Please add adoption!

[Metz77]

It was fairly common for monarchs in the medieval era (and even beyond — i.e. Elizabeth I and James VI-and-I) to adopt someone as their heir if it seemed clear they were going to die childless, particularly if they or their court were leery of who the title would pass to by the normal rules of succession. Obviously in adopting non-family members this should still cause a game over, but sometimes there are unlanded family members floating around who aren't eligible for the succession but would otherwise allow for the continuation of the dynasty. The AI, on the other hand, might choose to adopt a non-family member since it wouldn't end the game for them.

This should probably cost a large amount of prestige (or whatever the equivalent will be in CK3) and like any succession change give opinion maluses to anyone in line for the throne, to prevent it being used frivolously. It should probably also require the assent of the majority of your most influential vassals.

 

[TheAtreides84]

Yup. At least make it a religious reform option. For a cathar ruler it would be more pious to adopt a child instead of generating one, for example.

 

[Puking Panda]

How much did this actually happen in history though? Even Elizabeth's case was mostly her just choosing an heir outside her family and didn't in any way resemble an adoption, not even a Roman-style one as they didn't have a typical mother-son relationship with Elizabeth even killing his actual mother nor did James take her family name or anything.

What I think you mean is that the game needs to give the player more agency in choosing their heirs. If your eldest son slept with your wife(who might or might not be his mother) or bugs you in any other way you should be able to give your inheritance to one of your younger sons or even a brother/nephew instead. If there are laws agianst it then this should be accompanied with opinion malusses for you, your new heir and give other claimants, particularly the eldest son u just disinherited, a way to dispute the succession and split the realm apart in a civil war.

 

[Metz77]

How much did this actually happen in history though? Even Elizabeth's case was mostly her just choosing an heir outside her family and didn't in any way resemble an adoption, not even a Roman-style one as they didn't have a typical mother-son relationship with Elizabeth even killing his actual mother nor did James take her family name or anything.

What I think you mean is that the game needs to give the player more agency in choosing their heirs. If your eldest son slept with your wife(who might or might not be his mother) or bugs you in any other way you should be able to give your inheritance to one of your younger sons or even a brother/nephew instead. If there are laws agianst it then this should be accompanied with opinion malusses for you, your new heir and give other claimants, particularly the eldest son u just inherited, a way to dispute the succession and split the realm apart in a civil war.

Perhaps you're right — a quick bit of research seems to indicate that I'm thinking more of practices in Antiquity than the Middle Ages regarding actual adoption. That said, I think it could be an interesting and useful addition as perhaps a kind of governmental or religious reform.

And I do agree that a ruler ought to be able to go against the actual inheritance laws, with all the resulting instability, tyranny, and bad opinions that would cause. Maybe it could even give a permanent opinion malus against the new heir that results in those succession wars you mentioned. That could even possibly be tied in with some sort of cadet dynasty mechanic, which I think is something everybody's wanted for years in CK2.

 

[the glory of plain]

wanted adoption system too
even if it was not common at middle age west europe
there are many other part of the world on the map

 

[Wade Aznable]

I agree with @Puking Panda when saying that we should have the chance to disinherit an heir who misbehaved greatly towards us.

 

[neutrondecay]

James VI was Elizabeth's heir - her dynasty was extinct, and he represented the senior female line.

But having adoption as a religious reform option sounds like a really good idea.

nd

 

[Arona]

I dont think there will be adoption couse now there is realy focus on dynasty and legacy. So you build up your dynasty for generations to have strong stasis and resembleance and then you just take random guy as your heir who us some weak commoner. IN RPG style you could take one but dont expect to hold throne too long couse even your kinswoman from end of map will have better claim by blood.

 

[Metz77]

Update: Per this post, adoption is planned but will not be in on release.