Dynastic succession

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Preparing an heir
What succession changes
Related
Games
References
Sources

Dynastic succession determines who takes a ruler’s place after death and whether play continues. In Genghis Khan, a son aged 10 or older can inherit in World Conquest; without one, the game ends¹. In Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf, a prince aged 10 or older can succeed a ruler who dies of illness or in battle; without an eligible prince, the game ends².

Son heir Genghis Khan (1987). World Conquest allows a son aged 10 or older to inherit¹.
Prince heir Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (1992). A prince aged 10 or older can inherit after the ruler dies of illness or in battle².

#Preparing an heir

Both games make the ruler’s children candidates for succession^1,2. In Genghis Khan II, an empress may bear princes and princesses if she and the ruler get along³. Its Family command lets the ruler spend time with the empress and children, which the manual says helps groom a successor⁴.

The Famicom version of Genghis Khan has an Ordo command: repeated visits with the empress increase the chance of a child, up to five children⁵. The Famicom manual lists this command, while the NES manual’s command list omits it⁶. The Famicom manual also says a successor begins without an empress or children⁷.

#What succession changes

In Genghis Khan II, if the selected successor governs a vassal state, that state becomes the new home base; the successor starts with no children².

Games

Game	Year	How	Note
Genghis Khan	1987	Son heir	a son aged 10 or older may inherit in World Conquest
Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf	1992	Prince heir	a prince aged 10 or older may succeed after illness or death in battle

Every claim about this mechanic, by game (12)

Nobunaga's Ambition 1986	When a neighboring daimyo is killed by peasants or dies of sickness, the game asks the player whether to bid for his land, paying from the home fief's gold.	Manual
	The PC-98 manual says that when a daimyo dies in spring, a newly appearing daimyo may rise to rule his country; otherwise it becomes vacant land and goes to auction.	Manual
	The PC-98 manual says the game is over when the player's daimyo is killed in war or dies at the end of his lifespan, and mentions no heir. With several players, one player's death doesn't end the game, which goes on until all of them have died or one has unified the country.	Manual
Genghis Khan 1987	The NES manual says children are born at random each spring, less often as the lord ages, and that a lord can have at most five children.	Manual
	If the lord dies in World Conquest, a son 10 years or older can succeed him; without one, the game ends.	Manual
	The Famicom manual lists an Ordo (オルド) command, a night in the tent with the lord's empress, with four approaches that each need different abilities; the more often he goes, the likelier she bears a child, up to five children.	Manual
	The computer version's manual describes the same Ordo command and names it, with promotions and demotions, among the game's "human" commands.	Manual
	The Famicom manual says an heir who takes the throne has no empress and no children.	Manual
	The Famicom manual says each country taken in war is a chance to bring a new empress into the lord's Ordo, though the country may have none.	Manual
Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf 1992	An empress may bear the ruler princes and princesses if the two get along.	Manual
	The Family command lets the ruler spend time with the empress and children, which the manual calls important for grooming a successor.	Manual
	When the ruler dies of illness or in battle, one of his princes aged 10 or older succeeds him, and the game ends if none is eligible; a successor who governs a vassal state makes it the new home base and starts with no children.	Manual

References

^ a b cIf the lord dies in World Conquest, a son 10 years or older can succeed him; without one, the game ends.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan NES manual · Koei, Genghis Khan Famicom manual (JP)
How we know
If your lord dies in World Conquest while attacking another country, or because of natural causes, you may select an heir from among his children if he has a son ten years or older. Of course if he does not have an heir, the game will end at this point.
p. 7, Lords · archived copy ↗
世界編において、寿命で死ぬか他国で戦死した場合、10歳以上の息子がいれば、あとを継がせることができます。
p. 7 (PDF p. 9) · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-27.
In the claim ledger
^ a b c dWhen the ruler dies of illness or in battle, one of his princes aged 10 or older succeeds him, and the game ends if none is eligible; a successor who governs a vassal state makes it the new home base and starts with no children.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan II SNES manual
How we know
If your Ruler passes on because of illness or death in battle, a Successor may be selected from his Princes who are ten or older. The game ends if there are no eligible Successors. If you select a son who is also a Governor to be Successor, his Vassal State becomes the new Home Base. The new Ruler will have no children at first.
p. 13, Successor · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.
In the claim ledger
^An empress may bear the ruler princes and princesses if the two get along.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan II SNES manual
How we know
An Empress is a Ruler's wife. If the Ruler and his Empress get along, she may bear children: Princes and Princesses.
p. 12, Empress · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.
In the claim ledger
^The Family command lets the ruler spend time with the empress and children, which the manual calls important for grooming a successor.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan II SNES manual
How we know
Spend time with the Family. Using this command, the Ruler can talk to members of the royal family, such as the Empress, Princes and Princesses. It is important to spend time with the family in order to groom a successor.
p. 27, Family (7 Body Points) · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.
In the claim ledger
^The Famicom manual lists an Ordo (オルド) command, a night in the tent with the lord's empress, with four approaches that each need different abilities; the more often he goes, the likelier she bears a child, up to five children.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan Famicom manual (JP)
How we know
7. オルド：后との間に子供をつくる
p. 24 (PDF p. 26), command list · archived copy ↗
従順なとき … 愛を語る … 強引に口説く … 金で歓心を買う … オルドとは帳殿のことで、ここで后と一夜をともにします。オルドの回数が重なると、后が子どもを生む可能性は高まります。
p. 32 (PDF p. 34), 7. オルド · archived copy ↗
オルドでの后との回数に応じ、子どもが誕生します。子どもは最高５人まで持つことができます。
p. 40 (PDF p. 42), events, spring · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-27.
In the claim ledger
^The Famicom manual lists 15 commands, with Ordo seventh; the NES manual lists 14 and has no Ordo.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan Famicom manual (JP) · Koei, Genghis Khan NES manual
How we know
7. オルド：后との間に子供をつくる … 15. その他
p. 24 (PDF p. 26), command list · archived copy ↗
13. Pass Skip one turn 14. Other Game options
pp. 13–14, Main Display Commands table · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-27.
In the claim ledger
^The Famicom manual says an heir who takes the throne has no empress and no children.ManualKoei, Genghis Khan Famicom manual (JP)
How we know
ただし、あとを継いだ国王には后も子どももいません。
p. 7 (PDF p. 9) · archived copy ↗
The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-27.
In the claim ledger

Sources

Primary

Corporation, Koei. 1990. “Genghis Khan: Instruction Manual (NES-GX-USA).” Koei Corporation (Burlingame, California). original · archived · licence, all uses
Koei. 1989. “蒼き狼と白き牝鹿・ジンギスカン取扱説明書 (Aoki Ōkami to Shiroki Mejika: Genghis Khan, Famicom manual, KOE-GX).” Koei (光栄). original · archived · licence, all uses
Corporation, Koei. 1993. “Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf, Super NES instruction manual.” Koei Corporation (Burlingame, California). original · archived · licence, all uses