U5 Annex Vassal Guide | Europa Universalis 5
Original Guide by GamerBlurb.com | Published on 11/07/2025 at 11:53 PM CST
Annexing vassals and personal unions in Europa Universalis 5 takes time and patience. It’s not instant conquest, it’s paperwork with flags. But if you do it right, you’ll absorb your subjects cleanly and grow stronger without another war.
How to Annex a Vassal
To start annexing a vassal, right-click their nation on the map and select the annex option from diplomacy. You must have controlled them for at least ten years, and their opinion of you needs to be 150 or higher. If either condition fails, the option will be grayed out.
Once started, annexation happens gradually through monthly progress. This speed depends on your diplomatic reputation, government laws, and integration bonuses from research. Larger subjects take much longer, especially those with big populations or many provinces.
Integrating Personal Unions
Personal unions use a different process. You’ll need to open the organisations tab in your diplomacy screen and go into the PU section. From there, you can pass integration laws to begin merging your union. Each law has a long cooldown, often ten years between each one.
PU integration is slower but steadier, and higher legitimacy makes it easier to maintain loyalty while the process runs.
Why Annexation Feels Slow
Annexing a subject can take decades. The larger they are, the longer it drags on. Even small vassals can require years of progress points to complete. But there are a few ways to make it faster.
Improve diplomatic reputation with advancements or policies
Keep subject loyalty high to avoid slowed progress
Use vassals of smaller size for quick absorption
Plan annexations during peace for steady progress
Don’t forget to improve relations again afterward since it drops by around 20 once the process ends
When to Annex and When Not To
Sometimes keeping a vassal is better than eating them. Vassals can raise their own levies, manage distant cultures, and save you control headaches. Annex when you want full control of trade and manpower, but keep useful subjects when managing faraway or poor regions.
Final Blurb
Annexation in EU5 isn’t about speed. It’s about timing. Manage your relations, stack diplomacy bonuses, and treat vassals like future provinces instead of meat shields. Handle them well and your empire will grow without a single sword drawn.
FAQ
How long does annexation take
Usually between five and twenty years, depending on subject size and your modifiers.
What opinion is needed to annex
Your subject must have at least 150 opinion of you.
Can I annex multiple vassals at once
Yes, but each uses a diplomat slot and reduces your progress speed slightly.
How do I annex a personal union
Open the organisations tab, go into PU management, and pass integration laws over time.
Why did my progress stop
Low loyalty, negative relations, or war can all pause annexation until resolved.
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