I don't know what happened, but in three months, without apparently anything of note happening, my personal levy size more or less halved.
I would stress out I'm talking about personal levy, not vassals. Is there something that can affect it?
I gave out a single city to a vassal, but clearly it's not that: it was a ~400 soldiers city, and we're talking about a ~11000 to <3000 drop.
My demesne is too big, but it was so even before (actually now it's 10/6 vs. 11/6 of before). I didn't change wife, I didn't change councilors. Maybe a different heir got voted, but I can't see how that could be related either.
I converted one of my counts to my religion, but, again, what she did in her own county could hardly affect what happens in my demesne…
I'm absolutely clueless about this, I'll attach a couple of screenshot, let me know if you need more data.
Some more screenshots.
I've just noticed a very strange things: the portraits of the females changed! Including the deceased ones… is that normal?
Best Answer
Controlling more holdings than your demesne limit allows gives you significant opinion, income, and levy penalties. These penalties do not affect you for a few months- giving you a chance to give away conquered lands before suffering penalties.
You were over your limit (significantly over your limit at that) for a few months and the levy penalties kicked in. To solve this, give away titles (or increase your demesne limit) so you are no longer above your demesne limit.
You won't get personal levies from the holdings you give away but you'll get more in total (and get vassal levies from the ones you give away).