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Harun al-Rashid (763 or 766-809) was the fifth and most famous Abbasid Caliph. He is the leader of the Arabian civilization in Civilization 5.

Contents 1 In-Game 2 Civilopedia (History) 2.1 Lived: 763 - 809 AD 2.2 Titles: Caliph 3 Early Reign 4 Baghdad Renaissance 5 Wealth of Harun and Arabia 6 Foreign Relations 7 Death of Harun 8 Verdict of History 9 Factoids 10 Lines 11 Intro 12 AI Traits

In-Game Edit

Harun speaks Modern Arabic instead of more ancient versions. He is sitting down in his palace garden. Concept arts of him originally portrayed a female servant fanning him and some scholars in the background.

Capital: Mecca

Unique Unit: Camel Archer

Unqiue Building: Bazaar

Unqiue Ability: Trade Caravans

Voice actor: Laith Marouf

Harun al-Rashid will go for any victory condition, but will almost never try a domination victory.

Harun tends to focus on Science and Gold. If you're not quick enough, you'll see him having entered a new era earlier, and being much wealthier than you.

Harun will often avoid declaring war on everyone, but he tends to become guarded, and is prone to deceiving his allies. He is not very bold, though.

Harun will try to build as many wonders as he can.

Players playing as Harun should go for culture, science or diplomatic victory, though domination is still possible with camel archers.

Civilopedia (History)Edit

Lived: 763 - 809 ADEdit

Titles: CaliphEdit

Harun al-Rashid (which translates roughly as "Aaron the Rightly Guided") was the fifth Abbasid Caliph, ruling the Arabian Empire from 786 to 809 AD. During his reign the Caliphate stretched from Spain in the west to Anatolia in the north to India in the east, and it was the largest and most powerful political entity in the world. Harun was an able ruler, and his reign was a time of scientific and cultural advancement and prosperity for his subjects.

Early ReignEdit

The son of the third Caliph and al-Khayzuran, a Yemeni slave girl, Harun came to power following the death of his brother, Abu Abdullah Musa ibn Mahdi al-Hadi. Al-Hadi died of a stomach ailment under somewhat suspicious circumstances, and some believed that his mother had al-Hadi poisoned because she had much stronger influence with her younger son, Harun. True or not, al-Khayzuran was one of Harun's chief advisors until her death in 789.

Baghdad RenaissanceEdit

At the start of Harun's reign, the Caliphate's capitol was in Baghdad, a new city founded by an earlier Caliph. The city was a center of arts, science and religion, with many beautiful buildings. There Harun founded the "House of Wisdom," a library and research facility which collected and translated scientific writings from Persian, Indian, Greek, and Roman texts. Under Harun Baghdad would blossom, becoming perhaps the largest and richest city in the world. Later Harun would move his government to the strategically important city of ar-Raqqah, but Baghdad would remain a great city of arts, science and commerce for centuries to come (the city would be conquered and sacked by the Mongols in 1258).

Wealth of Harun and ArabiaEdit

A somewhat fantastic description of Harun may be found in "The Thousand and One Nights," in which the Caliph is described as living in a sumptuous palace flowing with gold, silver, and jewels. Although exaggerated, there is a strong element of truth to the tale. During Harun's reign huge amounts of wealth poured into the Empire, and a goodly portion of it made it to the Caliph's coffers. According to ancient historians, Harun's wife insisted that all utensils and plates at her table be made of gold and festooned with jewels.

Foreign RelationsEdit

Politically, Harun attempted to maintain cordial relations with the European powers. He had direct diplomatic relations with Charlemagne, and in these pre-Crusade years Europeans had free access to Jerusalem and the Holy Lands. He also had diplomatic relations with the Imperial Court in China . However, his relations were somewhat less friendly with the Byzantines .

Under his father, Harun had led an army through Turkey to the gates of Constantinople, capitol of the Byzantine Empire. After negotiation with the Empress Irene, Harun agreed to spare the city in return for an annual tribute of 70,000 gold coins. When Irene was deposed and the Byzantines reneged on the agreement in 806, Harun led another army north and once again forced the Byzantines to capitulate.

Death of HarunEdit

Harun became ill and died in 808 while on his way to deal with a revolt in Iran. He was succeeded by his son, al-Amin. His passing marked the beginning of the slow decline of the Arabian Empire, after his death pieces of it were carved away by external enemies and internal revolt. Although the Empire would continue to exist for some centuries, it would never again reach the brilliant heights it had under Harun al-Rashid.

Verdict of HistoryEdit

Although there were wars and internal trouble, most of Rashid's reign was peaceful and prosperous. The Caliphate enjoyed economic and industrial growth, plus an explosion in trade. Harun was a lover of music and poetry, and he gave lavish gifts to artists in his court. Although not necessarily a great leader, Rashid did rule the Arabian Empire competently at the very height of its power and wealth.

FactoidsEdit

In the Sierra game Quest for Glory II, the sultan who adopts the Hero as his son is named Harun al-Rashid.

Harun al-Rashid figures prominently in the collected tales A Thousand Nights and One Night; he is reputed to having written many of them himself.

LinesEdit

Intro: Welcome foreigner, I am Haroun Al-Rashid, Caliph of the Arabs. Come to me and tell me about your empire. (مرحبا أيها العجمي. أنا هارون الرشيد، خليفة العرب. هلم إليَّ وحدثني عن إمبراطوريتك)

Attacked: Fool! I will make you regret this dearly! I swear it! (أحمق. سوف تندم أشد الندم. أقسم على ذلك)

Declares War: The world will be more beautiful without you, prepare for war. (سيكون العالم أجمل من دونك. إستعدٌ للحرب)

Defeated: You have won, congratulations. My palace is now in your possession, I ask that you look after the peacocks.

Demand: Can we do business? Your advisers can help you out if you do not understand.

Hate Hear it 01: What's this?! (ما هذا!؟)

Hate Hear it 02: Continue your speech (أكمل حديثك)

Hate Hello: Oh, its you. (آه...إنه أنت)

Hate No 01: Your request is unacceptable. (هذا أمر غير مقبول)

Hate No 02: You cannot be serious about your request. (لا يمكن أن تكن جدًّا في هذا الطلب)

Hate Yes 01: Very well. (حسنا جدا)

Hate Yes 02: If I must. (.إذا وجب عليَ)

Neutral Hear It 01: What's this? (ما هذا!؟)

Neutral Hear It 02: What were you saying? (ماذا كنت تقول؟)

Neutral Hello: Peace be upon you (Assalam Alaikum is the standard Muslim greeting) (السلام عليكم)

Neutral No 01: No. (كلا)

Neutral No 02: Of course not. (بالطبع، لا)

Neutral Yes 01: Ok. (حسنا)

Neutral Yes 02: Excellent. (ممتاز)

Peaceful: We thank you for your generous terms, we will not forget the favor you show us.

Request: Come forth, lets do business. (تعال دعنا نتاجر)

IntroEdit

Blessings of God be upon you! oh great caliph Harun al-Rashid, leader of the pious Arabian people! The Muslim empire, the Caliphate was born in the turbulent years after the death of the prophet Muhammad in 632 AD, as his followers sought to extend the rule of God to all of the people of the earth. The caliphate grew mighty indeed at the height of its power, ruling Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, Anatolia, the Balkans and Persia. An empire as great as or even greater than that of Rome. The arts and sciences flourished in Arabia during the Middle Ages, even as the countries of Europe descended into ignorance and chaos. The Caliphate survived for six hundred years, until finally succumbing to attack from the Mongols, those destroyers of Empires.

Great Caliph Harun al Rashid, your people look to you to return them to greatness! To make Arabia once again an enlightened land of arts and knowledge, a powerful nation who needs fear no enemy! Oh Caliph, will you take up the challenge? Can you build a civilization that will stand the test of time?

AI TraitsEdit

Competitiveness	4 (6-2)
Wonder Competitiveness	7 (9-5)
City State Influence Competitiveness	4 (6-2)
Boldness	3 (5-1)
Diplobalance	5 (7-3)
Hate Warmongers	5 (7-3)
Willingness to Denounce	3 (5-1)
Willingness to Declare Friendship	6 (8-4)
Loyalty	6 (8-4)
Neediness	6 (8-4)
Forgiveness	6 (8-4)
Chattiness	5 (7-3)
Meanness	4 (6-2)
Offensive Unit Production	4 (6-2)
Defensive Unit Production	6 (8-4)
Defensive Building Production	6 (8-4)
Military Training Buildings Production	5 (7-3)
Recon Unit Production	5 (7-3)
Ranged Unit Production	7 (9-5)
Mobile Unit Production	6 (8-4)
Naval Unit Production	4 (6-2)
Naval Recon Unit Production	4 (6-2)
Air Unit Production	3 (5-1)
Naval Growth	4 (6-2)
Naval Tile Improvements	4 (6-2)
Water Connections	5 (7-3)
Expansion	5 (7-3)
Growth	5 (7-3)
Tile Improvements	6 (8-4)
Infrastructure (Roads)	5 (7-3)
Production Emphasis	5 (7-3)
Science Emphasis	7 (9-5)
Gold Emphasis	8 (10-6)
Culture Emphasis	6 (8-4)
Happiness Emphasis	7 (9-5)
Great People Emphasis	6 (8-4)
Wonder Emphasis	6 (8-4)
Religion	8 (10-6)
Diplomacy victory	6 (8-4)
Spaceship victory	8 (10-6)
Use of Nukes	3 (5-1)
Likeliness to Declare War	3 (5-1)
Likeliness to be Hostile	5 (7-3)
Likeliness to be Deceptive	7 (9-5)
Likeliness to be Guarded	7 (9-5)
Likeliness to be Afraid	5 (7-3)
Likeliness to be Friendly	6 (8-4)
Likeliness to be Neutral	5 (7-3)
Ignore City States	6 (8-4)
Friendliness to City Sates	6 (8-4)
Protection of City States	7 (9-5)
Conquest of City States	4 (6-2)