Kingdom Taxes & Policies

Taxation and tribute decide whether your kingdom snowballs or starves. Run short, repeating audits instead of once-a-year overhauls—the same cadence as the Pomodoro-style checkpoints that keep work from drifting[1].

What fills (and drains) the treasury

• Income: Tariffs, fief taxes, workshops, caravans, and battle loot. Stack economic policies from Kingdom Policies & Laws only when loyalty is healthy.

• Expenses: Garrison wages, army upkeep, tribute payments, clan parties. Track them in the kingdom budget screen after each war.

• Modifiers: Governor perks (Steward/Charm), construction projects (Fairgrounds/Granary), and security all nudge taxes up or down.

Simple treasury audit (10 minutes)

1. Open the budget screen after a war/peace deal; note tribute direction.

2. Check loyalty/prosperity in each town; if loyalty is under 50, ease taxes first.

3. Swap struggling workshops (see Workshops & Crafting Towns) and re-route caravans with Caravans and Trade Routes.

4. Rebalance policies: drop land taxes when rebellions loom; add Council of the Commons once stability returns.

Case studies by playstyle

• Trade-first (Aserai/Empire): Run 2–3 caravans, Crown Duty + Council of the Commons, governors with Steward perks; accept smaller armies until tariffs scale.

• Cavalry empire (Vlandia): Lean on loot/tribute; keep taxes moderate to avoid rebellions; invest in Town Management and garrisons instead of raw tax hikes.

• Nomad raiders (Khuzait): Low taxes, high raiding income; avoid expensive tributes by suing for peace early via War & Diplomacy Management.

Tribute, debt, and rebellion risk

• Tribute drains? Take a single fortress to flip payments or negotiate with influence (see Diplomacy & Influence).

• Over-taxing drops loyalty, which cuts militia and tariff income—spiraling into rebellions. Use Forgiveness of Debts or festivals to stabilize.

• Siege threats rise when prosperity tanks; keep food and militia up so Kingdoms of Calradia rivals don’t sense weakness.

Quick checklists

• Before war: Stock 15–20 days of food; ensure at least two towns running positive taxes; reduce tribute exposure if possible.

• After war: Audit loyalty; swap harsh taxes for revenue-neutral policies like Council of the Commons to rebuild.

• When broke: Sell prisoners, pause recruitment, escort caravans for passive income, and revisit Economy & Trade Guide.

Next moves

• Sync this guide with Kingdom Policies & Laws for balanced policy sets.

• If you’re expanding, keep Starting Your Own Kingdom handy and prep influence for peace talks.

• Pair with Fief Management and Prosperity to keep individual towns solvent while you tax.

References

[1] Cirillo, Francesco. The Pomodoro Technique. Short, repeated checkpoints surface drift early—use the same rhythm for treasury audits each season.