#mena representation

Claude's outfits:

Pre-time skip

Pre-release image of Claude's concept:

It’s clear they already had an idea of placing importance on his ethnic heritage but the design we got was more in line with the other houses for uniformity as they go to a military academy as teens. As someone from a country with completely different clothing/culture, it makes sense that he would dress differently in this environment as well. It’s okay, because they incorporated this into the post-time skip design!

But the design we got still has mid east coding, such as the Gold trim is typically popularized by the achaemenid empire for their archers’ color, the tight boots vs loose trousers, but most importantly, the cape! Which is draped over warrior style, I think originating from Persepolis, in ancient Persia! I’ll go into it below.

Post-time skip

There's more unification in his design now, but because he's really grown into the character he is by that point. Let's go point by point to what is typical of Persian archers of the Safavid/Achaemenid empire: (example pic below)

Tunic and trousers: loose-fitting and often with elaborate woven and applied decoration

Headdress/headscarf/turban: distinctive headgear worn by many eastern ethnic peoples, I think it's a good symbol of how he's not just Almyran but mixed

Combined quiver and bow-case containing composite bow.

Grooming - typically beard or light hair such as the sideburns thing he has going on, it’s historically accurate!

Let's go over what's extra:

Colored fringes/tassels: Turkic people's tradition of warding off bad spirits, but I’ve heard from friends that the sash is passed down by mother, so it could be uncommon because it's a symbol of his mother's handicraft he wears??? See what they look like irl for comparison:

Cape - Persian style to drape over the side, Greeks like Alexander the Great who greatly admired middle eastern culture later copied this.

Pauldron/chains/jewelry: again, mostly Persian/azari/turkic (anyone in the middle east who valued that line of handicraft/showing it off in battle, which was most people lol)

Sash - that’s more of a Turkic archer thing, example: 

Now here are some comparisons with Persian archers:

Claude's personality: 

“The schemer”

This is just me but.... I still don't really like that title, but let's look at the history of Achaemenid empire:

The Persian Empire was an amalgam of diverse states, tribes, and peoples. The power of the Shah was based on tribute payments and military conscription. Persian armies, therefore, were polyglot affairs, each segment of the Empire sending its quota of men, dressed, equipped, and trained in the local fashion.

In this sense, I think Claude is just preparing himself to get back stabbed as leader of Leicester Alliance lol. 

"He is a cunning strategist and not above using dirty tactics. He does so out of true care for his allies as he would rather his allies be alive through shady ploys than dead by sticking to a higher sense of morals. However, aside from the usual casualties as a result of war, Claude does not enjoy killing people and most of his schemes involve incapacitating his foes before the battle begins rather than killing them outright."

This is like the Safavid era shah who rewarded his guards of other ethnicities, who remained loyal to him in the period before and just after his accession to the throne. Moreover, he placed several of them in other important positions such as governors of the large provinces, etc. This is one point of connection but also let's look at the structure of Leicester Alliance....how it was set up as an alliance is very similar to (Achaemenid King) Cyrus the Great's alliance with his own kingdom, it was divided by 'satraps' or governors who governed their own region of the empire, but most were of noble/rich families...just like Leicester Alliance!

"Claude dislikes blind faith in gods, reliance on chance, being bound by common sense."

If you've seen any support with Claude, you've most likely concluded that he's not so found of Archbishop Rhea or the church. It's also hinted that there is a different religion in Almyra. I think there are so many religions in the middle east that most people don't realize, so I won't try to prescribe him as any which one, but I also don't think the 3H writers/designers were interested enough to look past Christianity (but think Armenian), Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Judaism. I don't think he's trying to be disrespectful of those with faith, as he blatantly tells Ignatz and Marianne he's perfectly fine with their faith, but that he doesn't want them to fall prey to social tactics the church could manipulate. This could also hint at religious discrimination of his mom's side (assuming she's Jewish like her name).

"On the other hand, he enjoys archery, long rides, subjects of curiosity, poetry, scheming and organizing feasts."

This is typical of a middle eastern soldier, I don't have much to add, but I wish we could see some of his poetry. 

"We can't blaze ahead if we let the status quo confide us. Let's try coloring outside the lines..."

"Yet we have the strength to scale the walls between us, to reach out our hands in friendship, so we can open our true hearts to one another! That’s how we win!"

I think both these quotes are not anything substantial to form an argument and I'm reaching, but I think it portrays how empathetic he is to literally anyone that is oppressed by rules against him. 

Board Game Piece -- if anyone has been doing the lost items fetch quests, they'll notice there's 2 items for Claude regarding that. Backgammon was invented by Persians a long time ago, and is arguably the most famous middle eastern board game that's universally loved/played today. Or as it was called there, Nardshir.

Claude's backstory via supports:

 I'm going to simplify what we learn about Claude through all the supports he has (and someone has uploaded them all if you haven't gotten them all on youtube too):

Alymra, Dagda, and Brigid do not believe in the church/Lady Seiros.

Claude is implied to be at least bilingual. -- typically middle easterners speak at least 2 languages besides english because they speak the language of the country they reside in, then the different dialect if there’s a standard version and/or their own ethnic language

Claude washes dishes because he’s not a stuck up noble.

Claude and Lorenz are both versed in poetry. -- this was common of kurdish/turkic/persian warriors

He rises every morning to meditate. -- this could be either zoroastrian meditation or actual prayer

In Almyra they party and sing all night. -- this could another middle eastern reference to sharing/reciting poetry in the form of songs during gatherings.

Claude was raised with the arab folktale of the "white camel being lost downstream".

or it could have been of Rumi's warning tales but I think it's the former because Hilda mentions that she was worried the white camel calf would die.

Judith is like a warrior goddess.

He doesn't believe in Lady Seiros but would if she were more spiritual in function. -- this is how a lot of older religions that were phased out in the region are seen as today and even celebrated nationally but not to the religious scale that they once were at their peaks.

Claude's Family:

Judith-

A Hebrew name and prominent Jewish character in the bible and in multiple religious myths! She is of the country of Daphnel, Judith is headstrong, protective, authoritative and will fight anyone...even his instructors (according to Claude's supports!). Claude also mentions the idea that she gives up everything to go elope with her true lover, Nader. This idea implants that although they come from a common area, they perhaps fall into different clans or ethnicities, which in that time the entire continent was sprawling with hundreds of thousands of different ethnicities. I feel like handling this pertinent part of history with such subtlety and care was also fundamental to Claude's story and outlook on people. 

Nader the Undefeated-

Nader is an ancient word of Arabic origin meaning "rare” but is now of notably Persian or Arabic use and the meaning slightly changes in different dialects. I think he was modeled after famous Persian shahs such as Cyrus or Darius the Great. 

Claude's weapon:

The bow was very important in middle eastern countries, it was used in Turkey until 1591, but notably they were the most used by Persians who continued to use bows until around 1820! It was something many Persian kids trained as from a young age in that time.

I won't bore anyone with the details of materials, types, etc., but composite bows were the most popular among the entire middle east as a natural trend from central Asian nomadic groups. (hint hint, Shamir!)

Even in this art, it references a technique called "Jarmakee" which involves drawing the bow with the draw arm going behind the head, so the fire angle is steep, great for firing at an enemy below from atop a high place.

Also, a fun fact! Turkic/Persian archers both used a ring to help them draw the string faster/stronger, it was called the zihgir and tombak respectively. Safavid dynasty particularly made the gold, hand crafted kind I think fits Claude's design so well!

--side note: back then and even today if you were to ever visit a middle eastern country, although Gold is of course luxurious the handicraft is just as valued as it's monetary worth. I'm just projecting here, but as evidenced in his supports, he's showing off to everyone with his country's best artworks.

The fact that we’re finally seeing GOOD representation of a middle eastern lord of color in a Fire Emblem game is incredibly uplifting. I certainly wasn't expecting this, even with the 'Golden Deer' reference. I’m serious, I could cry.

And, I'm glad they made this progressive step forward, despite the mistakes with Dedue, Ingrid, Hilda, Ignatz, Cyril, and others--I understand that FE3H is not perfect, but I feel they can only go up from here.

Thank you, Fire Emblem.

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sources!!