Unable to transfer vassals, can't be found!

[Zhikaka]

Well, as a huge Rome Empire in Iron Man, I'm over my vassal limit once again 55/35 while demesne is 8/8. This time it's getting serious. Usually I've the heir and some titular kingdoms to whom I transfer border county vassals.

I have Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria, Baghdad, and the Duchy and most of of the counties of Sicily as demesne. That makes about 35 baronies/churches/cities. I also guess I have about 30 viceroy kings, and about 3 real kings as relics from the pre-imperial age.

Well the problem is this: when I choose a king and select Transfer Vassalage I can only see on the list the Varangian Guard and all the little baronies and burghers. No Dukes or Counts selectable! But I know I have dukes at least as I can see them on the character vassal list and when I go to click them directly they show me as their direct liege. But I can't transfer them?

I need help getting down on my vassal limit! Thanks!

[Zsrai]

https://ck2.paradoxwikis.com/Diplomatic_actions#Transfer_vassalage

[Zhikaka]

hmm so I can't give random dukes even to titular kingdoms?

[Azunai]

baronies don't count towards the limit at all. if the game displays 55 vassals, that's 55 counts or higher.

kinda hard to tell why you can't get rid of dukes. if they are de jure vassals of kingdoms you hold personally, you can't transfer them (can only transfer dukes to their de jure king). you didn't specify how many kingdoms you personally hold. if it's more than 1, get rid of the others and you'll also get rid of the dukes within.

also, you'll probably have to consolidate the viceroys sooner or later if you want to expand further. ie. give more than 1 kingdom to each of them so the total number of vassals goes down (guy who holds 2 or 3 kingdoms still only counts as 1 vassal)

[Zhikaka]

I hold no kingdoms at all. I tend to gain them just to dish them out as viceroyalties to content same culture+religion peasants. Then when they die I dish them out again. This cycle keeps me on the throne. But none of them "want to control" anything at the moment. That makes about 20 counts or dukes that can't be gifted out. 3-5 of my vassal viceroys are titular kings, 3 are real kings and rest are viceroys.

But I hold many border duchies that I do not own the kingdom to. I thought I had transferred dukes to people but I could be wrong.

[Zhikaka]

And yes I do occasionally consolidate kingdom regions if there is a good traited strong "same culture+religion" king and a kingdom title with de jure lands with no good traited "same religion+culture" leaders, then I give it to the good king to sort out for a generation or two.

[al_x_ator2411]

I had the same problem when I started conquring Great Britain. Until I managed to usurp England I was way above vassal limit. There's really not much you can do until you get the whole kingdom the extra duchies belong to.

Just try to transfer away all vassal counts (I think those are not subject to de jure limitations) and give even more viceroyalties to the same person irregardless of culture.

Also focus your heirs to diplo education.