Easter eggs

Like its predecessor, Europa Universalis IV has a number of Easter eggs and references to popular culture. Many of these are included for the player's amusement when particular events happen. This is a non-exhaustive list of Easter eggs present in EU4. Additions are welcome.

TV, animation and film references

Lord of the Rings

The flag of Saruhan is based on the White Hand of Saruman.

Two decisions (formerly missions) for Aragon are based on punning "Aragon" for "Aragorn": "Become King of Gonder" and "Defeat Saruhan".

The seventh national idea for Aragon is "Protect the Little Folk", which is a reference to Hobbits, which are often called the Little Folk in the Lord of the Rings.

The achievement One Family to Rule them All is a reference to the iconic line "One Ring to rule them all" from the Lord of the Rings. The icon also shows the eye of Sauron.

The achievement One nation to rule them all is a reference to the same line.

Back to the Future

"Back to the Piast" achievement makes a pun of Poland's first ruler's name. The achievement's icon depicts a red-white car similar to the film's iconic DeLorean.

The Godfather

Event "Visit from some shady people" has event options as a modified line from the film. "An offer..." "...we can refuse."

Braveheart

Event "For Freedom!" has a description taken straight from the film's famous speech.

Event "The Highlanders Arrive" has a description taken from the prelude of the film's depiction of the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

The event "Fear and Loathing in $PROVINCE$" is a reference to the book and the film.

The Shining

The events "The Discovery" and "Dance Macabre" contain references to the film The Shining.

Pirates of the Caribbean

The achievement No Pirates in my Caribbean is a reference to the Disney franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean.

The achievement Why is the Rûm gone!? is a reference to scene where Jack Sparrow screams "Why is the Rum gone?!".

Monty Python

Castillian/Spanish National Idea "The Spanish Inquisition" has the description "No one expected it."

The Canadian National Idea "Singing Lumberjacks" is a reference to the Lumberjack Song from Monty Python.

The Scornful Insult "Your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries!" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Dr. Strangelove

The description of the Bavarian National Idea "Bring in the Bavarian Purity Law" references General Ripper's paranoia over "bodily fluids" in the film.

300

The achievement This is Persia! is a reference to the famous "This is Sparta!" line in the film "300"

The image of achievement It's All Greek To Me resembles main character - King Leonidas.

Blade Runner

The in-game description of the colonial event Colonial Enthusiasm contains a reference to the constant recruitment of volunteers to the "off-world" colonies in Blade Runner.

Star Wars

The Buddhists Strike Back achievement is a reference to the fifth (second chronologically) episode of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The image for this achievement represents a variation of Ceylon's flag, with a lightsaber instead of the Sri Lankan sword.

The That's No Mon achievement is a reference to famous quote of Obi Wan Kenobi when he first saw the Death Star "That is no moon". The image of this achievement also resembles Death Star with flag of Pegu.

The only option available for the event The Perpetual Diet of [From.GetCapitalName] is a direct quote from Palpatine's speech at the end of Episode III.

Father Ted

The achievement Just Resting In My Account is a reference to the British-Irish sitcom Father Ted. The image for this achievement depicts the series' protagonist, Father Ted Crilly, who repeatedly defends his dubious finances by claiming that "that money was just resting in my account."

Legend of the Galactic Heroes

The achievement The Fezzan Corridors is a reference to a spatial navigation corridor in Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Jem and the Holograms

Event "Faceting" has "Gems are truly outrageous." as only option.

Warhammer 40.000

The achievement Empire of Mann might be a reference to one of the main factions The Imperium of Man.

The achievement For the Emperor! is also a reference to the Imperium of Man. The achievement's icon also depicts a Space Marine.

The achievement Blood for the Sky God! is a reference to one of battle cries of cultists of Khorne "Blood for the Blood god!"

Star Trek

The Achievement KHAAAAAAN is a reference to the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Frozen

The Achievement Let it Go! is a reference to the film Frozen

The Lion King

The Achievement Hanukkah Mutapa is a reference to a Swahili phrase meaning "no worries" popularised by the film The Lion King

No Country for Old Men

The Achievement No Country for Old Tercios is a reference to the film No Country for Old Men.

Harakiri

The icon for the Japan mission Bushido is a still from the movie Harakiri

Video game references

Civilization V

The description for transport ships in EUIV states, "Everybody knows that soldiers simply cannot turn into boats", mocking the game mechanics in Civilization V where land units can, in fact, become boats after obtaining the "Embark" promotion.

Assassin's Creed

For converted Crusader Kings II games, the Hashashin's first national idea is named: "Hashashin's Creed".

Among Us

The achievement Imposter Syndrome" is reference to the game Among Us. It's only achievable as Sus, which is common abbreviation of "suspicious" and its icon references character designs in that game.

Super Mario Bros.

The achievement "The Princess is in this Castle" and its icon are a reference to Super Mario Bros.

Zero Wing

The achievement "All Your Trade Are Belong to Us" and its icon are a reference to Zero Wing.

For the Glory

The achievement For the Glory may be a reference to For the Glory game published by Paradox Interactive.

Fallout Series

The achievement Mewar Never Changes is a reference to a motto repeated throughout the series "War Never Changes"

Monkey Island

The Scornful Insults "You fight like a dairy farmer!" and "You fight like a cow!" are used in swordfights in the game The Secret of Monkey Island. In EUIV they require that the insulted / insulting country has a ruler called "Guybrush" which is the name of the main character of the Monkey Island series

Music references

Madonna

The only option for the event "Justify my War!" uses lyrics from the song "Justify my Love".

The achievement Subsidize my love name is a modified version of the same song.

Metallica

The name for the event "Back to the Front" uses lyrics from the song "Disposable Heroes".

Nick Cave

The name and options for the event "The Weeping Song" uses lyrics from the song "The Weeping Song".

Queen

The achievement "Queen of Mercury" is a reference to Freddie Mercury and his band, Queen. The provinces required obtain the achievement are where he was born (Zanzibar) and grew up (North Konkan, a.k.a. Bombay).The achievement's icon also depicts one of his famous poses.

Timbuktu

The achievement "Nobody wants to die", which requires you to own the province of Timbuktu as Songhai, is a reference to the Swedish musician Timbuktu who wrote a song with the lyrics "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."

The Beatles

The achievement "Norwegian Wood" is a reference to the Beatles song of the same name.

Opera The Pirates of Penzance

The text of the piratical event A Model Admiral makes references to the Major-General's Song from the opera "The Pirates of Penzance" and the name of the admiral/ruler which the event gives (Gilbert Patter) is a reference to its author W. S. Gilbert and to the type of song (patter song).

Literature references

The Lord of the Rings reference mentioned above is both a film and a literature reference.

Shakespeare

The Venetian event "Expand into the 'Terra Ferma'" uses a line from the prologue to the play Romeo and Juliet.

Verona's national ideas' titles and descriptions contain several references to the same play.

Fairy tales

The achievement "The Emperors New Clothes" is a reference to the Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

The first option of the event "Dance Macabre" is a reference to the tale of the Three Little Pigs.

A Song of Ice and Fire

The achievement "The Iron Price" is a reference to House Greyjoy from George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire", pirates known for calling reaving "paying the iron price".

Dune

The achievement "The Spice Must Flow" gets its name from the Dune series of novels by Frank Herbert and the spice substance that features prominently in it.

John Carter of Mars

Several of the province and sea tile names used in the random new world system are taken from the fantasy series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. (Barsoom, Sea of Omean, et. al.)

Paradox Interactive references

• Names of the people involved with developing the game appear in numerous places. For example, the Lux Stella events which gives you a fantastic heir has an option to name the heir Johan after the lead of Paradox Development Studio. Martin Anward, who was the project lead for Europa Universalis IV for several years, appears as a cameo in some event pictures, notably Riches of the Dhimmi.
• The event "Comet Sighted" unnecessary extra options is a throwback to Europa Universalis III when players complained in the Paradox Interactive forums of the event not having enough options.
• Stockholm, where Paradox Interactive is located, is province ID 1. (Because of this, if one enters nothing in the find province search, it will show you Stockholm on the map.)
• While not intended to be an easter egg, the observe button did not work properly (its console command does however work) and would set players as Sweden before it was removed in Patch 1.6.
• The achievement Atwix Legacy which requires 10 personal unions is named after the EUIV player Atwix who wrote the standard guide on personal unions and who passed away a few months before the release of Patch 1.32 which added that achievement

Other references

Manga

The Japanese decision (formerly mission) "Recover Manga" puns on a province in Africa.

Sailor Moon

The Achievement Sailor Mon is a reference to the anime/manga Sailor Moon. Also the achievement's image resembles the headwear of Usagi Tsukino, the heroine of the anime.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

The Achievement Golden Wind is a reference to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, the manga's fifth part. The achievement's image is also a reference to the part's main character's hair.

The achievement Stardust Crusaders is a reference to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, the icon is a reference to the Egypt arc of the show where the main characters of the show are walking in the desert of Egypt to fight Dio, the main villain.

One Piece

The achievement The Freest Man in the World is a reference to One Piece. The achievement icon also depicts the main character's hat.

The achievement All Blue is a reference to the All Blue in one piece. The achievement icon also has the one piece world map.

Sports

Event "A New Religion Spreads?" on the popularity of association football (soccer).

The achievement ‘The Bohemians’ probably refers to the Dublin football team Bohemian F.C.

Before Patch 1.14, the leader name list for Trebizond consisted of members of the Turkish football team Trabzonspor.

The achievement ‘Stern des Südens’ refers to German football (soccer). The most successful club is FC Bayern München, whose anthem is ‘Stern des Südens’. Werder Bremen is one of its rivals (especially in the 1980s and early 1990s).

Something Awful forum

The only option for the event "A Swedish City" says, "That isn't something awful..."

Slang

Ganja province's ID is 420, which are both slang related to drug cannabis.

IKEA

The achievement Assembly Instructions Needed is a reference Swedish home furnishings company IKEA. The achievement's icon also depicts the character frequently present in their assembly manuals.