The Most Interesting Obscure Characters of CK3

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In this top 10 crusader kings 3 video we will uncover the most interesting historical rulers that are often overlooked. These underdog ck3 characters hail from obscure origins, extinct dynasties and are perfect for creating alternative histories in your next Crusader Kings campaign. These are my favorite CK3 starts, especially if you are looking for interesting characters to play in crusader kings 3. Whether they were once landless courtiers, characters with ancient lineages or just simply characters I find the most flavorful, they are all really fun CK3 starts to play - check them out!
(PS: yeah, the wordy description is for SEO lol)
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Table of Contents
Introduction 0:00
Duke Máel Snechtai of Moray 0:32
Count Welf IV of Ravensburg 1:35
Duke Baghatur of Visegrad 2:34
Countess Eadgifu of Bedanford 3:33
Emir Hussayn of the Hashimid 5:30
Count Friedrich of Zollern 6:25
Ras Negus Zaré of Tigre 7:07
Sheikh Rostam of Mazandaran 7:56
Infanta Urraca Fernandez of Castille 8:53
Vali Salih of Zamindawar 10:03
Honorable Mentions 11:20
Happy New Year & Conclusion 12:32

[@AlzaboHD]

Play War Thunder now for free with my link and get a massive bonus pack including vehicles, boosters and more: playwt.link/AlzaboHD . Happy New Year everyone and see you in 2024!

[@riley3622]

another good choice is Eadgar Eadwardson, the last surviving male descendant of Alfred the Great and the house of Wessex. Starting in 1066 as a 16 year old count in Mercia, I was able to become king of England by the end of his lifetime and restore the Anglo-Saxon culture. Very fun and one of my favorite starts in 1066

[@arnstoff3212]

It was hilarious for me when I played as him. Harald won the war gave me the Duchy of Mercia and died a year later so I inherited the kingdom through election. Edit: Harald won not Harold oops

[@platypipope328]

harold godwinson is also a male descendant of alfred the great, he just isn't of the same dynasty

[@ProphetinReverse-qj5rn]

He’s my personal favorite, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention his sister, Margaret, who also starts out the game as a landed ruler holding the council of Herefordshire just north of her brother. In our world, after the Norman conquest, the family fled north to Scotland, where Malcolm III fell in love with her, and she became his wife, a saint, and the ancestor of all Scottish sovereigns after Malcolm, the ancestor of all English sovereigns since Henry II, and of course, the figure that links the present British monarchy to Alfred the Great.

[@vittoriobr_6271]

@@platypipope328I understand your logic but no, Harold Godwinson was not a descendant of Alfred the great.

[@platypipope328]

@@vittoriobr_6271 must be mistaken then, my bad

[@Saberu_o_oppai_de_momu]

halpy new tear

[@AlzaboHD]

Halpy new tear to you too!

[@brodyfranklin6613]

Happy new year

[@markusraat818]

Halpy new tear!

[@Philipp.of.Swabia]

Halpy new Tear !

[@tomwright4354]

Halpy new tear!

[@Costenyo]

actually alzabohd the most interesting dynasty were the komnenos (yes im greek how can u t

[@chrisrudolf9839]

I guess he didn't mention them in this list because they were anything but OBSCURE in both the game (where they have some pretty powerful starting characters) and in real life history knowlege. (Well, to be fair, Hohenzollern isn't obscure either, but they didn't really rise to power until much later and even I as a German had no idea what they were doing around 1066 or that they even already existed by that time, so the character in the game is obscure).

[@ohNojames]

Urraca killed me when and became my player character when killed everyone else as king of Leon. I thought her love for me would keep me safe lol.

[@chase5298]

I had a stroke trying to read this

[@CinderingCoyote]

2:02 one of King Boris' sons, the Duke of Vidin is disinherited, Bulgaria is pretty interesting with his heir being Tegrist, 2nd disinherited, 3rd being Simeon and Quick, 4th is boring Not to mention there is a decent chance in 867 games where Boris will imprison his 1st son and execute him since his son is zealous

[@stefangeorgiev5497]

In real life Boris converted BG to Christianity, when he was old he resigned and the Tengri son became king. He immediately re-converted the country to Tengrism after which the old king mustered an army, defeated him, blinded him and installed Simeon as the new king.

[@ChannelSwitcher]

Happy new year! An interesting ruler to play would be Count Radboud Waldgerszoon in the 867 starting date. His dynasty, Folcwalding, used to be the Kings of Frisia.

[@dacronk7178]

In terms of roleplaying interesting characters, Alzabo, I have a few suggestions: Haraldr ‘Tanglehair’ Yngling, earl of Vestfold in 867 AD, comes in with a built in story to him. A vow to unify Norway. It is my favorite viking start date due to decent stat spread and his youth allowing him to form Norway, and then the Northsea Empire for the particularly skilled players. 1066 has an interesting character I don't see mentioned a lot due to the Rurikid dynasty having a bookmarked start in 867 with Rurik the Troublemaker. However, Vsevolod Rurikid of Pereyaslavl deserves a little more love. He has claims to Ruthenia and, in real life, became the Grand Prince of Kiev. He is a difficult start since he is woefully underpowered compared to his family that all wants to destroy him.

[@GabbyPlaysGames02]

Was doing a Fairhair playthrough the other day, he’s great. Got him up to 48 prowess with all the various buffs and artifacts. He still had like 30 prowess by the time he died at 76 of fatal apoplexy. Total madlad.

[@votecthulhu9378]

favorite character in the game

[@mikaeltangen721]

@@GabbyPlaysGames02 add to this that when you form Norway, he can learn how to use a hair brush

[@achimschaffeld9653]

keep up the great work, alzabohd! personally i love your videos! happy new year to all of the alzabo-disciples! 💖

[@Zaulot]

Happy New Year! Great start on the year with a great ck3 vid. Hope for many more! 🎉🎉🎉

[@jaydiablo9863]

What a great video, happy new year!

[@TungstenArm]

Another fun one is to go from Duke of Provence (1066) to King of the Burgundies! (By decision is the most fun challenge.) Not quite as unique or obscure as the ones in this video, but fun nonetheless!

[@derekskelton4187]

A fun way to play Urraca is to actually switch to Matrilineal succussion in the game rules which immediately gives her her brothers lands, and them as knights. Marry El Cid and you have a super easy achievement run even

[@phototrontron784]

Happy new years Alzabo, happy to see another video!

[@pedrotbird5426]

Happy new year man!! 2024 is gonna be a good one I can feel it

[@AlzaboHD]

Happy New Year Pedrot!

[@rhzyo]

Love these types of videos always gives me ideas on who to play

[@adriankim7039]

Great video, great narration, keep it up

[@Rockstar-bq5fm]

There’s so many great starts. When they eventually get round to the Byzantine dlc I hope they include Georgia. Playing as grandfather and father of David the Builder king of Georgia is a fun run

[@wyndhamfreeman1489]

What a great Star Trek reference! You only write top tier videos. Keep up the good work!

[@paulschumacher4308]

It made me wonder if I should make my own Ferengi Empire in CK3

[@carltonleboss]

One hour into 2024 and you've already uploaded. Great work.

[@mayanbrian12]

always enjoy more alzabo video :D

[@BeanTKH]

Amazing way to start the year Alzabo

[@Jame5man]

New Year, New AlzaboHD video. I like it

[@GSMenaldum]

Happy new year Alzabo!

[@THEJustinOfAllTime]

Happy new years Alzabo!

[@AlzaboHD]

Happy New Year Justin!

[@Jayvee4635]

With the default rules, the swan neck countess can always adopt when she reaches menopause.

[@KarlKapo]

Happy new year daddy AlzaboHD

[@englishhousecarl9019]

One of my favourite playthroughs in the 1066 start date is Elfwine Haroldson. He is the grandson of Kanute the Great and the last of the Knytling dynasty. He starts off as an unlanded knight in southern France. I remember employing him and landing him in Saxony and i took control of all of Saxony as him. When England was weak through civil wars (after William the Conqueror had died) I did a Saxon invasion of England and overthrew the Normans and replaced all of the Norman/English nobles with Saxons. When Elfwine died he had basically done what William had done in real life, only with Saxons instead of Normans.

[@paulschumacher4308]

Happy New Year! 🎉

[@purpledevilr7463]

Happy New Year. Great time to release a video.

[@AlzaboHD]

Hey Thanks, happy new year Purple Devil!

[@purpledevilr7463]

@@AlzaboHD thanks to you. If anyone is an Interesting King in the CK3 scene, it’s you.

[@cookudysu90]

Another fun character might be Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (Elcid) of Spain.

[@elenahaya1195]

Pretty sure you can't play as landless characters... And El Cid is a landless character

[@MrSabuska]

This year will be better. Happy New Year.

[@lorenzdaks2213]

I honestly didn't expect Urraca Fernandez to be in this list. She is truly an overlooked character. I will try to play her next time.

[@chrisrudolf9839]

I didn't expect her to be in this list either, because she is a featured character in the "Iberia in pieces" scenario, so I'd expect most CK players to know about her. She is certainly the most challenging character to play in the Jimena sucession war conflict, though, so I honestly haven't bothered yet. She is an interesting candidate if you also want to go for the rare achievement from the Iberia DLC to rule the Kingdom of Valencia as a descendant of the Spanish national hero "El Cid Campeador", who at the time of the game start is an unlanded knight (with godlike martial and prowess stats) at the court of King Sancho of Castille. It takes some persuasion to get King Sancho to allow his friend and best general to marrry the vassal of his rival in a matrilineal marriage, but it is doable. (I opted to do that achievement in the easier way to just start as King Sancho, find an intelligent landless wife for El Cid and then marry my heir to one of his daugters

[@Jacohen544]

You had me at Ginger Ninja

[@arno_grnfld455]

Avar is pretty fun to play, due to how weak Bulgaria can get, steamrolled by the mögyers, you can marry off your heirs and gets some alliances and declare independence from Bulgaria. After Hungary is established they get pretty weak 2k troops and you can easily get rid of them or swear fealty and kill them inside out.

[@SrConstantinopla]

I prefer staying inside Hungary, celebrating feasts and going on hunting trips, while increasing my men-at-arms. Hungarian ruler gives you back most of your land because you hold the duchy titles and with your claims you can get more than half of the kingdom. You can even claim and get the kingdom title yourself once you max out your men-at-arms.

[@arno_grnfld455]

@@SrConstantinopla I don't really like how the Hungarians replaced most of the Avar culture in Pannonia after defeating the Bulgarians, but that'll work

[@user-wf4qn8ss9g]

happy new year!!

[@AlzaboHD]

Thanks, happy new year to you too!

[@yernat.ali1453]

Guys I found another interesting UNLANDED historical character(-s) to play. Anushtigin Khwarezmid and his son Qutb al-Din Muhammad. I believe they were added with the Legacy of Persia because they were absent when I searched. But I just found them. Historically, Anushtigin is the founder of the Anushtigin dynasty, and his son Muhammad was the first shah of Khwarezm, later referred to as The Khwarezmian Empire. They lasted up until the Mongol invasion, where they were completely destroyed in a famous Mongol conquest of Central Asia. History Dose has a video about this topic. I'm planning to land him and try to create the Khwarezmian empire and i recommend it too

[@PaperMicShow]

Where to find him

[@besartkryeziu6750]

You heve the perfect voice to tell a story

[@SamButler22]

I miss the additional bookmarks from CK2; house Butler was available in The Third Crusade

[@RedRed.917]

great video

[@SealChonker]

Though not available for all, I think custom characters are pretty neat. Especially if you can make them interesting and iron man compatible, though even if you can't it ain't a biggie as characters like Alfred the Great are beyond balanced.

[@ryanbarber6481]

and Haesteinn lol

[@sushi8628]

Some interesting characters I know of at the top of my head in the 1066 start date: Hassan i-Sabbah: An unlanded courtier who would go down in real history as the founder of the Hashshashins, or the Order of Assassins, which is where we get the term "Assassin" from. Ingevald af Bjelbo: Also an unlanded courtier. Is the only and first character of the House of Bjelbo in the game, the dynasty of which would later produce several Swedish rulers & kings, including Birger Jarl, who is considered the "founder of Sweden". Sven Kolsson Sverker: The Duke of Östergötland in Sweden at the 1066 start date. Although a catholic, in "real history" Sven Kolsson would go down as "Blot-Sven" or "Blot-Sweyn", referring to the fact that he continued the pagan tradition of the riksblot which his predecessor and successor had refused. He was also, according to some sources, the ancestor to the later Swedish royal houses of Sverker & Eric.

[@Eisenwulf666]

cool vid bro

[@N3rdDak]

im really glad that i went to flavor town today

[@BenDPB]

I do love a cheeky Habsburg save.

[@gawkthimm6030]

I had to give some likes for all those puns and rhythms

[@dark__blur]

9:58 "... to bring them basque to ...." LOL

[@edanarator7716]

Strathcylde is an interesting start as well as it's the only Cumbrian kingdom in the game

[@Blanquely]

holy shit i thought the dude at 00:20 was alzabo's vtuber model hahaha

[@caniblmolstr452]

The Old Man of the Mountain the founder of Hashashins is there in game

[@benisrood]

I thought that cat was a pun-related gag at first

[@ryanrusch3976]

Becoming Grand Nagus and enforcing nudism would be really funny.

[@Kenlo_Ren]

First video of 2024 congrats 🎉

[@AlzaboHD]

In North America it's still the last video of the year ayyyy

[@Kenlo_Ren]

Ah well hi from the future here in the UK.

[@jukesduck9363]

babe wake up new alzabo ck3 vid just dropped

[@tictac9229]

Awesome script, i love it😂

[@daratara5184]

There is the last member of the Knytling house (the dynasty of the danish kings that ruled england and norway too) as a courtier in aquitaine iirc

[@caniblmolstr452]

Really?

[@ZendikarMage42750]

Cool list. Too bad I only play in the 769 start date

[@m.d.9277]

A fine attempt at the pronunciation of Máel Sneachtaí, not of course, in any way correct but we admire the attempt

[@eulailalady491]

Hell yea dude

[@TakitowSpice]

I still don’t understand Eadgifu’s dynasty when historically she was sister of the dukes of Mercia and Northumbria.

[@sethleoric2598]

I love the idea of basically a 30 something deadbeat who's family probably doesnt like who only owns his house and some land and a 16 year old being responsible for some of the most powerful political dyansties in europe.

[@claymathews8814]

One of my favorites is Amir Abul Naim of the ductchy of Lahore, 1066. He’s an Ashari Tajik and he’s guaranteed to be ambitious, vengeful, and wrathful. You begin as a vassal of the ghaznavids so your short term goal is to go independent and found the Punjab kingdom. Once you do that you should be able to hybridize and form the ‘hindustani’ culture. From there you can holy war the rest of india until you can found an Empire. Eventually the mongols show up so you’ll have some drama late game.

[@BigEasyH]

I guess i already did the Hashimid playthrough without realizing he was the best Sayyid

[@croissantgaming2890]

The count just above the count of gorgan. He descends from the ancient arsacid dynasty under the house karenid his cousin is married to the last bavandid

[@1992zorro]

I think this guy might be giving subtle signs that he's the same guy of the channel 'You suck at cooking"

[@irgendwer3610]

6:28 Fried Rike

[@Nirob615]

Did they change Jarl Dyre the stranger from Kiev/Konugundr? I'm like 99% sure he starts disinherited as well doesn't he?

[@elenahaya1195]

I think he now has the "bastard funder" trait

[@starless267]

No, he always had bastard founder trait

[@pidor99]

In 867 is Ruslan Ruslanovich from Minsk

[@gibusllama3418]

Wait I'm here in December(I haven't slept yet) how do I praise the Sun?

[@ethanbrown7198]

Gold videos

[@macinnes800ad]

Funly enough I've read the actual history of Macbeth, and Duncan totally deserved to die, and I will never forgive Malcolm for ending the line of Gaelic kings in Scotland - nor Shakespeare for ruining our Kings reputation in the Sassenach's eyes

[@oliverthomas-couch]

Halpy new tear

[@thetaikonaut8397]

More CK3 videos in 2024 please

[@bigtub1101]

6:43 map looks like a dude with a blue pointy hat from the side

[@eulemithut8027]

867 AD Audr in Iceland The Only Woman and Kath in the North. Her Father is the ruler of Isle of Man.

[@GothBoiCliiqz]

El cid didn’t get a mention, poor guy

[@ChristianAuditore14]

What is a ce?

[@zikzik7960]

Fair is foul and foul is technical.

[@jorgizoran4340]

Malcolm didn't kill Macbeth, Macduff did.

[@cameronbaigrie876]

Hereward the wake is a good character I think

[@Jesse-cc2vm]

Is Dyre the stranger not disinherited??

[@2hameless]

Play Vic3 again, it got a hugeeee update.

[@nikolaitregouet]

Well-well-well. No, Welf is in fact NOT the only playable disinherited character. So is Dyre in 867)

[@chickenusgoddus464]

Galpi neu gear

[@TheFreezer700]

Interesting is you can play the isle of krete as the muslim andulison people, it is a rough campaign and worse yet that you start off at 60 years old but at least you have an heir for the tiny island. It can be rough but if you manage to make claims you can salvage the place

[@KhalDrogo493]

Tulunid ruler's father was an Oguz Turk. Just blended in like Bolghar and Shatou Turks.

[@Romaboo453]

A Yes Nagus

[@ChrissieBear]

Infanta is creepy af. xD

[@lzbscalle7943]

Playing as Sweden, randomly a Norse character popped up named something Af Raumariki. Weird

[@Threesixtyci]

....I can't watch this with the commentary audio on. I just can't.

[@paulschumacher4308]

FOR THE ALGORITHM!

[@validxd7581]

7:45 what game is that?

[@donpollo3154]

Civ 5 I think

[@6zwbob]

Yo where the comment engagement in here. Holidays are no excuse for everyone not to comment. Bump this mans engagemnt

[@kylem41000]

I like the zawu or zā (proper spelling) dynasty in Kawkaw in 867, they screwed up the actual timeline as the ruler in 867 should be the ruler in 1066 as he’s the one who converted to Muslim around then and you should be one of his ancestors in 867 instead but anyway, they’re apart of the songhai culture who ended up taking over much of the Mali empire around the 15th and 16th centuries and made the Songhai empire, I like seeing how early I can make and take over the Mali empire and turn it to the Songhai empire and put my culture on the map as there’s no land that actually follows your culture

[@Zseventyone]

Check the pronunciation of “piety.”

[@green_joos9900]

You misspronounced 'Moray' It's 'Muh-Ree', like the name

[@birphon]

I wonder if there is a character that has a Visigothic Culture. Since CK3 doesn't have Arianism maybe the goal would be to claim the Visigothic Lands as said Visi Character and then cook up an Arian faith (867 start) or Nicene Creed (1066 start). I know the dates don't match up for the flip between the faiths but a "starting" and "ending" point for them within CK3

[@starless267]

There used to be when The Royal Court had released but then Fate of Iberia wiped Visigoth culture from the game

[@birphon]

me, a visigothic enjoyer: *sad sounds*@@starless267

[@RULERofSTARS]

hny alzabohd

[@fairytaleproduction6075]

More

[@kelleybell2975]

For the algorithm