County (Crusader Kings 2)

A county is a realm of the second tier. Counties are the lowest ranked playable realm. Counties are composed of 1 or more holdings (castles, cities and temples). The ruler of a county is titled Count (male), Countess (female), or an equivalent cultural title variant. Counts can be independent rulers, but are more often vassals of powerful dukes, kings and emperors.

One of the holdings in each county (normally a castle) is the capital and is always held by the count of that county. If the county capital is a city or temple then the realm is a republic or theocracy respectively. Duchies and higher ranked realms can also be republics and theocracies if the capital of the realm is a city or temple.

Cultural Variants
For most cultures, the ruler of a county is a count (male) or countess (female), but there are several exceptions: Note religous title variants 'trump' cultural ones. For example, a count with Mongol culture and Tengri pagan religion will be known as a Chief.
 * Earl/Countess (Saxon, English, Scottish, Irish)
 * Sheikh/Shaykah (Arabic)
 * Bey/Bayan (Turkish)
 * Wâli/Shaykah (Iranian)
 * Chief/Countess (Mongol, Pagan)
 * Farin/Farina (West African)
 * Calpixqui/Calpixqui (Nahua)

Similarly, counties themselves can also be known by other names: The titles of counties and counts in republics and theocracies are different still.
 * Sheikhdom (Arabic, West African)
 * Beylik (Turkish)
 * Vilâyet (Iranian)
 * Chiefdom (Mongol)