THE ISSUE -

The Chalukya dynasty of India was a huge family who ruled giant empires as well as numerous smaller kingdoms and vassal fiefs over a period spanning 7-8 centuries. This is not represented in the game properly, and creates confustion.

- Vatapi Chalukya (the original branch, ruled a huge and powerful empire in 6th, 7th and 8th centuries) also called Badami Chalukya. This main branch died out long ago. It only exists if you go back up in family trees.

There are six living branches present in the game -

- Kalyani Chalukya (the western branch based around Kalyani) are present as vassals of Rashtrakut Empire in 867, and in 1066 start date they have almost rebuilt their huge old empire.

- Vengi Chalukya (the eastern branch based around Vengi) are present as big 2-duchy warlords around Godavari river in 867, and rule as large and wealthy vassals of Chola Empire in 1066 start date.

- Vemulavada Chalukya (only exist in 867 start date based around Vemulavada) are another cadet branch of original Badami Chalukya, but due to their luck they are much weaker in power and only serve as vassal counts to Vengi Chalukya. They are dead by 1066.

- "Chaulukya" of Malwa (northern branch based in Chandhoba, which game misspells as Candhoba) who claim origin from the same source as the original Badami Chalukya branch. Another cadet of Badami Chalukya although they tried really hard to deny their connection to their southern cousins.

- "Calukya" of Gujarat (northwestern branch based in Somnath in 867, also Paradox misspelled their name name) is supposedly the same as the "Chaulukya" of Malwa.

The problem is, they are far better known in history as Solanki Rajput dynasty of Gujarat, a very powerful kingdom of high middle ages. But the game already has a separate Solanki dynasty representing them without any connection between this "Calukya" and them.

- Finally there is Chalukya Chola (only one single living landless courtier in 1066). This is actually a branch of Vengi Chalukya...or is it a branch of Chola dynasty? The point is, this cadet branch was very recently created when Chola and Vengi Chalukya families married each other.

In 1070 the Chola Emperor would be assassinated at a young age (without having any kids) and this new cadet branch would take over the throne instead, and go on to rule their empire through the next century.

There were even more cadet branches that are only present in CK2's 769 date, but not in this game so we don't have to care about them. Probably exist in history files, or probably not.

So to give you a rough idea -

Badami Chalukya
_____|Kalyani Chalukya
_____|Vengi Chalukya
__________|Chalukya Chola
_____|Vemulavada Chalukya
_____|Chaulukya (Malwa)
__________|"Calukya"/Solanki

SUGGESTIONS -

1. Connect them all to the original Badami Chalukya dynasty.

2. Make "Chalukya Chola" a cadet branch of Chola dynasty, because despite being Vengi Chalukya on their father's side, they considered themselves Chola and ruled as such.

3. Either (a) rename the 867 "Calukya" of Gujarat to Solanki and add a few new members in history to connect them to later Solanki, or (b) make the 1066 Solanki a cadet branch of this "Calukya". Or an even more drastic (but realistic) option in the form of arranging cadet branches as Chaulukya of Malwa -> "Calukya" of Gujarat -> Solanki

The Bagratids should be split between the Bagratuni in Armenia and the Bagrationi in Georgia

Originally posted by Garrett:

The Bagratids should be split between the Bagratuni in Armenia and the Bagrationi in Georgia

I'm not seeing a separate Bagratuni dynasty in the files. Are you suggesting that I split it off as a cadet branch of the existing Bagrationi dynasty (or vice versa)?

I hadn't planned on adding any new houses to the game with this mod, only reorganizing the existing ones. Not entirely opposed to it, but if I start adding houses, I might do so in a separate, complementary mod instead. I'll have to think about it.

Originally posted by Priyon:

THE ISSUE -

The Chalukya dynasty of India was a huge family who ruled giant empires as well as numerous smaller kingdoms and vassal fiefs over a period spanning 7-8 centuries. This is not represented in the game properly, and creates confustion.

...

SUGGESTIONS -

1. Connect them all to the original Badami Chalukya dynasty.

2. Make "Chalukya Chola" a cadet branch of Chola dynasty, because despite being Vengi Chalukya on their father's side, they considered themselves Chola and ruled as such.

3. Either (a) rename the 867 "Calukya" of Gujarat to Solanki and add a few new members in history to connect them to later Solanki, or (b) make the 1066 Solanki a cadet branch of this "Calukya". Or an even more drastic (but realistic) option in the form of arranging cadet branches as Chaulukya of Malwa -> "Calukya" of Gujarat -> Solanki

This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Thank you!

There are actually two dynasties listed in the dynasty file called "Solanki" - one Rajput and one Gujarati. I'll have to dig a little more to find out if there's any in-game genealogical relationship between them, what titles each holds, etc. Based solely on the cultures, though, do you think they'd both be part of the Chalukya dynasty, or was there a separate, unrelated Solanki dynasty historically?

A couple of under-the-hood things that are potentially relevant here:
1. While cadet branches can split off of other cadet branches in-game, the game doesn't keep track of which branches split off of which other branches. There's no tree structure or anything; they're all just treated as cadet branches of the same parent dynasty.
2. This mod works by dynamically changing characters' houses at game start. If there are multiple separate houses in vanilla that were not actually considered separate houses historically, it's a trivial matter for this mod to combine them.

So, for example, if there's no historical reason for Chaulukya of Malwa, "Calukya" of Gujarat, and Solanki to be considered separate houses, I can easily just make all of those characters Solanki instead.

With that in mind, how would you suggest that I handle that situation? Would it be better to make the Chaulukya and "Calukya" characters Solanki, or should I keep them as separate cadet branches under the Badami Chalukya parent dynasty?

Originally posted by Priyon:

There were even more cadet branches that are only present in CK2's 769 date, but not in this game so we don't have to care about them. Probably exist in history files, or probably not.

As the mod description says, I can't dynamically change the houses of characters that are already dead at game start, so yeah, any cadet branches that were extinct by 867 will have to wait until Paradox releases an earlier start date. They very well might be in the history files already, though. Without knowing their names, it's hard for me to say.

Originally posted by Uroshnor:

Originally posted by Garrett:

The Bagratids should be split between the Bagratuni in Armenia and the Bagrationi in Georgia

I'm not seeing a separate Bagratuni dynasty in the files. Are you suggesting that I split it off as a cadet branch of the existing Bagrationi dynasty (or vice versa)?

I hadn't planned on adding any new houses to the game with this mod, only reorganizing the existing ones. Not entirely opposed to it, but if I start adding houses, I might do so in a separate, complementary mod instead. I'll have to think about it.

Yes, theyre not separate in the game files however they were in real life. Im suggesting you make a new family for the Georgian Bagrationis and make them a cadet branch of the Armenian Bagratunis

Originally posted by Garrett:

Yes, theyre not separate in the game files however they were in real life. Im suggesting you make a new family for the Georgian Bagrationis and make them a cadet branch of the Armenian Bagratunis

Ok, that makes sense, and I'll consider it. Splitting up existing dynasties like that is potentially a lot more complicated to implement than combining them, though, so no promises.

Tte Karenids claim descent from a member of the Parthian clan Karen-Pahlav clan making them a cadet branch of that dynasty.

The Dabuyid claim descent from Jamasp the brother of Kavadh I making them a cadet branch of the Sassanids.

The Baduspanids claim descent from Paduspan I a son of Gil Gavbara founder of the Dabuyid dynasty making them a cadet branch of the Sassanids as well.

The Samanids claim descent from Bahrām Chōbin a member of the House of Mihran who briefly overthrew Koshrow I, making them a cadet branch of the House of Mihran.

This is an iffy one but the Bavandids claim descent from Bav a supposed grandson of Prince Kawus a brother of Koshrow I of the Sassanid Empire so you could potentionally make them a cadet branch of the Sassanids.