Swearing fealty to some other lord is fine for a while, but sooner or later every Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord player wants the same thing: their own banner flying over their own land.

Founding your own kingdom is absolutely doable, but the game does not hand it to you, and the moment you declare it, half of Calradia will want you dead. Here is exactly how to do it, and how to survive the aftermath.

Short answer: To found a kingdom you need a Clan Tier of 4 (around 900 renown) and to own at least one fief, a castle or a town. Then go to that fief, assign a companion as governor, talk to them, and choose the form a kingdom option.

Have a large war chest ready first, ideally around 500,000 denars, because every rival kingdom will declare war on you almost immediately.

What You Need Before You Start

• Clan Tier 4. You need to grow your clan to tier 4, which takes roughly 900 renown. Renown comes from winning battles, placing well in tournaments, and completing quests.
• A fief you own. You must personally own a castle or a town. You cannot found a kingdom as a landless wanderer.
• A serious war chest. There is no hard cash requirement to press the button, but you want around 500,000 denars on hand, because construction, wages, food, garrisons, and bribing other clans to join you all cost a fortune once the wars start.

Step 1: Grind Your Clan to Tier 4

Everything starts with renown. Fight and win battles, especially against bandits and enemy parties, enter town tournaments for renown and prizes, and take on quests from notables and lords.

As your renown climbs, your clan tier rises with it, and tier 4 is the gate you have to clear. This is also the natural time to build up your economy, so read our money guide and get workshops and caravans running while you grind.

Step 2: Get Your First Fief

This is the part that trips people up, because you rarely get land as a fully independent clan early on. The cleanest path is to join an existing kingdom first, either as a mercenary or a sworn vassal, and fight in their wars.

Win battles and sieges, build up your influence, and you will eventually be gifted a fief or win the vote for one you helped capture. The classic trick: serve a kingdom, get awarded a castle for your service, then leave the kingdom and keep the fief. Now you own land as an independent clan.

Step 3: Build Your War Chest and Your Groundwork

Do not declare the second you can. Being an independent clan is safe, nobody attacks you unless you attack them first, so use that grace period. Bank as much money as possible, recruit and train a strong army, and ideally grab a few castles rather than just one so you have something to hand out to allies later.

If you are in a war when you form your kingdom, it drags in everyone, so end any active wars first if you can. Lay the groundwork before you light the fuse.

Step 4: Form the Kingdom

When you are ready, the actual founding is quick:

• Go to a fief you own and open Manage Town or Manage Castle.
• Assign a companion as governor by clicking the governor slot and choosing one of your companions.
• Talk to that governor and select the form a kingdom dialog option. Name your kingdom and pick your banner, and it is done.

Congratulations, you are now a sovereign ruler of Calradia. Enjoy it for about five seconds.

Step 5: Survive the Wars That Follow

The instant your kingdom exists, rival kingdoms start declaring war, often several at once. This is where most new rulers collapse, so plan for it.

• Garrison your fiefs. Leave enough troops to hold your walls, because you cannot personally defend everywhere at once.
• Buy allies. Find heads of clans of the right culture and pay them to defect to your side. It often costs several hundred thousand denars per clan, which is exactly why you saved up. Then hand your spare castles to those new clans so they can field armies for you.
• Make peace when you can. You do not have to fight every war to the death. Pay off or make peace with your strongest enemies and pick fights you can actually win.
• Keep the income flowing. War is expensive. A kingdom that runs out of money loses its army and then its land, so never stop tending your economy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Declaring too early with no money, no army, and a single fief. You will get dog piled and wiped.
• Forming a kingdom while already at war, which pulls extra enemies in from day one.
• Forgetting garrisons and losing fiefs while you are off fighting elsewhere.
• Ignoring diplomacy. Buying clans and making peace are just as important as winning battles.

FAQ

What are the requirements to start a kingdom in Bannerlord?

You need Clan Tier 4, which is around 900 renown, and you must own at least one fief (a castle or a town). You should also have a large sum of money ready, ideally around 500,000 denars, to survive the wars that follow.

How do I actually create the kingdom?

Go to a fief you own, open Manage Town or Manage Castle, assign a companion as the governor, then talk to that governor and choose the form a kingdom option.

How do I get my first fief?

The easiest way is to join an existing kingdom as a mercenary or vassal, fight in their wars until you are gifted a fief or win the vote for one, then leave the kingdom and keep the fief as an independent clan.

Why does everyone declare war on me when I form a kingdom?

New kingdoms are seen as a threat, so rivals pile on almost immediately. That is why you build a war chest, a strong army, and garrisons before you declare, and why buying clans to your side matters so much.

Can I stay independent without forming a kingdom?

Yes. You can remain an independent clan as long as you like, and no one will attack you unless you attack them first. It is a great time to build up money, troops, and extra fiefs before you commit.

Related Reads

• Bannerlord Smithing Guide: Best Weapons to Craft and Sell
• How to Make Money Fast in Bannerlord
• Best Troops in Bannerlord: The Tier List
• Can You Conquer Calradia Using Only Mercenaries in Bannerlord?
• Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Cheats and Console Commands
• Best Culture to Choose at the Start of Bannerlord