Damon Mcknight
The Shadow Kingdom event in Europa Universalis IV can be a challenging obstacle for players seeking to unite the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) as Austria. The event is based on the historical independence of Italian states from the HRE and can lead to the departure of Italian states from the Empire, impacting expansion plans and alliances. To prevent this, players must ensure the Kingdom of Italy is under the control of the HRE, which requires significant resources. Alternatively, players can choose to form Italy themselves to gain reduced core creation costs. Another strategy is to focus on improving relations with Italian and Southern German states, as positive relations can prevent the formation of coalitions against the player. Additionally, players can consider colonizing and strengthening their position before confronting Austria and the electors, making it easier to dismantle the HRE and expand into Northern Italy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Add all of Italy to the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Add Rome to the HRE via decision and then return it to the Pope |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Ensure all Italian states are either: allied with the Emperor, subjects of the Emperor, Free Cities, or have at least a 150 opinion of the Emperor |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Have good relations with all Italians/Southern Germans and improve relations with them |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Take out Venice first, then the Pope |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Add provinces to the HRE |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Ensure all De jure provinces in Italy are owned by members of the HRE |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Ensure all Italian states are vassals to a Germanic member |
| How to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event | Ensure a Germanic state controls an Italian region |
| How to resolve the issue as the Emperor | Rein in the Italian states or allow them to leave the HRE |
| How to deal with Imperial Authority after the Shadow Kingdom event | Change the makeup of free cities |
| How to deal with Imperial Authority after the Shadow Kingdom event | Use Bestow Imperial Grace instead of Send Gift or Influence |
| How to deal with the Reformation after the Shadow Kingdom event | Allow the Papal State to join the HRE |
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![Shadow Kingdom [CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LZlvuDkyL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
The 'Rein in Northern Italy' decision
The Rein in Northern Italy decision is a feature in Europa Universalis IV that allows the player to prevent the Shadow Kingdom event and keep Italian states in the HRE. This decision adds the emperor's and their subjects' Italian provinces to the HRE immediately, preventing the Shadow Kingdom event from occurring.
To make use of this decision, the player must ally with all Italian minors or defeat them in war. This can be done by either using selective claims and an alliance network or by going to war and then forming an alliance with the Italian states. It is important to note that Austria needs to be at peace for the AI to accept alliances. Additionally, the player must ensure a strong position to counteract AI hesitation to ally with a player that has many alliances.
The decision provides flexibility in achieving the goal of preventing the Shadow Kingdom event. It allows Austria to take some or all of the provinces with vassals or PUs without needing to hold them directly to add them to the HRE. However, this comes at the cost of losing the potential Imperial Authority bonus from adding those provinces normally.
The Rein in Northern Italy decision is particularly useful for players aiming to unite the HRE as Austria. By utilizing this decision, players can maintain control over the Italian states and prevent them from becoming independent, ensuring a more unified and powerful empire.
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The Shadow Kingdom Event
Reining in the Italian states requires the player to have good relations with them. Positive relations will prevent a coalition from forming against the player. This can be achieved by having diplomats constantly improve relations with all Italians/Southern Germans. Additionally, having an alliance with the Emperor, being a subject of the Emperor, being a Free City, and having at least a 150 opinion of the Emperor will help to rein in the Italian states. If the player desires to keep some Italian states in the HRE, they can use the "Rein in Northern Italy" decision, which costs 50 Imperial Authority. This decision must be made before January 1490, as after this date, every reined-in Italian state adds 5 Imperial Authority, and every other state subtracts 10 Imperial Authority and leaves the HRE.
Allowing the Italian states to leave the HRE will result in a loss of Imperial Authority. However, it provides an opportunity to re-add them to the HRE for 1 Imperial Authority each. This can be beneficial if the player wishes to form Italy, as it grants reduced core creation costs from Italian ideas. Additionally, allowing the Papal State to join the HRE will make the Reformation Event less frequent for the Germanic cultural group.
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Imperial Authority
As Austria, you are in a prime position to form the Holy Roman Empire, starting as Emperor and with several diplomatic advantages. However, the Shadow Kingdom event can be a challenge, and players often seek to prevent it or mitigate its effects. Here is some information on Imperial Authority and how it relates to the Shadow Kingdom.
Monthly Imperial Authority (IA) is influenced by several factors:
- More princes in the HRE: +0.004 IA per prince over 25.
- Up to 8 free cities: +0.005 IA per city (with Common Sense).
- Electors that are vassals or missing electors: −0.1 IA per elector.
- Imperial provinces under the control of non-members or their subjects: −0.005 IA per province.
The Shadow Kingdom Event
The Shadow Kingdom event represents the historical independence of Italian states from the HRE. It specifically causes the Northern Italian states to leave the HRE. This event can be prevented if the entire Kingdom of Italy is under the control of the HRE. Alternatively, Italian states that are vassals of Germanic members will choose to stay, and if a Germanic state controls an Italian region, that region won't secede.
If the event occurs, there are ways to maintain or increase IA. One strategy is to use the Rein in Northern Italy decision, which can be used before the event fires in January 1490. This decision costs 50 IA, but it can prevent the loss of IA due to the event. Another strategy is to plan for an imperial reform shortly before 1490, which will reset IA to near zero, softening the blow of the event.
After the event, there may be a surplus of IA. This can be used to change the makeup of free cities, bestow imperial grace, or influence the Reformation. Allowing the Papal State to join the HRE can reduce the frequency of the Reformation event for the Germanic cultural group.
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The Reformation
Preventing the Spread of Protestantism
To prevent the spread of Protestantism, enforce religious unity on all nations where the Reformation arises. If the capital of a nation is a Center of Reformation, you can request that they switch back to Catholicism. If they accept, you won't have to worry about the passive spread of Protestantism in that nation. However, if they refuse, you gain a casus belli, allowing you to go to war and enforce a return to Catholicism through the peace deal. Alternatively, you can fabricate claims on bordering Protestant nations and force them back to Catholicism through the peace deal. With strong allies and PUs, these wars should be quick and easy, and by attacking and force-converting individual nations, you can maintain zero AE.
Dealing with Centers of Reformation
Centers of Reformation can be tricky to deal with due to the -100% missionary chance in the first 20 years. However, a strategy to counter them is to ensure they become the capital of a nation, and then force-convert that nation. When a nation converts, its capital automatically changes religion as well, even if it is a Center of Reformation. Thus, by forcing a nation with a Center of Reformation to convert, you effectively eliminate that Center of Reformation. Sometimes, it may be necessary to release a nation so that the Center of Reformation becomes its capital, or to conquer it and convert it yourself if it is challenging to get the Center of Reformation as the capital.
Managing the Reformation as Emperor
If you are the Emperor, you have the option to convert to Protestantism yourself. However, this will trigger an election, and you will not be eligible to become Emperor again until you win or tie a Holy War. Converting to Protestantism can make strategic sense if the Reformation has been very successful, you are struggling with low religious unity, or you have already lost the throne. Being Protestant provides a +15% relations benefit, which can be advantageous for an Emperor.
Delaying the Reformation
Delaying the Reformation can also be a viable strategy. By adding the Papal State to the HRE, you can make the Reformation Event trigger less frequently for the Germanic cultural group. Additionally, having the Papal State in the HRE increases the likelihood of the Reformation Center spawning outside the HRE, making it easier to manage.
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Dismantling the HRE
Dismantling the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) in Europa Universalis IV as Austria involves navigating the Shadow Kingdom event, which portrays the historical independence of Italian states from the HRE. This event challenges the HRE emperor and interacts with the German and Italian states in the game.
To dismantle the HRE, you must either prevent the Shadow Kingdom event or manage its consequences strategically. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Preventing the Shadow Kingdom Event: The Shadow Kingdom event can be prevented by ensuring that the entire Kingdom of Italy is under the control of HRE members. This can be achieved by having positive relations with Italian states and southern Germans, as positive relations prevent coalitions from forming against you. You can also add provinces to the HRE by having good relations and ensuring that nearby forces feel threatened by other powers.
- Rein in the Italian States: If you cannot prevent the Shadow Kingdom event, you have two options: rein in the Italian states or let them leave the HRE. To rein in the Italian states, you must have an alliance with them, win a war against them, or maintain high relations (>150) before a certain deadline. If you succeed, the Italian states will remain in the HRE.
- Manage Imperial Authority: If you rein in many Italian states, you may have a surplus of Imperial Authority. This can be utilized to change the makeup of free cities and influence the Papal State's decision to join the HRE, which can impact the frequency of the Reformation Event. However, be mindful that each imperial reform resets Imperial Authority to 0.
- Plan for Imperial Reforms: If you desire to keep some Italian states in the HRE, plan for an imperial reform shortly before 1490. This reform costs 50 Imperial Authority and will reset your authority to near zero, but it can help you retain some Italian provinces. Ensure that the desired Italian states are reined in by January 1490, as this is when the Shadow Kingdom event is highly probable to occur.
- Dismantle the HRE: If you choose to let the Italian states leave the HRE or fail to rein them in, you can still work towards dismantling the HRE. This requires occupying Austria and all of the electors' capitals in a war. Ally with as many electors as possible, and then you won't need to occupy their capitals as long as they are not occupied by someone else.
- Expand and Consolidate: After dismantling the HRE, focus on expansion and consolidation. You can expand into northern Italy and form Italy, or explore other directions, such as expanding west and taking over Iberia for colonization. Strengthen your position and build your power before engaging in further conflicts.
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Frequently asked questions
The Shadow Kingdom event in Europa Universalis IV refers to when the Italian states gain independence from the HRE.
During the event, Italian states leave the HRE, and the player's alliances may break down.
To prevent the event, you must ensure that the entire kingdom of Italy is under the control of an HRE member. Alternatively, you can add Rome to the HRE and then return it to the Pope, who will then join the HRE.
You can either use the "Rein in Northern Italy" decision or ensure that the Italian states have been reined in by 1490 January.
Allowing the Papal State to join the HRE will cause the Reformation Event to trigger less frequently for the Germanic cultural group.
