Marriage & Heirs

The ultimate goal of any Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord campaign is not just to conquer Calradia, but to build a dynasty that lasts for generations. Your main character is mortal; they will eventually die from old age or a stray arrow. When that happens, your heir must be ready to take up the banner.

Children are not just background NPCs; they are fully customizable characters that you will eventually play.

Raising Children: The Education System

Once a child is born, they go through several growth stages. During these stages, you will receive notifications to make choices about their upbringing. These choices grant Attributes and Focus Points.

• Age 2: Toddler stage. Grants initial attribute points (Social vs Physical).

• Age 5: Early Childhood. Grants skills like Charm or Athletics.

• Age 8: Education. Grants Intelligence or Leadership related skills.

• Age 11: Early Adolescence. Combat training begins.

• Age 14: Late Adolescence. Finalizing their build.

Tip: Always try to build your heir differently than your main character if you want variety, or specialize them to fill gaps in your clan (e.g., a high-Steward heir to manage the massive army you've built).

For advice on optimal builds, see Character Builds & Development.

Coming of Age

At Age 18, your child becomes a full adult hero.

1. They appear in your clan roster as a deployable lord.

2. You can equip them with high-tier gear.

3. You can assign them as a Party Leader or Governor.

4. You can marry them off to other clans (careful: marrying off daughters usually sends them to the other clan, losing them forever).

A large family means more parties on the map, allowing you to field massive armies for zero influence cost.

Death & Inheritance

If you have "Death" enabled in campaign settings (which you should for the full experience), your character can die.

When you die:

1. A "Select Heir" screen appears.

2. You can choose any adult member of your clan (Spouse, Children, Siblings) to become the new Player Character.

3. You inherit the Clan Leadership, all Fiefs, Gold, and Items.

4. Relations with other lords are generally tied to the Clan, but personal traits (like Honor or Mercy) are specific to the new character.

Preparation Strategy: Before your main character gets too old (50+), ensure your chosen heir has good equipment and has leveled up key skills like Steward and Leadership. If they take over with 0 Leadership, your massive army will immediately desert due to party size limits.

Succession is dangerous. Ensure your heir has the influence and relations to hold the kingdom together.

For more on maintaining power during a transition, check Clan Management & Growth and Policies & Laws to ensure your kingdom doesn't fracture.