system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Civilization] Are the Civ leaders immortal god-emperors?

In the Civ series, the leaders exist at the dawn of man, guiding their civilization through the ages and they are still their civilization's leader through the space age and beyond. The only thing that can kill a Civ leader is another civilization. And their life-force appears to be tied to their civilization's existence. For example, if their only city switched loyalties to another civilization due to cultural forces, the leader ceases to exist. But if that city was liberated and returned to the original leader, the leader exists again. Otherwise, they appear to be immortal.

There are mythologies and religions within the world that point to a higher power beyond the physical world, but the leaders do not appear to be fully human either. Are they perhaps lesser gods or other supernatural entity?
gpt
Leaders dont die, they still exist after being defeated, they just lose power and are taken captive.  Catherine the Great acknowledges this directly in Civ 5, for example.  They're resourceful bastards though, and are able to escape and return to leadership if one of their cities is liberated.

That being the case, yes they do appear to be completely immortal god-emperors.