Stormwind (kingdom)

The Kingdom of Stormwind   (also called Kingdom of Azeroth) is a human kingdom controlling much of the southern continent of Azeroth, from Elwynn Forest and Westfall to Duskwood and the Redridge Mountains. Originally settled by descendants of the Arathi, Stormwind flourished until the First War when it was conquered and laid waste by the Orcish Horde. The survivors of that conflict, led by Anduin Lothar, sought refuge in Lordaeron, but were able to reclaim their homeland at the end of the Second War with the aid of the Alliance of Lordaeron. Since the fall of the kingdom of Lordaeron during the Third War, the kingdom of Stormwind has become the strongest bastion of humanity and the most powerful force in the Alliance.

Stormwind is ruled by the House of Wrynn from their court at Stormwind Keep. The throne is presently occupied by King Anduin Wrynn, succeeding his father King Varian Wrynn who died at the Broken Shore. Also aiding in the governing of Stormwind is the House of Nobles: the bureaucracy of Stormwind's government that currently aids the king in the running of the kingdom's day to day affairs.

History
The kingdom of Stormwind was originally founded 1,200 years before the First War by the descendants of the Arathi bloodline, who had migrated south from the nation of Arathor. Traveling past the rocky mountains of Khaz Modan, their journey finally ended after many long seasons, and they settled in the northern region of the continent they would name Azeroth. In a fertile valley, they founded the kingdom of Stormwind, which quickly became a self-sufficient power in its own right.

While it was initially the smallest and most isolated human nation, over the years it found prosperity through the farmsteads that dotted the surrounding fertile region. As Stormwind's population grew small towns sprung up nearby Elwynn Forest, the Redridge Mountains, Brightwood, and the breadbasket of the kingdom, Westfall. Over the decades devout clerics of the Church of the Holy Light had ventured south from Lordaeron to spread their faith. Upon reaching Stormwind the pious individuals founded the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics.

The kingdom was served loyally by the knights of the Brotherhood of the Horse. Secretive conjurers also served the kingdom, and as such Stormwind Keep had its own court conjurer.

The constant bickering and infighting that marred the rules of the former kings of Arathor had no place in the court of Wrynn, and all had been peaceful for many generations in the kingdom until the Gnoll War. King Barathen Wrynn ended the conflict by scattering the unified gnoll packs and bringing back peace, solidifying the rule of the Wrynn dynasty over the entire kingdom.



Following the Gnoll War, the Kingdom of Stormwind began expanding its borders, much to the displeasure of the Gurubashi jungle troll tribes. A series of smaller conflicts between the two factions erupted over time, largely over the territories bordering Stranglethorn Vale that Stormwindian settlers began expanding into. Though initially isolated, the conflict quickly escalated out of control, despite the best efforts of Stormwind's King Barathen Wrynn. The final provocation came when Prince Llane Wrynn personally led a small party to strike at the Gurubashi leadership in central Stranglethorn, which succeeded in uniting the trolls against Stormwind. Though costly and close-run, the human kingdom eventually emerged victorious, largely due to the intervention of the Guardian Medivh. With the entire troll army completely destroyed or routed at the gates of Stormwind City, the jungle trolls of the south would never succeed in threatening the kingdom again. This bloody conflict was known as the Gurubashi War, and the Stormwindians enjoyed nearly two decades of relative peace after emerging victorious. King Barathen was one of the casualties of the Gurubashi War, and Llane succeeded him as king in the aftermath of the war.

At some point, the humans established a small port called Blackwater Cove in the south of Stranglethorn Vale. It was, however, overrun by jungle trolls. Eventually, the trolls were defeated by the Steamwheedle Cartel goblins who took control of the port, renaming it to Booty Bay.

War with the orcs
When reports of mysterious creatures lurking around the Black Morass reached Stormwind, rumors spread through the streets that they were either vengeful spirits, trolls armed with some new breed of power, or a strange race from across the Great Sea. King Llane dispatched Sir Anduin Lothar to uncover what these new creatures were. Lothar led a small force of the Knights of Stormwind to scout the Black Morass, resulting in humans clashing with orcs for the first time in a series of bloody skirmishes. Lothar and his men scored a number of small victories, yet for every orc killed two more seemed to take its place. The humans were more outnumbered in each subsequent battle, and Lothar was eventually forced to pull back without venturing deep enough into the heavily guarded Black Morass to find the Dark Portal. Lothar informed King Llane the invaders were bringing in reinforcements from somewhere, and the kingdom readied itself for a full-scale war that became known as the First War.

The orcish leader Warchief Blackhand ordered raiding parties to cut deep into Stormwind's lands to drive panic into the human populace. Entire villagers in Brightwood, Westfall, and the southern Redridge Mountains fell, their inhabitants either killed or forced to flee. By the time Stormwind's patrols rode to defend the villages, the Horde was already gone. They were an enemy unlike any the humans had ever faced.

Llane had named Lothar the "King's Champion", the highest military rank in the kingdom, and entrusted him to end the orcish threat. Deciding to use the orcs' mobility against them, Lothar studied the pattern of targets the Horde would strike and set up ambushes along their paths of retreat. A loyal knight named Gavinrad the Dire was given command of large numbers of troops by Lothar. In some cases, small units of human knights were able to bring down entire orc raiding parties without any casualties. The orcs soon realized the humans were unlike any enemy they had ever faced as well.

Three years after the Dark Portal had been opened, the orcish raids on the countryside had razed farms, towns, villages, forges, and trade houses, causing ruin to Stormwind's economy. Even more dire, many sources of food supply had been destroyed or fallen into the Horde's control, threatening Stormwind City with running out of supplies in a few months. With this knowledge in mind, Blackhand decided to bring the Horde north to conquer Redridge Mountains and from there launch an attack on Stormwind City. The Horde marched on the foothills of Redridge with little resistance and believed the humans would not attack before they reached Stormwind City, which was exactly what Lothar wanted them to think. An orc raiding party led by Blackhand went into the mountains hoping to claim Lakeshire. However, Lothar and his knights suddenly charged down the slopes without warning and surrounded the orcs in a spectacular ambush. The Horde raiders fought hard but almost all of them were slain. Lothar himself had almost killed Blackhand, but the two Shadow Council warlocks accompanying Blackhand had turned the tide of battle with their fel fire and forced Lothar to withdraw. Weeks later, a larger force took Lakeshire and the surrounding land.

After Brightwood, Westfall, and the Redridge Mountains had eventually fallen, the Horde marched onto Stormwind City. Thousands of Horde soldiers marched through Elwynn Forest and encircled Stormwind, cutting off all access except for the sea. Warchief Blackhand had ordered Kilrogg Deadeye and Cho'gall to lead their Bleeding Hollow and Twilight's Hammer clans in the assault on Stormwind. To weaken the city's defenses, siege engines bombarded the city walls through the night, and at dawn Kilrogg and Cho'gall launched their attack. While orcs charged the battlements, warlocks engulfed Stormwind's soldiers in fel fire, resulting in staggering losses. As it seemed Stormwind would fall that day, suddenly cries of an attack came from the Horde's rear lines. Lothar and the majority of Stormwind's knights had moved around the Horde by sea. The King's Commander was now leading a charge through Elwynn Forest, catching the orcs in the rearguard completely by surprise as the knights cut through their lines. As the Bleeding Hollow and Twilight's Hammer tried to push back the knights, Stormwind's large gates opened and soldiers poured out of the city to flank the orcs in a counterattack. Outflanked on both sides and suffering many casualties, the orcs were left with no choice but to flee.

Later a second siege of Stormwind began. While the orcs breached the city's walls and fighting took place in the streets, Stormwind's defenders were able to hold them at bay. During the fighting, King Llane was assassinated by the Horde's assassin Garona Halforcen. As word of the king's death spread, morale began to fall and Stormwind was reduced to ruins. Returning from slaying the possessed Medivh in Karazhan, Lothar subsequently took on the mantle of regent lord and guided the refugee nation in the name of the young prince, Varian Wrynn. The city's survivors fled to Lordaeron, where the leaders of the seven kingdoms resolved to unify once again in the Alliance of Lordaeron.

Lady Mara Fordragon, High Clerist of Stormwind, became the patron of the refugees who fled to Lordaeron after the conflict. King Terenas, ruler of Lordaeron, agreed to support the landless Stormwindians and let them settle near the Southshore region of the Hillsbrad Foothills. Battle-hardened and seeking retribution for the loss of their homeland, the forces of Stormwind fought during the Second War among their human brethren. Under Anduin Lothar's charismatic leadership, the Alliance joined together and succeeded in defeating the Horde together.

Reconstruction
Though Anduin Lothar did not live to see it, the Alliance forces were able to take back the ruins of Stormwind, and with them under human control once again and serving as a strong base of operations, the Alliance eventually wrested most of Azeroth from the Horde's grip.

Special importance was placed on rebuilding the nation of Stormwind. King Terenas of the kingdom of Lordaeron had pledged to aid the fallen nation and support Prince Varian Wrynn's ascension to the throne. For some, Stormwind was a powerful symbol of humanity's future and if it could rise from the ashes, anyone could. Word of Stormwind's reconstruction was met with mixed feelings by the kingdom's refugees. Many of them refused to return to their broken home as it was a reminder of everything they had lost, and so these refugees preferred to start their lives anew in the northern continent of Lordaeron. Yet, other refugees did return to Stormwind, including Prince Wrynn. Turalyon oversaw efforts to repatriate the kingdom's citizens and secure Varian's place as the next king by surrounding the teenager with seasoned ministers and advisers to help him settle into his new role.

While rebuilding the kingdom, the Alliance called on artisans and patrons to help fund or aid in the massive project. Many answered the call: Terenas Menethil, Archbishop Alonsus Faol, and the Stonemasons were all instrumental in the rebuilding process. Meanwhile, King Varian led his people in reacquiring and restoring the kingdom's lost territories. The territories reacquired split the kingdom into several unique regions, all of which have their own form of municipality. Though the regions are granted a certain degree of independence, all lands with in Stormwind are united under the Stormwind banner and have sworn fealty to the House of Wrynn. Stormwind City being the crown jewel of the kingdom, once again became the capital of the restored kingdom of Stormwind. Under King Wrynn's visionary leadership, the southern kingdom of Azeroth grew prosperous again and re-established itself as a military power.

The internment camps' authorities were based at first in New Stormwind under Danath Trollbane.

Epicenter of humanity
Tensions grew among the kingdoms, however, as the costs for maintaining the Alliance rose much higher than originally anticipated. Unwilling to pay the taxes, the leaders of Gilneas and Stromgarde chose to withdraw their kingdoms from the Alliance. King Varian Wrynn vowed to stand by King Terenas Menethil and remained committed to the Alliance, just as they have done for him. Yet further disaster came when the kingdom of Lordaeron was decimated by a mysterious plague that killed thousands of humans and converted them into undead servants of the Lich King. Even Lordaeron's prince, Arthas Menethil, was manipulated by the Lich King, leading Arthas to kill his own father, destroy his own kingdom and journey to Northrend, where he merged with his master. For the next five years, the Lich King remained in Northrend, plotting and building up his armies.

Since the fall of Lordaeron, the kingdom of Stormwind has become the strongest bastion of humanity and the most powerful nation within the Alliance. As one of the few remaining great human cities, it boasts a powerful city guard and a strong army. With the fall of the northern kingdoms, Stormwind is by far the most populated human city in the world. Boasting a large population of predominantly human people, it serves in many ways as the cultural and trade center of the Alliance, which is furthermore supplemented by Stormwind City's access to the sea and its formidable fleet of ships. Led by King Varian Wrynn, the people of Stormwind hold fast to the principles of honor and justice as they defend their settlements and their families.

Political unrest
Though Stormwind offered what support and resources they could to the war effort in the northern kingdoms, they were also beset by their own internal problems. 7 notes that the nobles of Stormwind ran up a huge debt by expanding the kingdom's military presence through Elwynn and into Stranglethorn. The massive debt crippled the kingdom's economy and stripped Edwin VanCleef and his Stonemasons of their promised rewards. The disagreement between the Stonemasons and the House of Nobles set off a violent riot that led to the murder of Queen Tiffin Wrynn. In response, King Varian Wrynn vowed to punish those responsible and dealt with the rioters more severely. The Stonemasons, fleeing the city, hid in the rural areas of Westfall to escape prosecution. Knowing Varian's anger would never fade, many were forced to remain in hiding. The Stonemasons became the terrorist organization known as the Defias Brotherhood and sowed anarchy and terror in the lands of Stormwind for the next decade. King Varian, shaken by his wife's death, fell into a great depression. Lady Katrana Prestor took advantage of this opportunity and used politics and sorcery to politically outmaneuver the king in the coming years. In time, King Varian was able to break out of his ensorcelled depression and slowly regained his political clout, with his son Anduin Wrynn being his primary inspiration.

Stormwind reborn
One day King Varian was abducted by the Defias Brotherhood and the black dragon Onyxia, who disguised herself as Lady Katrana Prestor. Anduin Wrynn, the son of King Varian, was crowned king and reigned in the absence of his father for a few years. Anduin however, was too young to exercise any real political power and was governed by his co-regents, Lady Katrana Prestor and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon. Stormwind suffered much from Lady Katrana's machinations during Varian's absence. The Dark Horde, now mysteriously allied with the Black dragonflight, have resumed their quest to conquer Azeroth. They have started their bold campaign by invading Redridge. Meanwhile, the beleaguered town of Darkshire has found itself besieged by worgen and undead. Westfall had fallen prey to the Defias Brotherhood and had taken the Deadmines as a base to plot and scheme the kingdom's demise. Fortunately, heroes of valor defended the kingdom against those who encroached upon it, and hunted down the subversive traitors who sought to destroy it from within.

During the first Scourge Invasion, the Scourge attacked Stormwind City, which later led to an Alliance counterattack. Bolvar Fordragon recruited Alliance heroes who raided Naxxramas and defeated Kel'Thuzad.

For the past two years, Varian was ensorcelled with foul sorcery that split him into two people and robbed him of his memories. Eventually, one version of Varian was enslaved by a Horde gladiatorial trainer in Kalimdor and made a name for himself in the Crimson Ring's underground arena matches. Another version was ransomed back to Stormwind and was used as a figurehead by Katrana Prestor. The gladiator Varian Wrynn fought his way to freedom, earning the nickname "Lo'Gosh," or "ghost wolf," while in battle. Lo'Gosh's doppelganger and other half of the true Varian Wrynn was also starting to repress Prestor's spells and was patiently awaiting the opportune moment to oust Prestor from power. With the help of his comrades, Varian was able to: recover his true identity, reveal Onyxia's treachery and kill her for her crimes, fuse his two halves, and finally return to his rightful place as king. On his return, he restored order to his lands and incarcerated any of the Defias that remained.

Wrath of the Lich King
Later, Stormwind itself was attacked by the Scourge. King Varian created the Valiance Expedition to put an end to the Lich King and made his friend, Bolvar Fordragon, the commander of his forces. Under Bolvar's leadership, the Valiance Expedition battled its way to the doorstep of the Scourge, Angrathar the Wrathgate. During the Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, the Alliance and Horde put aside their differences and combined their forces in a showdown between them and the Lich King. Unfortunately, Forsaken renegades led by Grand Apothecary Putress unleashed the Forsaken Blight on living and Scourge alike in a surprise attack meant to rid themselves of all their enemies in one fell swoop. The Alliance suffered heavy casualties from this betrayal, including as far as anyone can tell, Bolvar Fordragon. King Varian personally led the manhunt for Putress to avenge his fallen friend and also to retake the Ruins of Lordaeron. Although Varian was successful in bringing Putress to justice in the Battle for the Undercity, the horrors he witnessed in the Undercity and the grief of losing his friend had reignited his hatred of the Horde. As a result, Varian and his forces nearly clashed with Warchief Thrall and his Horde forces but were interrupted by Lady Jaina Proudmoore who teleported Varian's forces back to Stormwind before blood could be shed.

Though tensions remained high, the Alliance and Horde reluctantly remained focused on the Lich King for the remainder of the war; with only skirmishes between the two factions occurring to supplement their war effort in the war. Members of the Horde and the Alliance launched separate campaigns in Northrend, and their efforts resulted in the Lich King’s crushing defeat. Under King Varian's daring leadership, the humans of Stormwind led the Alliance to victory against the Lich King in Northrend.

Cataclysm
During the Elemental Unrest, several citizens joined the Doomsday Cult.

Though victory was won over the dreaded Scourge, it came at a great cost. The costs of the war in the north have taxed some of the Stormwind citizens to the point of bankruptcy. The people of Westfall, who were just recovering from years of neglect and harassment from Defias bandits, fell on especially hard times after the war. Meanwhile, Stormwind City itself was attacked by the black dragon Deathwing, who's return brought about the Shattering and wrecked parts of Stormwind City. Transients who lost their homes and businesses from either Deathwing's attack or by hard times now congregate in Westfall. Vanessa VanCleef, daughter of the late Edwin Vancleef, took advantage of the discontent to revive the Defias Brotherhood. The once natural defenses buffering the kingdom from its enemies have cracked and left openings that were taken advantaged of. The Blackrock orcs have managed to sneak into Northshire through a break in the southern Elwynn Mountains. With the guidance of the dragon Darkblaze, the Dark Horde has also begun invading Redridge in force as well. Heroes of the Alliance arose to defend the kingdom and made sure these threats never threaten Stormwind again.

With the Cataclysm emboldening the Horde to acquire new territory and resources in the name of their new Warchief —Garrosh Hellscream— Stormwind has taken measures of its own to secure its borders from their perennial enemy's brazen expansion. Marshtide Watch for example, was established to debilitate the Horde outpost Stonard in the Swamp of Sorrows and to hold the line in the frontier. Meanwhile, the Alliance navy was deployed to control key trade routes through victory at sea. Their naval battles attracted the attention of naga and their thrall kraken however, and many of the Alliance and Horde ships were sunk by the naga's wanton attacks. Despite these setbacks, the emergence of Vashj'ir has piqued the interest of Hellscream, who has sent Hellscream's Vanguard to claim it as a staging ground against Stormwind. Stormwind in response has sent Stormwind Seals under the command of Captain Taylor to claim the island for the Alliance and secure Stormwind from a naval assault.

Blood of Our Fathers
Not long after Deathwing attacked Stormwind, the Twilight's Hammer cult tried to assassinate both King Varian and his son, Prince Anduin, on the day of Remembrance Day, at the Stormwind City Cemetery; which they were lured to by Archbishop Benedictus under the pretense of family bonding. While the Wrynns fended off the assassins, Archbishop Benedictus tried to sway the Stormwind masses to the Twilight Hammer's cause. Later, much to everyone’s surprise, Varian arrived at the Remembrance Day Ceremony. Limping onto a stage erected for the holiday, disheveled and covered in blood, came King Varian and Prince Anduin, barely holding each other up in their fatigue. As the realization of their dire state spread, a concerned murmur arose, but Varian raised his hand in a gesture of reassurance, and the crowd grew silent. It suddenly dawned on Varian that he had never found time to prepare his Remembrance Day speech. The king paused for just a moment, trying to smile through the pain, and then realized with utmost clarity that he now knew exactly what to say. He tells the people of Stormwind that though he has his faults, as their king, he has and always will have their best interests in mind. Even after Deathwing's attack, Stormwind will always remain vigilant and stand defiantly against their enemies. They will always rebuild from tragedy and continue to learn from adversity. Stormwind will continue to grow from every direction, forging a brighter future. Each day they are alive is a great day, for each generation finds its own way to become the greatest generation that has ever lived and become the heroes of tomorrow. Varian states that though in the past they relied on strength and steel to forge their destiny, it is not the only way. In order to restore the world, a time will come when leaders need to be healers instead of warriors, those who mend instead of those who break. Only then can they truly cure their deep ills and achieve a lasting peace. Varian watched with pride as his words stirred the hearts of his people. The populace cheered for King Varian and this new direction for Stormwind.

Tides of War
When Theramore fell, black flags were raised on Stormwind's buildings in honor of those who died in Theramore. Later on, mass construction of Alliance ships took place in Stormwind Harbor for the upcoming global Alliance-Horde war.

Mists of Pandaria
As the Alliance achieved a critical victory against the Horde, thwarting the plans of Garrosh to unleash the horrible powers of the Divine Bell, the repairs of the damage caused by Deathwing neared completion. The front gate towers have been reconstructed, and the statue of Danath Trollbane is back in place and mended to pristine condition. Stormwind now appears more beautiful than ever. However, the area where the Park stood still appears black and charred, and the surrounding walls and buildings are still in ruins, reminding everyone of the horrors of Deathwing's power. It seemed unlikely that the destroyed district will ever fully recover, due to the fact that large chunks of landmass are missing.

As tensions between the Horde and the Alliance exploded in Pandaria, King Varian Wrynn served as a mediator for the first time, tempering the cold tactics of war with an eye toward creating lasting peace. King Varian's leadership was tested as he successfully united the Alliance amid the pressures of war. The Horde, however, under the weight of Garrosh Hellscream’s command, continued to fracture. The trolls of the Darkspear tribe soon rebelled, and Orgrimmar was consequently placed on lockdown. Warchief Garrosh had sent crews into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and into the Northern Barrens in search of resources to push his war machine forward. In the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, Garrosh seized the desiccated heart of an Old God to use as a tool of war, unleashing horrors upon the sacred valley, and consequently caused tensions to reach a boiling point. This culminated in the invasion of Orgrimmar with the help of a Horde rebellion. Varian's success solidified his position as high king, the commander of all Alliance forces.

Warlords of Draenor
Following the events of Siege of Orgrimmar, Garrosh Hellscream was imprisoned to be tried in Pandaria. Before the trial could conclude, aided by an ally who can manipulate the timelines, Garrosh escaped to Draenor of the past, and prevented the orcs from ever drinking the blood of Mannoroth, creating an untainted Iron Horde under the leadership of. High King Varian Wrynn declared war on the Iron Horde and formed an Alliance expedition under the command of numerous talented commanders to face the orcish menace.

The Kirin Tor have built a camp on a plateau behind the walls of Stormwind City, overlooking Mage Quarter. A portal is situated there, which is a gateway between the camp and the Everbloom outpost. After losing control of the situation there, the portal allowed Gorgrond overgrowth to leak through it, while the Primals led by Yalnu invaded the city but were defeated by the combined effort of Kirin tor mages and mighty adventurers.

Legion
When the Burning Legion invaded the Broken Isles, King Varian personally led the Alliance's counterattack. The brutal fighting forced both the Alliance and the Horde to retreat, and Varian Wrynn sacrificed his life to allow his allies to escape.

The hard-working citizens of Stormwind have been hard at work rebuilding Stormwind Park where they managed to rebuild a large mass of earth that was ripped out of the land from Deathwing's attack to rebuild the park. Following the death of King Varian Wrynn at the Broken Shore, King Wrynn's tomb is displayed in a portion of the new park as well as a memorial listing the names of fallen Alliance soldiers.

Anduin Wrynn is officially crowned the new king of Stormwind.

Some of Stormwind's citizens have been converted to the Burning Legion's cause and formed the Veiled Hand. These cultists sought to overthrow Stormwind but were foiled when Shadows of the Uncrowned assassinated their leaders.

Battle for Azeroth
In the aftermath of the Burning Legion's invasion, the citizens of Stormwind and the Alliance lost their leader, High King Varian Wrynn. Anduin lost his father and some of his innocence as he was entrusted with the command of the Alliance's armies amidst a violent war, a task he felt woefully unprepared for. Time and again, Anduin has used diplomacy to end conflict, inspiring even his warrior father to lay down arms in pursuit of peace. But diplomacy has its limits, and some villains can't be reasoned with. As the escalating war with the Horde threatens everything Anduin holds dear, he now guides his armies to seek new allies. His ultimate goal is to put an end to the bloodshed he so abhors... even if it means getting his hands dirty.

With the discovery of Azerite threatening to shift the balance of power in Azeroth, King Anduin has refocused the Alliance's efforts to prevent the powerful mineral from falling into the wrong hands and promoting diplomacy in order to prevent future wars fueled by Azerite. Anduin attempted to reconcile the humans of Stormwind with the Forsaken by initiating the Gathering event in order to promote unity. However, the Gathering ended in tragedy, and Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner has used the failed reunion to further alienate the Forsaken from their human counterparts.

In response to the Burning of Teldrassil, the Stormwindians marched with their Alliance allies to retaliate against the Undercity during the Battle for Lordaeron. The two conflicts have reignited the war between the Alliance and Horde, as they battle for Azeroth and the Azerite proliferating from their dying world.

As the biggest patron of the Alliance, the kingdom of Stormwind continues to lead the Alliance in their never-ending war against the threats to Azeroth and their perennial enemy, the Horde. Under King Wrynn's guidance, Stormwind hopes to usher an age of lasting peace.

Shadowlands
After Anduin's abduction by the Mawsworn, Turalyon was appointed as regent and protector of the realm with the support of the House of Nobles.

People and culture
Stormwind's national color is blue. Lions are a common symbol, and as such Anduin Lothar was called the "Lion of Azeroth".

The demonym used for the people of Stormwind is "Stormwindian".

Stormwindians revere the Holy Light, and the Church of the Holy Light plays a significant role in Stormwind society. The Cathedral of Light serves as a major spiritual hub for humanity as a whole and Northshire Abbey remains dedicated to recruiting and training any adventurer brave enough to help keep the peace. Those who do not take the path of an adventurer become peasants; those who craft, sow fields, work mines, and harvest lumber. The noble humans of Stormwind are a proud, tenacious race and are driven by valor and optimism. Inspired by the heroes that have come before them, the humans of Stormwind seeks to rekindle humanity's former glory and forge a shining new future.

In the kingdom, warlocks are considered as pariahs that must operate in the shadows of polite society. They practice their dark arts within hidden enclaves, so that they can escape the prejudice of the public, notably in the Slaughtered Lamb's basement and catacombs who serve as host to the warlock community of Stormwind City. They also do not hesitate to assassinate those who would try to reveal their hiding place and activities to the public.

Political structure
The permanent head of government in the kingdom is the King of Stormwind - a position entitled to male members of the Wrynn dynasty. The crown prince - first-born son of the king and his queen consort - will be coronated king upon the death of his father. The royal family doesn't seem to hold much political power, but possess high privileges in the society. The power of young kings who have yet to enter adulthood will temporarily be shared by a regent lord. The king's government consist of the House of Nobles including ministers, advisors, and a Court Conjurer previously advised the king on the matters of magic. The king can provide the House with temporary stewardship if he leaves the kingdom.

The Kingdom of Stormwind can apply the death penalty for its criminals, the task being accomplished by an executioner, as Spymaster Mathias Shaw attended several of these executions. The death penalty by hanging is notably applied to thieves who were caught a third time in the act by the Stormwind City Guard, this was notably the case of Pathonia Shaw before she agreed to work as an assassin for the kingdom. Outside the capital, Lakeshire has its own Court and Law, which mentions that aiding a criminal of the Kingdom is punishable by death.

Since Varian Wrynn's return, the Kings of Stormwind have also had a unique international position as the ultimate leader of the Alliance - referred to as the High King, often with leaders of other member states acting as their advisors or joining them in council meetings. Due to the kingdom having a permanent position of leadership within the greater Alliance, the foreign military politics of Stormwind has integrated almost entirely with that of the entire faction.

The kingdom of Stormwind spans several regions with local democratically elected magistrates or mayors, ruling courts and creating laws for the local populace.

The Stormwind Army is nowadays headed by the general, whose subordinates act as the executive branch carrying out the laws of the King and his government across the entire kingdom of Stormwind. Notably, "King's Champion", is the highest military rank in the kingdom, but has not been used since Anduin Lothar.

The king of Stormwind also employs a spymaster to command the 7, a secretive military force specializing in espionage and assassination.

Notable leaders
 

House of Wrynn
 

Other rulers
 

Military
The Kingdom of Stormwind possesses an array of military organizations:


 * Stormwind Army
 * Stormwind Guard
 * Stormwind Royal Guard
 * Stormwind City Guard
 * Stormwind Harbor Guards
 * Westfall Brigade
 * Bravo Company
 * Stormwind Elite Aquatic and Land Forces
 * Rebel Camp
 * Nijel's Point Guard
 * Stormwind Fleet
 * Night Watch
 * 7
 * Stormwind Assassin's Guild

Territory and outposts of Stormwind
Following the victory of the Alliance of Lordaeron over the Horde, Stormwind was reclaimed and rebuilt as New Stormwind. The kingdom is currently split into several smaller territories, including the region of Stormwind. Some villages such as Goldshire and other territories are governed by an appointed Marshal of the Stormwind Army, which upholds the law on behalf of the king. Other towns could be governed by a democratically elected official. Lakeshire, for example, is governed by an elected magistrate — Magistrate Solomon. Darkshire appears to have appointed its own mayor, which is Lord Ello Ebonlocke.

During the absence of King Varian Wrynn, co-regent Lady Katrana Prestor managed to sow discord among the various regions of Azeroth. In World of Warcraft, her true identity is revealed and her hold over Anduin Wrynn is broken. With Varian's return during the time of the war against the Lich King, the grand kingdom began to re-build with the threat of the Defias Brotherhood over and the many other problems that plagued the other territories slowly began to get back on top of things and maintain order. The region of Westfall seemed to officially re-join the Kingdom with the aid that was sent.

However this brief moment of progress was interrupted with the end of the war in Northrend and the recent Cataclysm that broke the world. The Kingdom now faces a more economical issue as the recent war now mounted with the war against Deathwing has seriously damaged the kingdom's economy. Many have become homeless and evicted forced to find work and a place to live. On the other hand the Kingdom itself has grown too.

Azeroth

 * Elwynn Forest - Alliance; Under complete control of Stormwind and close enough to enjoy considerable Alliance guardianship; sends its criminals to Stormwind. The towns of Goldshire and Northshire Valley are this region's main hub.


 * Westfall - Alliance; The region has officially re-joined the kingdom as one of its fiefdoms again. The Defias are no longer the controlling faction of the area with the balance of power shifting to the control of the kingdom. It has become a place of poverty however with commuters pouring in. The fortified town of Sentinel Hill is this region's main hub.


 * Redridge Mountains - Alliance; under Stormwind's control; originally had a strong presence. However, the region became more unstable with Dark Horde incursions and the loss of Stonewatch. The Stormwind army since then had maintained a token presence in Redridge and handles Redridge's few crime problems. The town of Lakeshire is this region's main hub. Sometime after the Cataclysm, Stormwind increased Redridge's security by constructing Tower Watch on the Three Corners and stationing a garrison of Redridge Watchmen there.


 * Duskwood - Alliance; The kingdoms most southern region, under the protection of Stormwind but has its own democratic government and also has control of its own small military force — the Night Watch. The town of Darkshire is this region's main hub. The Gilnean worgen have settled in the region at Raven Hill to take care of the Worgen problem.


 * Deadwind Pass - Under jurisdiction; Although this region contains no faction encampment, the area itself falls under the control of the Kingdom of Stormwind.


 * Burning Steppes - Under jurisdiction; A region once part of the Redridge Mountains, it was blasted apart by Ragnaros when the Dark Iron Dwarves summoned him in hopes of winning the War of the Three Hammers. Although a fiery wasteland now and the kingdom has no use for such land, the ambitious young Morgan leads her militia with the prosperous idea of taking back the land of her people and building a new kingdom there to show the Alliance it still has potential. The land has no fixed settlement but for Alliance, the outpost of Morgan's Vigil serves as the hub.


 * Swamp of Sorrows - Contested; The area previously in the past was under the control of the Horde. Since the Cataclysm, though there has been an extreme power shift as the nation of Stormwind has become the main power in the region during the questing experience which results in the Horde being forced to flee the area. The Draenei have also officially claimed the Harborage after allying with the Broken there. Currently, the army of Stormwind holds the power in the region from their base Marshtide Watch but the Draenei control the only Alliance civilian village.


 * Blasted Lands - Contested; After the Second War when Stormwind had been re-built and it began its campaign to re-build its kingdom once again. The kingdom felt it wise to construct Nethergarde Keep to watch over the Dark Portal for any new threats that might once again challenge the safety of the kingdom and the rest of the known world at the time. This effectively made Stormwind the dominant power in the region for years to come. Since the Cataclysm, the Horde have managed to construct a small fortress in western Blasted Lands and have started a senseless conflict with Nethergarde. Some Gilneans have also come to the region settling in their new town of Surwich.


 * Northern Stranglethorn Vale - Contested; The kingdom of Stormwind at one point sent an expedition to expand to Stranglethorn. The expedition established Kurzen's Compound, yet madness overtook Colonel Kurzen and he went rogue. Some of Colonel Kurzen's forces, still loyal to Stormwind, mutinied against Kurzen's treachery and established the Rebel Camp, a resistance force trying to reign in Kurzen's followers. Recently, Stormwind established another outpost known as Fort Livingston who also get help from their allies at the Explorers' League Digsite.


 * Balor - Unknown; The island was part of the kingdom prior to the First War in which it fell to the Stormreaver clan, since then it is unknown what happened to it. Said to be located west of Stormwind City.


 * Stormwind Bay - specifics of the area are unknown. It could refer to the water surrounding Stormwind City.

Lordaeron

 * Chillwind Camp - With the fall of Southshore, this bustling forward base camp has become the only presence the kingdom has too preserving Lordaeron in its pre-Third War days. Although there are many other nations spread throughout the continent which were part of the old Alliance of Lordaeron who are loyal to Stormwind, they are not part of their kingdom. The nations that remain and are hell-bent on protecting their land and ridding Lordaeron from the Forsaken once and for all are the humans of Stromgarde, the Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak and the humans and worgen of Gilneas.

In Warcraft II


Leader: Regent Lord Anduin Lothar

Nation Color: Blue

Background: ''Before the coming of the Age of Chaos when the Portal was first opened, the kingdom of Azeroth was the mightiest of all Human nations. Ruled by the wise and just King Llane, Azeroth stood as a beacon of light and truth throughout the known world. After the First War, Azeroth and all of its lands were devastated by the Horde. With King Llane dead, Sir Lothar took charge of the shattered armies of Azeroth and led the survivors across the Great Sea to the shores of Lordaeron. King Terenas, ruler of Lordaeron, agreed to support the landless Azerothiens. The people of Azeroth settled near the Southshore region of Lordaeron, pledging their loyalty to the Alliance. Battle-hardened and brave, the last of the once great armies of Azeroth now seek retribution for the loss of their homeland.''

In the RPG
The Kingdom of Stormwind is considered a base of magical/divine study and contemplation in Azeroth. Stormwind City is its capital.

Aside from the rebuilt settlements, there is evidence of the constant warring of recent years after the First and Second Wars. Hard-edged debris of wartime fortresses stand softened by wind and rain. Grapevines entwine abandoned siege machines, and battlefields are carpeted in wildflowers. Wolves stalk herds of wild pigs around the stumps produced by decades of harvesting and among the saplings that now grow to take their place. Even as the humans rebuilt, much of Stormwind reverted to wilderness, closer to the world's natural state than in a thousand years. The tribes of forest trolls and the ogre lords emerge to stake claims on the wild lands, resulting in rising clashes between all races.

Stormwind firmly backs the Alliance; its knights, priests, paladins, and mages served in the three wars against the Horde and the kingdom still exists as the strongest unified human force in the world, but enemies and wilderness now surround it.

After the First War, the Stormwindians mourned their beloved King Llane who died when the capital of Stormwind fell to the Horde, and they settled near Southshore, determined to take back their homes.

Notes and trivia

 * Stormwind City is named after the kingdom.
 * In Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the victor of the First War differs between the human and orc campaigns. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness and all later sources show that the orc campaign is the true outcome, but with most of the events from the human campaign still being true.
 * Stormwind is the only human kingdom to have never dropped out of the Alliance due to destruction or secession.
 * Stormwind, Lordaeron, Kul Tiras, and Dalaran were the only human kingdoms that didn't secede from the Alliance following the Second War.
 * Lordaeron and Dalaran were destroyed during the Third War. Dalaran chose to remain unaffiliated after it was rebuilt.
 * Kul Tiras was not heard from since the end of the Third War and was not considered to be a current member of the Alliance until it reappeared some years later.
 * The Lord Paladin of the Scarlet Crusade Harthal Truesight was said to come from Azeroth.
 * The first playable humans in World of Warcraft are always from the nation of Stormwind.
 * Stormwind is inspired by Western European (particularly English) based, with some historical elements.
 * Stormwind largely uses.
 * Stormwindians speak with a accent.
 * The use of is common to many European noble and royal houses, and is largely based upon the use of lions as symbols of royalty in the Bible.
 * The use of lions with Stormwind may gesture to its English-inspired basis, as symbols of the likes of and.
 * The Brotherhood of the Horse are likely based upon the association of knights with horses, exemplified in the French term chevalier or Spanish term caballero for such, where both are rooted in "horse".
 * For the inspirations behind the Church of the Light and Paladins, see Church of the Holy Light.
 * Some elements of Stormwind's history borrow from Tolkien's mythos, such as how Neltharion and Onyxia pretended to be human and corrupt them, comparable to how Morgoth attempted to do the same to the human kingdoms.
 * Some elements of Stormwind's history borrows from Arthurian mythos, such as how the Court Conjurer Nielas Aran was seduced by the Guardian Aegwynn, comparable to how in various retelling is seduced by Morgan le Fey.
 * The uprising that led to the formation of the Defias Brotherhood may be inspired by the 14th century in England.
 * Stormwind's SI:7 is based upon the UK's.

Speculation
The term Stormwind Monarchy could be referring to the then-rulers Prince Anduin Wrynn, Regent Bolvar Fordragon, and the royal councilor Katrana Prestor.