Politician

Politicians

Politicians are European-exclusive dignitaries in Age of Empires III from the Home City who guide a player's colony into the next Age, similar to the minor gods system of Age of Mythology. Each time a player advances in Age, they must choose from a select group of politicians. Each politician delivers an assortment of resources or units once the player has finished advancing in Age. Since the Exploration Age is the earliest Age in the game, it does not come with a politician.

Prior to the Definitive Edition, new politicians could be unlocked in each European Home City as its level increases. The Definitive Edition adds new politicians (marked by italics in the table below), rebalances existing ones, and removes their Home City level requirements - hence, all politicians are always available.

• Definitive Edition
• Original

• If the Italian player sent the Advanced Politicians shipment previously, all Politicians grant additional rewards (rewards are different for each Politician).

Age	Politician	Bonuses	Civ.
	The Governor	Ships 1 Outpost Wagon and 200 coin; +100 coin	British Dutch French Italians Maltese Spanish Swedes
	The Imam	Ships 1 Mosque Wagon, 1 Imam, and 100 coin, Mosque built limit +1	Ottomans
	The Inventor	The Explorer can use Hot Air Balloon; Ships 300 XP	All
	The Logistician	Ships 1 Arsenal Wagon and the next Arsenal technology is free; +1 Arsenal Wagon	British Italians Maltese
		Ships 1 Military Wagon and 1 Halberdier; Halberdiers can be trained in the Commerce Age	Dutch
		Ships 1 Military Wagon and 1 Arsenal Wagon	French Swedes
		Ships 1 Arsenal Wagon; Exploration and Commerce Age Home City Cards give one additional Uhlan	Germans
		Crossbowmen, Pikemen*, and Musketeers can be trained at Town Centers; Crossbowmen and Musketeers get +1 ranged attack range, Pikemen get +0.5 hand attack range	Portuguese
		Ships 1 Military Wagon; Blockhouses support 15 population	Russians
		Exploration Age Home City Cards are shipped in 30 seconds and also ships 150 food, 100 wood, 75 coin	Spanish
	The Naturalist	Ships 2 Settlers and 2 semi-fattened Cows	British Dutch French Maltese Ottomans Portuguese Russians Spanish Swedes
		Ships 1 Settler Wagon and 2 semi-fattened Cows	Germans
	The Philosopher Prince	Ships 500 food; +250 food	British Germans Italians Ottomans Portuguese Russians Spanish Swedes
	The Quartermaster	Ships 400 wood	Dutch French Germans Maltese Ottomans Portuguese Russians
	The Medici	Ships 1 Settler and 1 Lombard Wagon; +1 Settler	Italians
	The Admiral of the Ocean Sea	Ships 1 Caravel and 400 wood	British Dutch Knights of St. John Portuguese Spanish
		Ships 1 Order Galley and 300 wood	Maltese
		Ships 1 Galley and 400 wood	Ottomans
	The Adventurer	Ships 7 Longbowmen	British
		Ships 8 Pavisiers; +4 Pavisiers	Italians
		Ships 8 Crossbowmen	Maltese Spanish
		Ships 17 Streltsy	Russians
	The Bishop	Ships 1 Covered Wagon; +300 XP	British Dutch French Germans Italians Maltese Russians Spanish Swedes
	The Ethiopian Queen	Ships 5 Elite Shotel Warriors	Portuguese
	The Exiled Prince	Ages up 45 seconds	Dutch French Germans Ottomans Portuguese Russians Swedes
	The Gentleman Pirate	Ships 1 Privateer and 300 coin; +1 Privateer	French Germans Italians Russians Swedes
	The Marksman	Ships 6 Skirmishers	French Germans
		Ships 6 Musketeers; +3 Musketeers	Italians
		Ships 4 Abus Gunners	Ottomans
		Ships 6 Cassadores	Portuguese
		Ships 2 Leather Cannons	Swedes
	The Mercenary Contractor	The Tavern can train Harquebusiers and Jaegers	British
		The Tavern can train Elmetti and Fusiliers	Dutch
		The Tavern (and the Lombard for the Italians) can train Mounted Riflemen and Royal Horsemen; +1 Mounted Rifleman	French Italians
		The Tavern can train Armored Pistoleers and Cannoneers	Maltese
		The Tavern can train Barbary Corsairs and Mamelukes	Ottomans
		The Tavern can train Li'l Bombards and Ronin	Portuguese
		Black Riders and Jaegers can be trained respectively from Stables and Barracks	Swedes
	The Mohawk Statesman	Ships 7 Haudenosaunee Tomahawks and 1 Native Scout	British
	The Scout	Ships 4 Deli	Ottomans
		Ships 5 Cossacks	Russians
		Ships 4 Hussars	Spanish
	The Sergeant at Arms	Ships 6 Halberdiers	Dutch
		Ships 4 Doppelsoldner	Germans
		Ships 4 Hospitallers	Maltese
		Ships 8 Pikemen	Spanish
	The Cavalry Marshal	Ships 9 Ruyters	Dutch
		Ships 3 Cuirassiers	French
		Ships 7 Uhlans	Germans
		Ships 6 Dragoons; +3 Dragoons	Italians
		Ships 5 Hussars	Ottomans
		Ships 7 Cossacks	Russians
		Ships 6 Lancers	Spanish
		Ships 5 Hakkapelits	Swedes
	The Engineer	Ships 2 Falconets; +1 Falconet	British French Italians Maltese Ottomans Russians Germans Spanish Swedes
		Ships 2 Organ Guns	Portuguese
	The Grand Vizier	Ships 3 Sipahi	Ottomans
	The King's Musketeer	Ships 10 Musketeers	British French Spanish
		Ships 13 Musketeers	Russians
		Ships 8 Skirmishers	Dutch Portuguese
		Ships 10 Caroleans	Swedes
	The Logistician	Ships 1 Fort Wagon; +1 Frontier Post Wagon	British Dutch Italians Maltese Ottomans Russians
	The Papal Guard	Guard Crossbowmen and Guard Pikemen can be researched for free and allows Crossbowmen and Pikemen to be upgraded to Imperial; Guard Halberdiers cost -50% resources	French
		Guard Crossbowmen and Guard Pikemen can be researched for free and allows Crossbowmen and Pikemen to be upgraded to Imperial; Guard Dopplesoldners cost -50% resources; Guard Landwehrs can be researched for free if available	Germans
		Guard Pikemen can be researched for free and allows Pikemen to be upgraded to Imperial; Guard Halberdiers cost -50% resources; ships 5 Papal Guards (10 if the Advanced Politicians Home City Card was sent)	Italians
		Guard Pikemen can be researched for free and allows Pikemen to be upgraded to Imperial; Arbalesters (Royal Guard Crossbowmen) cost -40% resources; Guard Hospitallers cost -50% resources	Maltese
		Guard Pikemen can be researched for free and allows Pikemen to be upgraded to Imperial; Ordinance Besteiro (Royal Guard Crossbowmen) cost -70% resources; Guard Halberdiers cost -50% resources	Portuguese
		Guard Crossbowmen can be researched for free and allows Crossbowmen to be upgraded to Imperial; Tercio (Royal Guard Pikemen) cost -70% resources	Spanish
		Dalkarl (Royal Guard Pikemen) can be researched for free	Swedes
	The Tycoon	Ships 1,000 coin	British Dutch French Germans Ottomans Portuguese Swedes
		Ships 1 Factory Wagon	United States
	The Viceroy	Ships 5 Settlers and 500 food	British
		Ships 5 Settlers and 400 coin	Dutch
		Ships 3 Settler Wagons and 300 wood	Germans
		Ships 6 Fishing Boats and 400 wood	Portuguese
	The War Minister	Ships 5 Order Dragoons	Maltese
		Ships 7 Oprichniks	Russian
		Ships 12 Rodeleros	Spanish
		Ships 1 Fort Wagon	United States
	The Pope	Ships 1,000 XP; +500 XP	Italians Maltese
Imperial Age	The Black Duke	Ships 6 Drummers	British
		Ships 16 Black Brunswickers	Germans
	El Presidente	Ships 2,000 coin; +1,000 coin	All
	The General	Ships 2 Heavy Cannons	Dutch French Germans Maltese Portuguese Russians Spanish Swedes
		Ships 3 Rockets	British
		Ships 2 Great Bombards	Ottomans
		Ships 2 Papal Bombards; +1 Papal Bombard	Italians
	The Inventor	Ships an Advanced Hot Air Balloon; Ships 1 Leonardo's Tank instead	Italians Maltese Ottomans Russians Spanish
	The Mercenary Contractor	Outlaws and Fortress Age mercenaries get +50% hit points and attack; Industrial Age mercenaries get +35% hit points and attack; +2 Royal Horsemen	All
	The Knight	Grants Knighthood and Peerage	All except Italians
	The Royalist	Ships 17 Line Infantry	Dutch
		Ships 18 Royal Musketeers; Ships 15 Royal Dragoons instead	French Italians
		Ships 18 Northern Musketeers	Russians
		Ships 17 Mountain Troopers	Swedes
	The Scottish Marshal	Grants a better version of the Swashbuckler ability to the Grand Master	Maltese

Age	Politician	Bonuses	Civ. (HC level)
	The Bishop	Ships 2 Settlers	Ottomans (1) Russians (1) Spanish (1) British (20) Portuguese (50)
		Ships 1 Settler Wagon	Germans (1)
	The Governor	Ships 1 Outpost Wagon and 200 coin	British (1) Dutch (1) Ottomans (1) Spanish (1) French (40)
	The Naturalist	Ships 4 Cows	British (1) French (1) Portuguese (1) Russians (1) Dutch (10) Germans (10) Ottomans (40) Spanish (40)
	The Philosopher Prince	Ships 500 food	Dutch (1) Germans (1) Portuguese (1) French (10) British (40) Ottomans (50) Russians (60) Spanish (60)
	The Quartermaster	Ships 400 wood	Dutch (1) French (1) Ottomans (1) Russians (10) Germans (40) Portuguese (60)
	The Admiral of the Ocean Sea	Ships 1 Caravel and 400 wood	British (1) Dutch (30) Knights of St. John (1) Portuguese (20) Spanish (20)
		Ships 1 Galley and 400 wood	Ottomans (1)
	The Adventurer	Ships 7 Longbowmen	British (1)
		Ships 17 Streltsy	Russians (1)
		Ships 4 Pikemen and 4 Crossbowman	Spanish (1)
	The Exiled Prince	Ages up 2.75 times as fast	Dutch (1) French (30) Germans (60) Ottomans (30) Portuguese (1) Russians (50)
	The Gentleman Pirate	Ships 1 Privateer and 2 Barbary Corsairs	British (30) Dutch (20) Germans (1) Russians (30)
	The Marksman	Ships 6 Skirmishers	French (1) Germans (50)
		Ships 4 Abus Gunners	Ottomans (1)
		Ships 6 Cassadores	Portuguese (1)
	The Mohawk Statesman	Ships 3 Iroquois Mantlets and 2 Native Scouts	British (10) French (1) Portuguese (40)
	The Scout	Ships 4 Hussars	French (60) Ottomans (60) Spanish (10)
		Ships 5 Cossacks	Russians (1)
	The Sergeant at Arms	Ships 5 Halberdiers	Dutch (1)
		Ships 3 Doppelsoldner	Germans (1)
		Ships 8 Pikemen	Spanish (1)
	The Cavalry Marshal	Ships 9 Ruyters	Dutch (60)
		Ships 3 Cuirassiers	French (20)
		Ships 6 Uhlans	Germans (1)
		Ships 5 Hussars	Ottomans (1)
		Ships 6 Cossacks	Russians (40)
		Ships 5 Lancers	Spanish (1)
	The Engineer	Ships 2 Falconets	French (1) Ottomans (1) Russians (1) Germans (30) Spanish (50) British (60)
		Ships 2 Organ Guns	Portuguese (1)
	The Grand Vizier	Ships 3 Sipahi	Ottomans (20)
	The King's Musketeer	Ships 10 Musketeers	French (1) Spanish (1) British (50)
		Ships 13 Musketeers	Russians (20)
		Ships 8 Skirmishers	Dutch (1) Portuguese (30)
	The Tycoon	Ships 1,000 coin	British (1) Dutch (1) Germans (1) Ottomans (10) Portuguese (10) French (40)
		Ships 1 Factory Wagon	United States(1)
	The Viceroy	Ships 4 Settlers and 3 Grenadiers	British (1)
		Ships 4 Settlers and 3 Dragoons	Portuguese (1)
		Ships 4 Settlers and 3 Uhlans	Germans (20)
		Ships 4 Settlers and 3 Ruyters	Dutch (40)
	The War Minister	Ships 7 Oprichniks	Russian (1)
		Ships 10 Rodeleros	Spanish (20)
		Ships 1 Fort Wagon	United States (1)
Imperial Age	El Presidente	Ships 2,000 coin	All (1)
	The General	Ships 10 Musketeers and 2 Rockets	British (1)
		Ships 10 Skirmishers and 1 Heavy Cannon	Dutch Germans (1)
		Ships 10 Musketeers and 1 Heavy Cannon	French Portuguese Russians Spanish (1)
		Ships 10 Janissaries and 1 Great Bombard	Ottomans (1)

Changelog

Definitive Edition

• The Bishop moved to Fortress Age.
• The Bishop now ships a Covered Wagon instead of two Settlers/a Settler Wagon.
• The Bishop added to the Dutch and French, but removed from the Portuguese.
• The Naturalist now ships two Settlers/a Settler Wagon (moved from The Bishop) and two semi-fattened Cows (having 200/500 food).
• The Philosopher Prince removed from the Dutch and French.
• The Adventurer now ships 9 Crossbowmen for the Spanish.
• The Gentleman Pirate added to the French, but removed from the British and Dutch.
• The Scout removed from the French.
• The Mohawk Statesman now ships 7 Haudenosaunee Tomahawks and 1 Native Scouts.
• The Sergeant at Arms now ships 1 extra unit for the Dutch and Germans.
• The Cavalry Marshal now ships 1 extra unit for the Germans, Russians, and Spanish.
• The War Minister now ships 12 Rodeleros for the Spanish.
• The Viceroy now ships 5 Settlers + 500 food for the British, 5 Settlers + 400 coin for the Dutch, 3 Settler Wagons + 300 wood for the Germans, and 6 Fishing Boats + 400 wood for the Portuguese.
• The General no longer ships Musketeers/Skirmishers, but ships 1 extra Heavy Cannon/Great Bombard instead.
• The Inventor, The Knight, The Logistician, The Mercenary Contractor, and The Papal Guard introduced.
• The British Logistician means that Outposts can train Pikemen and Longbowmen; Manor Houses spawn Longbowmen instead of Settlers when built; and grants Infantry Breastplate.

The African Royals

• With update 13.690, the British Logistician effect was changed to "Ships 1 Arsenal Wagon and your next Arsenal technology is free".

	Age up methods in Age of Empires III
Politicians for European civilizations Commerce Age The Governor · The Imam · The Inventor · The Logistician · The Naturalist · The Philosopher Prince · The Quartermaster · The Medici Fortress Age The Admiral of the Ocean Sea · The Adventurer · The Bishop · The Ethiopian Queen · The Exiled Prince · The Gentleman Pirate · The Marksman · The Mercenary Contractor · The Mohawk Statesman · The Scout · The Sergeant at Arms Industrial Age The Cavalry Marshal · The Engineer · The Grand Vizier · The King's Musketeer · The Logistician · The Papal Guard · The Tycoon · The Viceroy · The War Minister · The Pope Imperial Age El Presidente · The General · The Black Duke · The Inventor · The Knight · The Mercenary Contractor · The Royalist · The Scottish Marshal Civilizations British · Dutch · French · Germans · Italians · Maltese · Ottomans · Portuguese · Russians · Spanish · Swedes Tribal Council members for Native American civilizations Commerce Age The Messenger · The Wise Woman · The Warrior · The Elder · The Chief Civilizations Aztecs · Haudenosaunee · Inca · Lakota Wonders for Asian civilizations Chinese Confucian Academy · Porcelain Tower · Summer Palace · Temple of Heaven · White Pagoda Indians Agra Fort · Charminar Gate · Karni Mata · Taj Mahal · Tower of Victory Japanese Golden Pavilion · Great Buddha · Shogunate · Torii Gates · Toshogu Shrine Federal States for the United States Commerce Age Delaware · Massachusetts · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Virginia Fortress Age Indiana · Kentucky · Maryland · New Hampshire · Tennessee Industrial Age California · New Jersey · Ohio · South Carolina · Vermont Imperial Age Connecticut · Florida · Illinois · New York · Texas Federal States for the Mexicans Commerce Age Durango · Michoacán · Tlaxcala · Chiapas · Querétaro Fortress Age Sonora · Coahuila · Sinaloa · San Luis Potosí · Tabasco Industrial Age Chihuahua · Zacatecas · Tamaulipas · Guanajuato · Guerrero Imperial Age Oaxaca · Jalisco · Estado de México · Veracruz · Puebla Alliances for African civilizations Ethiopians Habesha · Jesuits · Portuguese · Somalis · Sudanese · Indians* · Oromo+ · Arabsx Hausa Akan · Berbers · Hausa · Moroccans · Songhai · Fulani* · Yoruba+ · Britishx * requires Fortress Age to be unlocked; + requires Industrial Age to be unlocked; x requires Imperial Age to be unlocked Unused options for Tribal Council members, Wonders, and Alliances can be used in future Age-ups.

Gameplay elements in the Age of Empires series
Age Ability (II · M · III · IV) Architecture set (II · III) Area of Effect (Trample damage) Armor (Melee I & II · Pierce I & II · M · IV) Armor class (I - original · I - Return of Rome · II) Artificial intelligence Attack (IV) Attack ground Aura (IV) Auto Scout Building (I · II · M · III · IV · C · AoE:DS) Civilization (I · II · M · III · IV · C) Civilization bonus Cheat code (I · II · M · III · IV) Conversion Counter Diplomacy Gaia/Mother Nature Game modes Garrison Gather Point Healing Hit points Hotkey Line of Sight Mini map Mobile building Pass-through damage Player Population Range Rate of Fire Regeneration Relic (II · M · IV) Repairing Resists Resource (Renewable resource) Scenario Editor (I · II · M · III · IV) Score Signal Allies/Flare Snare Soundtrack (I · II · M · III · IV) Speed Stealth mode Taunt Technology (I · II · M · III · IV · C · Unique) Technology tree (I · II · IV · C) Terrain (AoE:DS · AoM:DS) Town Bell Trade (IV) Tribute Unit (I · II · M · III · IV · C · AoE:DS · AoM:DS) Unit formation Unit stance (III) Unit type/tag (II · M · III · IV) Upgrade (I · II · III · IV) User interface Victory Villager Priority
Genie Engine-exclusive
Frame delay · Full Tech Tree · Team bonus
Age of Empires	Ruins · Discovery
Age of Empires II	Projectile duplication
Bang Engine-exclusive
Autoqueue · Multiplier
Age of Mythology	God (Major · Minor) · God power · Settlement (Settlement Victory) · Weight class
Age of Empires III	Age-up methods (Politician/Tribal Council/Wonder/Federal State/Alliance) · Banner army · Consulate · Damage Cap · Home City · Home City Card · Inspiring Flag · Minor civilization · Promotion · Revolution · Target Lock · Trade Monopoly · Trade Route · Treasure
Age of Empires IV-exclusive
Generic	Influence · Landmark · Point of Interest · Sacred Site · Variant civilization
Civilization-unique	Bounty · Dynasty · Golden Age · Imperial Council (Vizier Point) · Commanderie
If a gameplay element has different pages across games, like civilization, the individual pages are linked in brackets.