Resistance is a variable affecting a territory's loyalty, which can also trigger partisan uprisings on its own independently of the current level of loyalty. Resistance happens whenever a territory changes owner in a way that is not considered legitimate by the population of that territory.
Events triggering resistance:
- claiming an occupied territory during a war (by changing its territorial status for something else).
- transferring a territory to another character via a diplomatic treaty.
Events not triggering resistance:
- invading a territory during a war (occupied territory) but note that it generates resistance progressively with time.
- dismantling territories of an inactive character in a Nation. - spawning in game as the successor of an inactive character, as a colony leader, or as the new leader of a rebel city.
If resistance if above 10 in a territory, some actions become restricted such as destroying many buildings at once, recruiting units or evacuating the territory.
Resistance can eventually trigger a partisan uprising: a revolt of the population and militia that will attempt to take over the territory. If they succeed, the territory will become a Rebel territory. The rebels will also send a proposal to rally automatically who they believe to be their legitimate ruler, usually the previous owner of the territory. The legitimate owner is the character with the highest culture in the territory.