War of the Lions
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- This article is about the in-game event. For the PSP port of Final Fantasy Tactics, see Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.
| War of the Lions | |
| ''Final Fantasy Tactics'' | |
 | |
| Chocobo Knights at the Battle of Lesalia Plain in the opening of the War of the Lions. | |
| Location: | Ivalice |
| Result: |
|
| Combatants | |
| Order of the Northern Sky | Order of the Southern Sky |
| Commanders | |
| Strength | |
| Armies of the Northern Sky | Armies of the Southern Sky |
| Casualties | |
| At least 200,000 killed[1] | At least 200,000 killed[1]
|
The War of the Lions (獅子戦争, Shishi Sensō?) , also known as the Lion War, is a civil war in Final Fantasy Tactics over the throne of Ivalice. Much of the game documents what lead up to, occurred during, or happened as a result of the war.
Contents |
Origin
Edit
The War of the Lions is fought between the Order of the Northern Sky Knights of Duke Larg under the banner of the White Lion and the Order of the Southern Sky Knights of Duke Goltanna under the banner of the Black Lion. King Ondoria Atkascha III died due to the Black Death and his heir Prince Orinus is just two years old. A regent is sought to rule in the prince's place, and both dukes who were decorated generals in the Fifty Years' War were nominated as regent.
One of the main reasons behind the War is the rift between Queen Louveria and the nobles of Ivalice. Queen Louveria is regarded by the nobles as a power-mad queen who desires her offspring on the throne so that she may completely rule the kingdom. The Council of Nobles, out to stop her from asserting any of her influence onto the kingdom, appoints Duke Goltanna as their preferred candidate for the regency.
Major BattlesEdit
Attacks on LesaliaEdit
The first major battle of the War of the Lions, the Battle of Lesalia Plain, is a massive assault of Chocobo Knights from Gallionne on the plains south of the Royal City of Lesalia, where the royal palace is built. The Southern Sky is driven out of the city and forced to their strongholds at Fort Besselat and Limberry Castle. The victory leads to Southern plans mostly revolving around an attack on Lesalia, at a time sending an army lead by Cidolfus Orlandeau to take the city, though it is driven away.
Further Southern attempts to attack Lesalia culminate in the Battle of Groffovia, fought on the plains between Limberry, which was generally pro-Southern, and Lesalia proper. The battle is inconclusive, but within three months after it, casualties reach 400,000, sapping what little public support there is for the war.[1]
Conditions WorsenEdit
Around this time, Queen Louveria and Chancellor Glevanne were accused of abducting Princess Ovelia to allow for Duke Larg's ascendance to the throne. In addition, famine overtakes Zeltennia and Limberry because of a drought, and Gallionne and Fovoham, causing mass starvation amongst civilians.[2]
The massive losses sustained by the Southern Sky are worsened by the Battle of the Fusse Plains, in which Marquis Elmdore is killed by a stray arrow. However, he is possessed by the Lucavi Zalera, and fights for the Knights Templar at the Battle of Riovanes Castle.[3]
Despite the death of nearly half a million soldiers, the war reaches a complete stalemate. The Northern Sky plans to make an all-or-nothing attack at Fort Besselat, planning to take it and use it as a base from which they can wage total war against Southern food supply.
Climax at Fort BesselatEdit
The War's decisive battle is the Battle of Fort Besselat, in which Ramza Beoulve intervenes by opening the garrison's sluice, bringing the battle to a sudden indecisive halt. Mossfungus was also released into the air by Barich Fendsor, one of the Knights Templar, severely weakening both sides. In the confusion, both Dukes were murdered by their respective traitors: Larg by Dycedarg Beoulve and Goltanna by Delita Heiral. As originally planned, the Church offers mediators. However, despite the loss of both Order's leaders, their armies were still strong and refused the idea. This is possibly because of Ramza's intervention, whereas without it, both sides would have suffered major losses if the sluice wasn't opened.
As for the Lucavi, Ramza Beoulve travels with his companions to Orbonne Monastery to stop the Knights Templar and the Lucavi's plot for Ultima's resurrection. Killing all the Church's forces that dared to stop them, they were teleported to the Airship Graveyard beneath the Necrohol of Mullonde and successfully destroyed Ultima with their own fate a mystery.
With the two sides crippled, the War came to an end. In lack of a leader; with the two dukes killed, Queen Louveria imprisoned in Fort Besselat, High Confessor Funebris murdered, Dycedarg slain, and Orlandeau missing and believed dead, Delita Heiral takes advantage of the situation by claiming that he rescued Princess Ovelia, marrying her to achieve his own ambition as King of all Ivalice.
TruthEdit
The War, however, has been engineered by the Church of Glabados so that it may take center stage after both sides are weakened to exhaustion. The High Confessor Marcel Funebris, wishing for the Church to gain considerable power over the land, supported both sides secretly and even assisted in their secret plots for the throne. In secret, the Church is acting parasitically, destroying the two Lions from the inside. The Church would then use the Zodiac Stones as means to strengthen the Church's military power.
But in reality, even the manipulating Church is being manipulated from within by the Knights Templar under Folmarv Tengille, who attempts to collect every single Zodiac Stone to help the Lucavi. The Lucavi, in turn for their hosts' service, grant them immense strength and power. The Lucavi's real motive is the resurrection of their leader, Ultima, the High Seraph, who wishes to destroy Ivalice. The immense bloodshed needed for Ultima's coming was the true reason behind the War of the Lions.
TriviaEdit
- It may be possible that the the War of the Lions was, like the Fifty Years' War, an allusion to one of two historical wars that, like the Hundred Years' War and the War of the Roses, came one after the other. In this case, the was is most likely the Wars of the Roses (or War of the Roses), a civil war between the supporters of the noble houses of York and Lancaster for possession of the English crown. However, it is here the similarities end.
