Kingdoms of Calradia
November 21, 2025
A comprehensive overview of the major factions in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord.
Calradia is a patchwork of grudges after the Battle of Pendraic: three Imperial claimants fighting each other while border kingdoms raid, trade, and recruit. Pick where you invest your time the same way Keller suggests focusing on one leverage point at a time[1]—choose a lane (cavalry, archers, trade, or sieges) and back the faction that amplifies it.
Where each kingdom sits
Vlandia: Western coast. Rich farms, open plains. Wars with Battania/Empires. Great cav, slow forests.
Battania: Northwest forests and hills. Forest speed bonus; lethal archers. Vulnerable on open plains.
Sturgia: Northern rivers and snow. Shieldwalls thrive in chokepoints; pay attention to winter penalties.
Khuzait: Eastern steppe. Horse-archer mobility on flats; weak in forests/sieges if you don’t bring infantry.
Aserai: Southern deserts and oases. Trade-friendly; caravans cheaper and faster on sand.
Empire (N/S/W): Center belt. Balanced rosters, strong sieges, constant multi-front wars.
Use Map of Calradia & Regions to spot the terrain that buffs—or nerfs—your army and check Party Speed Explained to tune movement around it.
Culture bonuses and signature units
| Faction | Bonus highlight | Signature troops |
| Vlandia | Influence from battles | Banner Knight, Sharpshooter |
| Battania | Forest speed | Fian Champion, Falxman |
| Sturgia | Lower cohesion loss | Heroic Line Breaker, Druzhinnik |
| Khuzait | Cav speed | Khan’s Guard, Heavy Lancer |
| Aserai | Cheap caravans, lower trade penalty | Vanguard Faris, Master Archer |
| Empire (all) | Build/siege boosts | Cataphract, Legionary |
Faction snapshots and counters
Vlandia: Shock cav + crossbows. Counter with forests, spears, and loose archers (see Best Archer Units).
Battania: Woods fighters. Counter with cav wedges on plains and shields to block fians.
Sturgia: Heavy axes and shieldwalls. Counter with cav charges and ranged focus; avoid attrition in snow.
Khuzait: Kiting horse archers. Counter with squares/loose, terrains that slow horses, and fast infantry from Best Troops by Role.
Aserai: Balanced armies; strong traders. Counter by burning caravans and denying horses in sieges.
Empire: Balanced, siege-ready. Counter with disruption—hit supply lines, force multiple fronts, or take a single key city to flip War & Diplomacy Management tributes.
Minor factions and mercenary angles
Jawwal, Ghilman, and other minors roam the map; they hire out to whoever pays. Use them to plug roster gaps early, but mind relations if you plan to vassalize. See Minor Factions & Mercenary Companies before committing.
Picking allegiance by playstyle
Trader/diplomat: Aserai or Empire with caravans plus Economy & Trade Guide.
Cavalry commander: Vlandia or Khuzait; pair with Best Cavalry Units and Cavalry Tactics.
Archer wall: Battania or Empire; weave in Battle & Skirmish Tactics.
Siege enjoyer: Empire or Sturgia; prep engines with Siege Warfare Fundamentals.
Join, conquer, or found your own
Start as a mercenary in the region you like, then vassalize once you know the policy meta (see Kingdom Policies & Laws).
Want independence? Follow Starting Your Own Kingdom and farm influence via Gaining Influence.
If you’re countering a snowballing faction, strike their richest trade towns first to flip tribute flows.
References
[1] Keller, Gary & Papasan, Jay. The ONE Thing. Focus on the single leverage move that makes other tasks easier—here, that’s choosing one factional strength to lean into instead of dabbling across all eight.