Garlemald

Garlemald, more commonly referred to as the Garlean Empire, is a major world power in Final Fantasy XIV. The empire is located to the northeast of Eorzea, and is one of the main antagonist groups, having sought to annex the realm as one of their territories for the last fifteen years.

Imperial technology is said to be far ahead of the Eorzean city-states, specializing in magitek machinery and airships. Their magitek is powered by a substance called Ceruleum, a component mined from below the earth or obtained by draining elemental Crystals; it is said that the origin of Unaspected Crystals may be simply the removal of their Ceruleum.

Story


Until around fifty years ago, due to their inability to use magick compared to the "lesser races", the Garleans became a remote and sparsely populated nation occupying little more than a fraction of the northlands. With the discovery of Ceruleum, a brilliant young legatus brought about a technological golden age and established Garlemald as world power within a single generation while quickly conquering other nations with its unmatched magitek artillery and air force.

Fifteen years prior to the game's events, in the year 1557 of the Sixth Astral Era, the Garleans launched an attack on the city-states of Eorzea, using powerful machinery far more advanced than those of their enemies and massive airships to wreak havoc on the northern part of Aldenard. The most powerful of these city-states, Ala Mhigo, fell before the might of the empire and its Legatus Gaius van Baelsar. Though the remaining states were forced to put aside their differences to battle the new foe, the empire never attacked the southern nations due to the emergence of a primal shortly after the fall of Ala Mhigo and the destruction of the Agrius at Lake Silvertear in a skirmish with Midgardsormr and the Dravanian Horde. As quick as they came, they simply left. The city-states of Eorzea, not wanting the purposeless warriors and armies to resort to criminal acts to survive, thus established guilds and services for the profession of "Adventurer", beginning what became known as the "Age of Adventure".

Before the Calamity
Peace slowly returned to Eorzea until the events of Final Fantasy XIV 1.0; this started to change as the Garleans resumed their invasion. In Gridania, two adventurers, Yda Hext and Papalymo Totolymo, were found lost in the woods and welcomed into town. Part of their objectives was to spy on them and discover if they are preparing to start a war against the empire, though it is unknown if they were sent there by the Garleans or not.

Giant machines were spotted in the forests surrounding Gridania while wiping out the Sylph camps. The Sylphs came to the Path of the Twelve seeking help as the "metal ones" were destroying their seedlings; the Warrior of Light and company learned that the empire was preparing a strong position to launch an attack against Gridania and the beast tribes residing in the Black Shroud. Sending linkpearls in all the major city states of Aldenard and Vylbrand to state the promise of protection from the beastmen and their eikons to those willing to surrender, Garlemald began to dispatch legions throughout Eorzea. Units engaged in combat within Thanalan, as well as the Black Shroud. The Legatus of the VIIth Legion, the notorious Nael van Darnus, secured the Ishgardian stronghold known as the Dzemael Darkhold for its vast crystal deposits in the caves for Ceruleum harvesting. An unnamed legion infiltrated and planted strange technology within the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak, again for reasons unknown.

Darnus conceived of a plan to eliminate the primals and beast-tribes of Eorzea with Project Meteor by calling down Dalamud, what his family knew to actually be an Allagan relic. This drew opposition from not only Eorzea's populace but even Gaius, who felt that Meteor was too extreme a solution. Wanting to conquer an intact Eorzea rather than its ashes, he provided intel to adventurers about the Lunar Transmitter housed at Castrum Novum. Despite their efforts at sabotaging the transmitter and killing Darnus, Dalamud's descent continued undeterred.

Seventh Umbral Era
During the Battle of Carteneau where the Eorzean forces clashed with the VIIth Legion, the Seventh Umbral came to pass when Dalamud shattered upon entering Hydaelyn's atmosphere with the released Elder Primal Bahamut devastating Eorzea in what would be known as the Calamity, marking the beginning of the Seventh Umbral Era. Gaius and the remaining imperial forces retreated while the rest were consumed in flame. Though Emperor Solus abandoned his goal to conquer Eorzea, Gaius would renew the campaign five years after the Calamity.

The Garleans take residence in a few imperial outposts that endured the Calamity as Gaius receives aid from the Ascian Lahabrea to obtain the Allagan anti-primal war machine, Ultima Weapon. Once the weapon is refurbished with magitek by Nero tol Scaeva, Gaius uses it to absorb the primals Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda to inflict deterrence and intimidation against both the beast tribes and city-states. In the face of Gaius's ultimatum, the city-states rally together to repel the Garlean invasion with a counterstrike called Operation Archon, the end goal being the destruction of the Ultima Weapon. This culminates in Gaius's final defeat and presumed death as his stronghold Praetorium is destroyed.

Seventh Astral Era
Since the downfall of Gaius, the threat of Garlean invasion has largely been eliminated. Refugees from the eastern nation of Doma, a vassal of Garlemald, brings word of a civil war that has resulted from a succession crisis—implying the Emperor Solus may be no more. Doma had been destroyed as a result of a failed revolt during the turmoil.

The imperial presence within Eorzea has not completely disappeared. Nero Tol Scaeva survived the fall of the Praetorium, and is implied to have control over Baelsar's remaining invasion force as he investigated Crystal Tower, another Allagan relic that surfaced in the wake of the Calamity.

The late emperor's grandson, Varis zos Galvus, is crowned the emperor of Garlemald renewing apprehension that the Garlean Empire may once again attempt to invade Eorzea. The new emperor had planted a spy in Eorzea known as "the Ivy" back when the Grand Companies were re-instated to combat Project Meteor.

The Warring Triad
During the events of Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, Varis and Regula van Hydrus travel to the Sea of Clouds in pursuit of Archbishop Thordan VII, believing he had the key to reaching of Azys Lla. The Vundu tribe of Vanu Vanu has summoned a fearsome primal, Bismarck, which begins devouring the aether-rich floating islands (including the one with the key). Unable or unwilling to distinguish the Vundu from less hostile tribes, the VIth Legion invades Ok'Zundu and prepares to exterminate them as an extreme measure to deter primal summoning. At the village, Varis personally meets the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud Leveilleur. The Garleans back off due to the intervention of Lucia goe Junius, especially now that Thordan has stolen the key with the aid of Ascians.

After Cid breaks through the barrier surrounding Azys Lla, the new super-dreadnaught, Gration ambushes them. A last-ditch assault by Ysayle Dangoulain, in the form of the primal Shiva, freezes the Ceruleum engines of the great dreadnaught, forcing it to remain moored at the Garlean outpost in the Gamma Quadrant where the imperials set up an outpost. Regula van Hydrus seeks to reach the Aetherochemical Research Facility, hoping to learn how the Allagans bound the ancient Warring Triad on behalf of the emperor.

These efforts are thwarted by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, and Regula clashes with the Warrior of Light on three occasions, each time forced to withdraw. A soldier in his legion has unwittingly run afoul of a trap that Sophia the Goddess planted for the Allagans, which sets in motion both her awakening and eventually the awakening of Zurvan the Demon. This leads Regula to the conclusion that the Allagan containment technology was ultimately faulty and thus not of use to the emperor. He sacrifices himself to keep Zurvan sealed, believing the Echo is a more valuable weapon to combat primals.

Rhalgr's Beacon
Atop Baelsar's Wall on the border between Eorzea and imperial Gyr Abania, Ilberd Feare under the alias of "The Griffin" leads his faction of the Ala Mhigan Resistance in a surprise raid while clad in the uniforms of the Grand Companies of Eorzea. This false flag operation is an attempt to push both the Garlean Empire and the Eorzean Alliance into open warfare to compel them to liberate Ala Mhigo. Ilberd's ultimate plan is to use the Eyes of Nidhogg and he leaps to his death to summon a deity greater than the Dreadwyrm of the Calamity. This primal, named "Shinryu" by Doman witnesses, is dangerous enough to activate Omega to contain it. After a fierce battle the primal and warmachine fall in Gyr Abania.

With an imperial response inevitable, the Eorzean Alliance prepares an offensive to retake Ala Mhigo led by General Raubahn Aldynn. Ala Mhigo and Doma are both under the viceroy Zenos yae Galvus, Legatus of the XIIth Legion and Crown Prince of Garlemald. Unlike Gaius, Zenos has little interest in governing, preferring the thrill of battle and viewing his subjects as prey. Under suggestion of Fordola rem Lupis, he launches a surprise raid on the Resistance base at Rhalgr's Reach. Zenos toys with the Warrior of Light in combat before losing interest as the Eorzean Alliance brings reinforcements. As a result of this major setback, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn travel to the Far East to aid the Doman Liberation Front to force the XIIth Legion to fight on two fronts while the Ala Mhigan Resistance recovers.

Once Doma is liberated, the Scions rejoin the Eorzean Alliance who plan to renew their offensive to take Castellum Velodyna and push further into Gyr Abania. Zenos offers limited resistance to Raubahn's advancement, instead inviting them to the "royal hunt" and awaiting to see how strong the Warrior of Light has become. Using research by Aulus mal Asina, Zenos becomes a "Resonant"—becoming infused with an artificial version of the Echo. They recover Shinryu's bound form in Gyr Abania. Zenos, demonstrating his acquired Resonant powers, fuses with the violent god and challenges the Warrior of Light to a final battle. Upon his defeat, Zenos expresses fulfillment, having finally found an equal in battle, and takes his own life as the XIIth Legion surrenders Ala Mhigo to the Eorzean Alliance.

Motives


While not much has been directly explained about the Garleans' true intentions, a few hints are scattered around the main storyline. Those touched by the Echo and the beastmen tribes (as well as their primals) are the "enemies" of the empire, whose citizens and soldiers believe to be fighting for the greater good of their nation. Gaius Van Baelsar even believed Eorzea must be "saved". Regula van Hydrus, on the other hand, recognizes the Echo as the best weapon to combat the primal menace and the XIIth Legion is not averse to recruiting Far Eastern beastmen, such as Lupin conscripts and Kijin mercenaries.

During the final stretch of version 1.0 missions and Legatus Van Baelsar's appearance, it was heavily hinted that the Ascians are also targeted, and the soldiers believed they must prevent a Catastrophic Event. During several missions, different characters proclaimed that the empire was "not the true enemy," which possibly meant that while they were antagonistic in their chosen methods, the Garleans may actually be have wanted to prevent a terrible event.

In spite of these implications, the empire caused such a catastrophe thanks to Nael Van Darnus' Project Meteor: the moon Dalamud descended from the heavens and released the captive Bahamut within, devastating the land. Not all Garlean leaders had agreed with using Project Meteor to purge Eorzea, preferring conquest rather than scorched earth. Many had covertly aided the Eorzean Alliance against Van Darnus with the intent of having an intact Eorzea to conquer.

In Heavensward, Varis states he shares the Scions' goal of eliminating the threat of primals. He acknowledges that their means are different. In Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, Aulus mal Asina expresses a belief that Garleans are superior to other races in every way other than aetherial manipulation.

Military
The Garlean military is one of the most powerful in all of Hydaelyn due to the empire's technological progress.

The army is divided into fourteen large-scale units known as legions, and each legion is comprised of ten infantry battalions known as cohors. These cohors are further broken down into three companies, or manipuli. Finally, a manipulus consists of two platoons, or centuriae. Individual soldiers tend to be defined by their role, such as hoplomachi (sword-and-shield fighters) or eques (spearmen).

At the end of the Sixth Astral Era, two Garlean legions were present in Eorzea as part of the invasion force: the VIIth, led by Legatus Nael Van Darnus, was stationed in the Dzemael Darkhold, and the XIVth, led by Legatus Gaius Van Baelsar, was stationed in Silvertear Falls and responsible for holding Ala Mhigo. Following the Calamity, several strongholds were established by the XIVth Imperial Legion, chiefly near sites of Dalamud's debris and other strategic points. A third legion, the VIth, led by Legatus Regula van Hydrus, established an outpost on Azys Lla, intent on understanding how ancient Allag contained primals. The XIIth Legion eventually took over Gyr Abania once Zenos yae Galvus became the viceroy of Ala Mhigo.

While it is unknown how they recruit soldiers from inside the empire, a good portion of the lower eschelon imperial troops are conscripts from conquered areas, such as Ala Mhigo. After the fall of the city state, many of its children are brainwashed into hating the primals and beastmen, and become loyal servants of the empire. Statements by the development team have confirmed that these conscripts are recruited with the promise of citizenship in Garlemald. One advantage to this is that some of these recruits can use magical arts, something native Garleans are unable to do. Examples of this include shinobi from the nation of Doma, once Master Gekkai the Blind became an imperial spymaster. To curb rebellion, the military never stations its conscripted recruits in their home provinces, sending them to other annexed territories instead.

The empire uses magitek weaponry, out of which the Imperial Juggernaut is the most prominent, being used for both ground support and air battles due to its mobility and its powerful magitek cannon. The air forces are often backed by massive dreadnoughts. Despite their technological might, the Garleans do not hesitate to augment their military further by studying the ancient Allagans and recovering their relics, whose technology exceeded even their own.

Naming conventions
Garlean characters have a distinct naming convention different from those in Eorzea. They consist of a given name, a middle name denoting rank, and a surname taken from their family. In the event multiple titles are possessed, an example being Zenos yae Galvus, who is both the crown prince (yae) and a legatus (van), the highest rank (yae) takes precedence. The middle name, being more of a title than a name, can be changed or removed as necessary, as seen in Emperor Varis zos Galvus, who was known as Varis yae Galvus prior to his ascension, and Fordola rem Lupis, who was referred to simply as Fordola Lupis following her capture.

The ranks observed so far:
 * Royalty:


 * zos: Emperor
 * yae: Member of the royal family in the line of succession.
 * wir: Member of the royal family with no claim to the throne.


 * Military:


 * van: Legatus or High Legatus
 * tol: Tribunus Laticlavius, leader of tribunes, second in command to the legatus
 * sas: Tribunus Angusticlavius, assumes command of a secondary unit if a legion is split. Praefectus Castrorum, leader of a castrum and the highest rank attainable by a citizen of non-Garlean ancestry.
 * rem: Tribunus Militum. Primus pilus, commander of a legion's first cohort. Pilus prior, commander of remaining cohorts.
 * quo: Centurio, commander of a middle-sized unit of infantry.
 * pyr: Optio, a Centurio's assistant. Tesserarius, maintains communication between officers and soldiers. Decurio, commander of a small unit of infantry.
 * oen: Duplicarius, a veteran soldier. Legionarius, regular infantry primarily comprised of people of annexed territories seeking citizenship.


 * Specialists:


 * nan: Primus Architectus Magiteci, chief imperial magitek engineer and Lord Provost of the Magitek Academy. Architectus Magiteci, a magitek engineer.
 * mal: Praefectus Medicorum, high commander of field medics. Praefectus Architectorum, high commander of field engineers.
 * lux: Primus medicus, first medic. Architectus Ordinum, commander of a small unit of field engineers.
 * kir: Medicus Veteranus, a veteran field medic. Architectus Veteranus, a veteran field engineer.
 * jen: Medicus or Architectus, a field engineer.


 * Public Officials:


 * iyl: Dictator, a temporary leader appointed only in times of emergency. Princeps senatus, leader of the senate.
 * het: Consul, highest elected official and mayor of imperial capital. Praetor, minister of law and second to the Consul. Tribunus plebis, remnant of the old republic, represent public citizens. Aedilis, minister of city planning. Quaestor, minister of state finances.
 * goe: Censor, supervisor of public morality. Rector, ruler of an imperial province. Praeses, ruler of an imperial territory. Primus Frumentarius, commander of foreign and local operatives
 * fae: Praefectus, supervisor of civil servants. Vicarius, deputy to Rector. Senator.
 * eir: Decemvir, member of the Decemviri, ten magistrates adjusting litigation, distributing public land, writing laws among other tasks. Auctor Palatinorum, head of imperial palace servants. Frumentarius, a local or foreign operative.
 * dus: Eques, basic civil servants. Lictor, bodyguards and protectors of public peace. Notarius, Scrivener and record-keepers. Compulsor, tax collectors. Palatinus, imperial palace servants.


 * Citizens:


 * cen: Civis Fabrilis, artisans and other citizens working on manufacturing.
 * bas: Civis Mercatus, Merchants and other citizens working on services. Civis Fundamine, citizens working on collecting raw materials.


 * Non-citizens:


 * aan: Peregrinus, slaves and people of annexed territories. Citizenship may be granted for a display of exceptional skill or serving in the military for 20 years or more.

Notable members

 * Gaius van Baelsar ("The Black Wolf" and Legatus of the XIVth Legion)
 * Nael van Darnus ("The White Raven" and Legatus of the VIIth Legion)
 * Regula van Hydrus (Legatus of the VIth Legion)
 * Zenos yae Galvus (Legatus of the XIIth Legion and de facto ruler of Ala Mhigo)
 * Noah van Gabranth (Legatus of the IVth Legion)
 * Nero tol Scaeva (formerly)
 * Livia sas Junius (deceased)
 * Lucia goe Junius (formerly)
 * Rhitahtyn sas Arvina (deceased)
 * Emperor Solus zos Galvus (deceased)
 * Emperor Varis zos Galvus
 * Cid nan Garlond (formerly)
 * Midas "Mid" nan Garlond (deceased)
 * Master Gekkai the Blind (deceased)
 * Grynewaht (deceased)
 * Fordola rem Lupis
 * Aulus mal Asina (presumed deceased)
 * Asahi sas Brutus (deceased)
 * Shadowhunter

Enemies
In version 1.0, Garlean troops could not be found outside of special events; they could only be fought during the main quest, inside the Dzemael Darkhold or the Aurum Vale, as part of some sidequests or may have spawned at random at several camps. Helping fend off those Garlean invasions granted some missable achievements, deaspected crystals, faded pages and several types of potions.

In A Realm Reborn, members of the XIVth Legion can be encountered near the Garlean outposts throughout Eorzea. Defeating them occasionally awards certain crafting materials not obtained from anywhere else. In Heavensward, members of the VIth Legion can be encountered in areas of Abalathia's Spine. In Stormblood, Garleans are frequently encountered during the Main Scenario quests and dungeons, though their presence on the overworld is largely confined to quest content.

Musical themes
Garlean appearances thorough the storyline are often accompanied by a ominous theme, notably played during the invasion of the Black Shroud and the Futures Perfect mission. It also plays when Gaius attacks the player and battles the members of the Circle of Knowing.

This theme reprises in A Realm Reborn and Heavensward, appearing in cutscenes whenever a major Imperial character is on-screen, such as Gaius or Nero.

The national anthem of the empire is titled "Garlemald Hymn".

Etymology
The name Garlean Empire seems to derive from Garland, the villain of the original Final Fantasy.

As some people had been confused about the name of the empire, it has been posted on the Official Forums an explanation about it: "Garlemald is the name of the country, and Garlean is its adjectival form".

Trivia

 * The ranks within the Garlean military are modeled after those of the Roman Empire.
 * The Garlean Empire's origins are similar to the Shinra Electric Power Company from Final Fantasy VII.
 * Native Garleans can be distinguished by the presence of a "third eye" on the forehead. The third eye is believed to improve the race's capacity for spatial recognition, giving them an advantage over other races when it comes to navigating aircraft or firing weapons.
 * The Garlean Legati have numerological motifs that represent a game in the main series:
 * Regula van Hydrus represents Final Fantasy VI, as the Legatus of the VIth legion. He is fought within the Aetherochemical Research Facility on Azys Lla, which also holds the Warring Triad, which respectively recall the Magitek Research Facility, the Floating Continent, and Final Fantasy VI ' s own Warring Triad.
 * Nael van Darnus represents Final Fantasy VII, as the Legatus of the VIIth legion. He is responsible for Project Meteor, a reference to Final Fantasy VII ' s own Meteor, which ushered in the Seventh Umbral Era. He also recreated Sephiroth's famous scene from the Nibelheim Incident.
 * Zenos yae Galvus represents Final Fantasy XII, as the Legatus of the XIIth legion. He shares similarities with Vayne Carudas Solidor, both as the emperor's son and the de facto ruler of an occupied state, and in the expansion's final battle, he harnesses a man-made version of a godly power to take on the form of a dragon, with the Echo standing in for nethicite and Shinryu standing in for the Undying.
 * Gaius van Baelsar represents Final Fantasy XIV, as the Legatus of the XIVth legion and a primary antagonist throughout both Legacy and A Realm Reborn, even featuring on the North American and European covers of A Realm Reborn.
 * Emperor and former High Legatus Varis zos Galvus represents Final Fantasy II, as only the second emperor of the Garlean Empire who commands his fleet from the Dreadnought Gration, recalling Final Fantasy II 's Dreadnought.