Louvre Partnership - Age of Empires

World’s Edge and the Louvre Museum are pleased to introduce the world of the Mamluks to a wider audience. From April 30 to July 28, the Louvre Museum dedicateda major exhibition to the Mamluk Sultanate (1250 – 1517), tracing the glorious and unique history of this Egyptian-Syrian empire, which constituted a golden age for the Near East during the Islamic era. Bringing together 260 works from international collections, the exhibition explores the richness of this singular and little-known society through spectacular and immersive scenography.

Since its debut in 1997, the Age of Empires franchise, directed by World’s Edge since 2019, has marked generations of players by allowing them to relive history through different civilizations. Among the many iconic units, the Mamluks, elite cavalry armed with scimitars, hold a special place in Age of Empires II. Their charisma and power have made them one of the players’ favorite units, both feared and admired for their decisive role in strategic battles.

Thus, World’s Edge and Xbox were delighted to support the “Mamluks” exhibition at the Louvre Museum through various activations. Among these, an exceptional livestream from the museum was hosted by Samuel Étienne, accompanied by content creator Alphacast and Age of Empires developer Fred Kramp. Louvre visitors also had the opportunity to discover exclusive images and information about the Mamluks in Age of Empires II, as well as a specially created playable scenario for the occasion, retracing the famous Battle of Ayn Jalut.

Created in 1997, Microsoft’s iconic franchise features a real historical context, brought to life by its developers, designers, and artists through extensive research. Players traverse the ages, make their empire prosper, and compete against rival empires, with the chance to relive historic moments and legendary battles through numerous campaigns. Generations of Age of Empires players have already developed an interest for history by through the franchise, with many more newer players set to have their historical curiosity inspired as the game continues to roll out on new platforms.

Open to the public since 1793, the Louvre Museum is the first French museum dedicated to the general public. Born from the French Revolution and inheriting the great royal collections, this former palace of the kings of France has always lived and evolved in resonance with national and global history. With more than 30,000 works spread over 73,000 m², the Louvre is today one of the largest museums on the international stage, presenting some masterpieces of art such as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Seated Scribe, and the Venus de Milo. It houses collections representative of a world history always made of exchanges and connections, from Antiquity to the 19th century, from America to Asia. With a universal vocation, the Louvre asserts itself as a place of encounter between cultures and civilizations; a place of dialogue between past and present; the contemporary site of all arts and expressions, allowing for a better understanding of humanity’s aspirations.

Created in 1997, Microsoft’s iconic franchise features a real historical context, brought to life by its developers, designers, and artists through extensive research. Players traverse the ages, make their empire prosper, and compete against rival empires, with the chance to relive historic moments and legendary battles through numerous campaigns. Generations of Age of Empires players have already developed an interest for history by through the franchise, with many more newer players set to have their historical curiosity inspired as the game continues to roll out on new platforms.

Open to the public since 1793, the Louvre Museum is the first French museum dedicated to the general public. Born from the French Revolution and inheriting the great royal collections, this former palace of the kings of France has always lived and evolved in resonance with national and global history. With more than 30,000 works spread over 73,000 m², the Louvre is today one of the largest museums on the international stage, presenting some masterpieces of art such as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Seated Scribe, and the Venus de Milo. It houses collections representative of a world history always made of exchanges and connections, from Antiquity to the 19th century, from America to Asia. With a universal vocation, the Louvre asserts itself as a place of encounter between cultures and civilizations; a place of dialogue between past and present; the contemporary site of all arts and expressions, allowing for a better understanding of humanity’s aspirations.

The Exhibition

From April 30 to July 28, the Musée du Louvre dedicated an exhibition to the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517), recounting the unique, glorious history of an Egypto-Syrian empire that brought about a golden age in the Near East during the Islamic period. The exhibition will explore the rich productions of this remarkable, but little-known, society, whose visual culture considerably influenced the history of art and architecture in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Israel/the Palestinian Territories and Jordan. 

Visitors to the Louvre Museum were invited to experience the Battle of Ayn Jalut scenario in the iconic game, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. The scenario was designed especially for the Mamluks exhibition. The workshops were guided by a Louvre mediator and a representative from Xbox. Historical learning and a gaming session combined for an exceptional evening at the museum.

Left: Helmet bearing the name of Sultan Barsbay, about 1422-1438. Paris, Musée du Louvre, Department of Islamic Art. Right: Armour (jawshan) of Sultan Qaytbay, about 1468-1496. New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Mamluks

This dynasty originated from an unconventional system made up of military slaves (the ‘Mamluks’), generally hailing from Turkey, then the Caucasus. They were bought or captured, then taught the principles of Islam and the art of war in the barracks in Cairo or in the great Syrian cities. They formed a military caste, of which a number gained their freedom and climbed to the top of the military hierarchy that controlled the state.

This dynasty originated from an unconventional system made up of military slaves (the ‘Mamluks’), generally hailing from Turkey, then the Caucasus. They were bought or captured, then taught the principles of Islam and the art of war in the barracks in Cairo or in the great Syrian cities. They formed a military caste, of which a number gained their freedom and climbed to the top of the military hierarchy that controlled the state. The Mamluk dynasty built its notoriety through military might. Over the course of two and a half centuries, the Mamluk sultanate conquered the last bastions of the Crusaders, fought and repulsed the Mongol threat, survived Timur’s invasions and kept its threatening Turkish and Ottoman neighbors at bay before succumbing to the latter’s expansionism.

Mamluk society was a diverse patchwork of populations, who benefited from a great deal of social mobility and developed a complex, multifaceted culture which grew to become the cultural heart of the Arab world. A world in which sultans mingled with emirs and rich civil elites, all actively engaged in artistic patronage. A pluralistic society in which women as well as Christian and Jewish minorities had a place. A strategic territory where Europe, Africa and Asia converged and in which people and ideas circulated, as did merchandise and artistic repertoires. Textiles, objets d’art, manuscripts, paintings, ivories, stone and wood interior décors reveal a teeming artistic, literary, religious and scientific world. 

Over forty years after the first exhibition dedicated to this dynasty (in Washington D.C., 1981), and in a European first, the Musée du Louvre will present 260 exhibits, a third of which are held in the Louvre’s collection, alongside domestic and international loans of foremost importance.

“Reception of a Venetian ambassador in Damascus”, France or Flanders, around 1545, Welshpool, Powys Castle

Through the spectacular scenography directed by the agency BGC, along with dedicated immersive interpretation spaces, the exhibition offers visitors an in-depth look into the world of the Mamluks. A series of portraits shown at various points in the exhibition will allow visitors to come face-to-face with historical figures representative of Mamluk society, telling their unique stories as part of the greater history.

Vase with Birds – Syria, Damascus (?), first half of the 14th century Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum, inv. 2378 © Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

This is an unprecedented opportunity to discover this glorious and yet little-known empire through masterpieces from around the world, providing a new perspective on medieval Egypt and the Near East, at a time when it stood at a cultural junction between Asia, Africa and Europe.

The Mamluks through the Ages

To celebrate the Age of Empires collaboration with the Louvre, and the Mamluk sultanate, we have created a new scenario to bring a moment of their storied history to life!

Created by beloved Age of Empires campaign designer and World’s Edge Senior Business Manager, Ramsey Abdulrahim (AKA Filthydelphia), players can experience a new scenario titled “Ayn Jalut”.

This new mission puts players in charge of the Mamluk army as the Mongol army approaches. Live this monumental victory by the Mamluk army and see how you fare as you take control and strive to emerge victorious!

The scenario is available for all PC players of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and can be downloaded at:

Download Scenario

Mameluke in Age of Empires II: DE

The Mameluke appears in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition as a unique unit of the Saracens civilization. A camel cavalry unit which wields a ranged melee attack, it can be upgraded to Elite Mameluke in the Imperial Age.

Seated on camels, the Mameluke units throw their scimitars from a distance. With high speed and range, they’re effective against infantry units and are naturally strong against cavalry. Mamelukes are some of the game’s most difficult units to counter, making them a great asset to your army! Though you will need to manage your economy well as they have a high cost to produce.

This depiction of Mameluke units in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is not historically sound, but it represents the unit as it first appeared in the original game. As the Louvre historians have explained, Mamelukes would ride horses and use sabers, lances and bows.

If you’d like to try out this beloved game and take control of the Mamluks, experience 50 civilizations (inclusive of those in DLC), rich campaigns and more, you can experience the game now on PC, Xbox and PS5!

Mameluke in Age of Empires III: DE

The Mamelukes also appear in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition! Appearing as a mercenary heavy cavalry unit, the Mameluks ride white horses.

In Age of Empires III: DE the Mameluke unit has one of the highest hit points in the game’s roster of cavalry units. The unit in Age III: DE is a mercenary unit. Mercenaries are usually very strong versions of their base unit type and can be sent from the player’s Home City.

If you want to experience Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, you can try it now for free via our Free Trial!

Mameluke in Age of Empires IV

In the highly acclaimed Sultans Ascend campaign found in the Age of Empires IV DLC of the same name, players can live two of the Mamluks’ key military victories. Playable missions for The Battle of Ayn Jalut (1260) and The Siege of Acre (1291) allow players to command a fearsome army of Mamluks in these historic events.

The Battle of Ayn Jalut

A new power rose under the banner of former slaves. The sultanate of the Mamluks was born. The ravages of the Franks – monstrous though they were – could not match the sudden terror brought upon us by the thunder and malice of the Mongols. Like the unstoppable spread of a plague, they were upon us. One after another, we fell. Baghdad… Aleppo… Damascus. Our lands were choked with smoke and ran with blood. But Sultan Qutuz – may God be merciful to him – would not stand idle nor flee in fear. He gathered his Mamluk army… and marched.

With Baybars at his side, Sultan Qutuz marched to intercept the dreaded Mongols.

The Siege of Acre

The Mongol scourge harried our lands again and again. Each new attack we repelled with great vigor, our spirits emboldened, and our arrows guided by god’s hand. But the heart of the Sultan Qalawun was deeply anguished, knowing the Mongols might join with the Franks and crush the lands of Islam from east and west. More vexing still, the Franks possessed the port of Acre – an open door to any new infidel army. The hour had come to close all such doors; to rid Bilad al-Sham of every last fortress of the unbelievers.

On the eve of battle, Sultan Qalawun died, passing the sultanate to his son, Al-Ashraf Khalil. With Damascus’s mightiest weapons, he took up his father’s mission to expel the Franks

Age of Empires IV is playable now on PC and Xbox!