Blonde and Redhead leaders

[TahamiTsunami]

While I wouldn't suggest that leaders get picked based around their hair color, I thought it would be fun to learn more about potential blonde and redhead leaders that we'd like to see since only Alexander the Great and Frederick Barbarossa are blonde and a redhead respectively. As far as I know, the only redhead leaders that seem likely right now are Vercingetorix (not 100% sure but I've heard he may have been a redhead) and Elizabeth I if England gets her as an alt leader. The only likely blonde leader I can think of is Gustavus Adolphus. I suppose Maria Theresa could count too but I think its more likely they'd show her later in her reign (unless they decided for a surprising younger depiction like they did with Victoria). I'd certainly like to know if there are more notable choices out there.

 

[JamesFaith]

Sigismund (Zikmund) of Louxembourg - king of Hungary (50 years), king of Bohemia (only on paper, Hussittes didnt accept him and he died shortly after end of Hussite wars) and Holy Roman Emperor (3 years)

He was famous redhead and Czech were always calling him by his nickname Liška ryšavá (Red fox).

Edit:
And of course his brother Wenceslaus (Václav) IV., king of Bohemia, was redhead too.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

If we got Argentina there is a possibility that we could get Eva Peron as a leader with blonde hair.
And if Boudicca dares come back she's always been depicted with red hair.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had red hair too but you couldn't tell with the wigs they have on.

 

[Zaarin]

You forgot Harald Hardrada, whose hair is about the same shade as Alexander's.

As far as I know, the only redhead leaders that seem likely right now are Vercingetorix (not 100% sure but I've heard he may have been a redhead)

I doubt Vercingetorix was a redhead; Caesar didn't describe him as such. He was probably blond.

Some of the more probable redheads are Elizabeth I, Isabella of Castille (two for one: she was strawberry blond), ugh...Boudicca, Ramesses II, David of Israel, and Henry II of England (though given Firaxis' record I doubt the last three would actually be portrayed as redhead--or Isabella, whom Firaxis consistently makes a brunette). Let's just hope they don't come out fire-engine red like Barbarossa.

The most probable blonds: no one, because every blond leader we've had so far has had their hair darkened, including Alexander, who was described as golden haired, not dirty blond. But if Firaxis somehow discovered the secret of light hair, in addition to the ones already mentioned, there's Alfred the Great, Caesar Augustus, Vercingetorix, probably plenty of leaders from the Nordic countries, James I and VI (of England and Scotland respectively)...

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had red hair too but you couldn't tell with the wigs they have on.

Washington didn't wear a wig; he powdered his hair. Either way, the result is white.

 

[TahamiTsunami]

He was famous redhead and Czech were always calling him by his nickname Liška ryšavá (Red fox).

He sounds like a pretty cool choice and I'm loving that nickname!

And if Boudicca dares come back she's always been depicted with red hair.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had red hair too but you couldn't tell with the wigs they have on.

While I prefer to not have Boudicca return I can't believe I forgot about her so thanks for the reminder. I also can't believe I forgot Washington and Jefferson had red hair too but you're right in that it would be beyond surprising if we saw them like that!

You forgot Harald Hardrada, whose hair is about the same shade as Alexander's.

I didn't even realize that since it looks a bit darker to me though that helmet probably doesn't help much. If that's the case then they made his hair the darkest shade of dirty blond possible! I just googled him too and most of the pictures I see show him with MUCH lighter hair!

Now I'm really wondering why Firaxis is having such a hard time with blonds and redheads. There are plenty of blonds and redheads in other video games (many of which are also more graphically demanding) so why does it appear to be such a challenge in this case unless they really wanted to portray them the way that we see them?

 

[Zaarin]

I didn't even realize that since it looks a bit darker to me though that helmet probably doesn't help much. If that's the case then they made his hair the darkest shade of dirty blond possible! I just googled him too and most of the pictures I see show him with MUCH lighter hair!

Yeah, apparently I hadn't seen him in a while. He just showed up in my current game and his hair is more light brown than dark blond. Not even in that nebulous area where it's hard to call it (since blond-brown is a continuum)--it's just brown. English chroniclers certainly described him as tall and blond.

Now I'm really wondering why Firaxis is having such a hard time with blonds and redheads. There are plenty of blonds and redheads in other video games (many of which are also more graphically demanding) so why does it appear to be such a challenge in this case unless they really wanted to portray them the way that we see them?

I'll give them a small pass on the red hair. Natural looking red hair is super hard to get right. (Hint, Firaxis: Ariel does not look like a natural redhead. ) Blond? Why indeed. They managed it in Civ5, Alexander, Ragnar, etc.

 

[liv]

Ok we need Iceland.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I didn't even realize that since it looks a bit darker to me though that helmet probably doesn't help much. If that's the case then they made his hair the darkest shade of dirty blond possible! I just googled him too and most of the pictures I see show him with MUCH lighter hair!

Now I'm really wondering why Firaxis is having such a hard time with blonds and redheads. There are plenty of blonds and redheads in other video games (many of which are also more graphically demanding) so why does it appear to be such a challenge in this case unless they really wanted to portray them the way that we see them?

Every time I looked at Harald I just saw brown hair, even though he definitely was supposed to have blond hair. The same actually goes for Pedro II too. Maybe it would have been weird to many people seeing a leader with blonde hair leading Brazil, since most people associate Brazil with darker skinned people and darker hair.
Speaking of Portugal there are some leaders such as Joao IV, Sebastian I, and Luis I that have blond hair although I would prefer Joao II to come back as leader, or even Manuel I his successor, and they have darker hair.

 

[Zaarin]

The same actually goes for Pedro II too.

Pedro's hair was auburn. It's Phillip II who had blond hair.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Pedro's hair was auburn. It's Phillip II who had blond hair.

Well I blame all of those official portraits I see. People like to paint him with blond hair.

 

[Zaarin]

Well I blame all of those official portraits I see. People like to paint him with blond hair.

Hmm, seems you're right. In some portraits it definitely looks like he had a reddish tint to his hair, though.