Europa Universalis 5: Personal Unions, Explained

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Okay, so I’m playing Europa Universalis 5, and let me tell you, it’s a complex game – even if you’re already familiar with strategy games! One thing that really tripped me up at first was Personal Unions. This guide is basically me explaining what they are, how you actually get one, and what you can do once your nation is stuck in one. Hopefully, it’ll help other players out there who are as confused as I was!

What Are Personal Unions In Europa Universalis 5?

Personal Unions often happen when a king and queen from different countries marry and have a child. That child could then become the ruler of both countries. However, instead of the countries joining together as one, they remain separate but are ruled by the same person – this is called a Personal Union.

Initially, a Personal Union within the EU5 functions mainly as a mutual defense pact – each country helps the other if attacked. But as the Union continues and more policies are implemented to combine them, the two nations will gradually start to function as a single entity.

Don’t confuse Unions with vassals; partners in a Union are independent.

How To See Personal Unions In Europa Universalis 5

To find Personal Unions in EU5, open the Diplomacy panel (by pressing F5). Then, go to the Relations tab and select the Organizations subtab. You’ll see a list of all International Organizations at the bottom of the window. To find the ones you created, look next to the purple square with the globe and wreath icon.

For example, a Personal Union might be called “Franc-Comtois-Artois Union.” Selecting this name will open the Union window, which players can then pin for easy access by clicking the star icon.

Union Integration Levels In Europa Universalis 5

In the overview tab of the Union window, a Union Integration Level will be given, starting out at 0.

The Union Integration Level shows how unified a Personal Union is through its laws and policies. When a policy that increases centralization is put into effect, the integration level of all participating members goes up.

Once the final centralization policy takes effect, the Senior Partner will merge all Junior Partners with the same standing as the Union, effectively bringing them under their control.

Members that join later will need to catch up in levels to be integrated via the Parliament.

Establish Seniority To Have Senior & Junior Partners In Europa Universalis 5

After a Union has been active for at least 5 years, players can attempt to establish its official Foundation. This is done through a Foundation Law, accessible in the Personal Union window.

If members approve this after a few months, a Seniority position will be created. Check the voting results to find out who will be the Senior Partner.

Once seniority is confirmed, Senior Partners will be highlighted in yellow within the Union view, while Junior Partners will continue to appear in blue.

The Personal Union will now feature a dedicated Parliament section within the game window, allowing it to function independently. Both countries involved in the Union will also receive new reasons for declaring war on others, specifically related to the Union itself.

Union Policies In Europa Universalis 5

With Seniority now in place, players can begin putting Union Policies into effect, one at a time. Implementing these policies requires both Prestige and Legitimacy, and Unions need to be active for a certain period before their policies can be used.

The Centralization Policies are as follows;

  • Codified Inheritance
  • Economy of the Union
  • Diplomatic Liberties
  • Legislature of the Union
  • Question of Unification

These factors create a seamless transition of power, a common financial system, and a more effective diplomatic corps, among other benefits, ultimately leading to complete unification.

The Question of Unification can only be enacted after the Union has existed for 50 years.

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2025-11-22 19:35