Starting Your Own Kingdom

Becoming a king or queen is the ultimate goal for many in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Transitioning from a mercenary or vassal to an independent monarch is the most dangerous moment in any campaign. This guide covers the prerequisites, the declaration process, and how to survive your first year of rule.

Prerequisites

Before you even think about independence, ensure your clan is ready. Premature rebellion often leads to execution or bankruptcy.

• Clan Tier 4: You must reach Clan Tier 4 to declare a kingdom. Focus on gaining influence and renown through battles.

• Fief Ownership: You need at least one settlement (Town or Castle) that you govern.

• Financial Buffer: Have at least 1-2 million denars saved. Buying peace and recruiting clans is expensive.

• Military Strength: A full party of high-tier troops and a garrison of 300+ defenders in your capital.

• Governor: A companion or family member assigned as governor in your fief.

The Path to Independence

There are two main ways to start your kingdom, each with different risks.

Option A: The Campaign Quest (Peaceful)

If you are playing the main storyline, assembling the Dragon Banner allows you to create an imperial or non-imperial faction. This method provides a structured path but ties you to the quest's "Conspiracy" mechanic, which triggers massive wars later on.

Option B: Secession (The Sandbox Way)

This is the most common method.

1. Leave your current kingdom: Go to the Kingdom tab ("K") and leave.

   • "Relinquish all holdings": You leave peacefully but lose your lands.

   • "Keep all holdings": You keep your fiefs, but this immediately declares war on your former liege.

2. Defend: You will be at war immediately. You must sue for peace (costing money) or defend your walls until they accept a truce.

The Declaration

Once you are an independent clan (not a mercenary, not a vassal) and hold a fief, you can formally declare your kingdom.

1. Travel to your fief's Keep.

2. Speak to your Governor.

3. Select the dialogue option: "It is time to take a momentous step... It is time to proclaim a new kingdom."

4. Choose your culture, initial laws, and kingdom name.

Note: In older versions, this was done via a button in the clan screen. In the current patch, talking to the governor is mandatory.

First Steps as Monarch

The moment you declare independence, you are vulnerable.

1. Enact Critical Policies

Use your starting influence to pass policies that boost your security and party size.

• Sacred Majesty: Generates influence for the ruler (you).

• Royal Guard: Increases your party size.

• Forgiveness of Debts: Increases settlement loyalty.

See our Diplomacy & Policies guide for a full tier list of policies.

2. Manage Diplomacy

You cannot win a war against a massive empire alone. If a kingdom declares war on you, check the Diplomacy tab. If the daily tribute cost is affordable, pay it. It is better to lose money than your only town.

For long-term survival, refer to our Kingdom Management guide.

Recruiting Vassals

You cannot conquer Calradia alone. You need vassals to patrol, raid, and form armies.

1. Identify Potential Defectors: Look for clan leaders who are poor, have no fiefs, or are enemies of their current king.

2. The Persuasion Check: Find the clan leader and discuss their liege. You will enter a persuasion mini-game (Charm skill helps here).

3. The Bribe: If they agree to join, you usually need to pay a significant sum (300k - 1m denars).

Tip: You can also promote your companions to nobility. This costs 500 influence and a fief, but ensures loyal vassals.

Conclusion

Starting a kingdom is the beginning of the "endgame" in Bannerlord. It shifts gameplay from personal combat to strategy and logistics. Ensure you master Siege Warfare & Engineering to defend your new capital, and always keep your treasury full.

For more details on upgrading your clan to prepare for this step, check our guide on Clan Tier Progression.