Yeah as crazy as it is, France was at one point on of the most feministically-progressive states in Europe during the revolution...until the Napoleonic code brought the older practice back. In general, women have been more "visually" important in French history with Joan of Arc, CdM, EoA, and even queens like Marie Antoinette becoming hugely famous and often powerful. Hats off to Firaxis for choosing to educate us in a unique way and view history a little bit differently! That being said...I would have liked for at least one French leader to have been more militaristic (Cough, cough, Napoleon) as that was a big part of French history...I think a viable domination/culture strategy would have been really cool-regardless of leader.
I'm a fierce advocate
against Napoleon for France. Sincerely, he did some incredible things, but I see him more as a bloody dictator than a ruler we ought to look upon. Do you know that he's responsible for the fact that French are
waaaay more prone to suffer from varicose veins because of him? Varicoses were a reason to be exempted to serve in Napoleonic armies, and so much soldiers died for Napoleon that it completely shift the genetic inheritage of French people. We often talk how Gengis Khan is the father of so much of the population, but Napoleon managed to screw the genes of a whole country.
Moreover, if we ought to have a second leader for France, I'd rather have a republican one rather than another monarchist (even if he's an imperial one). Sure, the Third Republic had her share on the Scramble of Africa, but as much as Victoria, so it's not that bad.
Jules Ferry could be a good one, especially a scientific leader for France, to show his school and education reforms quite fundamental for contemporary France. But, look at the
wonderful sideburns.
But if we want a militaristic leader for France, Louis XIV could work for both the cultural and militaristic aspect. Sure, he ruined the country... But didn't all kings did that? And Louis IX (Saint Louis) could be used as a military/religious leader, if you really want a militaristic leader. But... Please, not Napoléon (except if his ability is what I thought:
make Great Scientists and Great Engineers act as Great Generals too).
Fair point. And as I was typing it, I still didn't feel quite comfortable with the assessment because both CdM and Eleanor, though clearly influential women, were kind of out of left field.
At any rate, I think Egypt is a much clearer cut case, especially since we already have Cleo.
Egypt is more "legitimate" to have female leader because they truly had "queens", while in France they always have been consorts of regents.
Cleopatra is a great choice because she was undoubtfully a great leader (sadly reduced to a role of evil seductress by the ROmans) and Hatchepsut too.
Having more female leaders, if only to learn more and open consciousnesses, is always a good thing.
Yes please. Though the city-state buying can go into an Italian civ whether it be a Risorgimento or Italic League ability.
To be fair, the best candidate civ to have a "peacefully gobble up city-States" is most probably Switzerland, who truly accepted new cantons that wanted to be part of it. The RIsorgimento was more... violent let's say.
And while I know it would never happen, I'd love a Swiss civ. There is so much unique, asymetric, fun elements that we could use: the only true conteporary federative nation as one of the most democratic in their political apparatus, their armed neutrality, their banking system, their use of mountains and skiing, chocolate... Think of everything that could be done! Even get William Tell to be their leader!
How about the birthplace of the Renaissance in culture and Science?
Ulug Bel, the Prince-Astronomer, lead the Timurids in Civ VI, with a bonus to campuses and universities!