| “ | Guided by the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, Devapala rules a rich and vibrant empire. However, as dangerous rivals threaten his realm, the ambitious emperor finds it increasingly difficult to balance his policies with his morals. Will the ends ultimately justify the means, or will Devapala's quest for his own enlightenment and that of his subjects fail? | ” |
| —In-game campaign description | ||
Devapala is a campaign in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dynasties of India that focuses on the conquests of Devapala (c. 9th century; possibly 810 - 860).
The Devapala campaign consists of 5 scenarios. The player plays as the Bengalis, and the player color is yellow.
The campaign is narrated by Veeradeva, a Brahmin who Devapala personally invited to his court, then became his most trusted and closest friend.
History[]
Devapala, the greatest of the Pala Emperors, is known for being a fervent patron of Buddhism and expanding the Pala Empire's reach though his conquests of Assam and Odisha, along with others thought to be exaggerated by some modern historians. Nevertheless, Devapala's reign is considered to be the zenith of the Pala Empire as one of the last Buddhist kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent.
Trivia[]
- Having no clear chronology and being set in the ninth century, the Devapala campaign has certain similarities with the Ethiopian campaign of Yodit.
- Devapala is the only campaign where each scenario title only uses one word.
- Devapala is one of the few campaigns where the player does not have a playable hero in any scenario.
- The campaign icon features an Indian Khanda sword and a writing slate with letters closely resembling the Gupta script, from which the modern Bengali script is descended.
- The Devapala campaign contains several references to prominent Star Wars prequel memes.
Star Wars references[]
| Scenario | Campaign dialogue | Star Wars reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dissatisfaction | Rashtrakutas: "You have bested us for now, young Palas. We will watch your activities with great interest." | Palpatine, The Phantom Menace: "And you, young Skywalker. We will watch your career with great interest." |
| Jayapala: "It would seem, cousin, that Utkala now does stand alone. How embarrassing." | Yoda, Attack of the Clones: "Hmm, lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing. How embarrassing." | |
| Desire | Amoghavarsha: "A battle with our two age-old enemies over this sacred city. I have been looking forward to this!" | Count Dooku, Revenge of the Sith: "I've been looking forward to this." |
| Jayapala: "Surely you know that there is always a bigger fish!" | Qui-Gon Jinn, The Phantom Menace: "There's always a bigger fish." | |
| Mihira Boja: "Do not let your triumph make you arrogant, Devapala. Twice the pride, double the fall!" | Count Dooku, Revenge of the Sith: "Good, good. Twice the pride, double the fall." | |
| Renunciation | Hunas: "You are still winning battles? This is impossible!" | Trade Federation officers, The Phantom Menace: "They are still getting through?" "This is impossible!" |
| Hunas: "A new horde has just arrived to fight you. Surely you realize that you are doomed!" | General Grievous, Revenge of the Sith: "You must realize you are doomed." | |
| Liberation? | Amoghavarsha: "Are you going to kill me, Devapala?" | Palpatine, Revenge of the Sith: "Are you going to kill me?" |
| Amoghavarsha: "You dare threaten our glorious temple? The gods will decide your fate." | Mace Windu, Revenge of the Sith: "The Senate will decide your fate." | |
| Enlightenment | Amoghavarsha: "I feel myself being consumed by anger and hatred. Is it possible that I am becoming the enemy whom I have sought to destroy?" | Obi-Wan Kenobi, Revenge of the Sith: "You have become the very thing you swore to destroy." |
Gallery[]
