History Characters / FinalFantasyXIVIshgard

** ''Legacy'' placed a much larger emphasis on the knights of Ishgard being mounted warriors, with repeated mentions of their prowess as cavalry and the few quests that took you to meet them always depicted them riding around the local area or chasing after bandits atop their chocobos, which was especially notable since mounts weren't obtainable at the beginning of the original game. In contrast their cavalry is only occasionally mentioned a few times in ''A Realm Reborn'' and ''Heavensward'', with all their knights fighting on foot and the few mounted ones we see always dismount when they reach melee range, likely due to gameplay limitations.

** ''Legacy'' placed a much larger emphasis on the Ishgardian cavalry, with repeated mentions of their prowess as mounted knights and the few quests that took you to meet them always depicted them riding around the local area or chasing after bandits atop their chocobos, which was especially notable since mounts weren't obtainable at the beginning of the original game. In contrast their cavalry is only occasionally mentioned a few times in ''A Realm Reborn'' and ''Heavensward'', with all their knights fighting on foot and the few mounted ones we see always dismount when they reach melee range, likely due to gameplay limitations.

** The term "dragoon" was occasionally used in ''Legacy'' as a synonym used for Ishgardian knights, with no mention of special jumping and dragon-related abilities. Even after the Dragoon job was added properly at the end of ''Legacy'', it weirdly continued to be used as a synonym for some of the Durendaire knights at the Whitebrim Front in ''A Realm Reborn'', despite none of them fitting the bill. In ''Heavensward'', the Dragoons were properly established as elite specialized knights with their own order serving as part of the Temple Knights.

** The term "dragoon" was occasionally used in ''Legacy'' as a synonym used for Ishgardian knights, with no mention of special jumping and dragon-related abilities. Even after the Dragoon was job was added properly at the end of ''Legacy'', it weirdly continued to be used as a synonym for some of the Durendaire knights at the Whitebrim Front in ''A Realm Reborn'', despite none of them fitting the bill. In ''Heavensward'', the Dragoons were properly established as elite specialized knights with their own order serving as part of the Temple Knights.

** The Temple Knights were nowhere to be seen in the original version of Coerthas. There's a few mentions of "holy knights" (which may be referring to all knights of Ishgard) who are the only ones allowed to enter and leave the city proper, but the only reference to "Temple Knights" was a lore blurb for the Templar armor set on the old lodestone. Instead ''Legacy'' Coerthas was mainly defended by a group of knights known as the Scarlet Lancers ([[NonIndicativeName who mostly wore green robes and armor with a slight bit of red]], while carrying swords and shields) who served as guards for the various aetheryte camps and hamlets in the region, while knights from the High Houses mainly featured in a few class and grand company quests. In ''A Realm Reborn'', these Scarlet Lancers are completely absent and were replaced by the now more familiar Temple Knights as well as the Houses taking a more active role in its defenses. Interestingly, a field marshal of the Scarlet Lancers is quoted on the [[https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/special/grandcompany/ Lodestone's grand companies page]], implying they were possibly planned to become Ishgard's grand company.

** The Temple Knights were nowhere to be seen in the original version of Coerthas. There's a few mentions of "holy knights" who are the only ones allowed to enter and leave the city proper, but the only reference to "Temple Knights" was a lore blurb for the Templar armor set on the old lodestone. Instead, along with the knights of the High Houses featuring in a few quests, ''Legacy'' Coerthas was mainly defended by a group of knights known as the Scarlet Lancers [[NonIndicativeName (who mostly wore green robes and armor with a slight bit of red, while carrying swords and shields)]] who served as guards for the various aetheryte camps and hamlets in the region. In ''A Realm Reborn'', these Scarlet Lancers are completely absent and were replaced by the now more familiar Temple Knights as well as the Houses taking a more active role in its defenses.

* {{Expy}}: Of the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' City-State of San d'Oria. [[OurElvesAreDifferent Primarily home to an elven-like race]]? Check. Very devout to religion and home to said religion's Archbishop? Check[[note]]Though somewhat different, in that San d'Oria had the Cathedral of the Goddess of the Dawn, which to Vana'Diel, was the chief deity the 5 races worship there equivelent to Hydaelyn. Ishgard almost singularly worships Halone the Fury, a warrior goddess, who is but one god out of twelve.[[/note]]. Military consisting primarily of knights and their orders? Check, even possessing one order that shares a name and performs somewhat similar role, namely the Temple Knights. Castle-like city, with the commoners area being on the outside, and the nobles closer to the inner city? Check. Home to the Dragoon Job? Check. The two city-states remain fundamentally different on several points though: Ishgard is DarkerAndEdgier due to its social issues, where it is nearly impossible to rise above commoner unless one becomes a knight or member of the clergy. And even in those, there are high-born who look down upon low-born joining the ranks. As well as the fact that Ishgard has an Inquisition where proving one's innocence is extremely hard, and often ignored unless absolutely irrefutable proof is given, making invoking the right of TrialByCombat often the better bet. By comparison, San d'Oria is pretty idealistic, led by a fair and just king. Crafters, business owners, and farmers are respected for the importance of their work to the city-state and rewarded fairly. Really about biggest issue on the minds of San d'Oria's citizens, is how the two sons of the king, are constantly trying to one-up each other through their deeds and their bickering. And they certainly are not isolationists.

** More than once in the story, crazed inquisition members and currupt knights of the Holy See will accuse beautiful Ishgardian women of low to midling status of heresy and "interogate" them, then either return them broken to their families if they had enough influence/bribes to free them or silence them with the above trial.

** Jannequinard has tried for years to introduce Sharlayan astrology to Ishgard. Despite its myriad uses, including [[HealingHands healing magic]], the [[WindsOfDestinyChange reading and manipulation of fate]], [[GravityMaster the use of gravity as a weapon]], and [[BarrierWarrior the creation of protective forcefields]], it's shunned by all Ishgardian Astrologians. Why? Because it's from outside Ishgard and isn't effective at tracking the movements of dragons. Therefore it's heretical and something to be mocked at best and persecuted at worst. It's not until Leveva shows up and the Warrior of Light starts showing its practical uses does Ishgard start to come around to it. But even then it's considered an enormous affront to Ishgard's best Astrologians [[spoiler:who help the Sharlayans attempt to have Jannequinard and Leveva assassinated for trying to spread knowledge of it.]]

* {{Mascot}}: After the events of ''Endwalker'', Estinien sends Aymeric a Gaja Suit given by the Thavnairians for [[spoiler:striking down Daivadipa, one of the primals summoned by the Tower of Zot]] as an answer to Aymeric's offer to employ Estinien as a bodyguard for the newly built Empyreum housing district. If you visit Empyreum after this event, [[https://cdn.fanbyte.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FFXIV-Azure-Elephant-Ishgard-Aymeric-Location-2-scaled.jpg?x87749 it's possible to find Aymeric in a dragoon blue Gaja Suit walking about the premises]] with Naegling still strapped to his waist.

* NiceGuy: Not only is he a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, but Aymeric is a good first showing before you even enter the gates of Ishgard proper that there ''are'' kind, respectable nobles amongst the corruption. He's rational, he's kind to those that deserve his kindness, wishes nothing but the best for everyone around him and to avoid conflict if at all possible, profusely apologizes to the Warrior of Light if something happens that makes him walk back a prior promise, and the list goes on. He's such a patron saint of niceness that the new democracy of Ishgard he helped establish immediately promotes him to leadership in response, and he doesn't even hold ill against his fellow citizens when some of them react poorly to the truth of the Dragonsong War or the Archbishop's fall. Of course, [[BewareTheNiceOnes he's just as capable as any knight should he be given reason to finally fight]], and his kindness notably lacks any sort of naivete when it comes to dealing with the aforementioned corrupt in his country; if you're a problem to the nation and its people and refuse to relent, he ''will'' take you down, physically or politically.

* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: A throwaway comment that stands out when they're declaring the player and their party are heretics is that the Scions Of The Seventh Dawn were ''recently'' wiped out by imperial forces, something '''''only''''' an agent of the Imperium would know within Coerthas, since there's not been anywhere near enough time for information to spread that far from Ul'dah.

A Holy Inquisitor of the Isgardians, who is fulfilling the church's prosecution of those found guilty of treason against Ishgard via casting them from a cliff. When the Warrior of Light and Lord Haurchefant strongly protest and find evidence of innocents being framed for death, Guillaime relents.. only to turn around and accuse the heroes at every turn to make people doubt them. This is all a front for him having been a heretic seeking vengeance on Ishgard the entire time, and had killed the original inquisitor before taking on his identity to commit such crimes without rousing suspicion.

* EndlessWinter: The mountains of Coerthas were previously filled with green valleys lush with life, but since the Calamity the aetherial balance was disrupted, with the land quickly freezing over and being covered in snow for years, forcing Ishgard to abandon some of its outer provinces such as the western highlands.

* {{Expy}}: Of the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' City-State of San d'Oria. [[OurElvesAreDifferent Primarily home to an Elven-like race]]? Check. Very devout to religion and home to said religion's Archbishop? Check[[note]]Though somewhat different, in that San d'Oria had the Cathedral of the Goddess of the Dawn, which to Vana'Diel, was the chief deity the 5 races worship there equivelent to Hydaelyn. Ishgard almost singularly worships Halone the Fury, a warrior goddess, who is but one god out of twelve.[[/note]]. Military consisting primarily of knights and their orders? Check, even possessing one order that shares a name and performs somewhat similar role, namely the Temple Knights. Castle-like city, with the commoners area being on the outside, and the nobles closer to the inner city? Check. Home to the Dragoon Job? Check. The two city-states remain fundamentally different on several points though: Ishgard is DarkerAndEdgier due to its social issues, where it is nearly impossible to rise above commoner unless one becomes a knight or member of the clergy. And even in those, there are high-born who look down upon low-born joining the ranks. As well as the fact that Ishgard has an Inquisition where proving one's innocence is extremely hard, and often ignored unless absolutely irrefutable proof is given, making invoking the right of TrialByCombat often the better bet. By comparison, San d'Oria is pretty idealistic, led by a fair and just king. Crafters, business owners, and farmers are respected for the importance of their work to the city-state and rewarded fairly. Really about biggest issue on the minds of San d'Oria's citizens, is how the two sons of the king, are constantly trying to one-up each other through their deeds and their bickering. And they certainly are not isolationists.

* {{Expy}}: Of the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' City-State of San d'Oria. [[OurElvesAreDifferent Home to primarily an Elven-like race]]? Check. Very devout to religion and home to said religion's Archbishop? Check[[note]]Though somewhat different, in that San d'Oria had the Cathedral of the Goddess of the Dawn, which to Vana'Diel, was the chief deity the 5 races worship there equivelent to Hydaelyn. Ishgard almost singularly worships Halone the Fury, a warrior goddess, who is but one god, out of twelve, who are still held below Hydaelyn.[[/note]]. Military primarily of Knights and their orders? Check, even possessing one order that shares a name, and performs somewhat similar role. Namely, the Temple Knights. Castle like city, with the commoners area being on the outside, and the nobles closer to the inner city? Check. Home to the Dragoon Job? Check. The two city-states remain fundamentally different on several points though: Ishgard is DarkerAndEdgier, due to its social issues, where it is nearly impossible to rise above commoner unless one becomes a knight or member of the clergy. And even in those, there are high-born who look down upon low-born joining the ranks. As well as the fact that Ishgard has an Inquisition where proving one's innocence is extremely hard, and often ignored unless absolutely irrefutable proof is given, making invoking the right of TrialByCombat often the better bet. By comparison, San d'Oria is pretty idealistic, led by a fair and just king. Crafters, business owners, and farmers are respected for the importance of their work to the city-state and rewarded fairly. Really about biggest issue on the minds of San d'Oria's citizens, is how the two sons of the king, are constantly trying to one-up each other through their deeds and their bickering. And they certainly are not isolationists.

** After nearly twenty years of isolation, Ishgard formally requests help from the Eorzean Alliance against an imminent dragon invasion in the lead-up to ''Heavensward''. Unfortunately, so many years of shunning the rest of Eorzea hasn't exactly endeared them to any of its leaders, all of whom are facing various troubles at home at the time. Limsa Lominsa still dealing with rogue pirates, the Sahagin, and Kobolds; Gridania, though having the closest ties with the Holy See, is busy repairing the damage of the Calamity, and fighting the Ixal; while Ul'dah is struggling with a power struggle and refugee riots incited Teledji Adeledji. Ultimately, the best they can offer Ishgard is to authorize the Scions, Crystal Braves and various adventurer volunteers to aid them, which proves enough to fight back the Dravanian Horde.

* TheTheocracy: The Holy See of Ishgard is ruled by the Ishgard Orthodox Church, with Archbishop Thordan being the supreme authority in matters of both church and state. This is reflected by the nation's fervent devotion to Halone, the goddess of ice and war, as well as its dogmatic hatred of outsiders and dragons.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Although relations between the High Houses can be frosty at times, House Dzemael goes out of its way to make trouble (especially where House Haillenarte is concerned). A Dzemael is the main villain of the Machinist questlines in ''Heavensward'', the final botanist quest in that expansion has an unknown Dzemael threaten the unassuming horticulturalist at Cloudtop with ''trial by combat'' for trying to cultivate an "unholy" variety of gysahl green, and they are the only High House with a member in the Heavens' Ward, who freely uses his unimpeachable authority to bully the other houses.

** This ends up being a political tool used between the houses to kill off rival's loyal servants, family members and allies. With a certain kinder house put in public disfavor and facing multiple accusations which bleed it just short of collapsing(which would ruin the status quo the houses prize) but keep it underfoot.

** Like the rest of Eorzea, Coerthas was originally a lot more diverse in its population during ''Legacy'', with all five base races being represented and some serving as knights, though Elezen were still by far the most prominent. The crest of the Elezen House Valentione, first shown during the original game's lifespan, even prominently features a Miqo'te. Since ''A Realm Reborn'', all races other than Elezen and Hyur are almost completely absent from the region except as mercenaries, though the Roegadyn Dyrstweitz in Costa del Sol does reference his father and grandfather serving House Dzemael as knights before the Calamity.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Ishgard is lore-wise famed for its chocobo-mounted knights, but this is never shown in actual gameplay, as almost all fighting takes place on foot, and the few bosses that fight while mounted do so on a horse and not a chocobo.

* KnightlySwordAndShield: Fitting a proud knight of Ishgard, Yuhelmeric wielded a longsword along with a red kite shield featuring the golden bell of House Durendaire. In undeath, his kite shield is replaced with a frozen square shield.

* ParentsAsPeople: He continues to mourn the loss of his firstborn son after he's lost at sea. But due to his grief and the nature of noble inheritance, he neglected his other son, Jannequinard, who tried to learn Sharlayan astrology to impress him. Charlemend's continued neglect led Jannequinard to become IdleRich as it became clear that nothing would earn his father's respect. He also tries to be a good ParentalSubstitute to his nephew, Ronontain, who lost his father in the Dragonsong War, though he also teaches Ronontain the mannerisms of an UpperClassTwit, which shames Charlemend after he gets some HumblePie.

* CoolSword: Aymeric wields a unique sword with a large blue blade featuring gold decorations.

* TheCameo: He and his master can be frequently seen attending seasonal events. For instance, in the 2023 Moonfire Faire event, he could be found at the bottom of the Eorzean Nimble Warrior challenge, cheering on Emmanellain who is struggle to get to the top of the first level.

* TheCavalry: Literally in his only ''Legacy'' appearance, Artoirel shows up in the Leatherworker quest "Designer Imposters" leading a group of mounted knights on chocobos to chase off a group of bandits holding your fellow leatherworkers hostage, stopping briefly to apologize to you before riding off after promising to crucify the bandits.

* AscendedExtra: A knight named Artoirel carrying a Fortemps shield briefly shows up in the ''Legacy'' Leatherworker quest "Designer Imposters", chasing off a group of bandits holding you and your mentor hostage, stopping to apologize to you before riding off after them. This ''Legacy'' version of Artoirel is also mentioned (though not seen) commanding the Fortemps knights in the Immortal Flames quest for unlocking Dzemael Darkhold, an event also referenced in the Encyclopaedia Eorzea, confirming he is the same person you later meet in ''Heavensward''.

* KnightlySwordAndShield: Artoirel fights as a proud knight of Ishgard wielding a sword and a shield featuring the symbol of House Fortemps.

* AscendedExtra: In ''Legacy'''s Leatherworker class quests, a bunch of Ishgardian knights led by a man named Artoirel carrying a Fortemps shield show up to chase off a group of bandits holding your mentor hostage, stopping to apologize to you before riding off after promising to crucify the bandits. This ''Legacy'' version of Artoirel is also referred to as commanding the Fortemps knights in the original quest for unlocking Dzemael Darkhold, implying he is the same person you meet in ''Heavensward''.

* TheDutifulSon: Especially when compared to his philandering brother, Artoirel is extremely dutiful, honorable, and mindful of tradition, making him a natural heir to his father. [[spoiler: Edmont later names him head of House Fortemps]].