The Crown

In EU5, your government is at the very core of how you rule. You play as "the Crown," an abstract term representing the individual or group managing your nation, whether it's the Kingdom of France, the Ottoman Beylik, or even the Āltepētl of Tenōchtitlan.

Every nation begins with a unique government type — monarchies, theocracies, republics, hordes, or tribal systems — each with its own mechanics designed to reflect their strengths, struggles, and flavor. For instance, monarchies lean on dynasties and royal marriages to secure succession, while republics engage in a constant dance of elections.

Government type Map mode - 1337
Governments aren’t static either. Over the course of your campaign, you will see your nation evolve in response to both internal and external factors. A monarchy might transform into a revolutionary republic, or a landless minor Japanese clan could rise to claim the mantle of the Shogun..

Tied closely to all of this is our new Characters system. Characters represent different estates of your nation, and play active roles in shaping your government.

Characters avalaible in Aragon court - 1337

As a monarchy, you’ll guide your ruling dynasty, with some characters rising to the throne, others leading your armies or being pieces in your diplomatic strategies through royal marriages.

Marriage window for Portugal - 1337

We’re excited to show you how these systems interact with one another and what you can anticipate when playing EU5.