卫星国，或者说傀儡国、次国家、自治领或者附庸国，是指那些允许另一个国家在国际舞台上代表它的国家。卫星国在政府、经济和其他内政方面保持独立，但不得签署条约或对外国宣战。“母国”保留一些特权，能够与附庸国签署防御联盟和军事准入条约。卫星国也可以在相邻地区殖民。在战争期间，宗主国有一种特殊的外交互动来控制傀儡国的军队。
如果母国处于战争状态，则卫星国或自治领也将自动与敌人交战（除非战争的敌人是卫星国所处势力范围的领袖）。
宗主-傀儡关系的形成
形成
宗主-傀儡关系可以通过以下方式形成：
- 一国在战争中强迫另一国成为傀儡国。
- 一国和平地释放另一个国家为傀儡国。
解除
宗主-傀儡关系可以通过以下方式解除：
除了努力成为列强之外，傀儡国并不能做什么其它的事情来主动争取独立。
Spheres and puppets
However, great powers can still attempt to place the satellite state within their sphere of influence or, if the satellite's government allows it, invest in the local economy. The mother country (if a Great Power) receives 100% bonus influence with its satellites.
Formable countries can still be formed by influencing a puppet nation even if the forming nation is not the liege. This can be used to "steal" other nations' puppets by forming countries. The liege cannot do anything to prevent the formation. This is typical for 
North German Federation and 
Holstein. If one intends to form a country where one's puppet is needed, is it NOT enough to be the liege. The only way is putting it in one's sphere of influence.
特殊的卫星国
Dominions
Dominions are countries that are released from colonial regions. A dominion gets ownership of and cores on all colonies and protectorates in a contiguous area, one of which becomes the capital and gives it its name and primary culture (it also accepts its overlord's primary and accepted cultures). It is civilized and has its overlord's technology and government type, but no reforms. The colonial points that the overlord was spending on upkeep are refunded. Dominions are therefore useful to free up colonial power for colonial competition and allow factories to be built in colonial areas (though since they tend to have low literacy, factories will not be very productive).
中国
大清 开局拥有一种被称为次国家的特殊卫星国。当大清未开化时，次国家是忠诚的傀儡；而在大清西化后，次国家会被大清吞并。They join wars that China enters as an ally, and provide military access to both sides. That is however not the case during the civil war between China and 
太平天国. 次国家包括
云南和
青海。如果次国家先于大清西化，他们会自动独立。