Palamecia (Final Fantasy II)

Palamecia (パラメキア Paramekia), also known as Palakia in the unreleased English version on the Nintendo Entertainment System, is the name of a brutal and war-hungry empire from Final Fantasy II. It is ruled by the dictatorial Emperor Mateus for most of the game.

History
A previous Emperor of Palamecia had once challenged the world to see who could reach his daughter on a high floor of his castle. Many men tried this challenge but they all failed until one man used a hot air balloon to reach her. The emperor was furious and embarrassed by this and swore revenge, from which the subsequent Emperors' desire for conquest was born. This story can be read in the Mysidian library in Dawn of Souls. It is basically an adaptation of the traditional Rapunzel fairy tale.

At the time of Final Fantasy II the current Emperor was able to build himself an unstoppable army by raising demons from the depths of hell. Using this army, he quickly took conquered the kingdoms of Deist and Kashuan. Progressing slowly, the army eventually reached the kingdom of Fynn. Despite the people of Fynn's resistance, they are easily overrun by the Empire due to Borghen's defection to the Empire.

The Emperor unintentionally creates the weapons of his demise when taking over Fynn as four youths Firion, Maria, Guy, and Leon were left for dead after being attacked by his Black Knights. While Firion, Maria, and Guy would be saved by the Wild Rose Rebellion and join it, soon after being struck down Leon was captured and became the Emperor's right hand as the Black Knight.

While the rebels build their forces, the Empire built a giant airship, the Dreadnought. Using this giant ship, the Empire easily crushes every town that gets in their way, as well as capturing Princess Hilda and struck Cid and his Airship. However, the Dreadnought is struck down by the rebels, causing the Empire to rethink their plans, though it still had one trump. Although the Dreadnought fallen, the Empire still held Princess Hilda as captive, and would use her as bait to lure the Wild Rose's attention to the Coliseum at Palamecia, where Hilda was the prize for the champion of the arena. The rebels succeed in rescuing their princess nonetheless, with the help of Paul and Gordon.

Later, while key members of the Rebels sought out the Ultimate Magic Ultima, the Emperor summoned a Cyclone to attack the towns and kingdoms again. Emperor Palemacia was killed by Firion's party and the last surviving Dragoon, Ricard Highwind.

The Dark Knight takes his place as Emperor. Firion, Maria, Guy, and Ricard Highwind travel to Castle Palamecia in order to stop this new ruler. Just as the party confronts the Dark Knight, the Emperor returns from Hell to reclaim his throne. Ricard stays behind to stall the Emperor while a Wyvern saves the other four, but the Dragoon is ultimately killed by the Emperor's hellish new powers. Destroying Palamecia Castle, the Emperor raises the castle of Hell, Pandaemonium, to earth, to start a new reign.

However, the Palamecian army never has the chance to rebuild itself. Firion and his allies, now including Leon, travel through the Jade Passage to confront the Emperor in Pandaemonium. Despite the Emperor's immense power, he is killed again, and the Palamecian Empire dies with him.

Geography
The Empire of Palamecia is located on a fertile haven surrounded by a mountainous, arid desert. The Castle is located on the mountains nearby, which makes it a natural, impenetrable fortress.

Trivia

 * One of the rooms from the Online Lobby in Dissidia Final Fantasy is named Palamecia.
 * One of the Sanctum Skyfleet's airships in Final Fantasy XIII is called Palamecia.