Elective gavelkind combines features of Gavelkind with succession voting. The primary title goes to an elected member of the ruler's dynasty, but other titles may be distributed among the ruler's sons.
Elective gavelkind is primarily used by unreformed pagan tribal rulers when they have no other succession law choices.
Features
Like Gavelkind, it allows for +30% demesne limit, removes the prestige penalty for having unlanded sons, and prevents destroying titles. Primary titles will be given to the primary heir while excess titles will be divided evenly between the junior heirs.
Like Tanistry, all significant title holders within the realm vote for candidates from among the ruling dynasty. If the chosen successor is not one of the ruler's sons, all of the ruler's sons will be considered junior heirs.
In addition, Elective Gavelkind has several unique features for junior heirs:
- Upon succession in kingdoms and empires, new kingdoms might be created for junior heirs. The outgoing ruler must control 51% of the de jure kingdom and meet any other specific requirements for creating that kingdom. Since many kingdoms have additional AI requirements, mostly related to culture, this means player realms are more vulnerable to splits than AI realms!
- Junior heirs always get the choice to become independent peacefully. While this does not cause a war, the primary heir receives claims on their primary titles. These claims are not inheritable, but they are strong, allowing them to be pressed simultaneously or, if tribal, pressed in a duel. Junior heirs controlled by AI choose whether to become independent based on whether they are
/ 
and based on their opinion of their new liege.
If used by a player-controlled realm, the player will play as their elected successor in the primary title.
Voting
Voters are direct(?) vassals one or two ranks lower. For count titles, there are no voters other than the ruler.
Voters evaluate candidates as detailed in the Succession voting article. Elective gavelkind features two special voter preferences:
- Voters prefer young adults ("he is in his prime")
- Voters prefer candidates with high martial skill and personal combat skill (assuming warrior values)
Opinion
A ruler under Elective Gavelkind succession will face the following opinion modifiers:
| Character | Opinion modifier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Children | +15 | Will get something out of the succession |
| All other dynasty members | +5 | Primary heir can move between branches of the dynasty. |
Strategies
- See also: Gavelkind#Strategies
In an empire, consider granting kingdoms to collateral relatives. This is often better than allowing the kingdoms to be distributed among junior heirs, who will have the option of independence, and the inclination to press faction claims if they remain vassals.
The Family focus can improve relations among your children, making it less likely that junior heirs will choose independence.