The year is 878 AD. The heroic defence of King Alfred the Great at the Battle of Edington has blunted the Viking invasion, but the Norse warlords have settled across Britain, leaving the land in a fragile peace. Kings of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales sense a time of change and opportunity. Treaties will be forged, wars will be fought, and legends will be born in a saga that charts the ascent of one of history's greatest nations.

Kings will rise. One will rule.

Thrones of Britannia is a standalone Total War game that challenges you to rewrite a critical moment in history. With ten playable factions, build and defend a kingdom as Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans, Welsh tribes, or Viking settlers. Forge alliances, manage burgeoning settlements, raise armies, and embark on campaigns of conquest across the most detailed Total War map to date.

Choose Your Strategy

The Grand Campaign offers multiple paths to victory. Aggressively expand through force, gain renown through construction, technology, and influence, or complete unique faction-specific objectives. Prepare for a significant late-game challenge and the ultimate victory condition.

Explore and Conquer the British Isles

From the snowy highlands of Scotland to the meadows of Kent, push back the fog of war and unveil Anglo-Saxon Britain. Varied settlements and landscapes inspire a host of battlefield environments. Experiment with strategic opportunities offered by newly capturable minor settlements, throttle enemy trade routes, and coax enemies from strong, defensible positions.

Viking Warlord or Anglo-Saxon King: Define Their Legend

Each faction faces unique events and branching dilemmas, often based on authentic historical events. Embark on Viking expeditions, manage the Anglo-Saxon peasant economy – each faction feels and plays differently. Carve out unique roles for your King and Nobles, customize their impact with meaningful choices, and determine how their story will unfold.

'Classic' Total War Gameplay Refined

Experience numerous updates to core Total War mechanics, including provinces, politics, technologies, recruitment, and dilemmas, all designed to enhance immersion and strategic depth.

Playable Factions, Cultures, and Kings:

• The Anglo Saxons – West Seaxe and Mierce
  When Roman rule ended, new Germanic kingdoms emerged. The Anglo-Saxons collectively came to be known as the peoples of Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex, East Anglia, and Kent.
  • West Seaxe
    Faction Leader: King Alfred
    The dominant Anglo-Saxon kingdom of southern England, Wessex provided the primary resistance against the Great Heathen Army. From Winchester, Wessex conquered surrounding lands and laid the foundations for the unification of England.
  • Mierce
    Faction Leader: Ceowulf
    From its capital Tamworth, Mercia ruled the Midlands. At its height, it stretched from Northumbria to Wessex. In 877 AD, the Great Heathen Army seized its eastern part to form the Danelaw.
• The Gaels – Mide and Circenn
  Gaelic culture developed in Ireland, built around clans and chieftains. By 878 AD, they had expanded into Scotland. With Viking settlement, some became Norse-Gaels, while Scottish Gaels absorbed the Picts to form the Kingdom of Alba.
  • Mide
    Faction Leader: King Flann Sinna
    Located at the heart of Ireland, Mide is a center of political, intellectual, and spiritual power. Its ruler aspires to the title of High King, but must contend with the growing power of the Vikings of Dyflin.
  • Circenn
    Faction Leader: Áed mac Cináeda
    Originally Pictish, Circenn became heavily influenced by Gaels and other peoples due to Viking raids. While holding the eastern coast of Scotland, internal and external threats persist. The recovery of the legendary Stone of Destiny could be a vital undertaking.
• The Welsh – Gwined and Strat Clut
  The Welsh Kingdoms descended from the Celtic Britons who occupied much of Britain from the Iron Age. The term 'Welsh' itself derives from the Anglo-Saxon term for foreigner.
  • Gwined
    Faction Leader: King Anaraut
    Claiming the title of 'true Britons', the people of Gwined were driven west by invaders. Renowned for their bardic arts and longbow skills, Gwined thrived under Rhodri Mawr, but his lands are now divided.
  • Strat Clut
    Faction Leader: Run
    A kingdom of the Old North, Strat Clut was based at Alt Clut before a Viking invasion in 870 forced them to reform along the River Clyde under Run, son of the captive King Artgal.
• The Great Viking Army – Northymbre and East Engle
  In 865 AD, Ragnar's sons led the Great Viking Army, conquering towns and claiming victories until the Battle of Edington in 878 AD. Defeated and baptized into Christianity, they were allowed to settle in East Anglia under Alfred's peace, but the rage of the Vikings seethes.
  • Northymbre
    Faction Leader: Guthfrid
    In 867 AD, the Vikings took York (Eoferwic) as their stronghold. After the Battle of Edington, a portion of the Great Viking Army settled in Northumbria under Alfred's peace.
  • East Engle
    Faction Leader: Guthrum
    Forming the bulk of Britannia's south-easterly coast, East Anglia was the staging point for the Viking invasion and where many warriors settled after Edington. Under Guthrum, it became known as the Danelaw, though the spirit of conquest remains.
• The Viking Sea Kings – Dyflin and Sudreyar
  After nearly a century of raids, the Vikings left an indelible mark on Britannia. Many settled, altering the course of history. These smaller factions traded conflict for a new life, establishing principalities and becoming part of Britannic life. Some, however, remained unquenched in their hunger for conquest.
  • Dyflin
    Faction Leader: Bardr
    Dyflin, a major port town in Ireland, was a site of Viking occupation. By 878 AD, Imar's son Bardr ruled, facing the choice of forging peace with Gaelic factions or returning to bloodshed and domination.
  • Sudreyar
    Faction Leader: Eirik
    To the west of Alba lies Sudreyar, the Kingdom of the Southern Isles. Sparsely populated and bearing the brunt of Atlantic weather, these islands saw increasing Viking contact from the 8th Century. After falling under Viking control, Scandinavian occupancy took on a Gaelic flavor. Sudreyar offers an excellent base for raiders and explorers.