Born Temüjin, Genghis Khan accomplished a seemingly impossible feat for a man with humble origins – to unite the nomadic Mongol tribes under his singular leadership. His ambitions did not stop with the Mongols, however, and he embarked on campaigns that brought under his control northern China and the eastern portion of the Silk Road. The nature of Genghis Khan's death remains a mystery, unlike his inimical accomplishments.

• Attributes: Expansionist, Militaristic
• Unique Ability - Chosen of Tengri: Increased Combat Strength to Cavalry Units, increased when in an Army Command Radius. Army Commanders have full movement with zero packed Units. Once per Age, Army Commanders can use the Convert Independents Action to Convert adjacent Independent Powers' Military Units to your control.
• Agenda - Tümen: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for the leader with the least Cavalry Units. Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount for the leader with the most Cavalry Units.

Nestled in the Fertile Crescent, Assyria was one of the earliest states to dominate the region. From beginnings in the city of Ashur to the rise of the great Neo-Assyrian Empire, a long succession of kings would oversee the bloody conquest of Babylon, Egypt, and others – acting as a conduit for Mesopotamian culture throughout the lands. These conquests would later spell doom for Assyria, as a Babylonian revolt ended the empire in 609 BCE.

• Attributes: Militaristic, Scientific
• Unique Ability - Treasures of Nineveh: Gain a Technology upon capturing a Settlement for the first time. Codices are not awarded from Technologies.
• Unique Civilian Unit: Turtanu (Unique Commander Unit)
• Unique Military Unit: Magarru (Unique Cavalry Unit)
• Associated Wonder: Dur-Sharrukin

Vietnamese history is a dance of resistance and expansion. The medieval Đại Việt kingdom, especially under the Trần Dynasty, stood against Mongol invasions, even as it expanded southward into Cham lands. This dialectic of resistance and conquest led to the creation of a unique Vietnamese culture, one influenced but not dominated by Chinese sources, and a strong sense of identity.

• Attributes: Expansionist, Cultural
• Unique Ability - Hịch Tướng Sĩ: When you create a Fortification Constructible, receive a set amount of Culture for every urban Population in that Settlement (effect scales based on game speed).
• Unique Civilian Unit: Quận Vương (Unique Settler Unit)
• Unique Military Unit: Voi Chiến (Unique Ranged Unit)
• Associated Wonder: Thành Huế

The Rani of Jhansi, the queen of a state that challenged the might of the British, Lakshmibai became an emblem of courage and resistance. Flouting norms, Lakshmibai picked up fencing and shooting at a young age, and when the British attempted to establish direct rule, Lakshmibai held Jhansi against repeated incursions. She remains a symbol of defiance today.

• Attributes: Diplomatic, Militaristic
• Unique Ability - Rani of Jhansi: Increased Influence towards initiating the City-State - Incorporate Action. Gain control of all the City-State's Units when performing the Incorporate Action. When one of your Land Military Units defeats an enemy Unit in Army Command Radius, gain Influence equal to a percentage of its Combat Strength.
• Agenda - Eternal Glory: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount with the leader that has the lowest Influence per turn. Decrease Relationship by Medium Amount with the leader that has the highest Influence per turn.

The three kingdoms of ancient Korea – Silla among them – vied for dominance of the Korean peninsula for centuries. The states would sometimes ally with one another, as well as with Japan and China, to stay in power, but Silla finally unified the peninsula in the seventh century CE. An era of architectural brilliance followed, and it was three hundred years before the Goryeo kingdom could issue a successful challenge to Silla's supremacy.

• Attributes: Economic, Diplomatic
• Unique Ability - Maripgan: When you form an Alliance, both leaders receive a free Trade Route from the other's Capital, though these routes do not award Gold.
• Unique Civilian Unit: Sangdaedeung (Unique Merchant Unit)
• Unique Military Unit: Hwarang (Unique Ranged Unit)
• Associated Wonder: Emile Bell

Out of the chaos of the eighteenth century, the Qajars emerged to lead Iran into modernity. Their tenure oversaw the growth of cities, the construction of grand palaces, and an artistic renaissance merging old and new mediums. Amid a rapidly globalizing world, the Qajars played a furious game of diplomacy with European powers that delayed critical growth. Yet major reforms transformed the nation's identity, giving rise to a new Iran.

• Attributes: Diplomatic, Expansionist
• Unique Ability - Kayānī Crown: Increased Influence toward Supporting Diplomatic Actions.
• Unique Civilian Unit: Sardār (Unique Commander Unit)
• Unique Military Unit: Gholām (Unique Cavalry Unit)
• Associated Wonder: Eram Garden