Garlean Empire
“The Garlean Empire controls the majority of the Three Great Continents, the enormous landmass that encompasses Eorzea. Until some fifty years ago, Garlemald was a remote and sparsely populated nation which held little more than a fraction of the northern continent of Ilsabard. But with the arrival of a technological golden age and the concurrent emergence of a brilliant young legatus—now the reigning emperor—in the span of a single generation Garlemald established itself as one of the most formidable forces in all of Hydaelyn.
— The Lodestone
The Garlean Empire is a nation located to the northeast of Eorzea in Garlemald. Specializing in magitek machinery, powered by a refined form of aether known as ceruleum, Garlemald is considered to be one of the most technologically advanced nations. However, this technological golden age fed Garlemald's hunger for conquest, and the once-sparsely populated nation became the empire it is known as today. The Empire is known for ruling with an iron fist, suppressing all—the "savages" of conquered lands most of all—who fall under its rule.
The Empire began its advance on Eorzea in the year 1556 of the Sixth Astral Era, invading and successfully conquering the nation of Ala Mhigo. After a pause to its aggressive expansion, this wave of Garlean might began again in the year 1572, this time aiming to claim the rest of Eorzea's lands.
Throughout Final Fantasy XIV, the Garlean Empire serves as the major antagonist in the Warrior of Light's story.
Lore
The Garlean Empire lays claim to nearly three-quarters of the Three Great Continents, Aldenard being the only region yet to fall entirely under imperial rule. Until some fifty years ago, Garlemald was a remote and sparsely populated republic which held little more than a fraction of the northern territories of Ilsabard. But with the arrival of a technological golden age and the concurrent emergence of a brilliant young legatus in the span of a single generation, Garlemald has come to stand upon the threshold of ruling all Hydaelyn. [1]
Flag
The emblem upon the Garlean flag is a chain in abstract design. It symbolizes the value the native sons and daughters of Garlemald hold dear: tight unity amongst their small number. In like fashion, the crimson central link represents all those who have perished for the Garlean mission to return to Locus Amoenus.
Motto
Nos summus manus, Nos sumus deus. (We are the Hand, We are the God)
Government
Garlemald was a republic until Solus Galvus, about fifty years ago, brought all of Ilsabard under his control and named himself Emperor. Thus was born the Empire, a mighty regime to govern new Garlean territories and led by the newly-titled Solus zos Galvus. The Senate yet exists and gives council to the Emperor, but its power is a shadow of what it once was. The central government now stands as a large bureaucracy, led by magistrates personally appointed by the Emperor.
The Empire was most recently led by Varis zos Galvus. There currently exists an unstable power vacuum due to actions by Zenos and Fandaniel.
Military
The Garlean military is comprised of 14 Legions, each lead by a Legatus. Most of the legions govern the conquered territories of the Garlean Empire, while some remain in Garlemald to serve as a defense. The legions are denoted by Roman numerals, from I to XIV. While the Garleans have been present in every expansion, there are still some legions that have yet to be encountered.
Ist Legion
The Ist Legion is led by Quintus van Cinna and serves as a royal guard to Varis zos Galvus. The Ist Legion is extremely fanatical and loyal to the Empire, and has a fierce rivalry with the IIIrd Legion.
IInd Legion
Briefly mentioned in the Endwalker role quests, the IInd are said to have quelled an uprising in Corvos before being overrun. Their fate and Legatus are currently unknown.
IIIrd Legion
The IIIrd Legion, led by Vergilia van Corculum, is loyal to Nerva yae Galvus and has a strong rivalry with the Ist Legion.
IVth Legion
The IVth Legion governed the territories of Bozja and Dalmasca, and serves as the primary antagonist of the Save the Queen: Blades of Gunnhildr questline. Known Legatuses of the IVth Legion include Basch van Gabranth and his son, Noah van Gabranth. Other notable members include Menenius sas Lanatus, Sicinius Vellus, and Lyon rem Helsos. The IVth legion was known as the most racially diverse and "accepting" of the imperial legions, and rewards excellence and skill rather than a soldier's race.
Vth Legion
The Vth Legion's location and Legatus are unknown.
VIth Legion
Led by Regula van Hydrus, the VIth was last seen staging a landing in Azys Lla where their dreadnaught The Gration was fortifying Castrum Solus.
VIIth Legion
The VIIth, commanded by Nael van Darnus, led the original invasion of Eorzea that was ultimately thwarted by Louisoix at Carteneau during the Battle of Silvertear Skies. The resulting fall of Dalamud caused the Seventh Umbral Calamity. Currently stationed in Werlyt and led by Valens van Varro, the VIIth are encountered again during the The Sorrow of Werlyt questline.
VIIIth Legion
The VIIIth Legion's location and Legatus are unknown.
IXth Legion
The IXth Legion's location and Legatus are unknown.
Xth Legion
Briefly mentioned in Endwalker, their location and Legatus are unknown.
XIth Legion
Previously led by Gaius van Baelsar, the XIth Legion assisted in the conquering of Nagxia. After committing war crimes against the local population, the Legion was downsized. Its current location and Legatus are unknown.
XIIth Legion
Stationed in Gyr Abania and formerly led by Gaius van Baelsar during the conquest of Ala Mhigo. While under the command of Zenos yae Galvus, the XIIth Legion was responsible for the occupation and suppression of the region. Previously operated in Doma, before being given to Yotsuyu goe Brutus.
XIIIth Legion
The XIIIth Legion's location and Legatus are unknown.
XIVth Legion
Formerly led by Gaius van Baelsar until his defeat at The Praetorium. All Cohorts present in mainland Eorzea (2.0 zones) are from the XIVth Legion.
Racial Distribution
Garleans: 70% Other: 30%
Note: These figures represent only the capital city of Garlemald, as well as only those with full citizenship. If all subjects were included, the percentages of true-blooded Garleans would be significantly reduced.
Religion
The Empire has banned religion, seeing it as a barbarian practice that all too often results in the summoning of primals. Many of the inhabitants of Garlemald proper are atheists, a fact attributable to their biological and spiritual inability to harbor and wield aether-based magicks. As theologians believe that religion can only truly develop alongside magic, it is little wonder that the Garleans are disinclined to keep any faith.
Industries
Magitek Manufacturing
The invention of the ceruleum engine ushered Garlemald into a golden age. As much a change in society as in technology, this magitek revolution advanced Garlean industry greatly, and allowed the nation to produce goods in vast numbers through machina.
Aeronautics
Garlemald had long ago learned to fly by capturing in fabric balloons a lighter-than-air gas created when ceruleum is ignited. In the skies of northern Ilsabard, however, these vehicles were completely at the mercy of frigid winds and blowing snows. True flight came with the invention of the ceruleum propulsion engine and wings treated with aether which led to the realization of the modern airship. Currently, the Empire produces many and more of these machina, some for personal or commercial use, others for the military.
Textiles:
Using a viscous resin produced during the purification of ceruleum, the Garleans have learned to spin fibers of highly durable carbon--a revolutionary development in the textile industry.
Beliefs
Following the invention of magitek, Garleans have come to hold efficiency in high regard, and the founding of the Empire has heralded the advent of a strict social hierarchy. Advancement has become an excessive measure of individual merit, and those aspiring to move upwards have carried Garlemald forward. However, there is also a marked tendency to look down upon the peoples of annexed territories, which has been the cause of much discord.
Diet
The winters of Garlemald are bitter, and the cultivation period short. Food that can keep, then, is a necessity. Simple and hearty fare is commonplace, such as stews of dried, salted, or even fermented meats and fish. In recent years, however, Garlemald has reaped the benefits of an empire, and the diverse foods of the provinces increasingly deck the Garlean table.
Social Hierarchy
| Category | Sample Position | Primary Function | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | Emperor | Supreme ruler of the empire and all its holdings | Zos | |
| Consanguineus Imperialis | Imperial prince, empress, empress dowager, and any other member of the royal family in line to succeed the imperial throne | Yae | ||
| Gens Imperiale | Imperial princess, spouses of royal family members, and all other royalty without claim to the imperial throne | Wir | ||
| Military | Marshals | Legatus Augustus | High commander of multiple legions | Van |
| Legatus Legionis[2] | Commander of a legion | |||
| Executive Officers | Tribunus Laticlavius | Leader of a legion's military tribunes, and second in command to the legatus | Tol | |
| Tribunus Angusticlavius | One of a legion's military tribunes Assumes command of the secondary unit in the event a legion is split | Sas | ||
| Praefectus Castrorum | Commander of a castrum stationed in or near enemy territory, and the highest rank attainable by a citizen not of Garlean ancestry | Sas | ||
| Senior Officers | Tribunus Militum | One of a legion's military tribunes and second in command to the Tribunus Laticlavus | Rem | |
| Primus pilus | Commander of a legion's first cohort | |||
| Officers | Pilus prior | Commander of a legion's remaining cohorts | ||
| Centurio | Commander of a middle-sized unit of infantry numbering one-hundred soldiers | Quo | ||
| Petty Officers | Optio | A veteran soldier assigned to assist a centurion | Pyr | |
| Tesserarius | Watch commander responsible with maintaining communication between officers and soldiers | |||
| Decurio | Commander of a small unit of infantry numbering ten soldiers | |||
| Soldiers | Duplicarius | A veteran soldier | Oen | |
| Legionarius | Regular infantry composed mostly of peoples of conquered territories seeking citizenship through service | |||
| Specialists | Senior Officers | Primus Architectus Magiteci | Chief imperial magitek engineer and Lord Provost of the Garlean Magitek Academy | Nan |
| Architectus Magiteci | A engineer specializing in magitek | |||
| Officers | Praefectus Medicorum | High commander of imperial field medics | Mal | |
| Praefectus Architectorum | High commander of the imperial field engineers | |||
| Primus medicus | First medic | Lux | ||
| Architectus Ordinum | Commander of a small unit of field engineers | |||
| Petty Officers | Medicus Veteranus | Veteran field medic | Kir | |
| Architectus Veteranus | Veteran engineer | |||
| Soldiers | Medicus | Field Medic | Jen | |
| Architectus | Field engineer assigned to tasks such as the building and maintenance of equipment, sapping, and airship piloting | |||
| Public Officials | Extraordinary Magistrates | Dictator | Temporary leader appointed only in times of emergency, and given all rights of the lord emperor | Iyl |
| Princeps senatus | Leader of the senate, wielding direct influence over the Consul | |||
| Ordinary Magistrates | Consul | Highest elected official. Also serves as mayor of the imperial capital | Het | |
| Praetor | Minister of law and second to the Consul | |||
| Tribunus plebis | A remnant of the old republic, serves as a representative of public citizens | |||
| Aedilis | Minister of city planning | |||
| Quaestor | Minister of state finances | |||
| Provincial Magistrates | Censor | Supervisor of public morality | Goe | |
| Rector | Ruler of an imperial province | |||
| Praeses | Ruler of an imperial territory | |||
| Senior Intelligence Officials | Primus Frumentarius | Commander of local and foreign operatives | ||
| Senior Officials | Praefectus | Supervisor of civil servants | Fae | |
| Vicarius | Deputy to provincial rectors | |||
| Senator | Members of the Senate who worked to elect high-ranking magistrates | |||
| Officials | Decemvir | Members of the Decemviri--a group of ten magistrates who adjudge litigation, distribute public lands, and write laws, amongst other tasks. | Eir | |
| Auctor Palatinorum | Head of the imperial palace servants | |||
| Intelligence Officials | Frumentarius | Local and foreign operatives | ||
| Lower Officers | Eques | Basic civil servants | Dus | |
| Lictor | Bodyguards and protectors of the public peace | |||
| Notarius | Scrivener and record-keepers | |||
| Compulsor | Tax-collectors | |||
| Palatinus | Imperial palace servants | |||
| Citizens | Upper Citizens | Civis Fabrilis | Artisans and other citizens of the secondary economic sector--manufacturing | Cen |
| Lower Citizens | Civis Mercatus | Merchants and other citizens of the tetriary economic sector--services | Bas | |
| Civis Funaminae | Farmers, fishers, hunters, miners, logcutters, and other citizens of the primary economic sector--raw materials | |||
| Non-citizens | Non-citizens | Peregrinus | Slaves and peoples of annexed territories. Citizenship may be granted to those who have demonstrated exceptional skills, as well as those who have contributed twenty or more years of military service | Aan |
| Criminals | A disgraced title reserved for the worst criminals and outcasts who have betrayed the Empire | Viator |
History
Portrait of a People
To understand the history of Garlemald, one must first understand the character of its people. Known to be strong of body, the most distinguishing Garlean trait is a third eye sitting at the center of the forehead. This ocular organ resembles a pearl, and grants purebloods superior spatial recognition. Garleans have little inborn ability to manipulate their body’s aether, however, and thus the arcane arts have ever eluded all but a few. Thus, they have long been at a disadvantage against other peoples with a command of magic.
This imbalance of power has greatly informed the territorial feuds of Ilsabard. In ages past, the Garleans were expelled from the relative warmth of lands to the south of the realm-dividing central mountain range. After crossing the treacherous peaks, they had no choice but to settle in the bleak northern reaches of the continent.
Blue Gold
Winters in the Garleans’ new home were harsh. The northern seas were bound in ice for most of the year, and the resources of the waters were available for only a slim window. Likewise, farming and rearing animals were possible only at certain times. The land, in other words, could not support a large populace. The Garleans multiplied slowly, and over time were forced to accept being few in number.
There was but one benefit to the frigid land—its vast deposits of ceruleum. This deep-blue liquid burned as well as oil, and kept the hearth warm during the long, dark times of year. Indeed, had it not been for this natural resource, the Garleans would not have survived the severe winter cold. Yet, it was to be a long time before the Garleans realized just what a boon this ceruleum was.
The Early Republic
The Garlean people officially banded together in 922 of the Sixth Astral Era. Many small villages existed before then, but none developed overmuch due to occasional raids by other more-established tribes of northern Ilsabard. To raise themselves from this base existence, one town named itself the center, and the others were brought into the fold through negotiation and force. This, the Garlemald Republic, had but one goal: to unite its people in order to stave off foreign aggression.
Survival was no small task. In desperation, the Garleans began to employ Roegadyn magi from the central mountains to bolster its own army where it was weakest. They also waged war from the shadows, sending spies to incite conflict betwixt the surrounding nations. For centuries, Garlemald prevailed, using every tactic at its disposal.
Starting in the early 16th century, however, a new age was to dawn on the nation. In 1513, a man named Solus Galvus attained the rank of legatus. The twenty-four year old Garlean learned of the newly-invented ceruleum engine, and saw great potential in it. His was the hand that guided the development of magitek weap- ons, and his the mind that devised tactics for these warmachina. Galvus also saw them integrated into the army, and so imbued the military with mechanical might.
Unifying the North
At first, Galvus's innovations were viewed with a skeptical eye. How- ever, as neighboring nations began falling to Garlemald's warmachina, the people realized the wisdom in his decision. As if to avenge every wrong ever done to them, the Garleans invaded the countries of northern Ilsabard and annexed their lands. To expand its small army, Garlemald recruited the subjugated peoples, promising to better their lives with magitek technology in exchange for service. This cunning carrot-and-stick strategy made the republic greater and more powerful with every victory.
As triumph followed triumph, the Garleans’ respect for Galvus grew, eventually transforming into worship. In 1517, he was granted control of Garlemald as dictator by overwhelming popular support. The same year, the republic attacked Dalmasca, a small country nestled in the central mountains, and rained down fire upon it with their new airships. Thus, the Garlean army turned to conquer the south of Ilsabard. In 1522, this campaign ended in victory. Having unified the continent through force for the first time in history, Galvus proclaimed himself Emperor, and thus created the Garlean Empire.
Assimilation
Though he had already accomplished the impossible, Galvus was not content with Ilsabard alone. Six years after becoming Emperor, he set his gaze upon the eastern continent of Othard, and marched upon it with a great host. With their warmachina at the fore, the imperial forces toppled all who dared stand before them. It was during this campaign that Galvus first laid eyes upon the ruin wrought by primals—an entire land utterly drained of life. Scholars believe this terrible sight ultimately led the Emperor to issue an imperial mandate for the annihilation of the dread beings the Garleans dubbed “eikons,” refusing to believe them of divine origin.
After a long and hard-fought resistance, the nation of Doma fell to Garlemald in 1552. With this, Galvus had conquered the east. Now, he turned his armies towards the west, plotted the invasion of Aldenard, and captured Ala Mhigo in 1557. However, this was to be the last victory for some time. In Eorzea, the Garleans suffered a crippling and unexpected defeat over Silvertear Lake, faced the emergence of eikons, and watched its Meteor project end in stunning failure. In Garlemald, a war of succession broke out. The unrelenting march of the imperial army—and its territorial acquisitions—ground to a halt. [3]