Ar-Raqqah), Basra (Al-Basra), Sauad al-Irak (Baghdad), Wasit (Al-Wasit)
Aragon Corona de Aragó
Crowned in
Algarve (Šilb), Central Andalusia (Qurtubah), Eastern Andalusia (Garnāta), Extremadura (Batalyaws), Murcia (Mursiyah), Western Andalusia (Išbīliyyah) with Gardens of Alhambra or better
Apulia (Bari), Calabria (Regium), Campania (Napoli), Trinacria (Balermus) with Palazzo dei Normanni
Essex (London), Mercia (Lincoln), East Anglia (Norwich), Northumbria (York), Wessex (Bristol), Wales (Kaerenarvon), Scottish Lowlands (Dùn Èideann)
Shared crown: Scotland can win the same one, and once someone holds it nobody else can.
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Hanseatische KaufmännerHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-1
-1
Hanseatischer QuartierHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
HolsteintorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
StalhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
PeterhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
BryggenHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
Hanseatischer KontorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
The KeepTower of London
Law
+1
+2
The KeepTower of London
Population growth
+1
+2
The White TowerTower of London
Law
+2
+3
The White TowerTower of London
Population growth
+2
+3
The Tower of LondonTower of London
Law
+4
+5
The Tower of LondonTower of London
Population growth
+4
+5
France Crown of France
Crowned in
Champagne du Nord (Rheims) with Cathedral (for Catholic factions) or better
Campania (Napoli) with Maschio Angioino
Jerusalem with Holy Sepulchreholy city
Lands you must hold
Île-de-France (Paris)Champagne du Nord (Rheims)Auvergne (Clermont)Aquitaine (Bordeaux)Languedoc (Toulouse)Bretagne (Roazhon)Flandre (Gand)Champagne du Sud (Troyes)Orleanáis (Orléans)Bourgogne (Dijon)Dauphiné (Lyon)Provence (Arles)Anjou (Angers)Normandie (Rouen)Poitou (Poitiers)
Not needed with a Strong Legacy.
AI version (9 settlements)
Île-de-France (Paris), Champagne du Nord (Rheims), Auvergne (Clermont), Champagne du Sud (Troyes), Orleanáis (Orléans), Bourgogne (Dijon), Dauphiné (Lyon), Anjou (Angers), Normandie (Rouen)
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Hanseatische KaufmännerHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-1
-1
Hanseatischer QuartierHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
HolsteintorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
StalhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
PeterhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
BryggenHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
Hanseatischer KontorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
The KeepTower of London
Law
+1
+2
The KeepTower of London
Population growth
+1
+2
The White TowerTower of London
Law
+2
+3
The White TowerTower of London
Population growth
+2
+3
The Tower of LondonTower of London
Law
+4
+5
The Tower of LondonTower of London
Population growth
+4
+5
Georgia Crown of Bagratuni
Crowned in
Kartli (T'pilisi) with Reinforced Shuris-Tsiche or better
Jerusalem with Holy Sepulchre or better
Marmara (Kōnstantinoúpolis) with Hagia Sophiaholy city
Kartli (T'pilisi), Egrisi (Kutatïssi), Derbent (Bāb al-Abwāb), Shirvan (Baku), Arminiya (Ani), Chaldia (Trapezous), Armenian Highland (Qālīqalā), Āzarbayjan (Tabrīz), Diyar Bakr (Hisn Kayfa)
Shortcut to the Golden Age
A crowned king meets the Golden Age requirements on his own: no Local Guards, Icon Studios or Greek/Kievan royal marriage needed. You still need T'pilisi, Kutatïssi and turn 70+.
Bigger Narikala bonuses
Every level of the Narikala gives +1 extra law and +1 extra population growth in T'pilisi while the king is crowned.
Mints need a crown
Georgia can only build a Mint (in a capital province such as T'pilisi) once the king is crowned, or after the Bardi Bank event later in the game.
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
Shuris-TsicheNarikala
Law
+1
+2
Shuris-TsicheNarikala
Population growth
+1
+2
Reinforced Shuris-TsicheNarikala
Law
+1
+2
Reinforced Shuris-TsicheNarikala
Population growth
+1
+2
NarikalaNarikala
Law
+2
+3
NarikalaNarikala
Population growth
+2
+3
Great Seljuks Šâhanšâh
Crowned in
Sauad al-Irak (Baghdad) with Bayt al-Hikmaholy city
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Lithuania Lietuvos karalystė
Crowned in
Lietuva (Kernavé) with Gedimino Tower or better
Lands you must hold
Lietuva (Kernavé)Curonia (Riga)Prussia (Twangste)Masovia (Płock)Ruthenia (Goroden)Volhynia (Volodymyr)The Marshes (Turov)PolotskSmoleneskLivonia (Kolyvan)Pleskov
Only while no other faction holds this crown
Not needed with a Strong Legacy.
AI version (8 settlements)
Lietuva (Kernavé), Curonia (Riga), Prussia (Twangste), Masovia (Płock), Ruthenia (Goroden), Volhynia (Volodymyr), The Marshes (Turov), Polotsk
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
Hanseatische KaufmännerHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-1
-1
Hanseatischer QuartierHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
HolsteintorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
StalhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
PeterhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
BryggenHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
Hanseatischer KontorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
Lizdeika PilisVilnius
Law
+1
+2
Lizdeika PilisVilnius
Population growth
+1
+2
Gedimino TowerVilnius
Law
+2
+3
Gedimino TowerVilnius
Population growth
+2
+3
Gedimino PilisVilnius
Law
+4
+5
Gedimino PilisVilnius
Population growth
+4
+5
Moors Al-Malik al-Nasir
Crowned in
Ganūb Maġreb al-Aksa (Murrākus) with Alcazar or better
Central Andalusia (Qurtubah) with Great Mosque of Cordoba or better
Algarve (Šilb), Central Andalusia (Qurtubah), Eastern Andalusia (Garnāta), Extremadura (Batalyaws), Murcia (Mursiyah), Western Andalusia (Išbīliyyah) with Alcazar of Alhambra or better
Sauad al-Irak (Baghdad) with Bayt al-Hikmaholy city
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Hanseatische KaufmännerHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-1
-1
Hanseatischer QuartierHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
HolsteintorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
-2
StalhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
PeterhofHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
BryggenHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
Hanseatischer KontorHansa Teutonica
Happiness
-2
0
Portugal Corona Ibérica
Crowned in
Tajo (Al-Ušbuna) with Alcazar of Lisbon
Jerusalem with Holy Sepulchreholy city
Lands you must hold
León y Asturias (León)Castile-LaMancha (Toledo)Galicia (Santiago de Compostela)Murcia (Mursiyah)Castilla La Vieja (Burgos)Central Andalusia (Qurtubah)Eastern Andalusia (Garnāta)Extremadura (Batalyaws)Western Andalusia (Išbīliyyah)Beira (Coimbra)Tajo (Al-Ušbuna)Algarve (Šilb)Salamanca
Not needed with a Strong Legacy.
AI version (9 settlements)
León y Asturias (León), Castile-LaMancha (Toledo), Galicia (Santiago de Compostela), Murcia (Mursiyah), Castilla La Vieja (Burgos), Central Andalusia (Qurtubah), Eastern Andalusia (Garnāta), Aragon (Zaragoza), Extremadura (Batalyaws)
Shared crown: Spain can win the same one, and once someone holds it nobody else can.
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Merchant Family BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
AlcazarAlcazar
Law
+1
+2
Gardens of AlhambraAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of AlhambraAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of ToledoAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Palacio de la AljaferíaAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of LisbonAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of FesAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of TunisAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Scotland Crown of the Normans
Crowned in
Scottish Lowlands (Dùn Èideann) with Edinburgh Castell or better
Shared crown: Venice, Pisa can win the same one, and once someone holds it nobody else can.
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Merchant Family BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Spain Corona Ibérica
Crowned in
Castile-LaMancha (Toledo) with Alcazar of Toledo
Jerusalem with Holy Sepulchreholy city
Lands you must hold
Either WithPortugal list (13):
León y Asturias (León)Castile-LaMancha (Toledo)Galicia (Santiago de Compostela)Murcia (Mursiyah)Castilla La Vieja (Burgos)Central Andalusia (Qurtubah)Eastern Andalusia (Garnāta)Extremadura (Batalyaws)Western Andalusia (Išbīliyyah)SalamancaAlgarve (Šilb)Beira (Coimbra)Tajo (Al-Ušbuna)
or WithAragon list (15):
León y Asturias (León)Castile-LaMancha (Toledo)Galicia (Santiago de Compostela)Murcia (Mursiyah)Castilla La Vieja (Burgos)Central Andalusia (Qurtubah)Eastern Andalusia (Garnāta)Extremadura (Batalyaws)Western Andalusia (Išbīliyyah)SalamancaNavarre (Pamplona)Balearic Islands (Medina Mayurqa)Valencia (Balansiyya)Aragon (Zaragoza)Cathalaunia (Barxiluna)
Not needed with a Strong Legacy.
AI version (9 settlements)
León y Asturias (León), Castile-LaMancha (Toledo), Navarre (Pamplona), Valencia (Balansiyya), Galicia (Santiago de Compostela), Murcia (Mursiyah), Castilla La Vieja (Burgos), Aragon (Zaragoza), Extremadura (Batalyaws)
Shared crown: Portugal can win the same one, and once someone holds it nobody else can.
Buildings that depend on the crown
Building
Effect
Uncrowned
Crowned
MintFinance
Needs a crowned king to buildOr instead: after the Bardi Bank event, Muslim factions, Byzantium
BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
Merchant Family BankFinance
Needs a crowned king to build
AlcazarAlcazar
Law
+1
+2
Gardens of AlhambraAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of AlhambraAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of ToledoAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Palacio de la AljaferíaAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of LisbonAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of FesAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Alcazar of TunisAlcazar
Law
+2
+3
Sultanate of Rum Qayser-i Rûm
Crowned in
Marmara (Kōnstantinoúpolis) with Jama (for Muslim factions) or better
Sauad al-Irak (Baghdad) with Bayt al-Hikmaholy city