Crusader Kings 3is a hit medieval strategy game for players to change the course of history with the formation of never-seen-before realms, attempting to revive ancient Empires and Kingdoms of the past, or simply playing out what might’ve realistically happened. Forming Empires specifically can be a difficult task for players, with it usually requiring many counties. This, in turn, means a huge list of vassals that can easily start a faction against players and ultimately overthrow or gain independence from the player’s empire.
The rarest of Empires inCrusader Kings 3are even harder to control, let alone form in the first place. Highly contested locations such as Jerusalem are needed to form some of these Empires, making them extremely rare due to the pure difficulty of the region, whilst other rare Empires simply need specific circumstances to be formed.
Updated June 13, 2025, by Joe Grantham:Players can have manygoals in their Crusader Kings 3 playthroughs, not all of them necessarily involving war. The most common objective is to reach the height of power, forming an Empire and conquering vast swathes of land. However, someincredibly rare Empires in CK3can only be formed under certain circumstances, some of which may even be out of the player’s control. For example, there are several Empires known as Khanates that can only be formed after the collapse of the Mongol Empire in specific regions. Additionally, some of these did not exist in real-world history but are based on alternate histories that players can create in the game. Throughout development, a few new rare empires have been added to CK3.
Unite The Kingdoms Around The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
Requirements to form the Empire of Beth Nahrain:
The Empire of Beth Nahrain is a fun alternative history realm that imagines those with Syriac heritage uniting the kingdoms that surround the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This rare Empire inCK3can be formed via the Home of the Rivers decision, but other than having a Syriac Cultural Pillar, players must control a lot of land.
As a reward, however, players will receive multiple bonuses, including 1000 Renown, allowing them to unlock some of thebest Dynasty Legacies inCK3. They will also have the option to determine the fate of their new Empire, such as by focusing on Learning or Martial, or they can convert to Nestorianism.
An Islamic Empire In Northern India
Requirements to form the Empire of Hindustan:
Added with the ‘Crown’ patch 1.15, the Empire of Hindustan is a historical Empire that players can now form by playing as Muslim rulers and conquering vast swathes of northern India. This can be achieved by completing the many requirements demanded of a decision simply known as Found the Empire of Hindustan.
This impressive feat will give players de jure claims over the rest of India, setting them up for cataclysmic conquests in the future. Most interestingly, however, players will also get the chance to adoptCK3’sAdministrative government form, opening up gameplay options that are usually reserved for the Byzantine Empire.
A Crusader State That Takes Over The Byzantine Empire
Requirements to form the Latin Empire:
One of the most exciting Empires to form inCK3is the Latin Empire, as it is won via the Fourth Crusade, which attacks the Byzantine Empire. While there are scenarios in other start dates where this can eventually be achieved, it’s easiest to start in 1178 as a Catholic with lots of troops and gold.
Not only will strength be needed to win the crusade, which has its own event for those with theRoads to PowerDLC, but to become the ruler of the Latin Empire, players will need to contribute the most in the war.
A Mongol Empire In Africa
Requirements to form the Baruun Khanate:
The Baruun Khanate is a rare Empire that can technically be formed inCrusader Kings 3, but only under one circumstance. For the Baruun Khanate to appear, the player or AI must have formed the Mongol Empire and somehow spread their influence tothe continent of Africa, which inCK3is simply the Northern half. Then, if the Mongol Empire collapses for whatever reason, the Baruun Khanate will appear.
This is a made-up title, however. In the real Middle Ages, the Mongols never made it past Egypt, with a battle lost against the Mamluks in 1260 deterring them from trying again. Due to the geography of Africa and the Mongols' preference for land rather than water, without first taking Egypt, there wouldn’t have been much chance of taking the rest of the continent, even if the Mongols had desired it.
An Empire Uniting The Slavs
Requirements to form Slavia:
Uniting the Slavic regions is no easy feat; with powerful kingdoms such as Kiev, Bulgaria, Bohemia, Poland, Croatia, and many more being needed to be under players' control, forming the Empire of Slavia will require a strong and large army. This Empire comes with a neat nickname depending on whether players' characters are male or female, with male characters gaining ‘the Bogatyr’ nickname whilst female characters gain ‘the Polyanitsa’ nickname.
Luckily, the list of requirements is rather short. The player’s character must be of East Slavic, West Slavic, or South Slavic heritage whilst controlling all the region of Slavia.Players need 600 goldto form the Empire of Slavia officially, which isn’t a too outlandish cost. The main struggle for players will be conquering the required duchies, kingdoms, and counties, as not only is Eastern Europe an ever-changing landscape, the cultures and religions are very varied, making it tough to avoid factions and dislike towards players' characters.
A Mongol Empire In India
Requirements to form the Black Horde:
Many people have heard of the Golden Horde or even the White Horde, both of which are available inCrusader Kings 3.However, few have heard of the Black Horde as it is a made-up title for the game. In real history, the Mongols never managed to establish a proper foothold in the Indian subcontinent, despite numerous invasions in the 13th and 14th centuries.
For the Black Horde Empire to form inCK3, the Mongol Empire must first be present in the region of India, before collapsing and fragmenting into many smaller Empires or Khanates, the Black Horde being just one of these. Due to the fact that the Mongols certainly had a vested interest in conquering India (or at least parts of it), the Black Horde is one of the more realistic alternate-history realms to appear from the fracturing of the Mongol Empire.
A Mongol Empire In The British Isles
Requirements to form the Aarlud Khanate:
Despite the impressive conquests of the Mongol Empire in the Middle Ages, they didn’t quite make it to Scandinavia, and the British Isles further west naturally remained untouched as well. However,Crusader Kings 3enables the player or sometimes the AI to alter the course of history, perhaps pushing the borders of the Mongol Empire all the way to the shores of North West Europe.
Interestingly, if the Mongol Empire then collapses while present in the regions of Scandinavia and Britannia, then an incredibly rare Empire-level title, the Aarlud Khanate, can form. The presence of Mongol culture in these coastal regions certainly makes for someunique gameplay inCrusader Kings 3.
The Armenian Empire Restored
Requirements to form Greater Armenia:
Sitting on the border of the Byzantine Empire,the sleeping Empire of Greater Armenia isn’t in the easiest of locations. The Byzantines will most likely be a challenge that players will come across, so building up a strong military is important for this attempt.
There are many requirements needed before being able to create the title of Greater Armenia. Players need 2000 prestige and 1000 piety. Players must be a King/Queen in a Feudal or Clan government, with the capital being located within the former Armenian Empire with all of that region being under players' control. Players must also be of either Armenian culture or follow the Apostolic faith in order to create Greater Armenia.
An Empire Of Scandinavia And England
Requirements to form the High Kingdom of the North Sea:
Having an Empire centered around Vikings and gaining the nickname ‘Sea King’ is surely something that players will want to experience inCrusader Kings 3.This is possible with the extremely cool Empire that is the High Kingdom Of The North Sea, which can only be accessed if Players have theNorthern Lords DLC Pack. However, creating this Empire is not exactly a walk in the park.
Players must control the Kingdoms of England, Norway, and Denmark for at least 30 years each whilst also controlling the region of the North Sea Heartlands. Players must be of North Germanic or West Germanic heritage, along with 200 gold,1000 prestige, and a prestige Level of Fame being at least ‘Illustrious’.
A Crusader Empire In The Levant
Requirements to form the Outremer Empire:
An Empire that engulfs the Kingdoms of Arabia, Jerusalem, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Israel is a powerful but difficult-to-form Empire. With Christian and Muslim countries participating in Crusades for Jerusalem often,being able to not only take, but hold Jerusalem along with powerhouses such as Arabia, Egypt, and Syria makes forming the Outremer Empire one of the toughest challenges in the game.
To form the Outremer Empire, players must be an independent ruler of at least the title of a Duke. Players must be Catholic, with the formation of the Empire being at the same time period as Crusades being available. Players' realm capital must be in the Outremer region whilst also having the fame level of ‘Living Legend’.
