Emma Bridle
June 10, 2025
Right this moment we’re thrilled to announce that Age of Empires is partnering with the world’s most-visited museum, the Louvre in Paris!
On April thirtieth, the Louvre launched an exhibition on the Mamluk sultanate (1250-1517), a European first. The exhibition goals to share the story of this golden age of the Islamic Close to East, showcasing its breadth and richness, all advised from a transregional perspective. The Mamluks seem in three Age of Empires titles and gamers around the globe have found their prowess and story via our video games since 1999.
With a shared ardour for historical past at its coronary heart, this collaboration between Age of Empires and the Louvre serves to share the story of the Mamluks to individuals around the globe and encourage them to study extra about this golden age of medieval historical past, which isn’t usually advised.
All through the month of June, we’ll be collaborating each on the museum in Paris and on-line. For an summary of our collaboration, examine our devoted webpage.
You’ll be capable to expertise content material from the partnership on the museum, on our web sites, on social media and by way of the first ever livestream from the museum, on June twelfth, beginning at 11:00 AM PT (2:00 PM ET / 18:00 UTC).
We’re so honored to be working with the Louvre, we share a ardour for sharing the tales of historical past with the world.
“World’s Edge is honored to collaborate with Le Louvre. The Age of Empires franchise has been bringing historical past to life for greater than 65 million gamers around the globe for nearly 30 years. We’ve at all times believed within the nice potential for our video games to spark an curiosity in historical past and tradition. We frequently hear of academics utilizing Age of Empires to show historical past to their college students and tales from our gamers about how Age of Empires has pushed them to study extra, and even to pursue historical past academically or as a profession. This chance to deliver the wonderful tales of the Mamluks to new audiences via the Louvre’s exhibition is one we’re excited to be part of. We hope that via the superb work of the Louvre’s group, the legacy of the Mamluks could be shared around the globe, and that folks take pleasure in their tales as they arrive to life via Age of Empires.”
— Michael Mann, Studio Head at World’s Edge
The Mamluks in Age of Empires
The Mamluks have been an iconic a part of the Age of Empires franchise since Age of Empires II (1999). Gamers as we speak can expertise these mighty warriors in Age of Empires II: Definitive Version, Age of Empires III: Definitive Version, and in Age of Empires IV (by way of the best-selling Sultans Ascend DLC).
There’s extra details about how one can play because the Mamluks in Age video games on our partnership webpage.
Play because the Mamluks in an All-New State of affairs
To have a good time the partnership, we’re releasing a model new customized situation for Age of Empires II: Definitive Version on PC, “Ayn Jalut”. Created by World’s Edge Senior Enterprise Supervisor, and famed Age marketing campaign designer, Ramsey Abdulrahim. On this situation, you play as Baybars earlier than the pivotal battle when the destiny of the Muslim world held within the steadiness. Put together your forces, arrange your ambushes, and use your crafty and technique to beat the Mongol horde. Just like the Mamluks, are you able to be the primary to defeat the Mongols?
When completed, attempt once more and greatest your folks for the very best rating!
All the world trembled earlier than the Mongols. Rulers of China and Persia, the fearsome horsemen swept via the cities of the Islamic world, leaving ruins. Solely Baybars and the Mamluks of Egypt stood of their method. Baybars had gathered a military at Ayn Jalut, the location the place the Biblical David slew the large Goliath. Baybars had been born a thousand miles away, however he knew the Mongols properly: they’d slaughtered his household and offered him–as a mere boy–into slavery. At Ayn Jalut, he was decided to have his revenge–and slay his personal large.
The Mamluks and the Exhibition
The Mamluks, freed slave-soldiers of primarily Turkish (and later Caucasian) origin, constructed their legend on their army prowess. They conquered the final bastions of the Crusaders, fought and repelled the Mongols, survived Timur’s invasions and stored threatening neighbors at bay, earlier than succumbing to Ottoman growth. The sultanate encompassed an unlimited territory, together with Egypt, Bilad al-Sham (modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine and Jordan), elements of Jap Anatolia and the Hejaz area of Arabia, which incorporates Mecca and Medina.
The exhibition takes guests past the army legend of the Mamluk sultanate and reveals the complicated and multi-faceted society they shaped. They created a world wherein sultans mingled with emirs and wealthy civil elites, all actively partaking in creative patronage. Ladies had energetic roles in Mamluk society, in addition to Christian and Jewish minorities. On the assembly level of Europe, Africa and Asia, individuals and concepts circulated, in addition to arts and commerce.
The exhibition is an unprecedented alternative to find this wonderful and but little-known empire, via a set of masterpieces from around the globe. Guests shall be uncovered to a brand new perspective on medieval Egypt and the Close to East.
To ensure you can take pleasure in all of the partnership content material, ensure you’re following Age of Empires and the Louvre on social media!
