Desirability of Potential Brides

[Ruwaard]

Once the basic mechanism is worked out,

(1) It should matter on equality of the spouses, based on current titles and so forth. I don't like shelling out money (currency was rare, I know it is probably meant to represent stored resources) When a dynastic union is a possibility, both parties should hold the same tier of titles; historically, Fernando of Aragon was made king of Sicily by his father so that he would be equal to Queen Isabel of Castilla, just like Carlos V made the future Felipe II "king of Chile" when seeking the hand of Mary I Tudor. Even then, some diplomatic concessions (such as land, maybe adjustments to succession laws, etc.) should be sought out.

(2) unequal marriages as they were termed should cost a lot more; here prestige should come into play as well as the negative reaction of your own vassals. (weighed somehow on local norms if that is possible) In such cases, you could just pay money to even things out.

1 Just to nitpick, but Karel V made Filips II king of 'Naples' (Sicily) not Chile.

2 I like the idea, but it should also depend on the position in the line of succession; this reaction should be less for younger children of the monarch.
Furthermore a count with connections with the higher nobility, maybe a distant descendant of a monarch, should result in less objections, than a nobody, who just was created a count.

 

[unmerged(7537)]

The problem with bethrotals as suggested, is that it's still a "first come, first bethrotled" system, which means that the race is still there. Instead of marrying in the first days of hitting 16, we'll seek to cuff the brides into bethrotal in the first days of hitting 12 instead.

If it wasn't so offensive in our modern day and age, I would suggest a "marriage market" where each father places a desired "price" range (prestige, money, titles) to potential suitors for each eligible daughter and/or son. Whoever agrees to the price, gets to marry the bride/groom after a set time period (subject to player approval, if possible).

 

[Kayapo]

2. Beauty and Charisma: The bride's personal traits should definitely play into her desirability somewhat. If your king has just married the medieval equivalent of Helen of Troy, then he should get a bonus amount of prestige equal to all the high-fives he'd be getting.

Just two cents: It is curious you used this example. Arguably ancient Greece and Rome are prime examples of people to whom aesthetics mattered. Now medieval times isn't such a good example. While I see what you are trying to say and suggest. We must keep in mind that in medieval times beauty wasn't really a factor, most of the time.

 

[RedRooster81]

1 Just to nitpick, but Karel V made Filips II king of 'Naples' (Sicily) not Chile.

2 I like the idea, but it should also depend on the position in the line of succession; this reaction should be less for younger children of the monarch.
Furthermore a count with connections with the higher nobility, maybe a distant descendant of a monarch, should result in less objections, than a nobody, who just was created a count.

On #1, we are both correct. It is a point of honor among Chilean historians. I can search for the original marriage contract treaty is you are interested.

 

[Ruwaard]

On #1, we are both correct. It is a point of honor among Chilean historians. I can search for the original marriage contract treaty is you are interested.

It's certainly interesting, I knew Philip II was made king of Naples (Sicily) and Jerusalem, but apparantly he also got the title king of Chile; so yeah it's interesting, but I apologize for being a bit Eurocentric .

 

[SaberHRE]

THIS MIGHT BE UNORTHODOX
but what if we used a system that is used in football manager games.
So a count/duke/king makes a "bid" to marry another counts/dukes/kings daughter. The receiving party to accept the "bid" and once accepted can decide on smaller details such as when marriage would take place, would the soon to be bride join the court of her future husband or not, what the dowry would be etc. etc.

Similarly like in the football manager games prestige of the bidding party will influence whether the offer is accepted or not.

 

[RedRooster81]

THIS MIGHT BE UNORTHODOX
but what if we used a system that is used in football manager games.
So a count/duke/king makes a "bid" to marry another counts/dukes/kings daughter. The receiving party to accept the "bid" and once accepted can decide on smaller details such as when marriage would take place, would the soon to be bride join the court of her future husband or not, what the dowry would be etc. etc.

Similarly like in the football manager games prestige of the bidding party will influence whether the offer is accepted or not.

If you could figure out a way to that that, it would be awesome! CK1 gives you a dowry for the first daughter, which does not deduct from the groom's family's funds. Just what would you pay to have (the chance for) your grandchildren inherit Aquitaine or some other large principality?