Achievements

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Crusader Kings II has 161 different achievements, all using the Steam achievements mechanics. Achievements have no in-game effects; the achievement just pops up in-game, and is then added to the player's Steam profile. It is possible to see the achievements sorted by the percentage of users that managed to complete each achievement by going to the game's global achievements at Steam.

The difficulty of each achievement varies; some achievements are very easy (e.g. Marrying another character), while some are more difficult (e.g. Reconquering all historical Roman territories). The below list groups the various achievements by a difficulty level as assessed by the wiki editors.

Achievements can only be gained in single-player Ironman games. You cannot unlock achievements if you used the Ruler Designer to start a campaign. They can be earned while playing older versions of the game as long as said achievements were present in that version. Playing game in offline mode (saving game in offline even once) permanently disables achievements for this savegame. Certain game rules will also disable achievements for the savegame; usually, such rules make the game easier.

It is not possible to gain achievements if the checksum has been changed - either by tampering with game files, or by running the game using mods that affect gameplay mechanics (graphical mods do not affect checksum), or a corrupted installation (the Ironman mode icon will change to reflect this).

List of achievements[edit | edit source]

The "Notes" column lists helpful short tips/strategies.

The Base icon CK2.png column denotes achievements which can't be completed without the use of DLC mechanics (currently 111 out of 161). Multiple expansion icons mean either can be used. The Era random button.png Random World or the Era shattered button.png Shattered World buttons mean that they are mandatory to fulfill the achievement (currently 5 out of 161). For achievements without the icons, the buttons must not be selected.

The Starting conditions column may denote the requirements needed for the player character before the achievement requirements are fulfilled.

The Religion column denotes achievements which can't be completed without the specified religion. (currently 43 out of 161). Multiple religion icons mean either can be used.

The "Ver" column indicates in which version a certain achievement was added. Achievements cannot be earned prior to the version they were added in.

The "DI" column is for difficulty as assessed by wiki editors.

  • VE = Very Easy (Can be achieved through normal play or can be achieved in minutes)
  • E = Easy (Can be achieved easily although might take some time)
  • M = Medium (Can be achieved by most players although some aspects will be difficult)
  • H = Hard (Can be achieved in a full campaign or requires difficult to trigger events)
  • VH = Very Hard (Difficult to achieve and often requires an ahistorical playstyle)
  • I = Insane (Almost unachievable due to the large amount of work and difficult requirements)
Achievement Starting conditions Requirements Religion Notes Base icon CK2.png Ver DI
A Curious Trinket icon
A Curious Trinket
Send an invaluable artifact (Quality: 4 or 5) to the Emperor of China.
Yes Have a Level 4 or 5 Open inventory button.png Artifact Yes Sent an artifact to the Chinese Emperor The Byzantine Emperor can send the Crown of Thorns right away in 1066. Jade Dragon.png 2.8 VE
All Three Popes icon
All Three Popes
Play a game where there are two simultaneous antipopes
Yes There are 2 people with a Antipope.png claim on K papal state.png the Papacy Catholic Start in the "High Middle Ages" bookmark as an independent ruler. Wait for someone to create an antipope, then create your own. This achievement doesn't actually require any player input and may occur on its own. Despite also having a Pope and antipope mechanics, this achievement cannot be attained with the Fraticelli Papacy. 2.0 VE
Always Bet On Duke icon
Always Bet On Duke
Work your way up from Count to Duke with a single character
Yes Primary title is a County.png County Yes Primary title became a Duchy.png Duchy
  • At the 769 start, select Count Budic of Tregor in Brittany. Borrow from the Jews and create your title.
  • Alternative: Select any count or countess, whose liege is an independent duke or duchess. Start any faction, state your demand and go to war.
  • At the "Rise of the Hansa" bookmark, choose Count Theodoros of Kaliopolis (Nicene Empire). You will almost immediately be given the duchy of Thrace. As you are heir to the throne of the Nicene Empire, once the current emperor dies you will become the emperor, granting the "It's Better to be Emperor" achievement.
2.0 VE
A Pope of My Own icon
A Pope of My Own
Set up an antipope
No Does not have a vassal with a
Antipope.png claim on K papal state.png the Papacy
Yes Created a vassal with a Antipope.png claim on K papal state.png the Papacy Catholic Have 500 prestige to spare and a Bishop who likes you more than the Pope. Go to "Religion" tab and select "Make Antipope" button. Requires the Free Investiture law. Despite also having a Pope and antipope mechanics, this achievement cannot be attained as a Fraticelli character. 2.0 VE
Aptly Named icon
Aptly Named
Die from the Black Death.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes Dead.png died while having the Bubonic plague.png Plague Set the major plagues game rule to "Historical" and begin in the Late Middle Ages bookmark to get the plague as soon as possible. Don't go into seclusion when the Black Death arrives so you can catch the disease. The Plague gives your character -7 health which will most likely kill him or her. If you have the Way of Life DLC try switching out of focuses that increase your character's health to increase the probability of dying. DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 VE
Beyond the Indus icon
Beyond the Indus
As a ruler of non-Indian culture, conquer a King or Emperor title in India
Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled

No is not part of the Indo-Aryan or Dravidian Culture Group
Yes owns the Empire.png Empire of:

This achievement does not check by region: the title must be in de jure Rajastan, Deccan Empire, Bengal Empire, or Empire of India. If you start as a ruler who already fulfills the requirements (for example, Tughluq in 1337) your entire dynasty will be permanently blocked from receiving the achievement. Starting as the Ghaznavid Sultanate in 1066, one can easily obtain this achievement by simply forming the Kingdom of Punjab. All requirements are met except for actually creating the kingdom. Rajas of India.png 2.1 VE
Black Widow icon
Black Widow
As a woman, have three different husbands killed
Yes Is Female

Yes Is at least 16 years old

Yes Have 3 Alert marriage.png spouses who are: Consorts don't count. The spouse must be killed in a method which makes the kill show up in your kills list (such as execution, assassination, sacrifice, etc;). 2.0 VE
Bless my Reign down in Africa icon
Bless my Reign down in Africa
As a King or Emperor, have one of your domain [sic] Counties under the influence of a successful Rain Dance.
Yes Owns a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire

Yes any demesne province has the modifier: Africa_rain_dance_successful

Occasionally an event pops up in counties within the regions of East and West Africa that allows you to perform a rain dance. You will get a success pop up if this works, and if you are or become a King or Emperor while the success is active the achievement will activate. There is no culture or religion requirement and the kingdom or empire title need not be in Africa. You don't even have to pay for the event. You can also revoke or conquer a county under the effect of rain, and you'll get it that way. Holy Fury.png 3.0 VE
Bön Appétit! icon
Bön Appétit!
Eat a character of the Bön religion.
Yes Cannibal.png Eat a person with the Bön.png Reformed Bön.png Bön religion via event or Execution Try starting as a Bön ruler in a secure position, such as the ruler of Ü-Tsang in 867, and go into seclusion (DLC icon Reaper's Due.png) as soon as possible. Eventually, you will run out of food and have the option to eat a courtier.
Carousing (DLC icon Way of Life.png) while you are, or with someone who is, an Impaler , Lunatic , or Possessed it can give you an option to eat a guest. The chance of this is increased if you are Gluttonous .
If you are attempting this without any DLCs, consider the difficulty to be insane.
2.8 VE
Casanova icon
Casanova
Successfully seduce 10 people by targeted seduction with one character
Yes Seduction focus.png Seduce 10 people Requires Seduction focus Seduction focus.png. Strategos Konstantinos II of Samos in 1108 (Reachable by going forward 27 years from "The Alexiad" bookmark) has both the attractive and groomed traits for a total of +45 attraction opinion. Before unpausing the game, open the character finder and invite all the unmarried lustful women who are willing to join your court. If you start as Konstantinos II from Monarch's Journey, you must play in Ironman mode. Games played in Bronzeman mode are not eligible for achievements. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 VE
Child of the Dragon icon
Child of the Dragon
Request an Imperial Marriage from China.
Yes Asked for an Imperial marriage from the Emperor of China Start as Konstantinos X of the Byzantine Empire in 1066. Immediately send the Crown of Thorns to China, then request an Imperial Marriage. You're married, so pick someone else in your court. Also earns the "A Curious Trinket" achievement. Jade Dragon.png 2.8 VE
Crusader King icon
Crusader King
Starting in the "High Middle Ages" bookmark, hold the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Time.png Start date is 1066.9.15 High Middle Ages (1066) Yes owns the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K jerusalem.png Jerusalem

Creating the Kingdom of Jerusalem requires Christian religion, but the achievement itself has no religious requirements. A non-Christian can inherit or usurp the title if it exists.

Easily cheesed as Fatimids. You have two easy options to become Christian, which is required to create the kingdom of Jerusalem. You can either marry a Christian (any religion in the Christian group will work) or move your capital to one of the Miaphysite counties you own and then convert to the local religion (1000 prestige). Destroy the Shia Caliphate (200 prestige) in order to be able to change religion. Secretly convert to Christianity using your newly-wed wife, or by right-clicking your portrait if you moved your capital to a Miaphysite county. Publicly adopt secret religion if you converted secretly. Create the Kingdom of Jerusalem (250 gold + 200 piety).

2.0 VE
Decadent Warrior icon
Decadent Warrior
As a Muslim, crush a Decadence revolt
Yes Enforce a demand defending in a CB muslim heretic.png Decadence Invasion SunniYazidi, ZikriShiaDruze, Hurufi, QarmatianIbadiKharijite Must have Iqta government.png Iqta or Tribal government.png Tribal government.

Use the "Rise of the Hansa" bookmark and play as Khagan Hülegü of the Ilkhanate. Create duchies until you have enough prestige to convert to the local religion, Sunni. County conquest the Assassins (Fedayeen) in Daylam as they're likely to target decadent rulers. Declare 4 holy wars and immediately surrender. Wait for the inevitable revolt, which should be easily crushed as it's comprised mostly (72.65%) of light cavalry.

Dlc icon sword of islam.png 2.0 VE
Dream Home icon
Dream Home
As a Patrician dynasty, build every upgrade for your Family Palace
No Does not have a fully upgraded Family Palace Yes Have a fully upgraded Family Palace
  • Mansion Level 4 Grand Palace
  • Barracks Level 3 Armory
  • Bowyer Level 3 Crossbow Workshop
  • Cellar Level 3 Dungeon Complex
  • Garden Level 3 Hedge Maze
  • Shipyard Level 3 Naval Arsenal
  • Shrine Level 3 Grand Library
  • Stable Level 3 Horse Breeder
  • Warehouse Level 3 Administrative Office
  • Vault Level 3 Hidden Chamber
Genoa and Venice in the "Rise of the Hansa" bookmark only require one more upgrade. Dlc icon the republic.png 2.0 VE
Follow Me icon
Follow Me
Successfully intervene in a youth's development to force one of your own traits onto them.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled

Yes Child's Alert guardian.png educator is the player

Yes Child's traits changed via event Educate a child whose childhood traits can be steered to match your own traits. For example, if you are Ambitious , educate a Haughty child. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VE
From the Ashes icon
From the Ashes
Starting in a Shattered World, rule an Empire.
Yes is Era shattered button.png Shattered World Yes owns an Empire.png Empire title Start as a nomadic ruler in a Shattered world. The achievement will be unlocked instantly. Holy Fury.png Era shattered button.png 3.0 VE
Full House icon
Full House
Sire five children
Yes Make 5 children Likely to happen with any character who marries young. Muslims and other religions/government types which allow concubinage can take extra wives or concubines to reach this faster. You have to actually sire the children; pre-generated children from the history files do not count. 2.0 VE
Great Indian Sultanate icon
Great Indian Sultanate
Rule the Empire of Rajastan and convert all its provinces to Islam
Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled

Yes owns either the Empire.png Empire of E rajastan.png Rajasthan or E rajastan.png India

  • Any Independent ruler and any realm province within the above Empire.png Empires is Muslim
SunniYazidi, ZikriShiaDruze, Hurufi, QarmatianIbadiKharijite Only requires the provinces of de jure Rajastan outside your realm to be Muslim. The easiest way to fulfill this is simply to completely control Rajastan, so this achievement may be easily combined with "My Very Own Subcontinent", or "Saint Thomas's Dream". You must hold Rajastan and be Muslim yourself. The quickest way is Tughluq in 1337: just five counties to claim with de jure CBs. If you become Samrat Chakravartin, and Rajastan no longer exists, the achievement is still possible: but the scope is the Empire of India instead. Rajas of India.png 2.1 VE
Hospitable icon
Hospitable
Build a Hospital.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes Built a level 1 Hospital 1.png Hospital Hospitals are built in the extended province window, like Trade Posts and Forts. Nomadic and tribal governments can't build hospitals. Pick a Christian or Muslim ruler and borrow from the Jews to expedite this. DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 VE
I can see its Stripes icon
I can see its Stripes
Kill a tiger by your own hand
Yes Selected the Decision icon hold tiger hunt.png Hold Tiger Hunt Decision then find and kill a tiger via event chain Has about a 25% chance of triggering each time you use the "Hold Tiger Hunt" decision. Rajas of India.png 2.1 VE
I'm Sorry, Desiderata icon
I'm Sorry, Desiderata
Divorce a Lombard Princess as a Christian
Yes Alert marriage.png Divorce someone who is: The future divorcée must have Lombard culture and her father must be a king or emperor. As Charlemagne, marry one of the King of Lombardy's unmarried daughters on Day 1. Attempt divorce as soon as you reach 50 Piety. Or, follow Charlemagne's event chain for marrying and then divorcing a Lombard princess. Without the Charlemagne DLC, this may be easiest coupled with Iron Crown, as Lombard culture is nearly extinct in 1066. Does not actually require being a Christian. 2.2 VE
It's Better to be the Emperor icon
It's Better to be the Emperor
Work your way up from Count to Emperor with a single character
Yes Primary title is a County.png County Yes Primary title became an Empire.png Empire In DLC icon Charlemagne.png769, Sheikh Al-Mahdi of Hamadan is a son of Caliph Al-Mansur and usually inherits the empire. If you don't have the Charlemagne DLC then select Count Theodoros of Kaliopolis, who should inherit the Nicene Empire on his father's death. Does not actually need to be completed within a single character's lifetime as long as your first character was a count. 2.0 VE
It's Good to be the King icon
It's Good to be the King
Work your way up from Count to King with a single character
Yes Primary title is a County.png County Yes Primary title became a Kingdom.png Kingdom Start as Count Ramiro of Nájera in 1066, attempt (and fail) to imprison a vassal, and surrender. You will abdicate and end up playing the King of Navarra. Does not actually need to be completed within a single character's lifetime as long as your first character was a count. 2.0 VE
Keeping it in the Family icon
Keeping it in the Family
Sire a child that has the Inbred trait
Yes Breed a child with the Inbred.png Inbred Trait 1066, Countess Urraca of Zamora can immediately marry her cousin, King Antso IV of Navarra. Or play a Zoroastrian. 2.0 VE
Kingdom of David icon
Kingdom of David
As a Jew, create the Kingdom of Israel
Yes Selected the Decision icon create israel.png Create Israel Decision Judaism

Start as King Guy of Jerusalem in 1187. Win the crusade for Egypt, pass the title to your beneficiary and take the duchy of Oultrejourdain by requesting a claim from the pope (the duchy title is held by a woman in 1187, so your request is virtually guaranteed to be granted) and then usurping the title. Holy war or de jure claim war any parts of the duchy of Oultrejourdain still outside your realm. Once that's done, use the prestige and piety you earned through the crusade to secretly convert to Jewish through the county of Jerusalem, found the religious cult, prepare ground on Jerusalem, personally adopt faith and then Create Israel.

Dlc icon sons of abraham.png 2.0 VE
L'Eglise, c'est Moi! icon
L'Eglise, c'est Moi!
As an Emperor, grab the crown out of the Pope's hands and crown yourself.
Yes Coronate self via the HF Coronation Events Catholic Fraticelli

Presented as an option after choosing to be crowned by the pope and spending extravagantly. Ruler needs to be 16+, an emperor, and either: a lunatic, possessed, ambitious with imperial administration, or a member of the satanists. The latter is simplest.

All Catholic emperors (there are no Fratricelli emperors) in every start begin the game already crowned, so we're going to start as a non-Catholic emperor.

Start as Caliph Abd-al-Rahman of the Umayyad Empire in The Iron Century bookmark. Join the satanists. Marry a Catholic. None will appear in the arrange marriage menu, so use the character finder to search for unmarried women in your realm not of your religion. The Salihid Emirate to your south may also have eligible candidates. Secretly convert to Catholic via your wife. Make sure the Pope isn't in hiding due to disease (as he may be unavailable for several years) then publicly adopt faith. Organize a coronation ceremony with the Pope and choose the most expensive ceremony option (actually having the money is unnecessary, you are allowed to go into debt for it). Crown yourself.

Holy Fury.png 3.0 VE
Mercotransaction icon
Mercotransaction
Create a mercenary band and have them bring in money for you.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled

Yes Created a Mercenary Company

Yes AI hired the Mercenary Company Send your courtier to establish a mercenary band and wait for someone to hire them. Costs 50 Icon wealth.png. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VE
Mr. Doge-Elect icon
Mr. Doge-Elect
As a Patrician, win an election and become Doge
Yes Win a Patrician Election Invest in the election fund until you have the most Respect for any candidate and then wait for the Doge to die or have him killed. Dlc icon the republic.png 2.0 VE
No Solicitors icon
No Solicitors
Go into Seclusion.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes Selected the Decision icon go into seclusion.png Go into seclusion decision. Don't start as a tribe or as nomads. Restart until your character has the paranoid trait, then shut your gates. Alternatively, wait for an epidemic to hit your county, and then close the gates. DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 VE
One is not Amused icon
One is not Amused
As a ruler have a council that is not content.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled Yes Council is Malcontent.png not content Upset your council by acting against their vote. Or, wait for a succession DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VE
Over Your Dead Body icon
Over Your Dead Body
As a Tribal ruler, gain a title you have a claim on by duelling the holder.
Yes is Tribal government.png Tribal Yes Win a claim duel The Duke of Fortriu (Moray) in 769 has a strong claim on the Kingdom of Scotland and can challenge his liege to a duel for it on day 1. Be sure to take the war focus first to increase your personal combat skill. Holy Fury.png 3.0 VE
Papal Mache icon
Papal Mache
Have elephants trample the Pope/Caliph.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes One of the following characters has been executed by elephants: This execution method is available for anyone with a capital in the India, Persia, Middle East, or East Africa regions. Execution methods are random, but when the target is a religious head, elephants are especially likely. Valid targets are the Pope, the Fraticelli Pope, the Sunni Caliph, the Shia Caliph, the Ibadi Caliph, and the Kharijite Caliph. The Miaphysite Pope and Monophysite Pope do not count, nor do anti-popes.

Strategy: This achievement can be accomplished in seconds as Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur in 769. Grant the Caliphate title to one of your landed sons. Have your marshal suppress revolts in your son's capital and take intrigue focus to increase the chance of a successful arrest. Arrest and execute your son. If the arrest is unsuccessful or the wrong execution method is used, simply restart.

DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 VE
Paragon of Virtue icon
Paragon of Virtue
Fulfill the Paragon of Virtue ambition
Yes Gain 2000 Piety.png piety while Obj become parangon of virtue.png Become Paragon of Virtue Ambition is selected. "The Alexiad" bookmark as the King of Croatia. Set the ambition, win the crusade. 2.0 VE
Pay to Win icon
Pay to Win
Win a war using Mercenaries.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled Yes Owns Mercenaries

Yes Offer peace.png enforce demands during a war.

Win a war, while you have hired Mercenaries. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VE
Pilgrim icon
Pilgrim
Go on a Christian Pilgrimage
Yes Completed the Decision icon catholic pilgrimage.png Go on Pilgrimage Decision Catholic Cathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, Waldensian Orthodox Bogomilist, Iconolast, Monothelite, Paulician Nestorian Messalian Miaphysite Monophysite Decision available in the Intrigue Interface (requires Theology focus selected if Way of Life is enabled). All Christian religions can go on a pilgrimage. Dlc icon sons of abraham.png 2.0 VE
Prester John icon
Prester John
As a Catholic, have a border with Miaphysite Abyssinia
Yes is Catholic Catholic

Yes any realm province is neighboring a province whose owner is:

Catholic Start as a Miaphysite neighbor of Abyssinia, and convert to Catholicism by marrying a Catholic and converting secretly by spending 250 Piety. You must be publicly Catholic for the achievement to unlock. 2.0 VE
Royal Blood icon
Royal Blood
Achieve a score of 10,000
No Does not have a Icon score.png score of 10,000 Yes Has a Icon score.png score of 10,000 2.0 VE
Snipped off to China icon
Snipped off to China
Send a Eunuch to the Chinese Emperor.
Yes Sent a eunuch to the Chinese Emperor The character you send doesn't have to have the Eunuch trait Eunuch.png. The actual procedure for characters without it is done in China. Jade Dragon.png 2.8 VE
Stargazer icon
Stargazer
Build an Observatory
Yes Selected the Decision icon build observatory.png Build an Observatory Decision and follow theScholarship focus.png event chain. Requires Scholarship focus Scholarship focus.png. Take the decision in the Intrigue menu. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 VE
Sword to Ploughshare icon
Sword to Ploughshare
Settle a steppe mercenary with more than 20 martial in your lands.

Requires settling a mercenary, not just any adventurer. Does not actually require the mercenary to have over 20 martial or be from the steppe. To settle a mercenary they must be your friend. There is an event chain for a hired mercenary to become your friend. It fires for you, not the mercenary leader, so hiring multiple mercenaries does not make it fire faster. It won't fire unless the ruler who sent the mercenary away (generally his father) is still alive, and the mercenary is residing in your capital, which happens when he is removed from leading troops. Once he is your friend, dismiss him and then use the "Settle Adventurer" action on him.

This achievement is simple with the DLC icon Charlemagne.pngCharlemagne and DLC icon Conclave.pngConclave DLCs. In the 769 start as Charlemagne/Karl, wait for Roland to join your court (MTTH 24 months) and wait until an event fires for you two to become friends (350 days after he joins you). Once you are friends, have him assemble a mercenary company (50 gold) by right-clicking his portrait, and then settle him straight away by right-clicking his portrait and awarding him one of your counties (not through "Grant Landed Title", you need to choose the "Settle Adventurer" option).

2.4 VE
The Marriage Game icon
The Marriage Game
Marry another character
No Is not Arrange marriage.png married Yes Is Arrange marriage.png married Click the "Arrange Marriage" rings next to your portrait on your character's screen. Marry somebody. 2.0 VE
The Yes Men icon
The Yes Men
Have all members of your council be Loyalists.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled Yes If primary title is: Set the gender equality game rule to "All" to maximize the amount of possible councillors. If Horse Lords is enabled, Temujin (Genghis Khan of the Mongols) in the "Age of the Mongols" bookmark should have enough loyalists available to appoint to unlock this immediately. If not, simply restart. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VE
To Mecca! icon
To Mecca!
Go on a Hajj to Mecca
Yes Completed the Decision icon go on hajj.png Go on Hajj to Mecca Decision SunniYazidi, ZikriShiaDruze, HurufiIbadiKharijite On the Intrigue Interface, click "Go on Hajj to Mecca" when prerequisites are fulfilled. All Muslims except Qarmatians can go on Hajj. Can be done as a nomad without the Sword of Islam expansion. Dlc icon sword of islam.png Horse Lords.png 2.0 VE
Trade Empire icon
Trade Empire
Your Republic maintains trade posts in 80 provinces
No Does not have a total of 80 Trade Posts Yes Have a total of 80 Trade Posts You cannot unlock this by starting with 80 trade posts or more, like in the 1337 Venice start. You have to first have less than 80 trade posts, and then have 80 or more. Genoa in May 1273 has 79 trade posts, building a trade post in Abkhazia costs about 250 gold which can be obtained with a loan from Jewish merchants.

The player does not need to hold 80 tradepost himself. The sum of all tradepost of all 5 patrician families should be equal to 80 in order to trigger the achievement.

Dlc icon the republic.png 2.0 VE
Turbulent Priest icon
Turbulent Priest
Assassinate a vassal bishop that likes the Pope better than you
Yes is Catholic Catholic Yes A priest: Catholic The vassal must be killed in a method which makes the kill show up in your kills list (such as execution, assassination, sacrifice, etc;). 2.0 VE
Typhoid Mary icon
Typhoid Mary
Contract three symptoms.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes have 3 symptoms DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 VE
Until Death Do Us Part icon
Until Death Do Us Part
Have your spouse assassinated
Yes Player has killed their spouse. Marry a low-intrigue foreigner. To speed this up, select "Intrigue" as your focus (if you have Way of Life) and imprison them first. You get the achievement if your spouse dies from any cause while in your prison, so throw them in the oubliette and you might not even need to assassinate them. 2.0 VE
Viking Ummah icon
Viking Ummah
Have a capital province with Norse culture and Muslim religion
Yes Capital Province is:

Start as Sviþjod in 867. Your ally in Jorvik will win the war you're involved in fairly quickly, which will allow you to enable raiding. Capture a Muslim woman while raiding, take her as a concubine, secretly convert to her religion, then found the religious cult and prepare ground on your capital county. Publicly adopt faith once the county receives the 'Secret [religion name] Community] modifier. All forms of Islam are eligible for this achievement.

Dlc icon sword of islam.png 2.2 VE
We're In Business icon
We're In Business
Successfully establish a trade route
Yes Establish a trade route via Business focus.png business focus events. Requires Business focus . More likely to succeed if the opinion is high at the end of the event chain. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 VE
You Owe Me icon
You Owe Me
Have someone owe you a Favor
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled Yes have a character owe a Favor.png favor to the player You can simply buy a Favor for Icon wealth.png Gold. Courtiers are cheapest. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VE
Baptism of Rus’ icon
Baptism of Rus’
As an East Slavic Pagan King or Emperor with your capital in the Eastern Europe region, successfully ask the ruler of Byzantium for a mass conversion.
Yes Follow the HF Baptism events when character is:
  • in the East Slavic culture group
  • Owns a title higher than a Duchy.png Duchy
  • Capital is in Eastern Europe
  • Baptism Sponsor owns the E byzantium.png Byzantine Empire
GermanicTengriRomuvaSuomenuskoAztecSlavicAfricanZunistBönHellenicPagan Start in 867 with the Duchy of Polotsk, select the Ambition 'Become King of Ruthenia' and on day 1 attack the Duchy of Turov with the subjugation CB. Once you have won the war, you have to gather the gold needed to create the kingdom of Ruthenia and pass the tribal organization up to "medium"; then, request mass conversion to the leader of the Byzantine empire

Alternatively, start in 936 as King Yngvar of Kievan Rus, who is already a king at the start; use the intrigue decision to convert to Russian culture and Slavic paganism, increase your tribal organization, and, through war, gather the 500 prestige needed to request a mass conversion.

Holy Fury.png 3.0 E
Bring it On icon
Bring it On
Win 7 duels with one character
Yes Win 7 War focus.png duels. Easiest in a warrior lodge. The important modifier for dueling is the personal combat skill. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 E
By the Gods icon
By the Gods
Gain the Theologian trait
Yes Get the Theologian.png Theologian Trait via the Theology focus.png Theology focus events. Requires Theology focus for a long time. It's best to start on a young character and keep the focus for a long time. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 E
Celebrity icon
Celebrity
Amass more than 15,000 in prestige
No Does not have 15,000 Icon prestige.png Prestige Yes Have 15,000 Icon prestige.png Prestige Doable as any large empire. Creating Jerusalem gives 5K lump prestige. Alternative: As a Norse ruler, unite an empire (Scandinavia or Britannia should be easy) and run amok across Europe and Asia—conquer and raid from the sea. 2.0 E
Crusader icon
Crusader
Fulfill the goal of a Crusade
Yes Win a Crusade, Jihad, or Great Holy War on the attacker's side CatholicFraticelliSunniShiaIbadiHurufiZoroastrianJudaismReformed GermanicReformed TengriReformed RomuvaReformed SuomenuskoReformed SlavicReformed AfricanReformed ZunistReformed BönReformed Hellenic "The Alexiad" bookmark. A crusade for Thrace is quickly called. 2.0 E
Deus Vult icon
Deus Vult
Create the Empire of the Outremer.
Yes Selected the Decision icon convert to spouse catholic.png Form an Empire of the Outremer Decision CatholicFraticelli To know what you need to hold, use "Find title or region" (bottom of minimap) and type "Near East".

This can be done fairly easily as the Abbasids in 769 - all required territory except the small Ibadi realm in Oman is either already held by you or will accept vassalization. To convert to Catholicism, either marry a Catholic and secretly convert or revoke the county of Jerusalem and secretly convert via the holy site there. If there are no Catholics in your realm, publicly adopt a religion in the Christian group so that Catholic rulers outside your realm are willing to consider marriage requests. Each decision costs 250 piety and you will have to destroy or give away the Sunni Caliphate title prior to converting. Once you have the required 5000 prestige, publicly adopt Catholicism and create the empire through the Intrigue menu. Note that you must personally hold the county of Jerusalem, merely controlling it isn't enough.

3.0 E
Dragon Blood icon
Dragon Blood
Achieve a score of 50,000
No Does not have a Icon score.png score of 50,000 Yes Has a Icon score.png score of 50,000 2.0 E
Dwarf Fortress icon
Dwarf Fortress
Have seven courtiers with the Dwarf trait
Yes have 7 courtiers with the Dwarf.png Dwarf Trait Wait 50–100 years into the game for lots of courtiers to appear. Enter "dwarf" as a search term in the Character Finder. Marry, tutor, bribe and invite, or simply imprison eligible characters. 2.0 E
Exalted Among Men icon
Exalted Among Men
Fulfill the Become Exalted ambition
Yes Gain 5000 Icon prestige.png prestige while Obj become exalted.png Become Exalted among Men Ambition is selected. "High Middle Ages" bookmark. Play as the Holy Roman Emperor and set the ambition. Creating titles generates 200-400 prestige and there is a large number of uncreated duchies and kingdoms. Just wait for money and then create the titles and hand them out randomly. If you kill your wife and remarry you can get 300 prestige. Can be done in under 10 years. 2.0 E
Hard Ruler icon
Hard Ruler
Starting in the "High Middle Ages" bookmark as Harald of Norway, become the King of England
Time.png Start date is 15.9.1066 High Middle Ages (1066)

Yes Is playing Harald Hårdråde of Norway

Yes Harald Hårdråde owns the
Kingdom.png Kingdom of K england.png England
Take hunting, family, or theology focus for a small health bonus - there's a very good chance you may die of old age before the invasion is over.

Raise your vassal fleet levies, and take your army home so you aren't targeted by either England or Normandy. Don't forget to split up your army since the supply limit of your counties is only ~5k, so you don't lose troops.

Once William inevitably wins his invasion, return to England and begin assaulting holdings as quickly as possible. Target the ones that William assaulted (the red ones using the economy view). As a result of winning his invasion, William's new holdings will have the "recently conquered" negative modifier which disables that holding's levy for one year, making assaults much easier.

You can also marry out your daugther to some prince, and form some alliance that will help you.

2.0 E
Kali Maaa icon
Kali Maaa
Sacrifice a King or Emperor tier character to Kali
Yes Selected the Decision icon hold diwali feast.png Hold Kali Puja Feast Decision after Alert imprison.png imprisoning a Kingdom.png king or an Empire.png emperor Hindu.png Character must not have Kind trait.
Start as Tughluq in 1337, move your capital to one of the Hindu provinces, wait for 1000 Prestige in order to convert to local religion (Hindu), then simply imprison one of your several vassal kings. You could also secrely convert to Hindu via a concubine or the holy site at Varanasi and then openly adopt the faith. Alternatively, play a character under a king and use Intrigue focus Intrigue focus.png to imprison the king. Dispose of all other prisoners except the king. Select Kali as your patron deity via decision or have your capital within the Bengal region. Next select Hold Kali Puja Feast via decision, then choose "Let's do something extra this year..." during event chain.
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Let's Play icon
Let's Play
Gain the Hedonist trait through carousing
Yes Get the Hedonist.png Hedonist Trait via the Carousing focus.png Carousing focus events. Requires Carousing focus . After your third party, choose the option that mentions carousing. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 E
Lord of the Flies icon
Lord of the Flies
Start a Random World as a 0 year old Count, with the maximum character age set to 0, become King or Emperor within 16 years.
Yes is Era random button.png Random World

No is not age 1

No is not higher tier than a County.png Count

Yes has Alternate Start setting:

  • Age Span is between 0 and 0
Yes Title is a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire

No total years played is not 16

Try creating the Kingdom of the Lanka or the Sápmi since these kingdoms only have 5 counties in them. Simply start as a child count who already controls all of the land in a small kingdom or most of it. To increase your odds of getting a good start to generate, set the number of duchies, kingdoms, and empires to zero. Also set the number of holding per character to its maximum value. As a child it is not possible to select the become king ambition, so the kingdom creation cost discount is not available. So to keep the cost of conquering or usurping manageable, start the game at the latest starting date so all your holdings are highly developed so they generate more money and piety. Holy Fury.png Era random button.png 3.0 E
Love is a Battlefield icon
Love is a Battlefield
Find love after a duel.
Yes Get the Love is a battlefield Character Flag in the duel events. Start as Queen Quangma Amala of Sumparu in 936 ("The Iron Century" bookmark), join a Warrior Lodge and wait for a mission to duel a male opponent.

The following must be true at the time the duel occurs and until the event chain ends:

  • You and your opponent are not homosexual, are not rivals, are not lovers, and are not close relatives.
  • You have not tortured or mutilated your opponent and neither party is in prison.
  • Mutual opinions between you and your opponent are greater than 45 (i.e. "Opinion of Me" and "My Opinion of [Opponent]" as visible on your opponent’s character portrait).

It greatly helps, but is not required, for you and your opponent to have no lovers and for you to be friends with your opponent.

After the duel if your opponent chooses to pursue the romance, you will get an event approximately one month later.

Choose the option to pursue the romance and the achievement is obtained.

If your opponent did not decide to pursue the romance you will instead probably get an event about friendship and will need to try again with a new duel opponent.

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Merchant Prince icon
Merchant Prince
Amass more than 20,000 in wealth
No Does not have 20,000 Icon wealth.png Gold Yes Have 20,000 Icon wealth.png Gold Probably simplest as a Muslim emperor or a merchant. Achievable in less than 20 years as Venice in 1337. Also easy as Norse; with enough troops (particularly retinues) and enough vassal fleets, just go raiding until you fill your coffers. Can easily also give the "Viking Raider" achievement. With Horse Lords or Jade Dragon expansions holding Silk Road Trade posts will fill your coffers rapidly. 2.0 E
Mudslinger icon
Mudslinger
Successfully slander 20 people with one character
Yes Intrigue focus.png Slander 20 people Requires Intrigue focus Intrigue focus.png. Spy on the lowest intrigue characters in your realm with the aid of the character finder, for a greater chance of success. Any kind of event which spreads rumors, uncovers plots, or uncovers dirt in some way will count. Use the option to stop spying on characters who haven't given any results for a while. Some suggested targets are:
  • Characters that you've demanded religious conversion from - the character will likely be practicing their previous religion in secret and may also be in the religion's secret cult.
  • Characters with one or more of: cannibal , clubfooted , hunchback , impaler , lunatic , stressed , stutter , ugly , or weak , - these traits are often given by demon worshipper cults.
  • Ambitious , deceitful , and envious characters, as they are more likely to start plots.
  • Characters of a different religion.
DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 E
Not so Great icon
Not so Great
Starting in a Shattered World, defeat a Great Conqueror in a war.
Yes is Era shattered button.png Shattered World Yes Won a defensive or offensive war against a Great Conqueror

Start in 1337. One ruler per duchy, max great conquerors, min/max age 16, religions to full random. Generate worlds until a powerful coastal duchy (Flanders, Toulouse, Normandy, Mercia, Seville, Barcelona, Gwynedd, and Sicily are typically good choices) becomes Germanic. Find a weak great conqueror with the bloodlines list in the ledger and a carve a path to them with coastal county conquest. You only need to win a war against them, they don't need to be completely eliminated.

Holy Fury.png Era shattered button.png 3.0 E
Off with their heads! icon
Off with their heads!
Execute 10 or more prisoners in a single action.
Yes Have 10 or more Imprisoned.png prisoners Yes Selected the mass Action execute.png Execute button on the Intrigue window Requires the prisoner management feature of Monks and Mystics. DLC icon Monks and Mystics.png 2.7 E
On English Neck a Norman Yoke icon
On English Neck a Norman Yoke
Starting in the "High Middle Ages" bookmark as William the Bastard, become the King of England
Time.png Start date is 1066.9.15 High Middle Ages (1066)

Yes Is playing William the Bastard of Normandie

Yes William the Bastard owns the
Kingdom.png Kingdom of K england.png England
Normandy walkthrough 2.0 E
Pax Mongolica icon
Pax Mongolica
Build 3 fully upgraded silk road trade posts.
Yes have 3 demesne provinces with Trade post.png Trade Posts that are level 3 Requires all three trade posts to be in your demesne. Building and upgrading them all yourself is not actually necessary. The revamp in patch 2.8 only requires you to have level 3 Major Silk Road City in the 3 trade posts; Tughluq in 1337 holds many eligible counties.


In Version 3.3.5.1 (TOHY) The three trade post counties must be under your direct control.

Horse Lords.png Jade Dragon.png 2.4 E
Persistent Survivor icon
Persistent Survivor
Play a game all the way through from 867 to 1453
Time.png Start date is 867.1.1 Viking Age (867) Time.png Date is 1453.1.2 Cannot be combined with Seven Centuries. Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.0 E
Red Sea Resort icon
Red Sea Resort
Convert Mecca to Hinduism, Buddhism or Jainism
Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled

Yes Is Hindu.png Hindu, Buddhist.png Buddhist, or Jain.png Jain Yes County.png Mecca must be within the realm and is the same Indian Religion as the player

Hindu Buddhist Jain

Start as Abbasids in 769. Diplomatically vassalize at least the Taid Emirate (one of your tributaries). Then, declare holy war for the duchy of Kabulistan in Bamian, because the Buddhist holy site in the county of Bamian will allow you to secretly convert to Buddhism.

Accumulate 250 piety and 450 prestige; this will allow you to do the next steps quickly and therefore not suffer long from the negative modifiers it will give to your vassals.

When ready, destroy your Caliphate title, leave your society if you're in one, and secretly convert to Buddhism by right-clicking the shield icon of Bamian. Found the religious cult and use the "Prepare Ground" action on Mecca. Wait for Mecca to get the "Secret Buddhist Community" modifier (you will get an in-game event). Finally, openly adopt faith through the decisions menu - "personally adopt faith" in your character's portrait menu will NOT cause counties to convert. If you accidentally personally adopt faith, take a Muslim concubine and convert back to Islam with her, then secretly convert and found the religious cult again - any counties with secret community modifiers will still have them.

Can also be done quickly by settling feudal in the county of Mecca as an Indian religion nomadic horde, if you have Horse Lords.png. As a nomad, completely destroying all holdings in Mecca will also change the county's religion.

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Rise of Civilization icon
Rise of Civilization
In a Shattered World with ‘Holding Types’ set to ‘Tribal’ or ‘Tribal & Nomadic’, adopt Feudalism or Republicanism.
Yes Alternate Start is on

Yes alternate start settings: Holding types are Tribal government.png Tribal or Nomadic government.png Nomadic

Yes Selected the Decision icon adopt feudalism.png Adopt Feudalism Decision or the Decision icon adopt republicanism.png Adopt Republicanism Decision Before generating the shattered world, set rulers to one per de jure duchy so you don't need to conquer anything to create the duke title which is required to adopt Republicanism or Feudalism. Start in 1337 so you don't have to build anything. Do not forget to change the crown authority law! Holy Fury.png Era shattered button.png 3.0 E
Saint icon
Saint
Amass more than 10,000 in piety
No Does not have 10,000 Piety.png Piety Yes Have 10,000 Piety.png Piety See piety for tips 2.0 E
Saint Thomas's Dream icon
Saint Thomas's Dream
Rule an Indian Kingdom or Empire as a Christian and convert all its provinces
Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled

Yes owns either a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire that is within the region of India

  • Any title that is not within the above is Christian
CatholicCathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, WaldensianOrthodoxBogomilist, Iconoclast, Monothelite, PaulicianMiaphysiteMonophysiteNestorianMessalian Only requires the provinces of a held kingdom or empire outside your realm to be Christian. The kingdom or empire must be in the India region. The easiest way to fulfill this is to completely control any Indian kingdom as a Christian. Temporary titles count towards this acheivement, so if as a Christian count in India under a king (and after converting your province), you declare an independence war, the requirements are fufilled. (Use the "De jure Kingdoms" map mode to find small kingdoms.)

As Tughluq in 1337, move your capital within de jure Punjab (or any Indian kingdom you completely control), conquer Mahodayapuram or marry a Nestorian, secretly convert to Nestorian, found the religious cult, prepare ground on your capital, and personally adopt the faith once it gets the "secret Nestorian community" modifier.

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Seven Centuries icon
Seven Centuries
Play a game all the way through from 769 to 1453
Time.png Start date is 769.1.1 Early Middle Ages (769) Time.png Date is 1453.1.2 The game tends to run slower the more holdings there are in your realm (and the more large realms there are generally), so when combining this achievement (or "Persistent Survivor") with grand conquest, it may be best to grant independence to many vassals in the late game.

Alternatively, you can play as a nomad with HL (Khazaria would be the fastest) and burn the world, so there are fewer and fewer courts (so fewer and fewer characters to slow the game down). With this method you will likely spend a busy 200-300 first years and then you can just set the game at max speed and wait for the end. If you have The Reaper's Due, setting both the Black Death and Minor Epidemics to "Deadly" and "More" respectively will make severe cuts in the number of characters alive, improving performance.

DLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.2 E
Survivor icon
Survivor
Play a game all the way through from 1066 to 1453
Time.png Start date is 1066.9.15 High Middle Ages (1066) Time.png Date is 1453.1.2 Must begin with the "High Middle Ages" bookmark. 2.0 E
The Conqueror icon
The Conqueror
Starting as a Norse character, rule the Kingdom of England (or the Empire of Britannia) as an English cultured character of a Christian religion.
Yes is Norse Yes is English

Yes is Christian
Yes Primary title is the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K england.png England or the Empire.png Empire of E britannia.png Britannia

CatholicCathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, WaldensianOrthodoxBogomilist, Iconoclast, Monothelite, PaulicianMiaphysiteMonophysiteNestorianMessalian
  • Before you begin, set the Culture Conversion game rule to "Faster Melting Pots." First, rule French/Occitan/Breton provinces before 1150 to become Norman, then rule Anglo-Saxon provinces in the de jure Kingdom of England after 1100 to become English. Note that you may not get an alert for the English culture event, so keep checking the eligible provinces when the time comes. Note that the culture events can happen in any province in the de jure Kingdom of England, not just the ones you own.
  • The Petty King of Jorvik in 867, King Halfdan 'Whiteshirt' begins in an invasion of Northumbria and has more event troops (11.6k, 15.6k in total) than Suðreyjar, but has feudal government. You can still subjugate other pagans as long as you have elective gavelkind (which you don't start with, however) and are a pagan yourself. Although the Invasion CB will allow you to take all occupied territory upon successful conclusion of the war, all of Catholic Britannia is likely to join the invasion against you and your ally in Sviþjod who are both Germanic pagans. You get to keep your event troops after the war, so it's recommended to get the war over with quickly and use the Germanic pagan county conquest CB to attack neighboring and coastal counties instead. You can become Norman by ruling the counties of Cornwall or Devon, which are Breton. Note that the English melting pot event will not fire here however, as it's not part of the region of England.
  • The Petty King of Suðreyjar in 867, King Ivar 'the Boneless', begins with 5.9k event troops (8.2k in total) and in two invasions, one of Northumbria and one of East Anglia. This is a much harder start but Suðreyjar has the benefit of being a tribal government and starting with elective gavelkind.
  • Suðreyjar and Jorvik are not allied and will not contribute to each other's war score.
  • Hæsteinn of Retz 867 is another good start, as he can easily take all of Brittany and then prepare an invasion of Western Francia without too much difficulty. If conquering England early, be sure not to eradicate Anglo-Saxon culture before 1100.
Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.8 E
Unwelcome Visitors icon
Unwelcome Visitors
As an assassin, assassinate a Crusader King in the Holy land.
Yes Is a member of the Assassins Yes Has Plot kill character.png murdered someone who: Shia Must be a member of the Assassins. The target must be a king-tier Christian who either is located in the Middle East region, controls a title in the Middle East region, or is fighting in a crusade or jihad targeting a kingdom in the Middle East region. You can kill the target in any way that marks you as the killer, e.g., capturing and executing. Plotting to kill becomes easier after ranking up once, as you can invite other Assassins to your plot. If your capital is in the Middle East region, any prisoners you have are also considered to be in the Middle East region which means that executing any imprisoned Christian King will give this achievement. The other option is to join the Assassins as a vassal of the target and kill your target, which still gives you the achievement. King Guy of Jerusalem in 1187 is surrounded by your fellow Assassins, and you will have plenty of gold to invite plotters with after winning the crusade that will be called shortly after the game begins. Dlc icon sword of islam.png DLC icon Monks and Mystics.png 2.7 E
Venetian Guile icon
Venetian Guile
Win a Crusade targeting Byzantium.
Yes Win a crusade
  • The target is someone who owns the E byzantium.png Byzantine Empire
CatholicFraticelli The Fourth Crusade events only trigger after the first crusade and if the Byzantine Emperor has unlanded dynasty members older than 12 who are not heirs to any title. During a crusade preparation, there is a chance for the target to switch to Thrace. A good time to start is just before the real-world Fourth Crusade (1202) - the Angelos have a few possible candidates. Holy Fury.png 3.0 E
What Could Have Been icon
What Could Have Been
Start a Random World with all possible settings set to ‘Random’ and play for 200 years.
Yes is Era random button.png Random World Yes total years played is 200 Contrary to the description, all that's required is to start in a random world. Holy Fury.png Era random button.png 3.0 E
An Honest Mistake icon
An Honest Mistake
From Seclusion, kick someone out who did not have the plague.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes Kicked out someone while at seclusion via event if they don't have the Bubonic plague.png Plague At least one symptom trait is required on the subject to trigger the event that gives the achievement. They can have a disease, just not the Black Death. The event triggers more easily for Paranoid and/or Craven rulers. DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 M
Birthright icon
Birthright
As the Anti-Christ/spawn of Satan, become Grandmaster of the Satanists.
Yes Is a member of the Lucifer's Own

Yes Has Character Flag demon_child_non_pagan or demon_child

Yes Is Grandmaster of the Lucifer's Own CatholicCathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, WaldensianOrthodoxBogomilist, Iconoclast, Monothelite, PaulicianMiaphysiteMonophysiteNestorianMessalianSunniYazidi, ZikriShiaDruze, Hurufi, QarmatianIbadiKharijiteZoroastrianKhurmazta, Manichaean, MazdakiJudaismKaraite, SamaritanZunistReformed Zunist As a demon child, be Grandmaster of Lucifer's Own which is exclusive to the Christian, Muslim, Mazdan, Jewish and Zunist religion groups. It will not fire if the child is a grandmaster of the other demon worshipers of other religions. A special event "Demon Child" from SoA can happen once in one gametime (MTTH = 500 years), which will turn one of your child under age 3 into a demon child. When the demon child turns 16, he will automatically become Grandmaster of Lucifer's Own and have unbelievable attributes. One method to unlock this achievement is to make sure the demon child is your heir, then retire your current character before the child turns 16. Inheriting as a character who has already done this will *not* unlock the achievement. Though it is possible to leave the society, rejoin, and become Grandmaster again. Whenever a new demon child turns 16 they will become Grandmaster, allowing you to kill the new grandmaster to re-claim your birthright.

Strategy: Although males can use the unholy impregnation decision, the resulting child will be born with an unknown father and will not inherit anything. Therefore, we're going to keep women on the throne. Start as Navarra at any time when it's a single county Kingdom, such as the "Age of the Mongols" bookmark. Set the gender equality game rule to "All". Upon starting, immediately switch to elective monarchy. You have no duke-tier vassals so you will be the sole elector, allowing you to choose your heir freely. Choose a female heir, ideally with many sinful traits and high intrigue in order to gain dark power faster. At society rank 3, you may be given the unholy impregnation mission which allows you to use the decision immediately. Otherwise, you have to reach rank 4 in order to use it freely.

Dlc icon sons of abraham.png DLC icon Monks and Mystics.png 2.7 M
Bloody Line icon
Bloody Line
As a religion worshipping Bloodthirsty Gods, sacrifice enough people to found a Bloodline.
Yes Worship a reformed religion with Bloodthirsty Gods

Yes Found a Bloodlines button.png bloodline by sacrificing

Reformed GermanicReformed TengriReformed RomuvaReformed SuomenuskoReformed SlavicReformed AfricanReformed ZunistReformed BönReformed Hellenic Easiest by taking Seabound or Sons of Ragnarok as the second doctrine when reforming a religion, as raids allow you to capture large amounts of prisoners of infidel religions you can then sacrifice. Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
Close Call icon
Close Call
From Seclusion, kick someone out who had the plague.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes Kicked out someone while at seclusion via event if they have the Bubonic plague.png Plague They must have the Black Death, not just any disease. DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 M
Dark Lord icon
Dark Lord
Become Grandmaster of any devil-worshiper society.
Yes Is a member of the Demon Worshippers Yes Is Grandmaster of the Society Be Grandmaster of the Cult of Kali Purusha, the Plaguebringers, the Cold Ones, The Fellowship of Hel, or Lucifer's Own. Inheriting as a character who has already done this will *not* unlock the achievement. DLC icon Monks and Mystics.png 2.7 M
Defender of the Holy Sepulchre icon
Defender of the Holy Sepulchre
Starting as Eustache de Boulogne (the Count of Boulogne in France) in 1066, choose to play as your beneficiary after they are made King or Queen in Jerusalem after a Crusade.
Yes is playing Eustache de Boulogne of Boulogne Yes Switched to Crusade Benefactor

Yes Crusade Benefactor completely controls the County.png County of Jerusalem at the time of switching
Yes Crusade Benefactor has a title higher than a Duchy.png Duchy at the time of switching

CatholicFraticelli The Pope will call the first crusade on the kingdom of Egypt - the kingdom of Jerusalem is not a valid target initially. Therefore, your initial focus is to build up your strength until a crusade for Jerusalem occurs.

Set the gender equality game rule to 'all' so you have more choice in councilors. Open the character finder and get some better councilors. Switch your succession to elective - barons can't vote, so you have complete control. Imprison and execute the baron of Saint-Pol (your vassal with the castle) until you inherit it (you can't simply revoke it as France has minimal crown authority and is unlikely to raise it). Fabricate claims on and take the counties of Artois and Guines - border disputes will also work if this is taking too long but may get you excommunicated. Plot to fabricate a claim on the dutchy of Flanders and take it when possible. Once you have a duke level title, plot to fabricate a claim on the kingdom of France and spy on your liege with the intrigue focus. If your liege is under regency or otherwise unavailable, use the downtime to invite some low intrigue characters of a different religion to practice spying on so you can obtain the Master Schemer lifestyle trait. Once you obtain the kingdom of France, you should have enough land to form a custom empire. There isn't really much else to do but sit and wait for the next crusade. If the next crusade targets somewhere other than Jerusalem, check the top right hand corner of the crusade window to see if the target can be switched.

Note that your beneficiary must both completely control the entire county of Jerusalem and have a king or emperor title at the moment you click the option to switch characters - check the county of Jerusalem to make absolutely sure all of its barons belong to your beneficiary before switching. If even a single one doesn't, don't switch characters. Just let your beneficiary's kingdom fall to the next jihad and try again in the next crusade.

Success simultaneously awards "Crusader King" (hold the kingdom of Jerusalem). Afterwards, conquer the middle eastern region to get "Deus Vult" (hold the Empire of the Outremer).

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Divine Blood icon
Divine Blood
Achieve a score of 100,000
No Does not have a Icon score.png score of 100,000 Yes Has a Icon score.png score of 100,000 Fairly easy as a Norse realm—getting > 100,000 from 867 to 1100 is fairly easy if you conquer and raid a lot. 2.0 M
Empire of the Sun icon
Empire of the Sun
Rule as Emperor with the Reformed Zun Faith
Yes owns an Empire.png Empire

Yes is Reformed Zunist.png Reformed Zunist

Reformed Zunist This achievement is most easily accomplished as the Abbasids in 769. Conquer or vassalize all 5 Zunist holy sites, then convert by either personally holding a holy site and secretly converting or by moving your capital to a county with Zunist religion and then adopting the local religion. You will need to give away or destroy the Caliph title for the decision to convert to show up. Before converting, stockpile 750 piety so you can immediately reform the religion once you convert. Dlc icon the old gods.png DLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.2 M
Family Bliss icon
Family Bliss
Have 6 close family members as friends
Yes 6 Dynasty close relative.png close relatives are Carousing focus.png Family focus.png friends Requires six close relatives as friends. Use the Carousing focus Carousing focus.png and party without aiming for gamer or flings. If a character has an outlined blood drop in their portrait, he is a close relative (other characters might count as well). You can only carouse with people in the same realm, so avoid marrying close relatives in ways that have them leave the realm. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 M
Family First icon
Family First
As a character with a religion that practice Divine Marriages, have one of your siblings, parents and children as spouses/consorts at the same time.
Yes Any consort or spouse is a parent of the current character

Yes Any consort or spouse is a sibling of the current character
Yes Any consort or spouse is a child of the current character

Reformed GermanicReformed TengriReformed RomuvaReformed SuomenuskoReformed AztecReformed SlavicReformed AfricanReformed ZunistReformed BönReformed Hellenic Zoroastrian Concubines count as well as spouses. Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
From Servant to Saint icon
From Servant to Saint
Have a character you used to play be proclaimed a saint and have their Saintly Bloodline running in your veins.
Yes Has a saintly Bloodlines button.png bloodline whose founder was a played character. Catholic Orthodox Nestorian Miaphysite Join a priestly order to remove sinful traits and add virtuous ones. See Sainthood for a list of requirements and chance of canonization modifiers. Note that playing as a child of a saint is not necessary. The achievement is obtained when you manage to have your character proclaimed saint and then play as someone with his bloodline, no matter how many characters you played in between. Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
Headhunter icon
Headhunter
Found a Bloodline as a particularly cunning, ruthless and skilled Duelist.
Yes Founded a duelist Bloodlines button.png bloodline Has a 20% chance (50% if you have no bloodlines) to occur each time you gain duel experience if you have the Duelist lifestyle and sufficient duel experience. Requires either 50 duel experience and 20 dueling kills (4 "Ruthless Duelist" modifiers) or 80 duel experience and 2 "Devious Duelist" modifiers (gained when using intrigue in dueling events) You must not already have a duelist bloodline.

Strategy: Play a powerful tribal pagan such as Sviþjod in 867. Your warrior lodge society will offer you non-lethal duels and the ability to choose the Duelist trait at rank 4, you can easily create rivals by raiding neighbors and taking their wife as a concubine, and if you choose to go the "Ruthless Duelist" route the "Merciless" modifier will negate itself for tribal vassals (note that you will still receive a -10 opinion modifier for all non-vassals in your court). Because duel experience is earned whether you win or lose, it's not necessary to win even a single duel. You may therefore find it more helpful to focus on intrigue so that you can force duels even when your opponent refuses them.

Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
History is in my Blood icon
History is in my Blood
Have 5 Historical Bloodlines on your character.
Yes Own 5 Historical Bloodlines button.png Bloodlines. Only original historical bloodlines count for the achievements; this excludes those created by the player. In order to inherit a bloodline from outside the family, for a majority of them, the marriage must be matrilineal. Marry a daughter matrilineally into a bloodline. Their child will inherit the father's blood while being part of your dynasty. Then, have their daughter marry matrilineally to your heir if he is male. Their child will have the outside bloodline while still being part of your dynasty.

To reduce inbreeding, start with a historic bloodline. Marry a first set of two different bloodlines matrilineally then do it with another set of two bloodlines. Then, marry the two sets together matrilineally. Then, marry a female dynasty member to the resulting son matrilineally. Then marry their daughter to your heir.
In the 769 start date, there are three bloodlines very close to each other in Great Britain and Ireland: the Blood of Niall 'of the Nine Hostages', Vortigern and Caradog. The Carolingian Blood is closeby in mainland Europe. The Merovingian blood may become extinct early.
For Game Rules, set Matrilineal Marriages to On (necessary to integrate Bloodlines), set Gender Equality to All (easier to get matrilineal marriage and no penalty to female heirs) and Diplomatic Range to On (maximum range allowed for Ironman mode).
The Árpáds of Hungary in 1066 starts with already 2 historical Bloodlines. The duke of Nyitra starts with excellent Diplomacy to recruit courtiers, an unmarried sister and a daughter in his court. Adopt Elective succession to easily choose heir. By adding 1 Bloodline per succession, achievement should be obtained at the fourth succession.

Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
I am the Law icon
I am the Law
As a vassal use a favor to change a law.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled

No is not independent

Yes Liege owes Favor.png favor to the player

Yes Changed realm law using the Favor.png favor

Under the Laws (F4) menu, spend the favor your liege owes you by clicking a law and initiating a council vote to approve it. The law must state "A councilor is allowed to initiate voting for this type of law by spending a Favor on their liege" when hovered over in order to be eligible for the achievement. You must be a councilor to enable the ability to initiate voting. The law must pass in order for the achievement to unlock. Note that the favor from your liege merely gives you a one time ability to initiate a vote, it does not grant your liege's support in the actual vote itself. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 M
I Do Not Play Chess icon
I Do Not Play Chess
Have 100 kills in your Kill List.
Yes Have 100 characters in the kill list Play a pagan in a warrior lodge and fight a lot of battles/raid a lot. When you capture prisoners, you can automatically execute them, or leave them to die in the dungeons if you somehow don't want to execute them. Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
Iron Crown icon
Iron Crown
Hold any Emperor or King title as a Lombard after 1300
Yes is Lombard

Yes owns either a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire
Time.png is the year 1300

In 769 the king of Lombardy is already a king tier Lombard character. Simply survive for 531 years. Revoke the county of Orvieto (request a claim first if possible) and grant it to the Pope as soon as possible to avoid being excommunicated. Refrain from holding any land within the de jure Papal States duchy (Latium). Do not accept Carloman's wife if she tries to flee to your kingdom, because this will give Karl a strong claim on Lombardy.

If you don't want to wait the last Lombard ruler available is the Count of Capua from 1092 through 1097. He is dwarfed by more powerful neighbors, so forming a kingdom will not be easy. This start becomes much easier with the Holy Fury DLC enabled. Starting as the count of Capua, in 1092, pick the Theology focus and stockpile enough piety to hire the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitallier as soon as they are formed. (Do not worry about going into debt whilst waiting for the crusade to be called, as they do not abandon you as mercenaries do if your treasury goes negative.) Regardless of whatever the crusade target is, march there with the holy orders immediately and instantly siege down provinces for contribution and warscore. When the crusade is won, you or your beneficiary should receive the Kingdom title, and then you will have a strong position to play as until the year 1300.

2.2 M
I Shed Blood of Saxon Men icon
I Shed Blood of Saxon Men
As a Christian non-Saxon, completely conquer Saxony in a game starting in 769
Time.png Start date is 769.1.1 Early Middle Ages (769)

Yes is Christian
No is not Saxon

Yes Completely controls the County.png Counties of:
  • Luneburg
  • Braunschweig
  • Verden
  • Altmark
  • Magdeburg
  • Bremen
  • Celle
  • Osnabruck
  • Oldenburg
  • Minden
  • Munster
  • Gottingen
Catholic Cathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, Waldensian Orthodox Bogomilist, Iconolast, Monothelite, Paulician Nestorian Messalian Miaphysite Monophysite

You must start the game as Christian.

With the DLC icon Charlemagne.pngCharlemagne and DLC icon Conclave.pngConclave DLCs, this is most easily attainable by starting in 769 as Charlemagne (Karl, not Karloman) and waiting for the Saxon invasion event (MTTH 8 months). If you choose this path, you can combine this achievement with the "Sword to Ploughshare" achievement (wait for the event-spawned Roland to become your friend 350 days after he joins you, make him a mercenary and immediately settle him).

The requirement is for any culture besides Saxon: Anglo-Saxon culture will still net you the achievement if you want to get both this and "Saxons Everywhere, Unite!".

DLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.2 M
Jihad Sultan icon
Jihad Sultan
As a Muslim King or higher, become Grandmaster of the Assassins.
Yes Is a member of the Assassins

Yesis a Kingdom.png King or an Empire.png Emperor

Yes Is Grandmaster of the Society Shia Can also be done when secretly Shia.

Mu’nis al-Muzaffar of Galilee in 867 has high intrigue. See the guide for "A Servant No More" for a strategy to gain a king level title. The Assassins cannot have multiple Grandmasters, so you may want to restart if the Grandmaster is out of diplomatic range and can't be assassinated. This achievement is only checked for when a player becomes the grandmaster while already having a kingdom or empire title. Should you become the grandmaster before obtaining the title, you will have to leave and rejoin the society.

Dlc icon sword of islam.png DLC icon Monks and Mystics.png 2.7 M
Lech, Czech, and Rus icon
Lech, Czech, and Rus
Unite the Kingdoms of the three brothers, Lech, Czech and Rus, into one Slavic Union.
Yes Selected the Decision icon form lcr.png Form the Slavic Union Decision Starting as a character with Romuva religion (such as Lithuania in any start date) means you start with the Eldership sucession law, which prevents your realm fragmenting due to Gavelkind. Once you've amassed enough territory, you can switch to one of the requisite cultures for the decision to appear (see the decision). 3.0 M
Legacy of the Indo-Norse icon
Legacy of the Indo-Norse
Start as a Norse Character, hold a Kingdom in India as your primary title. Your capital must also be located in India and converted to Norse.
Yes is Norse Yes is Norse

YesPrimary title is a Kingdom.png Kingdom in India
YesCapital is a Norse in India

Requires both starting and finishing as Norse culture. Germanic religion is not required. The primary title kingdom must be in the India region. If you acquire any empire titles, you will need to lose them to be able to set a kingdom as primary title. The main mechanism here, assuming you're not forming an intercontinental empire, is to use the coastal conquest CB available to Norse characters.

Start as Hæsteinn of Retz in 867. Divorce your wife. Form the duchy of Upper Brittany. Pick a lifestyle that adds health so you don't die prematurely. Set your event troops to raid and only use them to raid. Hire the Irish Band and use them to take either Salerno, Capua, or Neapolis, whichever is weakest - you're only using them to expand diplomatic range. Take one of the counties from the Hafsid (Crete) Emirate. Next, take Trinkitat and then Dhofar. Dismiss your mercenaries. Move your capital to Dhofar. Prepare Invasion on the Rashtrakuta kingdom. You should have more than enough troops to win easily - just watch out for the massive defensive power of mountains. Once you win, form the required two duchies and then the kingdom before you die. One of the conquered counties will be flipped to Norse culture - pass limited crown authority and revoke it if you don't own it. Wait for succession so you can move your capital there and finally unlock the achievement.

Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.7 M
Let's go out into the Field icon
Let's go out into the Field
Defeat a sibling in a war using the rival casus belli.
Yes win a war against a sibling with a Alert casus belli.png Rivalry Casus Belli When your sibling is your rival, and an independent ruler, declare war using this CB, and win. Also possible to achieve as a defender. Fastest as Charlemagne or Carloman in 769. If playing as Charlemagne, don't send your mother to him or you'll have to win before he dies. 2.4 M
New Ways for Old Gods icon
New Ways for Old Gods
Reform one of the Pagan religions
Yes Reformed a Pagan Religion GermanicTengriRomuvaSuomenuskoAztecSlavicAfricanZunistBönHellenic Probably easiest as Sviþjod or Ostlandet in the 867 start, or as Genghis Khan in the 1220 start. Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.0 M
Not a Tribe icon
Not a Tribe
Play as a Tribal Ruler and Reform to Feudalism
Yes Selected the Decision icon adopt feudalism.png Adopt Feudalism Decision See Adopting Feudalism. Start as the chief of Ångermanland in Northern Sweden in the "Late Middle Ages" bookmark, borrow from the Jews (requires Sons of Abraham DLC), start building the last level of the hillfort, and reform. You can do all of this without unpausing. 2.2 M
Pagan Fury icon
Pagan Fury
As a ruler with any Pagan religion, win a Christian Crusade targeting you.
Yes is any Pagan Pagan Religion

Yes Win a crusade as the defender

GermanicTengriRomuvaSuomenuskoAztecSlavicAfricanZunistBönHellenicPagan Northern Crusade doesn't count.

Start as Hülegü of the Ilkhanate in 1260. Immediately usurp the Kingdom of Armenia and declare war on Egypt by pressing the Emir of Edessa's claim. Use your 90k event troops to win the war before the crusade for Egypt starts. Upon victory, you should become the target of the crusade if it's still in preparation phase. Your levies + Chinese regiment + event troops + tributary allies should allow you to win without too much problem. Don't underestimate the amount of troops the crusaders can send though. In some circumstances it is possible to get this achievement by converting to the crusaders' religion once the crusade has started.

3.0 M
Res Publica icon
Res Publica
Play as a Tribal Ruler and Reform to Merchant Republic
Yes Selected the Decision icon adopt republicanism.png Adopt Republicanism Decision See Founding a Merchant Republic. Start as the High Chief of Mann (coastal and ducal) and upgrade your Market Village to the max. Dlc icon the republic.png 2.2 M
Run With the Wolf icon
Run With the Wolf
Play as a character with Wolf's Blood.
No does not have character modifier Wolf Blood or Wolf Child Yes have character modifier Wolf Blood or Wolf Child from Wolf events The supernatural events game rule must be set to on or unrestricted. Have a culture from the Altaic group other than Khitan, and wait for wolf-related events to occur. Eldest children of players have a 5% chance of being born with Wolf's Blood (you find out within a year), and a further chance of gaining it between ages 5 and 10. Childless rulers not of Jain religion have a passive chance of adopting one. So you have to keep your heirs childless until they inherit. When you have one, just make sure the wolf-like child inherits. Wait until you can adopt a wolf child via event. Do not marry and wait for your adopted son to inherit. Horse Lords.png 2.4 M
Russkaya Pravda icon
Russkaya Pravda
As a Russian, hold the Empire of Russia.
Yes Has the culture of Russian

Yes owns the Empire.png Empire of E russia.png Rus

  • Disabling Horse Lords is highly recommended. Otherwise you are likely to face powerful nomadic tribes, and any territories you conquer from them will receive the "nomad agitation" negative modifier which will cause the territory to revert back to the nomad ruler's control upon your ruler's succession unless a certain condition is met. For tribal rulers, the condition is having one holding in the territory with at least two upgraded buildings (which can be purchased with prestige if the holding is a tribe). For feudal rulers, the condition is having at least two holdings in the territory, which can become extremely expensive very quickly as nomads can destroy holdings in the process of construction during their frequent raids.
  • Start in the "Viking Age" bookmark as Rurik of Holmgarðr, expand and subjugate naturally and then when ready to form the Kingdom use the RoI 'convert to local culture' decision to become Russian.
  • Alternatively, start as a tribal Slavic pagan (Ilmenian, Volhynian, or Severian) in the "Charlemagne" or "Viking Age" bookmarks and choose the 'embrace Russian culture' personal decision (available by right-clicking your character's portrait). Rodislav Slovensky, High Chief of Ilmenia in 769, is ideally positioned for this.
  • Consider playing as a tribal Romuva pagan. Eldership is an extremely powerful form of succession (especially for tribals) that allows you to keep your demesne intact upon succession and prevents game over from occurring as long as a single member of your dynasty is alive. Futhermore, Romuva is one of the easiest pagan religions to reform as the holy sites are relatively close to Romuva starting positions and the Romuva tribes begin surrounded by religious enemies which allows for easy expansion and religious MA bonuses through the pagan county conquest CB. Also, the third rank of the Romuva warrior society allows you to instantly upgrade the hillfort and watchtowers of a demesne territory at the cost of 150 renown for each level of upgrade. Finally, as a Baltic culture ruler, any East Slavic territories that you (or another ruler eligible for Russian culture flipping: see Culture#Melting_pots for a full list of requirements) personally control will flip to Russian culture on their own automatically.

Completing this achievement also sets you up for the "Lech, Czech, and Rus" achievement. The Empire of Rus consists of 5/7 of the required kingdoms to form the Slavic Union. (Chernigov, Galicia-Volhynia, Kievan Rus, Novgorod, and Vladimir - you only need to form or conquer Poland and Bohemia)

Note that while the game's title names have changed, the achievement text has not. Because of this the player is required to hold the empire of Rus, while the achievement text incorrectly says the empire of Russia.

2.0 M
Scarrrrrred for Life icon
Scarrrrrred for Life
Become One-Eyed, One-Legged and One-Handed.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes have the traits: As a Tengri, Slavic, Suomenusko, African, or Romuvan character, use the ancestor worship intrigue decision and choose to sacrifice a part of your body. The sacrifice will be a hand, a leg, or an eye. After performing this action three times, you will gain the achievement. As performing the sacrifice also gives Severely Injured , it is beneficial to do this with a young, healthy ruler (such as the High Chief of Prussia in 1066) and select the Hunting focus for the health boosts, which includes the base +1 and the +1 from the hunting dog. It's not required to get all 3 traits on your current character: the achievement can also be unlocked by having your character switched to one that already has all 3 traits. Also, consider performing the sacrifice if you somehow manage to get Severely Injured along with one of the three required traits, as Severely Injured does not stack. DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 M
The Frisian Coast is Long icon
The Frisian Coast is Long
Be King of Frisia and hold the Atlantic coast from Léon in Brittany to Jylland
Yes owns the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K frisia.png Frisia

Yes Completely control all coastal counties from Léon to Skagen, namely:

  • Léon
  • Tregor
  • Penthievre
  • Rennes
  • Avranches
  • Caen
  • Evreux
  • Arques
  • Eu
  • Ponthieu
  • Boulogne
  • Guines
  • Yperen
  • Brugge
  • Gent
  • Zeeland
  • Breda
  • Holland
  • Westfriesland
  • Sticht
  • Gelre
  • Overijssel
  • Friesland
  • Ostfriesland
  • Bremen
  • Dithmarschen
  • Slesvig
  • Varde
  • Skagen
"Completely" means that all holdings must be part of your realm. If the achievement is not completed, zoom in on the map and check for small coats of arms - these show individual holdings that are in liege to another realm or independent, e. g. holy orders.
You do not need to have Frisian culture to get this achievement, thus it is possible in any start date.


Probably the easiest as Charlemagne, who already starts with all counties necessary save Penthièvre, French Léon (both of which will swear fealty to you if you create the Empire of Francia), Oldenburg, Bremen, Holstein (all three of which will be conquered in the invasion of Saxony, railroaded for Charles), Slesvig, Varde, and Skagen (which are obtainable in two holy wars).

2.2 M
The Good Old Days icon
The Good Old Days
Have the kingdom of Frisia as your primary title and have the duchies of Flanders and Brabant be dejure part of it.
YesPrimary Title is the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K frisia.png Frisia

Yes the Duchy.png Duchies of Flanders and Brabant is De Jure part of the Kingdom of K frisia.png Frisia

Set the "De Jure Assimilation Duration" game rule to "Short". Play Hæsteinn of Retz in 867. Form the duchy of Upper Brittany then prepare invasion on Lotharingia and take Frisia and form its duchies and then its kingdom title. Take all of Flanders and Brabant with county conquest and usurp the duchy titles. Note that you must completely control every county in a duchy for it to begin de jure drifting into your kingdom. If you wish to remain non-Catholic, keep some Catholics of the opposite sex in prison: you may be the target of a crusade as soon as the year 900. If this happens, take a Catholic concubine/consort and convert to their religion once the crusade begins. The crusade will be cancelled and another will not occur for 30 years. 2.7 M
The One Who Brings Benefit icon
The One Who Brings Benefit
As a Zoroastrian, become the prophesied Saoshyant
Yes Selected the Decision icon become saoshyant.png Become Saoshyant Decision Zoroastrian Zoroastrian strategy

Fairly straightforward as the Abbasids in 769. You must completely control the region of Persia, not just the de jure Persian Empire. You start with all Zoroastrian holy sites within your realm - raise crown authority and revoke one of them to convert there. Stockpile 1500 piety before converting so you can take the "Become Saoshyant" decision immediately, as all your titles will become gavelkind upon conversion, making an untimely death likely to split your empire in two.

Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.0 M
Under the Power of the Eternal Heaven icon
Under the Power of the Eternal Heaven
As a member of the Ashina clan, solidify your divinity by ruling as Religious Head of the Reformed Tengri religion.
Yes Is playing the Icon family.png dynasty of Ashina Yes Reformed the Tengri.png Tengri Religion

Yes owns the D tengri pagan reformed.png The Sky-Temple

Reformed Tengri The Ashina clan is landed in DLC icon Charlemagne.png769 as Khagan Bagatur of Khazaria, and in Dlc icon the old gods.png867 as High Chief Zachariah of Crimea; note that Zachariah is Jewish. During the Tengri reformation, you must choose the Temporal leadership style. Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
United the Kingdoms icon
United the Kingdoms
Hold the kingdoms of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
Yes Owns the Kingdom.png Kingdoms:

Edward III Plantagenet ("Late Middle Ages" bookmark) is the King of England, Wales, and possesses enough land to create the kingdom of Ireland almost right away.

To claim Ireland, you have a de jure claim on Tyrone which gives you enough counties to form the Kingdom of Ireland.

Once all of Ireland is conquered, press the de jure claim on Cumberland. You now have enough counties to form the Empire of Britannia and can usurp Scotland via a series of de jure duchy wars.

Note that Wales initially has Gavelkind succession. Destroying and recreating the title will give it the same crown laws as your primary title.

2.0 M
Viking Raider icon
Viking Raider
As a Viking, return home with 1,000 worth of loot
Yes Is North Germanic Culture Group

Yes Is Germanic Germanic or Reformed Germanic Reformed Germanic Yes Have 1000 Loot.png loot

GermanicReformed Germanic

You must have Norse (Germanic) religion and North Germanic culture group, but you do not need the Viking trait. The loot must be returned all at once, so you'll need a fleet of at least 100 ships. Open the economy map view, identify green zones, send your raiders there.

Easiest start is probably Björn Ironside, in Sweden (Sviþjod), in the 867 start because he already has a large fleet. As soon as you start, pick "Become King" as ambition. Start subjugating as many provinces as possible. You can easily go to war first with 2-3 of the chiefs that only have 1 county. Then, you should have enough troops to try and quickly grab Vestergautland and/or Smaland, before Denmark/Sjaelland steal them from you. Then, turn your attention North and continue subjugating.

At some point, you should be able to "Offer Vassalisation" to the 1-county Norwegian chiefs (typically Herjadal, Jamtaland, Nidaros). Most importantly, try to offer vassalisation to Nidaros. If you are victorious enough, you can snowball "Offer Vassalisation" to all Norwegian chiefs on the coast, provided you share a border with them.

Quickly enough, you should have a large realm. Make sure to have only one son, and/or form Sweden, in order not to have the Gavelkind succession break up the realm.

Build shipbuilders with prestige, assemble an army and/or retinues, and as soon as you have 100 ships + ~6k troops, go raiding. Pick Constantinople, Krete, Malta, Venice, as they typically have a high wealth to fort level ratio.

Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.0 M
Zero to Hero icon
Zero to Hero
Found a Legendary Bloodline while part of a Warrior Lodge.
Yes Found a Legendary Bloodlines button.png Bloodline via the HF Warrior Lodge legends events or by dying Works best for a young character with high personal combat score. Join a warrior lodge and go through the ranks until you become a hero and then start a legend. Complete the legend and form a new bloodline. You will very likely be injured several times during the legend quest which consists of increasingly difficult duels, so consider choosing the Duelist Military Aspect (you can switch while already on the quest and change back afterwards as it will not influence the bloodline you get). The Bon warrior lodge, The Sentinels of Light, has a special ability that allows you to heal injuries instantly at the cost of renown. Holy Fury.png 3.0 M
And Stay Out! icon
And Stay Out!
Throw the Aztec invaders back into the sea
Yes Event Second Landing of the Aztecs has fired Yes Character who owns the Empire.png Aztec Empire:
  • has no regiments
  • is not landed
Triggered when Aztecs lose all territory and all event armies. Make sure all Aztec armies are destroyed before imposing victory that removes their last territory. The Aztec Empire must have a title holder in order to be triggered. If the Aztec Emperor loses the title (via Muslim Holy War or being shattered by a Chinese invasion for example) the achievement will not fire. Does not actually need player involvement.

Important note: The Aztecs will use the tribal invasion CB and randomly land in one of the following counties: Vestisland, Connacht, Innse Gall, Cornwall, Cornouaille, Bordeaux, Coruna, Silves, Tangier, or Anti-Atlus. If the player holds almost all western lands (e.g. as the Roman Empire or any other big empire) and follows any pagan religion (reformed or unreformed), the Aztecs will not attack due to the tribal invasion CB. The Aztecs will still arrive with their units and the player will still get the events such as the disease event, but they will not declare war. Make sure to follow (openly) any non-pagan religion and they will (hopefully) declare war upon landing.

If the Aztecs still land without attacking, convert to any pagan religion (as Aztecs will refuse any diplomatic requests from non-pagans), invite the heir to the Aztec Empire to your court, and land him. When the current Aztec emperor dies, the Empire will become landed. You may convert back to your original religion once the heir is in your court, but you will need to convert back to paganism if the heir dies before the emperor does. Note that this will only work if the heir is a son of the current ruler.

Dlc icon sunset invasion.png 2.0 H
Black Pope icon
Black Pope
Have a priest you corrupted (as a Satanist) become Pope.
YesA priest:
  • Has Character Flag corrupted_by_player
Yes the character owns K papal state.png the Papacy You must corrupt the target first, then he must become Pope, by any means. It's possible to corrupt a bishop, make him an antipope, and then press the antipope's claim. Dlc icon sons of abraham.png DLC icon Monks and Mystics.png 2.7 H
By Jupiter! icon
By Jupiter!
Reform the Hellenic faith.
Yes Reformed the Hellenic Religion Reformed Hellenic Easiest as the Byzantine Empire in 867 or 769 start dates. Fabricate claims on both Rome and Alexandria (You have the other three holy sites already). Once you control all five holy sites you just need to convert to Hellenism and press reform providing you have 750 piety. There are two easy ways to convert to Hellenism. There is one province in Greece that is still Hellenistic, simply change capital and convert via the decisions tab. Or you can set your focus to scholarship and a "Delve into the Classics" decision becomes available, which leads to conversion. Holy Fury.png 3.0 H
Empressive icon
Empressive
Play as three consecutive generations of empresses
No Game Rule for Gender Equality must not be set to all Yes Is Female

Yes owns an Empire.png Empire
Yes Their Mother owns an Empire.png Empire
Yes Their Grandmother owns an Empire.png Empire

You, your mother, and your maternal grandmother must all be empresses (alive or dead). It is okay if you play other characters in between, or even if one of the ancestors was a member of another dynasty ruling a different empire. The game rule for Gender Equality must not be set to "All".

Use absolute cognatic elective succession and ensure your daughter is your heir. As a Muslim realm, you'll be able to give land to daughters after getting absolute cognatic succession. Easy to achieve as Byzantines, since Roma Imperial government considers all offsprings of the Emperor to be valid candidates without taking gender into account.
Can also be done as a reformed pagan using the Enatic Clans doctrine, allowing only women to rule. Eldership succession also only requires Agnatic-Cognatic gender laws to choose female candidates, which is included with the Ancestor Veneration doctrine. Africa sounds ideal as it is kind of safe from Crusades or Jihads in a remote area. In 867 the bloodline Blood of Bayajidda and Magajiva enables holders to enact enatic-cognatic succession without any religious or cultural restrictions.

2.0 H
Eternity Denied icon
Eternity Denied
Kill a character with the Immortal trait.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes An Immortal.png Immortal character is Plot kill character.png murdered or Execute imprisoned.png executed by player

Must become immortal first. See the "There Can Only Be One" achievement.

Then there are five different ways. You can imprison vassals until they revolt, and surrender, thus abdicating to your heir. Plot to kill your immortal predecessor. The second way is to kill the mystic by whom you achieved immortality (the mystic will also gain the immortal trait if you are successful in the immortality event chain). Thirdly, one can develop the lunatic trait (easy through scholarship focus and following the Necronomicon event chain when building an observatory). When a lunatic you have the chance of obtaining Glitterhoof, and then an event appear where you have the option of sharing your blood with your horse. This makes Glitterhoof immortal, whom you can then imprison and execute without lessening public opinion. The fourth, most unlikely option is to wait for the immortal rival event chain to randomly occur, then kill your rival. The fifth option is to turn supernatural events to unrestricted in the game rules (allowing AI's to receive the immortality event chain), this will be highly unlikely to result in a successful immortality, but is worth turning on just on the off chance.

DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 H
Got Land icon
Got Land
Start as the holder of Gotland and form the empire of Scandinavia.
Yes Own the County.png County of Gotland YesCreated the Empire.png Empire of E scandinavia.png Scandinavia From 1097-1161 and from 1285-1337 the holder of Gotland is also the king of Sweden. In 1337, he is also king of Norway, needing only 7 more counties to create the empire, and having CBs on 4 right away. Does not need to keep the county of Gotland to obtain this achievement. 2.7 H
Great Hunter icon
Great Hunter
Kill your prey in the Epic Hunt
Yes Trigger the Hunting focus.png Actually finds and kills animal event Requires Hunting focus . Investigate the rumors of the legendary animal, and set out on the hunt (NOT the Grand Hunt event found on the Intrigue menu). Has about a 1% (1/91) chance of succeeding. DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 H
Heathenous Ways icon
Heathenous Ways
Starting as Erik the Heathen in 1066, rule the Kingdom of Sweden with the reformed Germanic Faith.
Yes is playing Erik the Heathen af Munsö of Uppland Yes Has reformed the Germanic Religion

Yes owns the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K sweden.png Sweden

Germanic Start in the High Middle Ages bookmark - you are unlikely to win the civil war in William the Conqueror. If you start as a commander, resign - the tiny gold & prestige bonus of the title isn't worth getting killed or imprisoned over. Furthermore, dying at this point is practically game over because your only heir is a female in a regular non-matrilineal marriage. Stockpile at least 750 prestige for the prepared invasion you'll be declaring later. Conquer the two independent tribes (Jemtland and Angermanland) to your north if possible but this isn't necessary. Don't expect to hold on to Jemtland as it's de jure part of the very powerful Norway. Take intrigue focus and invite low intrigue foriegners of a different religion to your court and spy on them until you gain the Master Schemer trait, which massively increases the chance of spying giving the option of kidnapping. Spy on your liege and have him kidnapped. Break the non-aggression pact you have with him. This will result in a 2 year truce with your liege during which you can't take the next step of forming a faction. It's possible to break the pact before imprisoning him, but this is likely to get you killed: your liege hates you because you're an infidel and title claimant, and the general opinion hit caused by breaking the pact applies to all your vassals and courtiers, giving him plenty of co-conspirators. Once the truce expires, form a faction to install yourself as king and demand installation of claimant through the intrigue menu. You will win the war instantly and become king. Raiding will now be enabled, so take advantage of it. Target non-Germanic temples whenever possible, as each one raided adds +1% to MA for 20 years. When you have enough prestige, start a prepared invasion on Denmark (if you've been raiding them, make sure they aren't hostile to you first or the invasion will be cancelled and you won't get a refund on the prestige spent) and use your event troops to raid (again, don't raid Denmark) in the meantime before conquering them. Raid Ireland and save up gold for mercenaries until you're strong enough to take the county of Nidaros from Norway. If Norway is no longer a threat then use the money to build temples instead, starting in counties with no holdings to save money. Each new temple adds +1% to MA for 20 years. Note that the only requirement for this achievement is to start as Erik the Heathen, it's not necessary to complete the achievement within his lifetime or to remain Germanic. 3.0 H
Holy and Roman icon
Holy and Roman
Found the Holy Roman Empire in a game starting in 769
Time.png Start date is 769.1.1 Early Middle Ages (769) Yes Selected the Decision icon form the hre.png Form the Holy Roman Empire Decision CatholicFraticelli As Karl, wait for an event to marry a Lombard princess. When the events occur, divorce her, and send your mother to Carloman. When Carloman dies, you will gain a strong claim on the realm where the princess will flee towards a short time after the divorce. This realm will likely be Lombardy, but not always. (If all this hasn't happened by 772, the events have probably been derailed by someone's death.) The war for Lombardy ought to be easy. After doing this, you should have fulfilled all prerequisites, save perhaps the +25 opinion of the Pope. (If necessary, just grant him some land.) The Empire must be formed via the decision. DLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.2 H
Holy Smoke icon
Holy Smoke
Sacrifice another religion's head as a Norse or Aztec pagan
Yes As a Germanic Germanic:

Yes As an Aztec Aztec or a reformed pagan with a Bloodthirsty Gods doctrine:

GermanicAztecTengriRomuvaSuomenuskoSlavicAfricanZunistBönHellenicPagan Starting as the Byzantine Emperor in 867, educate your heir with a Varangian Germanic pagan (but not in your court). Arrest the Ecumenical Patriarch and sacrifice him after succession. Alternatively, as a Germanic duke or count, use the coastal conquest CB to conquer a county adjacent to the Papacy, then swear fealty to the Pope and use Intrigue focus Intrigue focus.png to imprison him.

Another option (requires Holy Fury DLC) is to start as a horde, reform Tengri with Bloodthirsty Gods doctrine and subjugate Byzantium, which will vassalise the Orthodox Patriarch. You can then proceed to imprison and sacrifice him. Another (somewhat unreliable) option is to join the Fellowship of Hel and start an abduction scheme on the Pope's heir. While you cannot attempt to abduct the Pope directly, the scheme will stay in effect once the heir becomes pope. Remember to deny the attempts until the preferatus becomes Pope.

Dlc icon the old gods.png Dlc icon sunset invasion.png 2.0 H
I Got Better icon
I Got Better
Recover from the Black Death.
Yes have the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled

Yes Have the Bubonic plague.png Plague

Yes Recovered from the Bubonic plague.png Plague with waiting or with the Court Physician Set the "major epidemics" game rule to "Historical" and begin in the Late Middle Ages bookmark to get the plague as soon as possible. Trivial as someone who has the Immortal trait: Immortal characters still get diseases, but they can't die from them - just beware your Court Physician, because he doesn't know this.

Can also be achieved via risky treatment, costing your character a limb or earning them a lunatic trait. Note, that getting cured by any source other than physician or disease timer running out does not give the achievement.

DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 H
Legacy of Rome icon
Legacy of Rome
Restore the Roman Empire
Yes Selected the Decision icon restore roman empire.png Restore Roman Empire Decision Catholic Cathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, Waldensian Orthodox Bogomilist, Iconolast, Monothelite, Paulician Nestorian Messalian Miaphysite Monophysite HellenicReformed Hellenic Legacy of Rome walkthrough. The conquests can be done as a nomad, but the nomad must settle down and become feudal in order to get the achievement. Dlc icon legacy of rome.png 2.0 H
Little Brother Rules! icon
Little Brother Rules!
Become Emperor of Francia as Carloman, brother of Charlemagne
Yes Is playing Carloman of Middle Francia Yes Is playing Carloman of Middle Francia

Yes owns the Empire.png Empire of E france.png Francia

As Carloman, with enough vassal support and mercenaries, you can take your brother's lands in a single war, giving you enough land to found Francia. Alternatively, you can take the war focus and immediately duel your brother, who is railroaded into becoming your rival. However, note that Karl's personal combat skill may be better than yours. DLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.2 H
Looking East and West icon
Looking East and West
Be Emperor of both Persia and Rajastan
Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled

Yes owns the Empire.png E persia.png Persian Empire
Yes owns either the Empire.png Empire of E rajastan.png Rajasthan or E rajastan.png India

  • Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur in 769 can diplomatically vassalize the Bajanid and Taid Emirates, subjugate the Taghlibid Sultanate, and jihad or holy war the remaining Indian realms that make up the Empire of Rajasthan.
  • The Seljuks in 1066 have 15,000 men. Stockpile money for mercenaries and use the Invasion CB into Rajastan.
  • The Mongol Empire in the "Age of the Mongols" bookmark begins with 50,000 attrition-free event troops and several powerful CBs.

Getting the achievement is still possible after becoming Samrat Chakravartin: the objective is now holding both the Persian Empire and the Empire of India.

Rajas of India.png 2.1 H
Medieval Schlieffen icon
Medieval Schlieffen
Be simultaneously at war with the Aztecs and the Mongols
No is not Mongol

Yes is at war against someone with Mongol culture
Yes is at war against someone with Nahuatl culture

You must be the primary aggressor or primary defender in both wars, not an ally. You cannot yourself be Mongol culture. One war must be against anyone of Nahua culture, and the other war must be against anyone of Mongol culture. Dlc icon sunset invasion.png 2.2 H
My Very Own Subcontinent icon
My Very Own Subcontinent
Become Samrat Chakravartin
Yes Selected the Decision icon become samrat chakravartin.png Become Samrat Chakravartin Decision Hindu Buddhist Jain Completely control the region of India. Select the decision "Become Samrat Chakravartin". Requires Indian religion, feudal government, and a primary title inside India. The conquests can be done as a nomad, but the nomad must settle down and become feudal in order to get the achievement. Tughluq in 1337 controls most of India. Turn off Jade Dragon so you don't have to fight China. Rajas of India.png 2.1 H
Nobody's Business but the Turks icon
Nobody's Business but the Turks
Conquer Constantinople as a Turkic steppe horde.
Yes is Turkish

Yes Has Government type Nomadic government.png Nomadic
Yes Owns the County.png Provinces of Constantinople

Must control the county of Constantinople while having Turkish culture and Nomadic government. The Yabguids in 769 or 867 is a reasonable start. Horse Lords.png 2.4 H
One Arrow Alone can be Easily Broken but Many Arrows are Indestructible icon
One Arrow Alone can be Easily Broken but Many Arrows are Indestructible
As a steppe horde, have a population of 150 000.
Yes Has Government type Nomadic government.png Nomadic

Yes Have a Population.png Population of 150,000

Population and Manpower Guide for Newly Nomadic Players Horse Lords.png 2.4 H
Pentarch icon
Pentarch
As an Orthodox Christian, hold Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem
Yes is Orthodox Orthodox

Yes Owns the County.png Provinces of:

  • Rome
  • Constantinople
  • Alexandria
  • Antioch
  • Jerusalem
Orthodox Does not require starting as Orthodox. Easiest as Abbasids in 769 or Mongols in "Age of the Mongols" bookmark. 2.0 H
Prodigious Five icon
Prodigious Five
Have at least one child with each of the five level four education traits.
Yes have the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled Yes Has 5 children with one of each education traits:

Children sent to China don't count towards the total.

Use Seduction focus to have lots of children, or start with Svend II of Denmark in 1066. Select different childhood focus for each child and then education focus according to child's childhood traits. It is preferable to choose an unmarried young ruler with fertility bonus, for example, Kamarupa 1066. Once married, groom a heir ambition increases fertility. Bastards do count for this achievement. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 H
Protector of the Holy Places icon
Protector of the Holy Places
Have Rome, Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina within your Realm
Yes Owns the County.png Provinces of:
  • Rome
  • Jerusalem
  • Mecca
  • Medina
Abbasids in 867 have claims on Mecca or may be able to vassalize its holder. Subjugate Tunisia to get in range to declare war for Rome. Alternatively, start as the HRE in 1066, create the Kingdom of Italy to have a de jure claim on Rome, earn Jerusalem in the First Crusade, then win a Holy War for Medina. This is also easily achievable when restoring the Roman Empire. The Abbasid Empire from the 769 start date controls Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem so fabricating a claim and going to war over Rome can get you this achievement as well. 2.0 H
Saxons Everywhere, Unite! icon
Saxons Everywhere, Unite!
As an Anglo-Saxon or Saxon ruler, be king of both Saxony and England
Yes is Anglo-Saxon or Saxon Yes owns the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K england.png England and K saxony.png Saxony Requires starting the game as Anglo-Saxon or Saxon, but does not require remaining such. Since the Kingdom of Saxony only exists in 769 and the Catholics surrounding Saxony are very strong, it may be easier to start this as an Anglo-Saxon and create the Kingdom of England and then work into Saxony. Note that creation of the Kingdom of Saxony title requires Saxon culture (not Anglo-Saxon). It is a good idea to turn off the Charlemagne events in the game rules so the Karl (or Carloman if Karl is dead) doesn't get a strong claim on Saxony. Alternatively, as Saxony, subjugate Denmark and convert to Norse culture for the ships. Once the Germanic coastal CB becomes available, conquering England is easy. DLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.2 H
There Can Be Only One icon
There Can Be Only One
Become immortal.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes gain theImmortal.png Immortal trait via the immortality events

The eternal life event chain has a MTTH of 250 years, but this is lowered by old age, disease, or poor health to a minimum of 50 years. The supernatural events game rule must be left on.

See the excellent guide by Elvaril on the Steam Forums.

Don't forget to imprison and execute your mystic guide in order to get the "Eternity Denied" achievement as well.

DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 H
The Outside Bet icon
The Outside Bet
Starting in the "High Middle Ages" bookmark as Svend II of Denmark, become the King of England
Time.png Start date is 1066.9.15 High Middle Ages (1066)

Yes Is playing King Svend II of Denmark

YesSvend II owns the
Kingdom.png Kingdom of K england.png England
Marry off your children to form alliances which you can then call into war. Kievan Rus will accept a pact & alliance outright. Croatia, Poland, Hungary, and Navarra will accept an alliance after marriage. The Byzantine Empire will require a bribe in addition to a marriage. France will not accept an alliance while under regency, but will accept a betrothal to the king. The king will accept a marriage and an alliance when he comes of age. 2.0 H
A Servant No More icon
A Servant No More
As Mu’nis al-Muzaffar of Galilee in 867, become an Emperor and have at least 100 realm size.
Yes Is playing Emir Mu’nis of Galilee Yes Is playing Emir Mu’nis of Galilee

Yes is independent
Yes Primary title is an Empire.png Empire
YesRealm size.png Realm Size is 100

Mu'nis is a eunuch. Even if you remove the eunuch trait, this achievement must be earned within Mu'Nis's lifetime.
  • Your ultimate goal is to become the Emperor of the Arabian (Abbasid) Empire by obtaining a king level title, fabricating a claim on your liege's title, imprisoning your liege, pressing your claim, and instantly winning the 'war'. Begin by picking theology focus for more piety. Expand to the south, capturing enough territory to form the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Be sure to capture Jerusalem itself so you can easily switch between Islam and Christianity: you will need to do so in order to form the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and you will want to immediately switch back to Sunni after forming the kingdom since there's no reason to remain Christian. If capturing Jerusalem is not an option, your inital capital of Sur and the neighboring county of Acre begin as Monothelite and Orthodox, respectively. Furthermore, if Conclave is enabled the "Acquire Title" ambition will likely see the Caliph grant you one of his demense counties, all of which besides Baghdad are Nestorian. With a king-level title, you can now fabricate a plot on your liege's emperor-level title. If the plot fails, simply re-invite the plotters and try again. Once the plot succeeds and you're given a strong claim on the empire, you can now start a faction to install yourself as Emperor. During this time, you should be spying on the Caliph. Attempt to have him abducted whenever possible. Once the Caliph is imprisoned, demand to be installed as Emperor. The Caliph will likely refuse, but you will win the 'war' instantly due to having them imprisoned. Finally, you're a servant no more. If you wish to continue the game, repeated use of the Satanist "Dark Healing" power can remove the eunuch trait.
  • With a minimum intrigue of 16 (base + education + Intrigue focus ), Mu'nis has a decent chance at successfully completing the immortality quest through the intrigue option. Be warned: failure at the third stage leads to instant death!
  • Alternatively, attempt to form the Empire of Abyssinia. A quick strategy is to expand into East Africa since it is fragmented. Try to first fabricate a claim on Trinkitat (in Blemmyia). Pick Theology focus for more Piety. Seek opportunity to invade Egypt when you have enough gold (preferably more than 2500) for hiring mercenaries. Finally, become independent and create the title.
Dlc icon sword of islam.pngDlc icon the old gods.png 2.8 VH
Go West Young Mongol icon
Go West Young Mongol
As a steppe horde, have an independent tributary King or Emperor in the British Isles
Yes Has Government type Nomadic government.png Nomadic

Yes Any Independent ruler:

Vassalize holdings on the Baltic or the Black Sea to gain ships. The Nomadic Invasion CB has a very long range, use it to gain a foothold in Great Britain and/or Ireland. The tributary ruler's primary title must be in the Britannia region. Your government must be nomadic, but it is not necessary to be based in the Steppes or have Mongol culture. Horse Lords.png 2.4 VH
Norse-East icon
Norse-East
As a Norse character, become King of Mongolia.
Yes is Norse

YesOwns the Kingdom.png Kingdom of K mongolia.png Mongolia

Norse culture is required, but Germanic religion is not. Does not require starting as Norse. If going from west to east, it is easier with Horse Lords disabled, as the steppes is then entirely tribal. Convert to Islam (or reform the Germanic faith) to get access to Holy Wars. The 867 Sudreyjar realm starts in Western Europe, and can combine this achievement with "Never Start a Land War in Asia". Disable Jade Dragon so you don't have to fight China or Chinese tributaries.

Can also start as Genghis Khan in the 1220 start, simply enable supernatural and absurd events to 'unrestricted', and wait for the Norse Mystic to appear. They can appear in anyone's court, including fellow pagans. Get her to your court to raise your future heirs by setting the heritage focus, and plan on settling as tribal. Can be coupled with other Mongol-related achievements.

2.4 VH
Peace in Our Time icon
Peace in Our Time
Enforce peace for 6 or more vassals.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled Yes Enforced Realm Peace for 6 vassals. Requires actually ending at least 6 ongoing vassal wars all at the same time. You cannot end 3 wars with an initial enforce realm peace, and do another 3 10 years later. They can be revolts, faction or otherwise, as long as the two primary participants are both your direct vassals (whether temporarily because of the war, or not). Encourage vassal wars by transferring non-de jure counts, granting other duchies to counts under their de-jure duke, landing people with claims, pressing claims, etc. Make sure to enforce the peace using the Enforce Realm Peace button and not enforcing peace on six vassals individually. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VH
Sakya Trizin icon
Sakya Trizin
Starting as the Count of Sakya in 1066, rule as an independent Buddhist King or Emperor and control all Buddhist Holy Sites.
Yes Is playing Count Khon Sherab Tsultrim of Sakya Yes Primary title is a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire

Yes is independent
Yes is Buddhist.png
Yes controls the County.png Counties of:

  • Bamian
  • Varanasi
  • Gaya
  • Devagiri
  • Lumbini
Buddhist The character you will be initally playing has randomized stats, so restart until you get a character with high martial. Swear fealty to U-Tsang, who will now have enough counties to form the duchy you're in. If you aren't granted the duchy, plot for it, spy on and imprison your liege (can only be done on adults - you will need kill any children who are granted the title until the duchy is granted to an adult), then declare war for it or create a faction to install yourself and press demand. Do the same thing for the king title if possible. Meanwhile, use border dispute CB to eat up the kingdom from inside - it works on targets that you both border and share a direct liege with (i.e. the other counts that belong to your duke, or the other dukes if your immediate liege is the king.) Also check if the kingdom of Guge has been weakened over time, as you can gain independency with the subjugation CB.


Once you start expanding into foreign territory, be prepared to fight eastern holy orders which will be roughly 5k in size at the default MA of 50%. After eventually becoming independent, you will either want to convert to Islam for the county conquest CB. Shia is the most ideal choice as it has the highest moral authority due to owning most of the holy sites. Alternatively, use the subjugation CB to take over the Guge and Xia kingdoms to form the Tibet Empire, then switch your culture from one of your de jure claims, such as the kingdom of Nepal, by moving capital (you can immediately switch it back after). This will let you use subjugation on kingdoms in India. Keep any trade post counties you get a hold off.


Turn off major invasions of China. Be prepared for the Mongol Invasion as well. If you get targeted and overwhelmed, try to surrender a.s.a.p. to lose maybe only a few counties.

Rajas of India.png 2.8 VH
Shadow Prince icon
Shadow Prince
Sit on the council and have every other council member as well as the ruler owing you a favor.
Yes has the DLC icon Conclave.png Conclave DLC enabled No is not independent

Yes is a Councillor
Yes Liege owes Favor.png favor to the player
Yes If Liege's primary title is:

Start as Sultan Yazid of the Muhallabid (Egypt) Sultanate in 769. As the only king level vassal of an empire, you are likely to be given a council position regardless of your stats. Spymaster is particularly deadly to low intrigue characters, and Marshal is the only position where you will never be attacked due to your job. Buying favors can be extremely expensive, so focus on stockpiling gold. Build and upgrade a trade post in Fustat (Cairo) and try to obtain the county of al-Iskandariyya (Alexandria) for its trade post. Look at the character finder for a good spymaster and send them to study technology in Constantinople, then upgrade Trade Practices. Join the Assassins, but decline all assassination missions as they can lead to your death. Donate money for influence through the intrigue menu instead. Once you reach society rank 2, you can spend society currency to intimidate a character for a favor. Doing so raises secret society suspection however, so always try buying a favor first. If a councilor or ruler will not be intimidated or let you buy a favor, have them killed. Note that the council must be empowered, the advisor slots filled, and you must be owed a favor from both advisors as well as from the traditional councillors before the achievement will unlock. DLC icon Conclave.png 2.5 VH
S.P.Q.R. icon
S.P.Q.R.
As the Roman Empire, reclaim the old imperial borders
Yes Completely control all Duchies of Historical Roman Empire Catholic Cathar, Fraticelli, Lollard, Waldensian Orthodox Bogomilist, Iconolast, Monothelite, Paulician Nestorian Messalian Miaphysite Monophysite HellenicReformed Hellenic SPQR walkthrough. You must have a Christian or Hellenic religion. The conquests can be done as a nomad, but the nomad must settle down and become feudal in order to get the achievement. The achievement only requires the Roman Borders event which may be triggered with owning either the Byzantine Empire or the Roman Empire. Dlc icon legacy of rome.png 2.0 VH
Steppe by Steppe icon
Steppe by Steppe
As a steppe horde, conquer the whole steppe region.
Yes Has Government type Nomadic government.png Nomadic

Yes Completely controls the Steppe Region

Have Nomadic government and control the Steppes region. To check the territory, you actually need to press the Find Title or Region button in the lower right corner, under the map and type Steppe region. If you think you should have gotten the achievement check again carefully every single barony/county for independent ones (Religious Orders etc.). Horse Lords.png 2.4 VH
Ten Thrones icon
Ten Thrones
Have your dynasty rule 10 independent Feudal/Iqta/Monastic Feudal Kingdoms or Empires with at least 25 realm size each. You must be one of them.
Yes Primary title is a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire

Yesis independent
YesRealm size.png Realm Size is 25
YesIs Feudal government.png Feudal
Yes 9 other Icon family.png Dynasty members:

Use the "Your Dynasty" page of the Ledger and sort by realm size.
  • Turning off Conclave is highly recommended: you're likely to make enemies of powerful vassals in the process of completing this achievement even without the added difficulty of Conclave.
  • Start as Abbasids in 769 or Tughluq in 1337. Reclaim kingdom titles from vassals by revoking their duchy titles, granting them back, and revoking them again until they revolt or by retracting vassals from them. Your other vassals won't mind as revoking duchy titles and retracting vassals is tyranny-free as an Iqta government, but revolting vassals may be joined by other unhappy vassals so make sure your other vassals are pleased before revoking or retracting. You can't grant independence to de jure vassals of your religion, so you'll likely need to convert first. Hold on to Baghdad as Abbasids or Varanasi as Tughluq so you can easily convert via the holy sites there. It's recommended to grant vassals additional territory before granting independence, as they're likely to lose some territory to neighbors or revolts once they no longer have your protection.
2.8 VH
The Black Bishop icon
The Black Bishop
Fund an immoral bishop and get him elected Pope
Yes A Theocracy government.png Theocratic vassal must have:
  • the trait Wicked Priest Wicked Priest
  • Has a liege that has the modifier = opinion_supported_pope from the character (liege spent money on the College of Cardinals window)
Yes the Theocracy government.png Theocratic vassal became Pope.png Pope via succession. CatholicFraticelli You must contribute to the election fund, and the bishop must remain your vassal until he is made Pope. See Papal succession#Strategies or follow Elvaril's walkthrough. Dlc icon sons of abraham.png 2.0 VH
The British Raj icon
The British Raj
Rule the Empire of Britannia as a Hindu, Buddhist or Jain character
Yes Is Hindu.png Hindu, Buddhist.png Buddhist, or Jain.png Jain


Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled Yes owns the Empire.png Empire of E britannia.png Britannia

Hindu Buddhist Jain Start as a Germanic character, use prepared invasion and county conquest CB to work your way to the Emperor of Britannia. Send troops to raid in India until you have captured a female Hindu, Buddhist or Jain prisoner. Take concubine and convert by decision when you're ready. Alternatively, play as a nomadic horde with HL and use missionaries or concubines to convert. Rajas of India.png 2.1 VH
The Caliphate Strikes Back icon
The Caliphate Strikes Back
Starting in the "High Middle Ages" bookmark as the Abbasid Caliph, become independent and hold an empire title
Time.png Start date is 15.9.1066 High Middle Ages (1066)

Yes Is playing Caliph Al-Qa'im

Yes is independent

Yes owns an Empire.png Empire

Your main goal here is to conquer Christian and pagan Africa. Start by converting to Turkish (right click your character's portrait and convert to your liege's culture) to raid your Shia neighbors. Use your raid and ransom revenue to build light skirmish retinues to pad your faction strength, increasing the chance of your inevitable independence faction demand being accepted peacefully. County conquest Aid Said to maintain supply lines, then subjugate Atef and Hashimid. Avoid the de jure kingdoms of Jerusalem and Egypt as the Crusades will start soon, and they'll be the first targets. County conquest Zabid to get access to Africa. You can now carve through Africa with county conquests, subjugation, and jihad when it becomes available. Fragmented Christian East Africa is particularly vulnerable to holy wars: have retinues raid holdings, declare war, then assault the now empty holdings before neighboring Christians can respond. If the Fatimids or Crusader Egypt expand into or claim tributaries in East Africa, pagan Cental and West Africa is also susceptible to this strategy. Keep Silk Road trade post counties for yourself and dump the rest on the heir of your choice: barons don't start or join factions so your heir is safe from internal strife as long as he remains a count. Dlc icon sword of islam.png 2.0 VH
Who Needs Vasco da Gama? icon
Who Needs Vasco da Gama?
Own all the silk route ports in India as a European merchant republic.
Yes has the Horse Lords.png Horse Lords DLC enabled

Yes Is a Patrician
Yes Capital is in Europe or Asia Minor

Yes Completely controls the County.png Provinces of:
  • Debul
  • Navasarika
  • Mahoyadapuram
  • Vijayawada
  • Goa
  • Cholamandalam
  • Kataka
  • Samatata
  • Candradvipa
Your capital must be in the Europe or Asia Minor regions. Before patch 2.8, there are five coastal Silk road provinces in India, visible on the trade routes map: Debul, Navasarika, Mahoyadapuram, Vijayawada, and Candradvipa. You don't need to have trade posts built on the provinces for the achievement to fire. The revamp in patch 2.8 adds more counties: Goa, Cholamandalam, Kataka, and Samatata. Candradvipa ceased to be a trade post county but is still required in the game's achievement code.

Play the Mongols in the "Age of the Mongols" bookmark. You can settle as a merchant republic in any coastal county in your demesne that has a city which you personally control. Georgia is fairly weak and has several coastal counties with cities - you may want to grab them first before someone else does. Remain Tengri so you can join the Tengri warrior lodge. As soon as it becomes available at society rank 2, use the "Call of the Steppes" intrigue decision as much as possible - you want to keep your population as high as possible and max population as low as possible in order to keep the invasion CB available. You shouldn't need horde troops, your starting event troops should be plenty. Before you settle, make sure that you - and not your clan vassals - personally control both the required counties and duchies/kingdoms/empires they're a part of (if they exist): you will lose all clan vassals and the land they own upon settling.

Dlc icon the republic.pngHorse Lords.pngJade Dragon.png 2.4 VH
Wise Guy icon
Wise Guy
Gain the Legendary Wisdom modifier
Yes Get the Legendary Wisdom modifier via the Rulership focus.png Rulership focus events. Requires the Administrator trait and 12 or higher stewardship. The event to receive the modifier is a yearly pulse with a weight of 100 (so disable all unnecessary DLCs to up your odds). Pick up the Administrator trait with success in Rulership focus . Once the Administrator trait has been acquired, the focus is no longer necessary and does not increase the chance of receiving the Legendary Wisdom random event.

There are two playable characters that begin with the Administrator trait:

  • Bey Keikavus of Daylam in 1066 (age 45), located in northwest Seljuk Persia.
  • Maharaja Parakramabahu of Lanka in 1153 (age 30), who usually starts with less than 12 stewardship, reachable by going backwards 34 years from "The Third Crusade" bookmark.
DLC icon Way of Life.png 2.3 VH
Aladdin icon
Aladdin
Starting and staying as a Han Chinese character, be an independent King or Emperor and rule all of North Africa (the Maghreb region).
Yes is Han Yesis Han

Yes Control all of North Africa

Owns the Kingdom.png Kingdoms:

  • K mauretania.png Maghreb
  • K africa.png Africa
  • K egypt.png Egypt



Yes Primary title is a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire
Yesis independent

Must completely control the North Africa region. Requires Han culture at start and at end, but not in between. All playable Han rulers are either Taoist or Buddhist, and RoI DLC unlocks both, so the JD DLC is not required.

Before starting the game, disable Horse Lords. The steppe is going to be one of your primary targets. Disable major Chinese invasions as well - there is no possible way you can beat them.

Start as the duke of Jiuquan in 867. Break free of being a Chinese tributary. Switch to Primogeniture. Invite an unmarried female Hindu to your court and take her as a concubine. Stockpile piety until you have 250 and can convert religions. Secretly and publicly convert. Begin raiding China if you wish, but be forewarned that eventually China will force you to become a tributary and drop an attrition-free stack the size of your total army (as shown on your character screen) directly on Jiuquan if you refuse. Eat up the Nestorian duchy of Qocho to your west and the Taoist duchy of Minyak to your south with holy wars - no one will help them. Take over the relatively weak steppe while you build up strength to fight the much stronger Muslims to your west and the Bon pagans to your south. Build up a light skirmish retinue and holy war your way to victory.

Alternatively, start as Lu Yang of Yopurga in 769, vassal of Kashgar. Immediately antagonize and set war focus to rush a duel, becoming Kashgar's rival is priority. Note if Ferghana's emir has martial education, he will holy war and subjugate you, complicating this strategy and may require a restart. Since your character is set to level 2 martial education with 10 base martial, being put on war focus should put you way above Kashgar's duel ability. Once you've killed Kashgar, either through dueling or assassination, declare war on Uchturpan for the county of Uchturpan, providing you with a castle town and stables. You can also invite Chinese warlords to your realm, since other characters also spawn with martial education and 10 base martial, almost always joining due to their county claims. After this war, prepare to invade neighbouring Ferghana in order to border Transoxania by converting to Buddhism and using a holy war. Note that Ferghana is a tributary of Transoxania, and that Karluks will raid, so wait for a perfect opportunity to invade. This should set you up closer to the Abbasid caliphate with the end goal of invading through Transoxania. Swearing fealty and converting will be best to prepare a takover of the Abbasids. Prepare to place your princess claimant by using favours to force powerful vassals to support your faction, and expanding inside the Abbasids themselves. You can kill your wife if you want your family to be secured on the Abbasid throne once she has a son.

Rajas of India.png 2.8 I
Khan of Khans icon
Khan of Khans
Conquer continental Western Europe as the Mongol Empire, starting in "Age of the Mongols" bookmark
Time.png Start date is 1220.2.1 Age of the Mongols (1220)

Yes Is playing Khagan Temüjin of the Mongol Empire

Yes owns the Empire.png Mongol Empire

Yes Completely Controls the Empire.png Empires of:

  • E russia.png Rus
  • E tartaria.png Tartaria
  • E wendish empire.png Wendish Empire
  • E carpathia.png Carpathia
  • E hre.png Holy Roman Empire
  • E italy.png Italia
  • E byzantium.png Byzantine Empire
  • E france.png Francia
  • E spain.png Hispania
Before starting the game, be sure to turn off siege events in the game rules to avoid losing your valuable and irreplaceable attrition-free event troops unnecessarily. Siege events don't scale to size and always kill a fixed percentage of troops, making them especially devastating to large stacks. Set the 'nomad succession' rule to 'stable' and disable the Northern Crusade as well.

Requires that all the counties and baronies within the empires of Rus, Tartaria, Wendish Empire, Carpathia, HRE, Italia, Byzantium, Francia, and Hispania be within your realm. If you believe you should get the achievement, but you haven't, check the ledger for the Independent States. If there are any realms there other than yours, check them to see if they picked up a random barony and you have a county claim casus belli on them.

The subjugation CB will vassalize the target(s), so don't use it on on landed holy orders such as the Livonian Order in Lithuania/Estonia - vassal holy orders of a different religion will immediately go independent by event and you are given no choice but to accept it.

As soon as you have the prestige to do so, revoke all non-nomadic vassal titles to save yourself from an otherwise inevitable future assassination. Continue to do this every time new territory is conquered. Only revoke one title at a time: when multiple vassals given a revokation order simultaneouslty, they will use the combined strength of all vassals currently facing a revokation order when deciding whether or not to rebel. While baron vassals cannot join factions, they can still have you assassinated.

This achievement is relatively easy, but still very time consuming, with Horse Lords DLC enabled. Take everything in the initial invasion war with Persia and raze it to the ground. Cut the other clans down to a single county each, conquer the whole of the steppe, and you'll have enough population to build a horde army several times bigger than your intial event troops.

Dlc icon the old gods.png 2.0 I
"Never start a Land War in Asia" icon
"Never start a Land War in Asia"
Start in Western Europe and completely conquer the region of Mongolia.
Yes Primary title is in the Western Europe region Yes Completely controls the Eastern Steppe region (Mongolia) Requires starting as a character with primary title in the Western Europe region, and completely controlling the Eastern Steppes region.

You need to build at least 2 levels of structures in a county's holdings to lock your hold on Nomad counties. Tribal works best, as they can field a large army even in the empty steppe. Easier with Horse Lords disabled, as the steppe is then entirely tribal.

Sudreyjar in 867 is a solid choice: tribal, access to the Coastal County conquest for a fast bridgehead in the Baltics, and part of the Great Heathen Army. Create Ship Builders in your holdings and use the downtime to become King of Scotland, as a Kingdom title will stave off the worst from Gavelkind. Should you lose your capital, make a beeline for the civilized areas near the Taklamakan Desert. Disable Jade Dragon so you don't have to fight China or Chinese tributaries.

2.4 I
Not So Bad icon
Not So Bad
Survive the End Times.
Yes has the DLC icon Reaper's Due.png The Reaper's Due DLC enabled Yes survived the end of days events. Set the 'major epidemics' game rule to 'historical' (the 'minor epidemics' game rule does not apply to the Black Death) and play as England in 1337 - you have primogeniture succession for your primary kingdom and a large enough army that invasion should not be a problem. You will likely lose the kingdom of Wales upon your first succession but they aren't large enough to be a serious threat to you.

The End of Days event chain can only trigger when the Black Death is present in your demesne. To maximize your chances:


  • Disable everything except The Reapers Due
  • Set gender equality game rule to 'all'
  • Do have a king level title, or emperor if possible
  • Do be in command of raised troops
  • Do not be married
  • Do not have a ward
  • Do not have a lover
  • Do not have any councilors
  • Do not be in hiding
  • Do not have any shieldmaidens
  • Do not have any friends
  • Do not have any rivals
  • Do not have any courtiers
  • Do not have a court physician
  • Do not have a hospital
  • Do not have a pet
  • Do not advance the 'Noble Customs' technology to level 4
  • Do not be maimed
  • Do not have any dynasty members, especially not landless dynasty members with claims
  • Do not have any great works
  • Do not set an ambition
  • Ideally, do not have any traits
DLC icon Reaper's Due.png 2.6 I
Smash the Patriarchy icon
Smash the Patriarchy
As female Messalian/Bogomilist/Cathar Ruler own all 5 baronies which make up the Orthodox Pentarchies and have a female temple holder control them.
YesIs Female

YesIs Nestorian Heresy.png Messalian,Orthodox Heresy.png Bogomilist, or Catholic Heresy.png Cathar
Yes The owner of the Barony.png Baronies of:

  • Alexandria (Alexandria)
  • Jerusalem (Jerusalem)
  • Antiocheia (Antioch)
  • Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)
  • Roma (Rome)
  • Is Female
  • Is a vassal of the player or is the player.
Messalian Bogomilist Cathar Hold the counties of Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Constantinople directly, and leave wrong-religion bishops in the temple holdings, until you have all five and meet the other conditions. Then, revoke the temples. Lower the moral authority of the three Christian religions to help heresies to appear, or adopt the Christian religion and ask your Court Chaplain to research technology. Easiest as part of a regular Byzantine game, as the Emperor's daughters are always valid candidates for succession.

Alternatively, do your conquering as Abbasids in 769. You already control 3 of 5 counties and start with access to camel cavalry, which is one of the best retinues in the game. Put a woman on the throne by reforming Zunism (which is nearby) or African (which is relatively weak) with Enatic Clans. Consider taking Cosmopolitan so you can marry a Cathar/Bogomilist/Messalian. Don't grant the baronies until you convert to Cathar/Bogomilist/Messalian - temple holders who convert to a religion outside their current group will abdicate.

2.7 I
What Schism? icon
What Schism?
Convert both Rome and Constantinople to the same (Indian) religion
Yes has the Rajas of India.png Rajas of India DLC enabled

Yes Is Hindu.png Hindu, Buddhist.png Buddhist, or Jain.png Jain Yes County.png Rome and Constantinople must be within the realm and is the same Indian Religion as the player

Hindu Buddhist Jain With Horse Lords, conquer the county of Rome and the county of Constantinople as an Indian religion nomadic horde, releasing all other non-nomadic land, and then settling feudal in one of the provinces. As long as population is over 1000 times the number of baronies in the other province, it will convert to your culture and religion. As a nomad, completely destroying all holdings in the two counties will also change the counties' religion.


Alternatively, start as the Byzantine Empire and conquer the province of Rome, as part of a Roman Restoration campaign if you wish to combine achievements. Join the Community of Saint Basel (or other Christian Monastic Society if you are not Orthodox), progress to the rank of Megaloschemos (level 4), and collect at least 2000 points of devotion. Make a Buddhist character your spouse and secretly convert to Buddhism. Pause the game. Openly adopt Buddhism as your religion, and (without unpausing) use the Monastic Society's level 4 power to convert Constantinople and Rome to your religion. Although the society is Christian, both counties will be force-converted to the Eastern Religion you have just adopted.

Rajas of India.png 2.1 I
White Hun icon
White Hun
Starting as the last remnant of the White Huns (the Count of Mohadavasaka in 769) restore the borders of the Hephthalite Empire.
Yes Is playing Count Thakur Toramana of Mohadavasaka Yes Primary title is a Kingdom.png Kingdom or an Empire.png Empire

Yesis independent
YesCompletely Control the Kingdom.png Kingdoms of:

Before starting the game, disable Horse Lords (some required territory is held by nomads) and Conclave (to remove 'not on council' vassal opinion malice) to make the game easier. This guide was written without them and some parts may not work or not apply due to mechanics changes if these DLCs are enabled.

The first challenge is finding the county of Mohadavasaka - it's in western India on the border of Pratihara and Chawda.

Restart until you get a character with high martial. Before unpausing, resign if you're a commander or part of your liege's council so you don't get killed in battle. Immediately divorce your wife and use the character finder to marry someone with high stewardship. Join the Hindu society. Unpause. Next, take the title of your vassal with a castle.

First, try plotting to kill him. The plot doesn't actually need to succeed - as long as you have at least one other plotter the plot will eventually be revealed to the target, who will then become a foe that you can duel and kill. If this is taking too long, you can always simply imprison and execute the vassal, but if imprisonment fails and the vassal chooses rebellion, the vassal can easily defeat you by not raising his levy and just waiting out the warscore timer - it is extremely unlikely that your levy will outnumber both your vassal's levy and garrison in the event of a siege.

You will want to switch cultures ASAP. Indian rulers can subjugate other rulers within the same group for 500 karma every 100 years per character (unlimited for de jure counties of [X kingdom] if 'Become King of [X]' ambition is set) and if a country flips to your Iranian culture, you will be unable to use the War Elephant Pens cultural building of the Indo-Aryan/Dravidian groups that all of India uses (the Iranian cultural building is the Riding Grounds). Besides Nepali, which can always raid, the differences between Indo-Aryan/Dravidian, and your Iranian culture are based on Culture group which Iranian cultured provinces will be limited in the initial conquests. This also helps in providing you with better relations with other Indo-Aryan/Dravidian characters and keeping cultural buildings rather than Iranian cultural buildings.

Raid the Chawda to finance constructing your demesne. Eat up the Pratihara (and the Chawda, if the Pratihara don't force them to become a tributary) with border dispute wars. In the meantime, watch for crown authority to be raised and switch to ultimogeniture succession if it does. Regencies can be dull but it beats having your hard-won realm split apart.

From here, you have two options:

1) Usurp or form a duchy, plot to fabricate a claim on the Pratihara kingdom, form a faction to install yourself, and, if possible - spy on your liege, have them kidnapped, then issue your demand and instantly win the war (otherwise issue your demand and fight your liege as usual). Get your state diplomacy as high as possible to attract more plotters. Note that to plot a claim on your liege's title, your primary title must be a duchy that is de jure within your lieges kingdom, which is initally the very small de jure kingdom of Malwa. Your liege controls enough territory at the start to form Rajputana, but you may need to send him gold (375 + 200 piety) until he has enough to do so.

or 2) Declare independence - not ideal but may be your only choice if option 1 is unfeasible.

After gaining independence, your next goal is to convert to Islam. You will lose your caste once you do so, giving you a large opinion malus with all Hindus, so be sure you can handle the very real possibility of all your vassals revolting simultaneously. Once you're strong enough to resist your neighbors (don't forget to look at their wealth to account for any mercenaries they might hire), raid the Sunnis to your west for a concubine and convert to her religion. You will lose the ability to raid, but the county conquest CB makes this achievement go much faster. The Abbasids and Tagbahlids are close enough that they should assist you in the event of a defensive holy war.

Once you become Muslim, pass the medium crown authority law. Revoke all non-Sunni vassals and replace them with more loyal ones, ideally with high martial to give you more levies. Use 'Promote commander' in the intrigue menu to generate good candidates. If you can't afford that, using the 'raise new vassal' option on a city, temple, or castle that you own will create a new noble of your culture and religion.

3 of the counties you need to complete Khotan are owned by the Western Protectorate. Before fighting them, save and quit. Disable Jade Dragon so you don't have to fight China, then resume your game. Defeat the Western Protectorate (they will still retain any tributaries if they had any), then re-enable Jade Dragon if you wish - you no longer need the border dispute CB which is the main reason to leave it enabled in the first place. If Jade Dragon is re-enabled after being disabled, you will lose all grace with China, all Chinese interaction timers will be reset, all trade posts will be destroyed, but any peace deals will remain in effect.

Rajas of India.pngDLC icon Charlemagne.png 2.8 I
Very easy -
Easy - On English Neck a Norman Yoke
Medium -
Hard - Legacy of Rome
Very hard -
Insane -