How do you 'own an imperial settlement'?

[Cigoler]

I'm an independent, third tier clan, I own a castle (Uthleim) and its two bound villages, but apparently that's not enough? I don't understand what it wants me to do - I'm trying to form my own kingdom as part of the main campaign.

 

[thepigtheape]

An "imperial settlement" is a town or castle that is owned by one of the three Empire factions at the start of the game. Uthelaim Castle is a Battanian settlement, so it would count as a non-imperial settlement. Regardless of who owns it at the time, you can tell what culture the settlement is by the kinds of troops you can recruit there