Theocracy

A theocracy is a realm where the capital is a temple holding. Theocracies can range in size from baronies to empires, and are unplayable. Theocracies use succession laws unavailable to normal realms, but can be vassals or lieges to regular counts, dukes etc.

Succession Laws

Catholic theocracies use the Investiture succession law. There are two variants of Investiture; free and papal. In Free Investiture the successor is determined by the theocracy's liege, or the theocracy's head if independent. In Papal Investiture the successor is determined by the Pope. Muslim theocracies use the Agnatic Open succession law. All other theocracies use the Open Elective succession law. For most theocracies of baronial rank with the Open Elective succession law the successor is a randomly generated character.

Titles

The title afforded to the head of a theocracy depends on the rank and religion:

	Baron	Count	Duke	King	Emperor
Catholic	Bishop	Prince-Bishop	Prince-Archbishop	King-Bishop	Emperor
Orthodox	Bishop	Metropolitan	Prince-Archbishop	King-Bishop	Emperor
Sunni	*	*	*	*	*
Shia	*	*	*	*	*
Zoroastrian	Herbad	Count	Duke	King	Emperor
Norse	Godi/Gydja	Seidsman/Vala	Fylkir	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
Slavic	Priest/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
Romuva	Priest/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
Suomenusko	Shaman/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
Tengri	Shaman/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
West African	Priest/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
Aztec	Priest/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress
Hellenic	Priest/Priestess	High Priest	Archpriest	Hierophant	Emperor/Empress

(*) The titles of Islamic rulers are the same as for a regular rulers and depend on culture.

Similarly, the realms themselves can be known by other names:

	Barony	County	Duchy	Kingdom	Empire
Catholic	Bishopric	Prince-Bishopric	Prince-Archbishopric	Theocracy	Empire
Orthodox	Bishopric	Prince-Bishopric	Prince-Archbishopric	Patriarchate	Empire
Sunni	Mosque	*	*	*	*
Shia	Mosque	*	*	*	*
Zoroastrian	Vahram	County	Duchy	Kingdom	Empire
Norse	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
Slavic	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
Romuva	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
Suomenusko	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
Tengri	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
West African	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
Aztec	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire
Hellenic	Temple	Theocracy	Theocracy	Theocracy	Empire

(*) The titles of Islamic rulers are the same as for a regular rulers and depend on culture.

The titles of the Heads of Religion are slightly different, and some of them can be held by secular lords.

	Realm	Title	Rank	Secular?
Catholic	The Papacy	Pope	King	No
Orthodox	The Ecumenical Patriarchy	Ecumenical Patriarch	King	No
Nestorian	The Patriarchy of the East	Patriarch of the East	Duke	No
Monothelite	The Monothelite Patriarchy	Monothelite Patriarch	Duke	No
Miaphysite	The Miaphysite Papacy	Coptic Pope	Duke	No
Monophysite	The Monophysite Papacy	Monophysite Pope	Duke	No
Sunni	The Sunni Caliphate	Caliph	Duke	Yes
Shia	The Shia Caliphate	Caliph	Duke	Yes
Zoroastrian	The Zoroastrian Church*	Moabadan-Moabad	Duke	No
Norse	The Fylkirate**	Fylkir	Duke	Yes
Slavic	The Slavic Church**	High Priest	Duke	No
Romuva	The Romuvan Church**	High Priest	Duke	No
Suomenusko	The Suomenusko Church**	High Priest	Duke	No
Tengri	The Tengri Church**	High Priest	Duke	No
West African	The West African Church**	High Priest	Duke	No
Aztec	The Aztec Church**	High Priest	Duke	No

(*) Requires the restoration of the high priesthood - can only be done by the Shahanshah of the Persian Empire.

(**) Requires the reformation of the religion.

Converting Counties From Theocracy

Grant the county to the baron of a castle holding in the county. The county will behave as a normal holding with the castle as the county capital from then on.

External Links

• Theocracy