[BtS] Civ of the Week: The Mamluks 2016-10-05

Civ of the Week is a “project” aiming at bringing you a new, fresh, exotic, and most of all, random, civ every 1-2 weeks, from all corners of the globe, from the Vietnamese to the Mittanni to the Iraqis. Each civilization features full civilopedia text entires, 1-2 leaders with unique game and diplomatic attitudes (they're not simply a copy of another leader!), a UU, a UB, unique diplomacy music, and full graphics.

The purpose of Civ of the Week, then, is three-fold:

1. To bring you random civs that would probably not have been chosen as civilizations first of all, and to provide a new, more exotic, more interesting experience in choosing civilizations.

2. To promote more knowledge of lesser-known peoples, cultures, and histories.

3. Make more civs for the totally awesome Civ Gold mod.


Otherwise, then, enjoy!

[FONT=&quot]Leader(s):[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Baibars (Imperialistic, Aggressive); Qaitbay (Industrious, Creative)

UU: Mamluk Cavalry (Cuirassier) (Starts with Leadership Promotion)

UB: Memorial (Theatre) (+15% in city)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Starting Techs:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Mysticism, Mining[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Credits:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Bakuel (unit), Walter Hawkwood (building)[/FONT], veBear (co-modder)



[FONT=&quot]Description: [/FONT]The word "Mamluk" was originally used to describe a soldier of slave origin in the Middle East. The Mamluk system was of great political importance to the region and was extraordinarily long-lived, lasting from the 9th to the 19th century AD. Over time, mamluks became a powerful military caste in various Muslim societies. Particularly in Egypt, but also in the Levant, Iraq, and India, mamluks held political and military power. In some cases, they attained the rank of sultan, while in others they held regional power as amirs or beys. Most notably, mamluk factions seized the sultanate for themselves in Egypt and Syria in a period known as the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517). The Mamluk Sultanate famously beat back the Mongols at the Battle Of Ain Jalut and fought the Crusaders effectivly driving them out from the Levant by 1291 & oficially in 1302 ending the era of the crusades. While mamluks were purchased, their status was above ordinary slaves, who were not allowed to carry weapons or perform certain tasks. In places such as Egypt from the Ayyubid dynasty to the time of Muhammad Ali of Egypt, mamluks were considered to be “true lords,” with social status above freeborn Muslims.

Mamluk history is generally divided into two periods, based on the so-called "dynasties" that ruled it during these times. The first was the Bahri dynasty, which assumed power in 1250 during the Seventh crusade. They were the ones responsible for the defeat of the Mongols at Ain Jalut in 1260, and also played a large role in the destruction of the Crusader states. The Bahri Dynasty was overthrown by the Burji dynasty, the members of which were largely drawn from the Circassian branches of the Mamluk military. The Burji fought the Ottomans in 1400s and 1500s, even winning a few times, but in the end they were overwhelmed and defeated. Despite this, the Ottomans still granted the Mamluks a degree of autonomy over Egypt, and Mamluk soldiers continued to play an important role in the militaries of various states, including the Ottoman Empire and Napoleon's French Empire.