Pope excommunicated my heir...how bad is that?

[Jeremydudeman81]

My firstborn son just got excommunicated. I can't find a reason why, but I'm wondering if this will make things difficult when he takes over. I'm still learning the game and have had many kingdoms fall apart soon after taking over as the heir. I do have other sons, wondering if it would be easier to just get rid of the first son somehow and the second son becomes heir.

I do wish they would tell me why or how he got excommunicated, because I'm trying to roleplay, so the reasoning would really determine how I would react.

[Sgt. Sarge]

War

[wei270]

pop will rarely excommunicate people he doesn't like, is your son pops rival? is your son like very sin ful, he has to be VERY VERY bad then some one can requested him to be excommunicated.

[Purest Warrior]

He most likely got excommunicated by a rival of his or at least someone who doesn't like him. It could also be someone who has an interest in his lands, if he (your son) is landed.

He has been excommunicated by his head of faith, so anyone of that faith will have an opinion malus with him. Assuming his future vassals are of his faith, that is bad, yes.

You can mouse over the "Communion" tenet in your religion (or his, if you are not of the same faith) to see the repercussions.

IIRC, he can pay indulgence to his head of faith to get rid of it.

[CrUsHeR]

Excommunication does actually block you from a number of things, like the "Restore the Holy Roman Empire" decision.

It also gives everyone a CB against you, but only to get you deposed in favor of your heir. Winning the "x-com" war as defender also lifts the excommunication.

Zealous vassals have a permanent -50 opinion of excommunicated rulers, so that can be very serious.

You should be able to get rid of it by "contributing" to a Great Holy War, where i'm not sure wether donating money would suffice (simply joining the war does)

Also:

Originally posted by Purest Warrior:

IIRC, he can pay indulgence to his head of faith to get rid of it.

Indulgences don't work if you are excommunicated. This has its own interaction

https://ck3.paradoxwikis.com/Interactions#Seek_Indulgences
https://ck3.paradoxwikis.com/Interactions#Make_Declaration_of_Repentance

[Jeremydudeman81]

Well he took over and everyone hated him. I forged some alliances through marriage to increase my military strength, making it so my vassals could not overpower me. Started to work on building dread, but then he drank himself to death 6 months into being King and now I'm his 6 year old son. I thought my regent was set to be my grandmother, but it's a random mayor vassal of mine. I have no prestige, my uncles are in factions against me, but I do have 1000 gold. I might do a grand tour if I can as a child King.

[Emperor2000]

Originally posted by Jeremydudeman81:

My firstborn son just got excommunicated. I can't find a reason why, but I'm wondering if this will make things difficult when he takes over. I'm still learning the game and have had many kingdoms fall apart soon after taking over as the heir. I do have other sons, wondering if it would be easier to just get rid of the first son somehow and the second son becomes heir.

I do wish they would tell me why or how he got excommunicated, because I'm trying to roleplay, so the reasoning would really determine how I would react.

In this Situation:
Have a strong Hook on your HoF and force him to lift the Excommunication of your Son.

Creating a new Faith can help to prevent this in the Future, when you change all Criminal Doctrines to be viewed as Criminal, because you will then always get a Strong Hook, when you blackmail Characters with Secrets.
(And the AI loves to become a Criminal in this Game).