Crusader Kings 3 - Guide - Guide to the Holy Roman Empire (HRE)

In this Crusader Kings 3 guide, I focus on the Holy Roman Empire, it’s history and some of the interesting characters to play within the HRE in CK3.
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[@Bo-wenn]

This is not a guide. This is a history lesson. I mean, I’m not complaining.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I respectfully disagree. It’s a guide to the history of the characters in the game and helps people find a fun start. I also sprinkle in some strategy. So I do see it as a type of guide.

[@zachcole-fitzpatrick1620]

Never apologize for length when the content is this interesting to go this in depth into. Your videos historical contexts allow me to enjoy this game even more than I do already!

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thank you so much. I’m glad you’re enjoying them.

[@ExireHG]

My most favorite playthrough thus far in CKIII was a Count of Zurich, had the idea to work my way up to Emperor naturally. Crusades came about, figured I might as well participate. A cousin ended up as a Duke of newly formed Syria. That's fine, you have fun getting wrecked by the Seljuk's. Welp a few hours later I'm a Duke in Syria, my cousin and all his children were killed. Abandoned Catholicism for Orthodoxy, took over Syria and vassalized myself to the Byzantine Empire in a bid for survival. Hilarious, I love this game. XD

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

That’s awesome!

[@hiphipreneesims]

I love that you really go into depth with the actual history during your videos. It makes it exceptionally more interesting! Great work!

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks!!

[@jasonyoung2160]

This video was like A university lecture using the game to demonstrate the history, amazing.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@tomdeming]

My Holy Roman Empire Experience: I started as the Duke of Apula but quickly created the Kingdom of Sicily. From there I took some natural expansions and focused on improving my family genes. As the Byzantine Empire inched closer I decided to join the Holy Roman Empire for protection as they were my fellow Catholics. After a couple generations of marring into particular families I worked my way up (scheming and murdering) to be a candidate for Emperor. I then used a hook on the emperor to nominate me as his successor and then I had him killed (classy, I know). Once emperor it was a hard battle to keep my son in charge. I created a bunch of kingdoms to reduce the number of vassals I had which greatly helped. Next I worked at generating enough prestige to remove the succession law (electoral vote) which meant all of my titles including emperor went to my next in line. This was a turning point. From there it has been easy sailing, I have 10-12 kingdoms within my realm, I am king of two, I have another than I give to my heir to gain experience and prestige as a ruler, I have duchies offering to vassalize into my empire which I add or create kingdoms to help manage. I have so much money that my heir gives gifts to all the kings on his succession to keep things going. And almost all of the kingdoms are ruled by either my family or a cadet branch of it. This has been by FAR my most successful playthrough in a CK game. I failed to control Ireland (except once) in CK2. But I have found that keeping your vassals happy is by and far the most important part of surviving this world. Fun, detailed, and historical game! Love it.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Sounds like a blast!

[@tomdeming]

@@RealmBuilderGuy it has been! And thanks for your video! I was looking for one that discussed managing the HRE. Great detail and loved the historical background stuff too. Cheers

[@rikest6242]

I love how you put in history within your guides, it gets me really engaged unlike the other guides people upload. You're awesome!

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks!

[@theitalianliner1726]

I have a Master in Medieval History, so it’s only normal I am a huge fan of the CK franchise. Kudos to you for staying loyal to the game spirit, while some play it in a frenzied way where all the flavor and the historical texture go out the window. A minor note, though: in Northern Italy the Lombard kingdom had ceased to exist by the end of VIII century, as Charlemagne allied with the Pope and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 A.D. As the Carolingian empire underwent the tripartition, Northern Italy became part of Lotaringia and descended in semi-permanent civil war with minor kings North and South of the Aple vying for power. Two key features would prove to have a lasting impact: Rome became the seat for holy and rightful imperial coronation, Southern Italy would be “invaded” by the Byzantine, the Moors, the Normands and, in the late Middle Ages, by the Angevins abd Aragonese, thus establishing a cultural rift that lasts basically to this day. Best compliments on the presentation.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

That's great insight and very helpful. And thanks for watching and for the kind words.

[@theitalianliner1726]

Realm Builder Guy, I have watched yesterday episodes military and HRE. Very useful and interesting: I didn’t know Queen Elizabeth’s lineage could be traced to the Wettin House. Thank you again and compliments on your quality presentations.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

@@theitalianliner1726 Thanks!

[@rvanzo925]

I hope they make a DLC to flesh the HRE out. I haven’t played them yet, but they need to strike a delicate balance of being interesting and not too easy. I want to be challenged by the Mongol invasion.

[@MichaelWhittmann]

Been trying to learn German by paying for classes. Hoping to be duel citizen someday too. Good video btw man, watched the whole thing and learned quite a bit.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks and good luck with the classes!

[@cophezzeslangin2794]

The longer the better when it comes to your videos. Love it.

[@jasonramero6274]

For being a German immigrant, you speak American English without an accent, at all unless your saying German cities(makes sense and is fitting)

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks! I was born in Chicago. Although I spent most of my time in the German school system, I graduated from an American university and have lived in the US for over 20 years (with interruptions).

[@MrOraas]

Start as the Czech, revoke one title from your son, push his claim on Hungary to get it into the hre. Bohemia is great to bouild tall and as you're a vassle of the hre you can easily grab Ashdon or whatever and Cologne for the special building slots

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Bohemia is definitely the best tall play in the game right now

[@spider-aidan63]

Love these videos! I love your historical analysis, I’m a history major but my focus is mostly on American history. But I do dabble a bit in the history of Mediterranean. Speaking of, I’d love if you could do one of these on the Byzantines! Very interesting civilization

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Aidan Diaz thanks! My academic background is history (thesis on the military revolution). I do plan on doing a guide to Byzantium and one on Italy.

[@shawngillogly6873]

I played a Bohemian game. And the wife got her titles without me going to war. I took Meissen and Lausitz. And my heir was the one who won HRE. I tried Angria in a MP game. But it was 867, and Haesteinn happened. So much for Lotharingia. And the game.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

867 is pure chaos at times

[@jackwalters5506]

I'm currently playing a fun game as the Hohenstaufens(They are in the county of Ravenburg in Schwabia). Managed to become Duke of Schwabia pretty quickly before fabricating a claim on Palermo and conquering it. Luckily for me, the Normans had become Mandean so I was able to conquer the Kingdom pretty quickly with Holy wars. However France has become Francia and conquered all of Burgundy and most of Italy so now I need to become Emperor so I reclaim the Empire's glory

[@belltowersubductions5104]

Speaking as an Irishman, I know the pain you speak of, and I empathise.

[@zoolanderXXL]

Hi; it was just coincidence to find this channel after playing and enjoying Crusader Kings 3. I am impressed about your English and your German skills as well😊 I wouldn’t ever consider you with German roots, but your German is really clear and precise outspoken👍 And your videos and descriptions are also very enjoyable

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thank you for the kind words 😊

[@ameyaagarwal1170]

You sir, you are an absolute legend.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

😂 thanks. I appreciate that. Thanks for watching.

[@timr1d284]

Hey, ich guck seid ein paar Wochen immer mal wieder Videos von dir und hab erst durch dieses hier erfahren, dass du Deutscher bist, so gut ist dein Englisch! Grüße aus Bremen

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Danke! Schöne Grüße zurück!

[@BackCount977]

Geiles Video! Ich hab vor mir CK3 zu holen und wollte mir davor mal angucken, wie das spiel so ist. Also danke! LG

[@omnishambles4477]

Gotta shout out Oldenburg as a house that is still around

[@jojivlogs1323]

You need more subs, can't believe I just found ur channel

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thank you very much! I’m still pretty new, so hopefully more will come.

[@sharku117]

Kings and general's start video's were nice teasers....This is what goes up in the background while actually playing a campaign.

[@32ShadowWolf]

Fantastic production and content my friend...truly! On a side note about being a dual national (German/American), I too immagrated 13 years ago (I'm Dutch/Australian). You used the example of ppl coming to you saying they are German/American too. And you disagreed... Well in these current times when ppl can just get on a airplane it's so easy...you didn't have to under go a lengthy sea voyage (probably during a economic deppression) at a time ppl hated foreigners as opposed to yourself being lucky enough to be welcomed by Americans and ppl that try and make a connection with you. I would say their great Grandfathers are more German than you are due to the german population being watered down with the influx of other cultures into germany from the weimar republic days. Besides it's those very early German, Dutch and Irish settlers that build the most powerful counrty in the world (That you just stepped into)...always be humble my friend.

[@Speedplay029]

This guys german pronounciation is flawless

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Dankeschön

[@alvarohernani6645]

In CK2 in the 1066 start. I managed (don't know how) to be King of bohemia, italy and Bavaria in just 15 years. Just by helping the Emperor of hre to put down some revolts and getting from him a ton of titles, lands on vassals

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

That's insane, but very well done!

[@alvarohernani6645]

@@RealmBuilderGuy let's see how i manage to ruin it

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

@@alvarohernani6645 I have faith in you!

[@charlesowens7174]

Welf Welf of house Welf I love that name

[@stevebahnaman6845]

Vratislav II's son also has King of Hungary claims!

[@fn0rd-f5o]

Thanks from a fellow dual citizen : )

[@IronTiger22]

Succession problems seem to be a staple of Burgundian history

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

For sure

[@IronTiger22]

@@RealmBuilderGuy I did think of an idea for a CK3 thing. Would you be interested in hearing about it?

[@neilmowles7964]

Great video, just came across your chanel. Keep up the good work 👍 If you started in 867 and wanted to build an empire and become the HRE in time, who would you start with? Which region is best to build from and what culture do you think best suits the HRE?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I’d say starting as a Karling king in the Germany region would be easiest in that sense. A central Germanic culture would be best

[@neilmowles7964]

Thanks for the reply. I was going to but i believe the karling king controlled most of Bavaria. I wonded if a start in Wien would be interesting. Less land to start with, added challenge from the start. Plus I felt vienna was an important place in the HRE so it would be a good choice of capital. Was there a pushed culture in the HRE or was it several and with that aiding the fracture of the empire each time?

[@yashvardhantyagi0512]

Please make a guide on India and Middle East

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I plan on it

[@dutchvanderlinde5004]

Love your videos.

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks!

[@bielefeldd]

i like this guy

[@dontworry4945]

Please don't let these Americans say " I'm German" to you. They don't mean it like people do in other countries. It means " family is from" which is a differentiation America hasn't caught up to.

[@itskozy7618]

nice vid mate. i've been trying to find a proper guide to form hre from east francia (exclusively) in the 867 start. Do you think you could provide such a guide?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks. I can look into it. I don’t tend to do “how to” videos when comes to “how to achieve or do XYZ” but rather guides on how the game works.

[@herman-phillipkleingeld2578]

Commenting for the algorithm I guess

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

LOL ive always found the HRE very difficult to play as the only valid strategy I can think of to keep your throne is get an alliance with france to deal with the rebellions early on then try to not piss off your vassals while getting taxes

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

of course this inevitably fails at times and you will have many difficulties among the most annoying vassals are the ones from the southern areas notably duchess matilda of tuscany and whoever was the guy in bavaria as well as one in the border of france and others

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

I wonder if ruling with executions and fear will help more than making your vassals happy tbh

[@overlooting2195]

Great explanations but I wonder why Upper Lorraine is below Lower Lorraine?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Historically in German languages it refers to something being closer to the center of the continent and the Alps. That’s why lower Bavaria (Niederbayern) is north of upper Bavaria (Oberbayern). It’s the same with Lorraine, Saxony, Austria, etc.

[@overlooting2195]

@@RealmBuilderGuy ah very interesting thank you

[@johnnyzhu9867]

Whenever I try to play a fun HRE regional power, I got elected to be the babysitting emperor. I wish player can have the option to decline

[@alexanderschweinehunde167]

So if france and HRE were butting heads West Francia shouldn’t have made the HRE in my latest 867 game

[@MajorFletch]

Your English is excellent!

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Thanks!

[@srccde]

Fellow Münsteraner 😍

[@karlwittenburg5868]

Wait… I thought the last Babenburg duke was killed fighting the Hungarians?

[@JafuetTheSame]

ummm...Habsburgs didnt took over Austria after Babenbergs. Přemyslid did ;)

[@fatiehchannel2132]

How come pro’s like you only get to have 1k of subs and not 100k

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

I appreciate that, thanks! I’m still a very new channel, so the big number might still come.

[@fn0rd-f5o]

What do you think of starting out as HRE? Is it too difficult?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

Not too difficult, but definitely a challenge with a lot of moving parts to manage.

[@FlosBlog]

My liege! The Czechs are in open revolt because you called the empire german-centric! :D

[@priestskorge]

Hey if someone is giving your trouble and they have real bad opinion what do you think of giving them independence then warring and trying to kill them so you can give the land to someone else. I took over norway with king of denmark and they hated me so I was imprison and taking titles to put my people in them but was losing alot of opinion. Would give them independence then capturing them and banishing them would that be a good idea?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

it's a possibility, but very risky. Swaying, giving gifts, granting titles, granting council positions are better options. If that doesn't work then there's always murder?

[@priestskorge]

@@RealmBuilderGuy yea but I dont really play intrigue people so my chance of success is always so low

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

priestskorge I’m the same way to be honest...but it’s an option

[@priestskorge]

How do you get there opinion up when you take over a kingdom or take there titles without everyone hating you? So you can put your people in them. I know you BBC an try and find hooks but that takes forever. Maybe I should stop rushing. Cause I always want to get everything in order so I can start taking more land. I was also thinking maybe with Confederate partition I shoulddidnt focusing on conquer to much land until later cause if it being split up. I don't know I'm dedf learning but still have alot to learn. And man Confederate partition sucks lol get so strong then lose so much income. That why I only build up my primary area I need to stop starting over and trying to make stuff perfect. I think my next play through im gonna focus on making my dynasty huge and conquer land and give them to my kids and give them independence to see how they run stuff. Seem like it be entertaining

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

focus on increasing crown authority to so you can work on the succession laws. Conquering is a perfect strategy, but you need cool down periods in between

[@priestskorge]

@@RealmBuilderGuy so basically I shouldidnt take anymore land until I have everyone happy in the kingdom I just conquered or it will only strengthen the faction there can make against me. Ok I see. So make then happy that way you only have the next people unhappy then work on them and so forth I figured that. Seem like taking to much land to fast is not a good idea I be trying to take so much in 1 lifetime and I'm starting to realize all that does it make succession more an pain especially if you have elective which I do. But I havent taken anymore since norway and I got mose liking me and was able to force vote on some. My denmark is secure but someone outside of my dynasty has more votes for norway. If I increase there opinion even further will they vote for my heir? Or will I have to find a hook and force it there already in my favor a little but not much

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

priestskorge ideally you sway and get a hook

[@larsbuhlmann2468]

Auf welcher Schule warst du in Münster? Komme nämlich auch aus Münster 😃

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

St. Mauritz in Handorf.

[@Tortillaman59]

Wie du einfach aus Münster kommst 😂

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

Are you from Brandenburg?

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

No. Münsterland

[@c-tcrips2447]

Du hast einfach keinen Deutschen Akzent... krass

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

😁

[@ophiliaxeon]

Was Deine Abi Note brudi

[@pjoterem141]

POLAND MENTIONED🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱💪🏻💪

[@priestskorge]

Bro I love your videos man. Hey would you like to play sometime? I really want to play multiplayer and would love to pick your brain and learn some stuff. We should play man be super fun to play a game with your subs. Have a sub alliance or a sub war. I would get destroyed but I would still have fun. Let me know buddy. I'm 36 by the way so not a kid

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

That would be a blast. Right now my time is tight with a baby due this week. Once that calms down a bit it's worth looking at for sure

[@priestskorge]

@@RealmBuilderGuy oh k congrats on the baby I remeber you said that in video forgot about that good luck man there precious

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

priestskorge thanks!

[@rhzyo]

Weird how it's called holy "Roman" empire when the Romans were never able to conqueror the Germanic tribes

[@RealmBuilderGuy]

It’s simply because the Pope of Rome crowns the emperor (well that’s one factor at least)

[@rhzyo]

@@RealmBuilderGuy well I guess that makes sense lol, I thought the group of princes/nobles selected who was to be the next HRE leader or am I thinking of something else

[@rhzyo]

I guess the pope has to sign off on it or something seeing as it was meant to be the protection for the pope. Been watching Magellan Tv a series of docos called the Normans really interesting