The depiction of feudalism in Crusader Kings II
It can be argued that the depiction of feudalism in-game violated since day one the "cardinal rule" of the classical feudalism model, i.e. "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal". Unlike the classical feudalism model, the game's depiction recognizes the top liege as the ultimate owner of all holdings in the realm. This can be seen in the following ways:
- As a vassal's income is partly derived from their own vassals, any liege above can potentially receive a portion, with the portion reducing dramatically as you go up the ladder, but a portion nonetheless.
- The amount of levies contributed by vassals is partly influenced by how developed their sub-realms are. This of course includes holdings held by said vassals' vassals.
- Any liege above can manipulate titles to turn a vassal's vassal into a direct vassal, including pressing claims.
- Declarations of war is issued against the top liege.
If anything, the model used in II more closely resembled the ideal model of feudalism in China during the Zhou Dynasty. Take the following lines from the Book of Odes (诗经, Shi Jing) as translated by James Legge:
"Under the wide heaven, all is the king's land. Within the sea-boundaries of the land, all are the king's servants." （Original: 溥天之下， 莫非王土。率土之滨， 莫非王臣）
