Crusader Kings 3: Start Dates & End Date, Explained

Start dates in Crusader Kings 3 are historical dates where players begin their campaigns. In each of these, players can choose from hundreds of counts, dukes, kings, and emperors or cultural equivalents to play as. Most of these starting rulers in CK3, particularly in the later periods for which more history was written down, are historical figures.

A CK3 start date also determines which technology has been unlocked, the political landscape, and which events are in progress or possible.

What Start Dates Does Crusader Kings 3 Have?

Crusader Kings 3 currently has 3 start dates, and it’s not impossible for more to be added later in development, as one of these arrived years after launch. CK3’s start dates are 867, 1066, and 1178.

867 – Viking Invasion Of Britain, Other Adventurers, & The Abbasid Caliphate Under Attack

The 867 start date, beginning on January 1st, is the earliest available, giving players the maximum amount of time for long playthroughs, spanning centuries. Norse adventurers, such as Haesteinn are also popular, with players able to conquer distant lands.

Britain is under attack from the Vikings, with the future Alfred the Great standing in their way. Meanwhile, Europe is controlled by the sons of Charlemagne, with his empire fractured into smaller kingdoms. 867 is also ideal for those with the Legacy of Persia DLC for CK3, as the Abbasid Caliphate is under threat, and there’s an in-game struggle, the Iranian Intermezzo.

1066 – The Norman Invasion Of England, The Fate Of Iberia, & Preparations For The First Crusade

15th September 1066 is a classic Crusader Kings start date, with a three-way battle for the English crown, multiple Iberian kingdoms split between brothers, and the First Crusade on the horizon. The Seljuks are also on the rise, and there are many popular figures, such as Matilda of Tuscany and Robert the Fox.

The 1066 start date is also easy to understand, as many of the kingdom borders, especially in Europe, line up with modern borders.

1178 – The Mongols, The Third Crusade, & The Byzantine Empire Under Attack

1st October 1178 is the newest CK3 start date and the latest that players can begin without mods. With the Khans of the Steppe DLC, players can conquer the known world as Genghis Khan. It’s also possible to play out the Third Crusade from either side, with popular 1178 starting rulers, such as Salah al-Din, King Baudouin IV ‘The Leper’, and Richard the Lionheart.

1178 is also a time of great tumult for the Byzantine Empire, which is best enjoyed with the Roads to Power DLC.

What Is Crusader Kings 3’s End Date?

Crusader Kings 3’s end date is 1st January 1453, which coincides with the year that Constantinople fell and the Hundred Years’ War ended. This is one of the years given for the end of the Middle Ages, although some would argue that the Renaissance started earlier in Italy, while the War of the Roses for the English crown only came to an end in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth, and that was most certainly a medieval war.

What Happens When The Game Ends In 1453?

Most players have never actually made it to 1453 and so don’t know what happens when CK3 ends. Unfortunately, there isn’t much, especially when compared with Crusader Kings 2’s ending, where the player’s dynasty achievements were compared with historical dynasties.

Instead, players will see how many dynasty members were alive at the end, how many houses were created, and the level of Splendor of the Dynasty.

After clicking ‘Exit to Menu‘, the game ends, although players can load previous saves as long as it wasn’t an Ironman playthrough, where there are none.

Can You Play Beyond The 1453 End Date?

The only way to play beyond the 1453 end date is to select the Game Rule for doing so, but this can only be set before beginning a campaign.

If players are mid-campaign and decide they want to keep playing, they may be able to find a mod or play around with the game files. This will be easier if their playthrough is not an Ironman save, which has no manual saves.