Hey fellow Age of Empires II players,
I’d like to share an important thought regarding The Mountain Royals DLC, a beautiful expansion in terms of gameplay and atmosphere.
However, one point strikes me as deeply unfair and deserves open discussion: the absence of a Safavid or Azeri civilization, despite their major historical role in the region and the inclusion of Shah Ismail I as a campaign protagonist.
A troubling omission
Shah Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty, is central to one of the new campaigns. Historically, he was:
Of Turkic Oghuz (proto-Azeri) origin,
Culturally Azeri he wrote poetry in the Azeri (Turkic) language under the name Khatai,
Leader of the Qizilbash forces and founder of one of the most powerful Islamic empires of the early modern period.
In the game:
The entire Ismail campaign takes place in regions that are part of modern-day Azerbaijan, such as Ardabil and Tabriz,
The Qizilbash appear as unique units with distinct visuals and gameplay roles,
The campaign itself narrates the rise of the Safavids, their victories, and their religious and political transformation of Persia.
So the civilization is already partially present in spirit, setting, and mechanics, yet not acknowledged or made playable like the Armenians or Georgians, neighboring peoples who were rightfully added.
A politically motivated omission?
It’s hard to ignore the likely political considerations behind this design choice:
The recent and ongoing conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh are politically sensitive and emotionally charged,
But should this prevent a major historical culture from being recognized in a historical strategy game?
Avoiding the full representation of a civilization because of modern politics is a form of selective historical censorship.
Double standards?
Including the Armenians was absolutely fair, and welcomed.
However:
The Safavids founded a major empire, reshaped Iran’s religion, and fought pivotal wars with the Ottomans and Mamluks, events that deeply shaped the Islamic world.
This selective recognition sends an uncomfortable message:
Some cultures are celebrated; others are quietly brushed aside due to modern sensitivities.
A constructive proposal
I just believe the Azeri/Safavid legacy could be a great candidate for representation, like any other major culture in AoE II:
A fully playable civilization,
Or a clearer and more complete integration of Safavid/Azeri culture into the game including architecture, technologies, unique units, or even a revised Persian civ tree to better reflect the Safavid era.
The current Persian civ seems to mainly represent the Sassanid era, which makes historical sense, but it doesn’t reflect the Safavid period at all, even though the Ismail campaign is entirely built around it
This request seems especially relevant since the campaign content and unit models already exist, it feels like only one step away from being fully realized.
When I saw the DLC artwork, I recognized figures representing the main Caucasus cultures: an Armenian king, a Georgian queen, and what appears to be Shah Ismail, linked to the Azeri Safavid legacy. So it felt a bit odd to see only two Caucasus civilizations included in the game, not three.
Final thoughts
Age of Empires II is a game I deeply admire, and I fully respect the complexity behind civilization design and historical balance.
My intention is not to criticize, but to ask genuinely whether this omission was conscious, and whether future updates might give this overlooked heritage the space it deserves.
I truly hope this message is read with the same respect and fairness with which it was written.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to reflect on this, and to the developers, I would warmly welcome your response.
I’m aware that I’m a few years late to the discussion regarding this expansion, but I recently returned to the game after a long break, I used to play it many years ago. Only now, upon revisiting the game and experiencing The Mountain Royals, did this question really strike me. I’d be genuinely interested to hear what others in the community think, and whether anyone else has raised this point before.
A player passionate about the history of the Caucasus and medieval Persia
Author : Mepho9
