Lordaeron (kingdom)

The Kingdom of Lordaeron (or the Lordaeron Empire) was a human kingdom primarily located along the northern territories of the homonymous continent. Originally an Arathorian city-state, it was an empire by the time of its fall during the Third War.

Ruled by the Menethil family, the kingdom took part in the birth of the Alliance of Lordaeron shortly before the start of the Second War. The kingdom of Lordaeron spearheaded the Alliance forces during the campaign against the Orcish Horde during the war. Unfortunately, the nation would be almost entirely consumed by the undead Scourge during the Third War, which occurred fourteen years later.

Lordaeron's territories are presently contested between the Forsaken, the Alliance, the Argent Crusade, the Scarlet Crusade, and the remnants of the Scourge.

The undead Forsaken used to completely control the core regions of the ruined human kingdom which include, in some degree, Tirisfal Glades, Silverpine Forest and Hillsbrad Foothills, and also had a significant presence in the Plaguelands to the east. The destruction of the Undercity and the Fourth War drastically reshaped the balance of power in the Eastern Kingdoms, with the Alliance rebuilding Southshore and controlling Shadowfang Keep once again.

City-state of Arathor
During the decadency of the Arathorian Empire, the Tirisfal Glades and surrounding lands were settled by the disenfranchised lords of the empire capital of Strom, who were part of a group that left the city because they were desirous of the verdant and fertile lands to the northwest. They named their new home Lordaeron, after the surrounding region which itself had been named after the great Arathorian general Lordain who had once lived there. In time, their newly founded capital city served as a spiritual destination for the citizens of the seven human kingdoms.

First War
During the First War, King Llane of Stormwind dispatched messengers to the other human kingdoms, warning of mysterious, fearsome green-skinned invaders. However, no help was received as the reports were not believed. Lordaeron was considered the most likely nation to help. However, Deathwing disguised as a visiting Stormwind noble openly mocked King Llane and claimed the threat was actually a rebellion of disgruntled citizens, causing Lordaeron to only politely wish Llane luck with his troubles.



The Alliance of Lordaeron and the Second War
Following the opening of the Dark Portal and the ending of the First War, the nation of Stormwind fell to the Orcish Horde, and no long after the dwarven region of Khaz Modan shared the same fate. Refugees from Stormwind, led by Lord Anduin Lothar, fled across the sea to the southern shores of the continent of Lordaeron. There, Lothar and the young Turalyon convinced the leaders of the human nations, as well as the dwarven refugees of Ironforge, the gnomes of Gnomeregan, and the proud high elves of Quel'Thalas, to join forces in the Alliance of Lordaeron.

Under the leadership of King Terenas and Lord Lothar, the Alliance was victorious in the Second War, pushing the Horde back to the Dark Portal, and destroying the gateway to the orcs' homeworld. Lothar fell in the assault on Blackrock Spire, and with the loss of his political skill, rifts developed between the Alliance nations. The main issue of dispute was a tax levied by King Terenas to finance the internment of the orcs. Though Lordaeron attempted to retain its central role, several nations pulled their support from the Alliance. Only Stormwind stood fast in its commitment to the Alliance, although the distance between the kingdoms of Stormwind and Lordaeron made their union a hollow one. Following the war, many Stormwind refugees decided to stay in Lordaeron.

After the end of the Second War, Lordaeron built a military outpost along the borders of the Alterac Mountains. The outpost was raided by the Horde of Draenor in order to get the Book of Medivh back from the Alteraci.

The Third War and the Scourging of Lordaeron
Following years of debate over the internment of the orcs, a plague appeared in the north of Lordaeron. As it spread throughout the towns and cities of Lordaeron, one after another fell to the Scourge, most notably Andorhal and Stratholme. After Stratholme was purged, some former paladins, now called Deathlords, committed the same heinous act in many other cities across Lordaeron, but after years of constant war and suffering, some members of the clergy also lost their sense of the Holy Light.

Finally, with the corruption of the heir to the throne of Lordaeron, Prince Arthas Menethil, the capital city itself succumbed. Arthas's captains, Falric and Marwyn, were responsible for the slaughter of the aristocracy. Thus, in an ironic twist of fate, it was Lordaeron that lay in ruins, with refugees streaming to Khaz Modan and Azeroth. Many others later fled with Jaina Proudmoore to Kalimdor while remnants of the Lordaeron armies remained. After King Terenas was murdered and Capital City fell, the Scourge army swept across Lordaeron. Neighboring human and dwarven nations converged on Lordaeron to vanquish the Scourge. Even the elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas, no longer an Alliance member, sent their priests to help defeat the undead. The Scourge was numerous and defeated any resistance. Ultimately, the Scourge took Lordaeron.

Arthas briefly assumed the title of King, and ruled as an agent of the Scourge, before the eruption of a civil war between his forces, the remaining dreadlords, and the free undead (later known as the Forsaken) led by Sylvanas Windrunner. While Arthas was summoned to Northrend to defend the Lich King, Windrunner's forces, with the help of a traitor Dreadlord Varimathras, and the remaining Alliance resistance forces under Grand Marshal Othmar Garithos— whom Sylvanas tricked into helping her— achieved a victory over the other dreadlords and the Undead they controlled. After the final battle, Sylvanas betrayed the Alliance remnants she allied with by ordering Varimathras and her Forsaken to kill Garithos and to slaughter the remaining Alliance resistance forces. Afterwards, they claimed the ruined former capital of Lordaeron (the "Ruins of Lordaeron"), under which they inhabited the Undercity.

Some Lordaeron refugees managed to get to Stormwind City. Mathias Shaw and Flynn Fairwind believe that refugees of Lordaeron must have wanted a way to honor their fallen king, so they buried Terenas Menethil II's crown in an unmarked grave at the lighthouse in Stormwind Harbor.

Post-war period


The remaining indigenous humans of Lordaeron may be broken down into three major groups, the loyalists of Stormwind, the Scarlet Crusade, and the Argent Dawn. The first are the folk of southern Lordaeron which have remained loyal to the Alliance and have given their loyalty to the monarchy at Stormwind. These humans once controlled three towns, scattered evenly across the southern regions of the nation. Southshore was the most important of these townships, and the only port north of the Thandol Span under Alliance control. To the north, nestled in the rolling foothills of Alterac lay the town of Hillsbrad, surrounded by the rich Hillsbrad Fields. The town controlled an important mine on the coast, Azurelode Mine. Far to the west of these towns lies the town of Pyrewood Village, which received its aid not from Stormwind, but from Dalaran. The town was friendly to the Alliance, but the dire curse laid upon it by the mage Arugal prevented it from further integration. To the south of the town lay a refugee camp outside of the Greymane Wall, and its folk also supported the Alliance.

The Scarlet Crusade held lands scattered throughout northern Lordaeron, and at one stage were by far the most numerically well endowed of the human factions of the former kingdom. Nominally a part of the Alliance, they are so fearful of the undead that they will attack any individual on sight. They hold several key positions in the Tirisfal Glades, including farmlands in the west, and their great stronghold in the region, the Scarlet Monastery above the north coast. In the Western Plaguelands they once controlled the entire northern part of the zone from Hearthglen. They also formerly maintained a presence in Andorhal. In the Eastern Plaguelands, they controlled Tyr's Hand, and nominally controlled the Scarlet Enclave beyond, although it has become depopulated due to invasion by the Scourge, and migration to Northrend. Their capital lay at Stratholme, where they held a portion of the city.

The Argent Dawn has bases throughout the Plaguelands, and is made up of those humans who have taken a more moderate approach to the war against the dead, accepting Horde and even Forsaken into their ranks.

The Alliance has further strength in the region as well. A small high elven outpost could also be found near the bounds of the Ghostlands in the Eastern Plaguelands, Quel'Lithien Lodge. These elves stayed committed to the Alliance and were hostile to the Horde. Dalaranian troops also have a presence in southern Silverpine Forest.

The Forsaken managed to take control of the heart of the old kingdom, claiming the Ruins of Lordaeron (and the Undercity beneath) as their base of operations. They use it to keep hold over much of the Tirisfal Glades, and control the towns Brill and Deathknell along the main east-west road of the region. They also control The Sepulcher in the center of Silverpine Forest, and the town of Tarren Mill in the Hillsbrad Foothills.

The Syndicate, in an attempt to punish Lordaeron for its role in the fall of their kingdom of Alterac took the fortress of Durnholde Keep and the surrounding countryside, although the Ravenholdt (a league of assassins) have attempted to curb their strength from their base at Ravenholdt Manor (which also lies in former Lordaeron).

Finally, the undead Scourge holds Stratholme and Andorhal, as well as Scholomance in the southern Western Plaguelands. The Scourge at one point were overwhelmingly the dominant force in much of Lordaeron, with a presence in all its zones except the Hillsbrad Foothills.

On a side note, the mage Arugal formerly controlled large tracts of land in Silverpine Forest from Shadowfang Keep.

Cataclysm
After the Cataclysm, the Forsaken strengthened their grip on Silverpine Forest and Hillsbrad Foothills by conquering Pyrewood, Hillsbrad Fields, Southshore and attacking the Alliance on the hills overlooking Hillsbrad, as well as Andorhal in the Western Plaguelands. The Scarlet Crusade presence was reduced to the Tirisfal Glades, with the ones in Eastern Plaguelands becoming undead. The Argent Crusade also strengthened their positions in the eastern regions.



Battle for Azeroth
The modern day Alliance, with forces led by Anduin Wrynn and Genn Greymane, attempted to regain control of Lordaeron's capital during the Battle for Lordaeron in response to the Burning of Teldrassil. Ultimately, the ruined capital was left blighted and unclaimed.

The Alliance and Horde forces waged an active campaign against each other throughout the formerly Forsaken-controlled lands, in an attempt to gain hold over the remaining regions of Lordaeron.

The Fourth War eventually ended in an uneasy armistice between the two sides, but the Alliance managed to capture and reclaim Southshore and Shadowfang Keep from the Forsaken. With Tirisfal Glades remaining under Forsaken control.

People and culture


Lordaeron's national colors are both white and blue. In Warcraft III Lordaeron forces are represented in blue (white is notably not a playable color as it was in Warcraft II) while in The Frozen Throne Lordaeron is instead most commonly represented as a light blue. Along with the Lordaeron sigil, both twin and single-headed eagles often adorn Lordaeron banners and tabards. Lions are also a common symbol.

Something originating from Lordaeron is called "Lordaeronian".

Like the other realms, the Kingdom of Lordaeron applied the death penalty for its criminals, the task being accomplished by an executioner, including hanging as gallows were present in their cities, such as Stratholme. After his excommunication, Tirion Fordring mentioned that he would in turn be hanged for his treason by saving Eitrigg from his execution. The court of King Terenas employed Wroth as a royal torturer.

Lordaeronian revere the Holy Light, and the Church of the Holy Light played a significant role in Lordaeron society. Centuries ago, Lordaeron's leaders codified the different Light-based traditions and belief systems. From these efforts, the Church of the Holy Light came to be. Lordaeron served as the home of this church and became a popular destination for travelers seeking healing, wisdom, and inner peace. The church constructed temples and shrines throughout the far-flung human lands, and it created a hierarchy of religious leaders to oversee its followers. The most important places of worship were located in the verdant Eastweald. Among the oldest and most revered of these holy sites were Light's Hope Chapel, Stratholme, Andorhal, and Tyr's Hand. Thus, the armies of Lordaeron were said to be deeply religious, while Capital City had its own cathedral, where Jaina Proudmoore and Arthas Menethil met for the first time.

A Lordaeronian lullaby

 * Lu, la lu, my dearest child,
 * Lu, la lu, lu la lay,
 * Lordaeron says, "Go to sleep."
 * Azeroth says, "Dream you deep."
 * Lu, la lu, la lu, la lay,
 * Safe in my arms you'll stay.

Soldiers and citizens from Lordaeron

 * Alliance Emissary
 * Royal Guard



Territories
By the time of the Third War, the kingdom of Lordaeron controlled the Eastweald, the Tirisfal Glades, the northern part of Silverpine Forest, the majority of the Hillsbrad Foothills and parts of the Alterac Mountains (Chillwind Point, and the town of Strahnbrad). Also the region of Northern Lordaeron, which is currently a closed zone.

Present-day regions once under Lordaeronian control

 * Majority of Hillsbrad Foothills
 * Northeastern Alterac Mountains
 * Northern Lordaeron
 * Northern Silverpine Forest
 * Plaguelands / Eastweald
 * Eastern Plaguelands
 * Western Plaguelands
 * Tirisfal Glades

Items from Lordaeron

 * Havoc's Call, Blade of Lordaeron Kings
 * Royal Crest of Lordaeron
 * Lordaeron Lambic



In Warcraft II
Leader: King Terenas

Nation Color: White

Background: ''Ruled by the benevolent King Terenas, the nation of Lordaeron stands as the last bastion of hope for humanity. The armies of Lordaeron were the first to heed the call to arms issued by Sir Lothar and the people of Azeroth. As patron of the Alliance, King Terenas has assumed the heavy mantle of leadership to protect all who abide in his domain. The armies of Lordaeron are deeply religious and are driven by the belief that humanity must stand steadfast against the blasphemous onslaught of the Horde.''

Film universe
Lordaeron participated in the council that would eventually lead to the creation of the Alliance.

Notes and trivia

 * Before the Third War, the kingdom of Stormwind spied on the kingdom of Lordaeron to gain vital information and later to investigate the rumors of the plague of undeath.
 * During the Legion beta, Calia Menethil said the kingdom of Lordaeron no longer existed. This never made it into the live version of the game.
 * In Before the Storm, she is still deeply worried about the Lordaeronians that became Forsaken.
 * While people from Lordaeron usually speak with American accents, the Scarlet Crusade in the Mists of Pandaria revamp of Scarlet Monastery and Scarlet Halls have German accents. No other Lordaeronians share this accent, and the Scarlet Crusade has not used it in appearances after this either.
 * The Lordaeron symbol is present on High Warlord's Shield Wall, representing the Forsaken and their Lordaeronian heritage.