Total War: Pharaoh Civil Wars

Overview: Civil Wars in Total War: Pharaoh

In Total War: Pharaoh, a civil war occurs when a faction acquires enough Legitimacy to challenge the current supreme ruler in their royal court for the throne. When the player's faction participates in a civil war, you cannot engage in diplomacy with the rival claimants to the throne. Much of the following information came from advice from experienced players such as Defmonkey, Iskar and Targaryen22.

The Power of the Crown screen

Royal Courts

In the original game, there are two royal courts (Egyptian and Hittite). If you play Pharaoh Dynasties, there are four (Egyptian, Hittite, Mesopotamian and Myceneaen). Each royal court has a supreme ruler and a number of office-holders.

How to find out whether a civil war is imminent

Open the Power of the Crown screen, and look for any factions which are pretenders. Pretenders are factions which have three-quarters of the legitimacy of the supreme ruler.

How to start a civil war

When a faction has three-quarters of the Legitimacy of the supreme ruler, it can begin a civil war. If an AI faction starts a civil war and if the player's faction qualifies to join the civil war, you will be given the opportunity to join.

In diplomacy, the current supreme ruler may offer to adopt the player's faction leader into the ruling dynasty. If you accept, a civil war can begin when the current supreme ruler dies - if you accepted the offer of adoption, you will not have a choice about whether to join the civil war.

How to avoid a civil war

• If the supreme ruler offers to adopt your faction leader, decline their offer.
• If a civil war is started by another faction, decline any offer to join the civil war.
• If your faction leader is the supreme ruler, keep your legitimacy high. A faction can only declare a civil war if their Legitimacy reaches three-quarters the Legitimacy of the supreme ruler.

How to increase your Legitimacy

• Win battles (this improves your Legitimacy, but the increase is temporary)
• Conquer Sacred Lands for the relevant court (Egyptian, Hittite, Mesopotamian or Myceneaen).
• Build monuments in outposts.
• Capture regions containing unique outposts; some of them provide additional Legitimacy.
• You may also get legitimacy from royal decrees and ancilliaries.