Background: Begotten by the Sun God
Traits: Ambitious・Resolute・Pious・Individualistic
Faction: His faction
Culture: Egyptians
Realm: Sinai
Capital: Neb-Gehes
Weapon of choice: Sword (right) and composite bow
Family: Setnakthe (father)
Ally(ies): Setnakhte
Enemy(ies): Hanno of Sukkot
Full name: Usermaatre Meryamun Ramesses III
Native name: Wsr-m3ˁt-Rˁ-mrj-Jmn (Usermaatre Meriamun), "Strong is the Maat of Ra, beloved of Amun"
rˁ-ms-sw (ra-mes-su), "Ra [is] the one who gave birth [to] him"
Gender: Male
Born: 1223 BC (18)
Based on: Ramesses III, son of Setnakhte

"Egypt and its old men... Their fingertips are cold with sluggish blood; their kohl cannot hide their lines. My father tells me to honour the bloodline, respect the rules of succession. Seti? Ha!

The Nile ebbs and flows. Dynasties end; other begins. This one is spent. The world needs another. The Nineteenth Dynasty began with Ramesses, and so shall the Twentieth. I will do it with my lock of youth untouched. And as I take up the Twofold Crown, so shall my lock finally fall."

As the prodigious son of Setnakhte, a proud commander of Egypt's armies, Ramesses has been entrusted to guard the Sinai Peninsula against the growing threats to Egypt's empire. The greatest danger lies to the north in Canaan, where ruthless tribes raid the lands around the borders of the Egyptian kingdom. Thus far, Ramesses has beaten them back with ease; even the fearsome warlord Irsu has been halted by the precocious youth, though the danger he represents is far from eliminated.

Driven by reckless ambition, Ramesses sees himself as the chosen of the gods, destined to rule as Pharaoh. Thus, he is suited well to forging ahead at full speed, achieving swift victories on his path to one day claiming Egypt's throne. With an army of elite warriors at his side, his focus lies in training and skill, rather than overwhelming numbers. While conquest is never an easy feat, men like Ramesses were born to make it seem so, though his lack of experience could eventually lead to him spreading himself too thin.

According to Wikipedia, Usermaatre Meryamun Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt. Some scholars date his reign from 26 March 1186 to 15 April 1155 BC, and he is considered the last pharaoh of the New Kingdom to have wielded substantial power.

His long reign saw the decline of Egyptian political and economic power, linked to a series of invasions and internal financial problems that also plagued pharaohs before him. This coincided with a decline in the cultural sphere of Ancient Egypt.

However, his successful defense was able to slow down the decline, although it still meant that his successors would have a weaker military. He has also been described as a "warrior Pharaoh" due to his strong military strategies. He led the way by defeating the invaders known as "the Sea Peoples", who had destroyed other civilizations and empires. He was able to save Egypt from collapsing at a time when many other empires fell during the Late Bronze Age; however, the damage of the invasions took a toll on Egypt.

Rameses III constructed one of the largest mortuary temples of western Thebes, now called Medinet Habu. He was assassinated in the Harem conspiracy led by his secondary wife, Tiye, and her eldest son Pentawere. This would ultimately cause a succession crisis, which would further accelerate the decline of Ancient Egypt. He was succeeded by his son and designated successor Ramesses IV, although many of his other sons would rule later.

Ramesses inherited the throne after his father, Setnakhte, overthrew the previous female pharaoh, Tausret, through a rebellion, thanks to her alliance with Irsu. Still, in the game, he (born 1223 BC) appears as a general guarding the Sinai Peninsula under Merneptah. In actual history, he (born 1217 BC) would have been a child during Merneptah's time.

Ramesses is associated with a falcon with spread wings (on his armor and blue cape adorned with a sun disk holding ankh). It may resemble his patron god Ra.

Background: Beloved of Amun
Traits: Cooperative・Cultured・Respectful・Merciful
Faction: Her faction
Culture: Egyptians
Realm: Upper Egypt
Capital: Yebu
Weapon of choice: Sword (right) and composite bow
Family: Merneptah (father)・Takhat (mother)・Khaemwaset (half-brother)・Seti (brother-husband)・Amenmesse (brother)
Ally(ies): Seti
Enemy(ies): Karnakhty of Mes
Full name: Tausret Setepenmut
Native name: Tꜣ-wsr.t-stp-n-Mwt (Tausret Setepenmut), "Mighty Lady, chosen of Mut"
Gender: Female
Born: 1235 BC (30)
Based on: Twosret | Tausret, wife of Seti

"I look at the wall of Pharaohs as I wander the Throne of the Two Lands: all the dusty god-men's profiles, carved long ago. Ruling is more than stamping your face in stone, Father would say. There is one in this line - the one with the false beard - who knew it too. The one I sometimes imagine smiling at me: Hatshepsut, Great Queen of Old.

I will make both you and Father proud."

Tausret rules competently over the region of Upper Egypt, a bustling thoroughfare for vital goods and resources. Though this leaves her well-supplied, she still lacks the influx of riches her brother Amenmesse enjoys in gold-rich Nubia to the south, a territory she may hope to wrest from his control should the opportunity present itself.

As the daughter of Pharaoh and wife of the current heir, Tausret seeks to better Egypt through aiding the crown, providing wisdom and guidance where required. However, should their rule prove catastrophic, she would not hesitate to take control, seating herself on the throne in their place.

None exceeds Tausret in the realms of preparation and long-term planning; her strategies are as valuable in war as they are in finance and diplomacy, making her one of the most well-rounded potential pretenders to Egypt's throne. Where support from the people may prove lacking, Tausret's focus on innovative new technologies may give her an edge over her opponents, paving the way toward economic success.

According to Wikipedia, Tausret, also spelled Tawosret or Twosret (d. 1189 BCE), was the last known ruler and the final pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

She is recorded in Manetho's Epitome as "Thuoris, who in Homer is called Polybus, husband of Alcandra, and in whose time Troy was taken." She was said to have ruled Egypt for seven years, but this figure included the nearly six-year reign of Siptah, her predecessor. Tausret simply assumed Siptah's regnal years as her own.

While her sole independent reign would have lasted for perhaps one to one and a half years, from 1191-89 BC, this number now appears more likely to be two full years instead, possibly longer. Excavation work by the University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition on her memorial temple ("temple of millions of years") at Gournah strongly suggests that it was completed and functional during her reign and that Tausret started a regnal year 9, which means that she had two and possibly three independent years of rule, once one deducts the nearly six-year reign of Siptah. Her royal name, Sitre Meryamun, means "Daughter of Re, beloved of Amun."

She is the only female warrior among the monarchs of Total War: Pharaoh. Since the Dynasties update, this is the only one that has not received any female leaders, such as Amazons (Hippolyta and Penthesilea), leaving her the sole female representative.

Tausret may be derived from the reverse of the Traditional Chinese transcription of Twosret (塔沃斯塔, Tǎwòsītǎ).

Tausret's English voice actress is Raghad Chaar.

Tausret has lotuses. Her dress and jewelry are adorned with floral motifs, as is her armour.

Background: Last of His Kind
Traits: Cooperative・Content・Cultured・Pious
Faction: Hatti
Culture: Hittites
Realm: Highlands
Capital: Hattusa
Weapon of choice: Spear and shield
Family: Muwatalli II (grand-uncle)・Tudhaliya IV (father)・Kurunta (possibly uncle)
Ally(ies): -
Enemy(ies): Harashi of Kaska Invaders
Full name: Suppiluliuma II
Native name: Šuppiluliuma, "The Pure Might"
Gender: Male
Born: 1243 BC (38)
Based on: Šuppiluliuma II, the son of Tudḫaliya IV

"Chaos unending... It occupies my waking moments. It haunts my sleep at night - when it comes at all. What may become of Kemet when old Merneptah is gone, I cannot know. What will become of Hatti when I am gone, I dare not think of. The crown is heavy enough without the weight of what-may-be's, but I must hear it to the very end.

Every day, my people strive to remind me that the world is a fine place and worth fighting for. I agree with the second part."

Suppiluliuma rules from the large Hittite capital of Hattusa, beset on all sides by those who would gladly destroy him. The once mighty kingdom of Hatti crumbles, and only the Great King holds the fragile pieces together. With enemies on all sides, he must focus on establishing order amidst the chaos, dealing with his foes before they can tear his realm to pieces.

A tenacious leader, Suppiluliuma can rebuild with few resources, even as his kingdom falls apart around him. Moreover, his noble heart and lineage are sure to earn him allies in neighbouring lands. Yet even with such forces rallied to his cause, Hattusa may still sit on the brink of doom. The Kaskians descend from the north and the Phrygians from the west, while to the east, the Assyrians also encroach on Hatti's borders. Though perhaps the most deadly threat lies in Tarhuntassa to the south, where Kurunta threatens to swallow the kingdom whole. An honourable ruler and warrior, Suppiluliuma may be, but it seems divine intervention may be necessary to keep Hatti from disintegrating.

According to Wikipedia, Šuppiluliuma II (/ˌsʌpɪlʌliˈuːmə/), the son of Tudḫaliya IV, was the last certain great king of the New Kingdom of the Hittite Empire, contemporary with Tukulti-Ninurta I of the Middle Assyrian Empire. His reign began around 1207 BC (short chronology) and ended at an unknown later date.

Šuppiluliuma II inherited what seems to have been a precarious situation inside and outside his kingdom. A royal officer (titled "king's son"), Piḫawalwi, was charged with writing to the vassal king of Ugarit, Ibiranu, to chastise him for failing to demonstrate his respect to Šuppiluliuma II. The vassal king of Carchemish, Talmi-Teššub, a member of the Hittite royal house, was bound with a new treaty to the Hittite great king and left in charge of affairs in Syria; he would later supervise a divorce settlement between the great king's daughter Eḫli-Nikkal and King Ammurapi of Ugarit. Šuppiluliuma II corresponded with the contemporary king of Assyria, presumably Tukulti-Ninurta I, but the tablets are not well preserved.

Military campaigns during the reign of Šuppiluliuma II are known from two inscriptions in Hieroglyphic Luwian. They record wars against former vassal Tarḫuntašša, and against Alašiya (Cyprus). One inscription is found at the base of Nişantepe in the Upper City of Hattusa; the other is located on the northern corner of the East Pond (Pond 1), in what is known as Chamber 2. This served as a water reservoir for Hattusa and is described as a symbolic entrance to the Netherworld.

Reasserting Hittite central control over southern Anatolia and its coasts might have been more than a matter of pride, as suggested by references to urgent grain shipments from Merneptah, the king of Egypt, and from Mukiš in northern Syria. This and other indicators suggest a famine in Anatolia or more broadly the Eastern Mediterranean region in the late 13th century BC.

Following an earlier invasion of Alašiya (Cyprus) during the reign of his father, a fleet under the command of Šuppiluliuma II defeated either the Cypriots or a group of the so-called Sea Peoples who had established themselves on the island, the first recorded naval battle in history.

According to some historians (Claude Schaeffer, Horst Nowacki, Wolfgang Lefèvre), this and the following victories in Cyprus were probably won by using Ugaritic ships.

Suppiluliuma's English voice actor is Tolga Safer.

Suppiluliuma has the mythical double-headed eagle and bull horns on his different tall crowns. His Avatar of the Gods skin is based on Tarhunna, the Hittite god of storms.

Background: Herald of the Collapse
Traits: Barbaric・Irreverent・Materialistic・Cruel
Faction: His faction
Culture: Settled Canaanites
Realm: Retjenu
Capital: Tadmor
Weapon of choice: Spear and shield
Enemy(ies): Hariyu of Damascus
Full name: Irsu
Native name: Jr-sw, "He who made himself")
Gender: Male
Born: 1235 BC (30)
Based on: Irsu, a Canaanite tribal chieftain who ruled over a band of Shasu cattle nomads during the Late Bronze Age.

"You either die young, or live long enough to become a warty old crocodile with a thousand scars, like me. These great kingdoms will forget me when I'm gone, unless I leave a scar on them so big they will remember my name forever, and be afraid to speak it!

All the royal ducklings waddling into my reach! Chaos! Anarchy! Blood in the water! I love it! The Old Crocodile is coming, ducklings!"

As a savage warlord and raider, Irsu hopes to prey on the fragility of civilisation and reap the rewards of the chaos that follows. In the heart of Canaan, he basks in his stolen wealth, eager to add to his hoard. With the Egyptian-controlled Sinai Peninsula to the south, he would have an ideal stage to launch an invasion, but for the presence of young Ramesses, valiantly guarding the border. Alternatively, the land of Hattusa lies to the north, with its treasures ripe for the taking....

A ruthless opportunist such as Irsu thrives in the absence of Ma'at. Should civil war descend on Egypt, he would excel in pouncing on the weakness such a divide represents. If the kingdom burns, Irsu would be happy to rule over the ashes. He has no desire or talent for nurturing crops or building thriving economies; he will drain the resources of the surrounding lands and gorge himself on their wealth. However, this leaves Irsu reliant on sacking and plundering. Should his stolen riches run dry, he will be forced to raid for more... even if it leads him into a fight he cannot win.

According to Wikipedia, Irsu (Ancient Egyptian: jr-sw, "he who made himself"; alternatively Su) is the name used in Papyrus Harris I to designate a Shasu who became overlord of a group of local rulers nominally under Egyptian control, at a time of unrest between the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties. The reading of the name is contested, and the man may instead have simply been called Su. The events in which Irsu (or Su) participated likely took place outside of the Nile Valley, in the Asiatic territories of Egypt's empire.

At the time of the Dynasties update launch, he was 18 years old, but with a patch, his appearance was changed to 30 years old.

Irsu wears pelts on his armour, which causes other powers to look down on them as barbaric. He appears to have either lion (he has a lion-engraved belt buckle in his standard skin and a lion pelt in his Avatar of the Gods skin) or crocodile (his campaign loading screen refers to him as "the Old Crocodile") motifs.

Background: Father of the Peleset
Traits: Barbaric・Brave・Cooperative・Materialistic
Faction: Peleset
Culture: Sea Wanderers
Realm: Fenkhu
Weapon of choice: Club and shield
Enemy(ies): Biridiya of Megiddo
Full name: Walwetes
Native name: Walweteś (𐤥𐤠𐤩𐤥𐤤𐤯𐤤𐤮)
Alyattes (Ἀλυάττης, Aluáttēs) means lion
Gender: Male
Born: 1235 BC (30)
Based on: The developers' OC (original character), possibly fictional. Walwetes, a Lydian name for Alyattes

"Sometimes I feel we are but playthings of something bigger, more uncaring than even the gods. All the death, and years of striving to survive - a mere whim.

Well. I have survived again and again - and so have those who have fought and loved in the name of the Peleset. I challenge this blind, uncaring thing to break me..."

Walwetes had a scant few years to revel in his wild side, between his growing into adulthood and the disasters that started befalling his homeland, the rise of warmongering tribes, droughts, sickness... Through all of it, Walwetes endured, and little by little, people coalesced around him, drawn by his ostensible aura of invincibility.

As life became ever more intolerable, the Peleset decided to take to the waves, boarding their ships in search of a new home under Walwetes' respected leadership. His martial skill has thus far protected his people, imparting a sense of indomitability among the warriors around him. Yet endless war has never been their goal; one day Walwetes must choose a place to call his new home, or risk roaming forever in search of ever-greener pastures.

The most likely etymology for the name Aluáttēs derives it, via a form with initial digamma Ϝαλυάττης (Waluáttēs), itself originally from a Lydian Walweteś (Lydian alphabet: 𐤥𐤠𐤩𐤥𐤤𐤯𐤤𐤮). The name Walweteś meant "lion-ness" (i.e., the state of being a lion), and was composed of the Lydian term walwe (𐤥𐤠𐤩𐤥𐤤), meaning "lion", to which was added an abstract suffix -at(t)a- (𐤠𐤯𐤠-). It is presumed that the original form is Walwi, which means 'lion' in Luwian, and Walwe means 'lion' in Lydian. It is presumed that the character's motif was taken from the Philistine general Goliath.

Walwetes has the octopus on his faction icon, depicted in "marine style" Mycenaean pottery, his shield, and his beard. Along with Irsu, Walwetes wears pelts on their armour, which causes other powers to look down on them as barbaric.

Background: Follower of Isul
Traits: Pious・Reckless・Cruel・Resolute
Faction: Sherden
Culture: Western Islanders
Realm: Lowlands
Weapon of choice: Sword and shield
Enemy(ies): Arlawizzi of Kizzuwatna
Full name: Iolaos
Native name:
Iólāos (Ἰόλαος)
Latin: Iolaus
Gender: Male
Born: 1235 BC (30)
Based on: The developers' OC (original character), possibly fictional. Based on a Theban hero named Iolaos, nephew of Heracles.

"I am but half of a greater soul. I see my brother, my soul in the sky, Isul, rising and falling. I feel the tide under my feet, rising and falling. They carry me East. That is where my brother burns, and where I will also burn. I will fortify my stone fortresses with the ashes. I *will* be... complete."

Iolaos, the son of a powerful Sherden chieftain, was born squalling and sickly into this world under a pall of darkness from the north. There was only so much his parents could do to explain his constant fevers, as the sun-god Isul burned fiercely beneath his skin. With a rage fuelled by his son's ill-health, Iolaos' father's raids became increasingly destructive - during one such outburst, coinciding with his son's worst bout of sickness, he caused an enormous conflagration, setting an entire village and the surrounding forest on fire. Upon returning, he learned his son had miraculously recovered; Isul had spoken and sealed the boy's glorious fate.

Iolaos grew like a forest fire, and as an adult, lives just as intensely. Directing his ships towards the rising sun, his only goal lies in glory and conquest, with every victory bringing him closer to engulfing the world in Isul's divine flame.

In Greek mythology, Iolaus (/aɪoʊˈleɪəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἰόλαος Iólāos) was a Theban divine hero. He was famed for being Heracles' charioteer and squire, and for helping with some of his Labors, as well as for being one of the Argonauts.

According to TV Tropes, Iolaos, Heracles' charioteer and possible lover, is depicted in the High Tide update as a brutal raider and zealot who believes he is the brother of a god and seeks to burn down the world in his name.


The illustration depicts a beard, but it is not reflected in the in-game modeling. Additionally, the facial modeling is of lower quality than the authorized CG illustration, leading to claims that it is a cover error.

He is the unique leader who leads the Western Islander faction.

Iolaos has fire, symbolising destruction and danger, where he seeks to raze and burn the territories and settlements.

Background: Noble Warmaster
Traits: Ambitious・Brave・Resolute・Reckless
Faction: Hanigalbat
Culture: Mesopotamian
Realm: Mat-Assur
Capital: Dur-Katlimmu
Weapon of choice: Sword (right) and composite bow
Family: Ili-pada (father)
Full name: Ninurta-Apal-Ekur
Native name: mdMAŠ-A-é-kur, “Ninurta is the heir of the Ekur"
Gender: Male
Born: 1223 BC (18)
Based on: Ninurta-apal-Ekur, King of Assyria

"They shall bow to me. All of them. Babylon. Hatti. Canaan. Even Egypt shall acknowledge me. I shall lead Assyria into a new golden age, a rightful empire of the world.

Are they blind? Are they deaf? Assyria is a lion, roaring and shaking the earth with its might. Challenge us and perish! Yes, we prefer peace. I prefer peace. Yet, I acknowledge strength. And true strength is to reach up and seize the heavens themselves!"

Ninurta-apal-Ekur believes Assyria to be the greatest and strongest kingdom in the world, or could be. To achieve this, he has tempered his ardour with iron discipline and clearheaded thinking. With such qualities in hand, he has yet to suffer a defeat on the battlefield. Being a part of the royal family which have served as viceroys for generations, he is used to being important and having his word carry weight at court. He doesn't rise to open provocation, but is capable of evincing a cruel edge where his pride is concerned.

Driven by unfettered ambition – and perhaps overconfidence – Ninurta plots to take the Assyrian throne, but his plans don't stop there: he seeks complete domination over any. He wants to crush neighbouring Babylon and put it under heel for good, then march against Hatti and Canaan to the west, forging Assyria into the largest empire the world has ever seen. Ninurta believes himself infallible, a leader destined to lead his people into a new golden age. The truth is, he underestimates the challenges that such a grand dream entails.

According to Wikipedia, Ninurta-apal-Ekur, inscribed mdMAŠ-A-é-kur, meaning “Ninurta is the heir of the Ekur,” was a king of Assyria in the early 12th century BC who usurped the throne and styled himself king of the universe and priest of the gods Enlil and Ninurta. His reign overlaps the reigns of his Babylonian contemporaries Adad-šuma-uṣur and Meli-Šipak.

His father was Ilī-padâ, who had followed his father, Aššur-iddin, and grandfather, Qibi-Aššur, as grand vizier, or sukkallu rabi’u, of Assyria and king of the dependent state of Ḫanigalbat. Qibi-Aššur may be one of three officials who are attested as limmu’s, the sons of Šamaš-aḫa-iddina, Ṣilli-Marduk, and Ibašši-ili, respectively, and it is this latter one, whose limmu year directly follows that of Tukulti-Ninurta I, that has led some to speculate that Ninurta-apal-Ekur was a descendant of Adad-nirari I, a genealogy that is unlikely, as he claims descent only from Eriba-Adad I in his inscriptions. The earlier two have their limmu years during the reign of Shalmaneser I, which better fits the chronology.

According to TV Tropes, Ninurta-apal-Ekur starts the game as the ruler of the kingdom of Hanigalbat within Assyria. Historically, the ruler of Hanigalbat during the time the game is set was Ili-pada, Ninurta-apal-Ekur's father. Though his family was from the region, Ninurta-apal-Ekur never ruled Hanigalbat himself, and his initial power base was likely in southern Mesopotamia, as the Assyrian king list says he "came up from Karduniash" (i.e., Babylon) to seize the throne.

Despite having his composite bow bodyguard, his initial equipment is a shield and a sword. His subtitle is "Fist of the Assyrian people", excluding in the Italian and Polish versions "The First of the Assyrians".

Ninurta-Apal-Ekur has a feather motif resembling the winged sun emblem and crown.

Background: The Farseer
Traits: Blunt・Cultured・Resolute・Cautious
Faction: Babylon
Culture: Mesopotamians
Realm: Mat-Tamti
Capital: Babylon
Weapon of choice: Spear and shield
Family: Shala (wife)・Sammuramat (daughter)・Putur-Sin (son)
Full name: Adad-shuma-usur
Native name: dIM-MU-ŠEŠ, "O Adad, protect the name!"
Gender: Male
Born: 1237 BC (32)
Based on: Adad-šuma-uṣur, King of Babylon

"Faithful servants, loyal friends... before, you brought me a gift that I never wanted and never sought. Graciously, I accepted your offering and took a vow to bring our lands back to the glory and prosperity they deserve.

But I warn you: the burden I carry is heavy like a kudurru, and dark days await the world. As long as I draw breath, I vow to safeguard you, whatsoever may happen. And yet, think about what you will do when I am gone; for that, too, will happen."

Adad-shuma-usur would have preferred a life of minding his own business. Yet his sheer capability and versatile cunning made him end up ruling Babylon, ending the kingdom's years-long hardship and poor fortune. Adad-shuma is a model ruler, strong and authoritative without abusing his royal power. Preferring a hands-on approach to governance, he always keeps an eye on his subordinates to avoid surprises. His patience is legendary, and he's aware of how actions can have consequences many years later, making him capable of thinking up complex long-term plans.

Adad-shuma-usur is concerned with protecting Babylon and its legacy above all else. Given his background as a merchant, he favours diplomacy as a way of settling problems, yet he will go to war without hesitation if this serves his plans better. Persistent opportunist, he will take advantage of any of his opponents' mistakes, be they political, economic, or military. His idea of expansion is one of deliberate development, not eager conquest. This does not make him passive; to the contrary, he will do anything to ensure Babylon is still standing when the dust finally settles.

According to Wikipedia, Adad-šuma-uṣur, inscribed dIM-MU-ŠEŠ, meaning "O Adad, protect the name!," and dated very tentatively c. 1216–1187 BC (short chronology), was the 32nd king of the 3rd or Kassite dynasty of Babylon and the country contemporarily known as Karduniaš. His name was wholly Babylonian and not uncommon, as for example the later Assyrian King Esarhaddon (681–669 BC) had a personal exorcist, or ašipu, with the same name who was unlikely to have been related. He is best known for his rude letter to Aššur-nirari III, the most complete part of which is quoted below, and was enthroned following a revolt in the south of Mesopotamia when the north was still occupied by the forces of Assyria. He may not have assumed authority throughout the country until around the 25th year of his 30-year reign, although the exact sequence of events and chronology remains disputed.

Tukulti-Ninurta, who “carried criminal designs against Babylon,” was succeeded by his son and possible assassin Aššur-nadin-apli, but whose brief reign was succeeded in turn by his son, Aššur-nirari III. He was the recipient of an extremely offensive letter from Adad-šuma-uṣur, which he addressed to “the Assyrian kings,” putting Aššur-nirari on an equal footing with his subordinate for added insult, a fragment of which has fortuitously survived:

"The god Ashur to Ashur-nirari and Ili-pada [...] through slovenliness, drunkenness, and indecisiveness, things have taken a turn for the worse for you. Now there is neither sense nor reason in your heads. Since the great gods have driven you mad you speak [...]. Your faces [...] with iniquitous and criminal counsel."
- Adad-shuma-usur, letter to Ashur-nirari and Ili-pada

The Ilī-ḫaddâ mentioned is Ilī-padā, the viceroy of Hanigalbat, Ashur-nirari's distant relative (sharing a common ancestor in Eriba-Adad I), and father of the later Assyrian king, Ninurta-apal-Ekur. He had been the eponymous officer (limmu) for the year in which Tukulti-Ninurta's letter was sent to the Hittite king. The letter was carefully copied and preserved in the library at Nineveh. Grayson speculates it was kept to “goad” the Assyrians to vengeance.

He was succeeded by his son, Meli-Šipak, who was curiously reluctant to mention his filiation to Adad-šuma-uṣur in his inscriptions.

Adad-shuma-Usur has the snake adorning jewelry, belt, shield, and armor (snake scales pattern).

Background: Son of Atreus
Traits: Ambitious・Individualistic・Resolute・Cruel
Faction: Mycenae
Culture: Achaeans
Realm: Achaea
Capital: Mycenae
Weapon of choice: Club and shield
Family: Atreus (father)・Aerope (mother)・Menelaus (brother)・Clytemnestra (wife)・Orestes, Iphigenia (children)
Full name: Agamemnon
Native name: Ἀγαμέμνων (Agamémnōn), 'very steadfast'
Gender: Male
Born: 1237 BC (32)
Based on: Agamemnon, king of Mycenae (fictional character in the Iliad)

Faction: Mycenae
Weapon of choice: Spear and shield
Family: Atreus (father)・Aerope (mother)・Agamemnon (brother)・Helen (wife)・Hermione (daughter)
Full name: Menelaus
Native name: Μενέλαος (Menelaos), 'vigorous people'
Gender: Male
Born: 1235 (30)
Based on: Menelaus, king of Sparta (fictional character in the Iliad)

"My land is stone and bronze. My people are sails and spears, and the spinning, speeding wheels of chariots. Whosoever would challenge me, know that you shall not have my land, nor my people, for with both *I* will come to *you*, and upon *you* visit ruin and oblivion. My name is Glory, and my kingdom's name is Everlasting, for I am The Lord of Men."

At Mycenae's heart, formidable in his fortress-like palace, sits King Agamemnon. From on high, all he sees is land, His land. Yet the people below chip and tear at it. Agamemnon will not have it. He will humiliate his foes in battle and will enforce his kingship upon them. This welcomes just as much as the season's crop and cattle. He will then seek to impose his peculiar sort of unity even further - across the waters, where Mycenae has often tried to gain a foothold. Troy has bitter memories of this. It will resist by any means. But others may welcome it. Agamemnon is determined to restore his people's fading lustre. He would burnish the bronze of his Mycenaean domain. He would blind and buffet all who oppose his ambition. His single-mindedness is as sharp as the tip of a spear pointing ever forward.

According to Wikipedia:
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon (/æɡəˈmɛmnɒn/; Ancient Greek: Ἀγαμέμνων Agamémnōn) was a king of Mycenae who commanded the Achaeans during the Trojan War. He was the son (or grandson) of King Atreus and Queen Aerope, the brother of Menelaus, the husband of Clytemnestra, and the father of Iphigenia, Iphianassa, Electra, Laodike, Orestes, and Chrysothemis. Legends make him the king of Mycenae or Argos, thought to be different names for the same area. Agamemnon was killed upon his return from Troy by Clytemnestra, or in an older version of the story, by Clytemnestra's lover Aegisthus.

Different etymologies have been proposed for the name Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων). According to one view, the name means 'very steadfast', 'unbowed' or 'resolute'. This is based on the interpretation of the name as a compound word comprising the elements ἄγαν 'very much' and μένω 'to stay, wait; stand fast'. According to another view, the name developed from the unattested form *Ἀγαμέδμων (*Agamédmōn), a compound word composed of the elements ἄγαν 'very much' and μέδομαι 'to think on, provide for', with the overall meaning of 'very mindful'. Yet another proposal derives the second part of the compound word from μέμονα 'to be inclined, to wish eagerly, to strive' for the overall meaning of 'very eagerly wishing'. Linguist Václav Blažek proposes a relationship with Vedic Sanskrit Agni on etymological and functional bases.

In the account of Dares the Phrygian, Agamemnon was described as "...[white-bodied], large, and powerful. He was eloquent, wise, and noble, a man richly endowed" (Agamemnonem albo corpore, magnum, membris valentibus, facundum, prudentem, nobilem).

Agamemnon was a descendant of Pelops, son of Tantalus. According to the common story (as told in the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer), Agamemnon and his younger brother Menelaus were the sons of Atreus, king of Mycenae, and Aerope, daughter of the Cretan king Catreus. However, according to another tradition, Agamemnon and Menelaus were the sons of Atreus' son Pleisthenes, with their mother being Aerope, Cleolla, or Eriphyle. In this tradition, Pleisthenes dies young, with Agamemnon and Menelaus being raised by Atreus. Agamemnon had a sister, Anaxibia (or Astyoche), who married Strophius, the son of Crisus.

Agamemnon's father, Atreus, murdered the sons of his twin brother Thyestes and fed them to Thyestes after discovering Thyestes' adultery with his wife, Aerope. Thyestes fathered Aegisthus with his daughter, Pelopia, and this son vowed gruesome revenge on Atreus' children. Aegisthus murdered Atreus, restored Thyestes to the throne, and took possession of the throne of Mycenae and jointly ruled with his father. During this period, Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus took refuge with Tyndareus, King of Sparta.

In Sparta, Agamemnon and Menelaus respectively married Tyndareus' daughters Clytemnestra and Helen. In some stories (such as Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides), Clytemnestra was already married to Tantalus, and Agamemnon murders him and the couple's infant son before marrying Clytemnestra.

Agamemnon and Clytemnestra had four children: one son, Orestes, and three daughters, Iphigenia, Electra, and Chrysothemis. Menelaus succeeded Tyndareus in Sparta, while Agamemnon, with his brother's assistance, drove out Aegisthus and Thyestes to recover his father's kingdom. He extended his dominion by conquest and became the most powerful prince in Greece.

Agamemnon's family history had been tarnished by murder, incest, and treachery, consequences of the heinous crime perpetrated by his ancestor, Tantalus, and then of a curse placed upon Pelops, son of Tantalus, by Myrtilus, whom he had murdered. Thus misfortune hounded successive generations of the House of Atreus, until atoned for by Orestes in a court of justice held jointly by humans and gods.

In Greek mythology, Menelaus (/ˌmɛnəˈleɪ.əs/; Ancient Greek: Μενέλαος) was a Greek king of Mycenaean (pre-Dorian) Sparta. According to the Iliad, the Trojan war began as a result of Menelaus's wife, Helen, fleeing to Troy with the Trojan prince Paris. Menelaus was a central figure in the Trojan War, leading the Spartan contingent of the Greek army under his elder brother Agamemnon, king of Mycenae. Prominent in both the Iliad and Odyssey, Menelaus was also popular in Greek vase painting and Greek tragedy, the latter more as a hero of the Trojan War than as a member of the doomed House of Atreus.

In the account of Dares the Phrygian, Menelaus was described as "of moderate stature, auburn-haired (blonde-haired in-game), and handsome. He had a pleasing personality."

Agamemnon appears to have either the snakes (resembling the head of Gorgon) as a nod to Homer’s description or lion (based on Lion Gate or belt) motifs.

Background: Benevolent Father
Traits: Cultured・Merciful・Respectful・Cooperative
Faction: Troy
Culture: Pelasgians
Realm: Assuwa
Capital: Troy
Weapon of choice: Club and shield
Family: Laomedon (father)・Tithonus (brother)・Hecuba (wife)・Hector, Paris, Cassandra, Deiphobus, Troilus, Creusa, Helenus (children)
Full name: Priam
Native name: Πρῐ́ᾰμος (Prĭ́ămos)
𒉺𒊑𒀀𒈬𒀀 (Pa-ri-a-mu-a-, “exceptionally courageous”)
Gender: Male
Born: 1255 BC (50)
Based on: Priam, Last King of Troy (fictional character in the Iliad)

Faction: Troy
Weapon of choice: Spear and shield
Family: Priam (father)・Hecuba (mother)・Paris, Cassandra, Deiphobus, Troilus, Creusa, Helenus (siblings)・Andromache (wife)・Astyanax (son)
Full name: Hector
Native name: Ἕκτωρ (Hektōr), 'to have/hold' or 'holding fast'
Gender: Male
Born: 1227 BC (22)
Based on: Hector, Elder Prince of Troy (fictional character in the Iliad)

Faction: Troy
Weapon of choice: Sword (right) and composite bow
Family: Priam (father)・Hecuba (mother)・Hector, Cassandra, Deiphobus, Troilus, Creusa, Helenus (siblings)
Full name: Paris of Troy
Native name: Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros), "Defender, protector of man"
Πάρις (Páris)<br>𒉺𒊑𒍣𒋾𒅖 (Parizitis), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *per- (foremost) + 𒍣𒋾𒅖 (“man”). Compare Hittite 𒉺𒊑𒇽 (Pa.ri.LÚ /⁠Parizitis⁠/).
By folk etymology connected with πήρα (pḗra, “bag, pouch”).
Gender: Male
Born: 1223 BC (18)
Based on: Paris, Prince of Troy (fictional character in the Iliad)

Faction: Troy
Weapon of choice: Sword and shield
Family: Anchises (father)・Aphrodite (mother, she is a goddess)・Creusa (wife)・Ascanius (son)
Full name: Aeneas
Native name: Αἰνείᾱς (Aineíās), 'praise, tale'
Gender: Male
Born: 1223 BC (18)
Based on: Aeneas (of Dardania), founder of Alba Longa (fictional character in the Iliad and the Aeneid)

"I heard an old friend of mine say not long ago: 'The world is gradually becoming a place where I do not care to be anymore.' But life is very long, and even more so, history. At times, I have left as my friend did, but now I feel a wind in my sails again, and the world is a place where *I* care to be - for the sake of my sons, and of Troy, so all of them will live a life long enough to see what good I have wrought in my day."

Priam is a hereditary king of Wilusa, in whose family's hands it was for a number of generations. In the past 50 years, he has witnessed the gradual disintegration of Hittite authority over the Anatolian region, resulting in an attempt on the part of the Mycenaeans to overthrow his own father, who later managed to reclaim his seat. He has spent many years building up his reputation as probably the most influential leader among Hatti's vassals, though not through intimidation or shows of power, but a willingness to listen and be close to the problems of Western Hatti, in particular, even as the sovereign at Hattusa has often considered them a nuisance.

According to Wikipedia:
In Greek mythology, Priam (/ˈpraɪ.əm/; Ancient Greek: Πρίαμος, pronounced [prí.amos]) was the legendary and last king of Troy during the Trojan War. He was the son of Laomedon. His many children included notable characters such as Hector, Paris, and Cassandra.

Most scholars take the etymology of the name from the Luwian 𒉺𒊑𒀀𒈬𒀀 (Pa-ri-a-mu-a-, or “exceptionally courageous”), attested as the name of a man from Zazlippa, in Kizzuwatna. A similar form is attested transcribed in Greek as Paramoas near Kaisareia in Cappadocia. Some have identified Priam with the historical figure of Piyama-Radu, a warlord active in the vicinity of Wilusa. However, this identification is disputed and is highly unlikely, given that he was known in Hittite records as being an ally of the Ahhiyawa against Wilusa.

A popular folk etymology derives the name from the Greek verb priamai, meaning 'to buy'. This in turn gives rise to a story of Priam's sister Hesione ransoming his freedom with a veil, from Heracles, thereby 'buying' him. This story is attested in the Bibliotheca and other influential mythographical works dated to the first and second centuries AD. These sources are, however, dated much later than the first attestations of the name Priamos or Pariya-muwas, and thus are more problematic.

Priam was described by the chronicler Malalas in his account of the Chronography as "tall for the age, big, good, ruddy-colored, light-eyed, long-nosed, eyebrows meeting, keen-eyed, gray, restrained." Meanwhile, in the account of Dares the Phrygian, he was illustrated as "... had a handsome face and a pleasant voice. He was large and swarthy."

In Greek mythology, Hector (/ˈhɛktər/; Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, pronounced [héktɔːr]) was a Trojan prince, a hero, and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer's Iliad, where he leads the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing countless Greek warriors. He was ultimately killed in single combat by the Greek hero Achilles, who later dragged his dead body around the city of Troy behind his chariot.

In Greek, Héktōr is a derivative of the verb ἔχειν ékhein, archaic form *ἕχειν, hékhein ('to have' or 'to hold'), from Proto-Indo-European *seɡ́ʰ- ('to hold'). Héktōr, or Éktōr as found in Aeolic poetry, is also an epithet of Zeus in his capacity as 'he who holds [everything together]'. Hector's name could thus be taken to mean 'holding fast'. The name was in use during Mycenaean times, as evidenced by a servant with the name referred to in a Linear B tablet. In the tablet, the name is spelled 𐀁𐀒𐀵, E-ko-to.

Paris of Troy (Ancient Greek: Πάρις, romanized: Páris), also known as Paris or Alexander (Ancient Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος, romanized: Aléxandros), is a mythological figure in the story of the Trojan War. He appears in numerous Greek legends and works of Ancient Greek literature, such as the Iliad. In myth, he is the prince of Troy, son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, and younger brother of Prince Hector. His elopement with Helen sparks the Trojan War, during which he fatally wounds Achilles.

The Ancient Greek name Πάρις is probably of Luwian origin, and is comparable to Parizitis, attested as a Hittite scribe's name. The name is etymologically unrelated to that of France's capital city, derived from the Gallic Parisii tribe.

In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas (/ɪˈniːəs/ in-EE-əs; Classical Latin: [ae̯ˈneːaːs]; from Ancient Greek: Αἰνείᾱς, romanized: Aineíās) was a Trojan hero, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the Greek goddess Aphrodite (equivalent to the Roman Venus).

During the time of Total War Saga: Troy, Hector, Paris, and Aeneas were all separate faction leaders, whereas Priam was an NPC leader. However, during the Pharaoh Dynasties update, they were united into one force, and Priam was implemented as the playable faction leader.

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