Altean royal knights

Royal knights
;
Leader	Jagen; Arran; Cain*;
Size	13 named
Headquarters	Altea Castle
Group type	Order of knights
Purpose	To serve Altea
Appearance(s)	Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light; Mystery of the Emblem; Shadow Dragon; New Mystery of the Emblem;

“	The Altean army! Welcome home. It's good to see you. These years've been nowt but dark days; it's about time we had somethin' bright to look forward to.	”	— A villager in Chapter 16

The Altean royal knights (Japanese: アリティア宮廷騎士団 Aritia royal court knights), also called the Temple Knights (Japanese: テンプルナイツ Temple Knights),^[1] (also simply knights of Altea,^[2] Altean knights,^[3] and Altean army^[4]) is the army in service to the Kingdom of Altea and its royal family. They are well regarded throughout the land and are known to defend Altea from northern barbarian attacks.^[5]

History

In 602 AC during the War of Shadows,^[6] Gra's betrayal of Altea allowed its fall to the Dolhr Empire. The surviving royal knights went to their prince Marth's side and aided in his escape of the country. Frey and Abel accompanied his escape of Altea Castle, being joined at its gates by Jagen and Cain.^[7] During their evacuation outside, Gordin was re-recruited into the knights after his capture by the hands of Gra. Afterwards, one of the knights gave his life as a decoy to distract Gra's approaching main force. Once Captain and his troops were defeated, Draug and Norne met with the group and informed Marth of a vessel the former secured for their retreat to the isle of Talys.^[8]

The royal knights came to reside within Talys's eastern fortress. Two years later,^[9] Dolhr's Galder Pirates invaded the island. At Caeda's behest, Marth ordered the royal knights to free Talys from Gazzak, in which their victory entailed them to return to the mainland and challenge Dolhr. The royal knights remained with the later established Archanean League and fought under Marth until the War of Shadows concluded in 605 AC.^[10]

One year later, various platoons were formed for Altean squires for their training to become knights of Altea; most notably the 7th Platoon—all its members passed their tests and were knighted. Soon after, this group along with Gordin and Draug would be appointed to the Grustian Expeditionary Force led by Arran^[11] to quash a rebellion in Grust during 607 AC.^[12] The royal knights followed Marth throughout various conflicts thereafter, ultimately going into the War of Heroes and fighting alongside the Altean League until the war's conclusion in 608 AC.^[13]

Overview

Royal knights

Jagen was the commander of the royal knights prior and during the War of Shadows.^[14]^[1] After his retirement, Jagen handed the role of captain to Arran,^[15] and Cain assumed the rank of captain after the War of Heroes concluded.^[16] Also prior to the War of Heroes's outbreak, Abel left the knights^[17] and it also expanded with the 7th Platoon being knighted.

Additional information before the Nintendo DS titles also disclose Draug and Gordin's status as the order's only armored knight and archer respectively,^[18]^[19] Abel being its best swordsman,^[20] and Cecil being the only female knight.^[21]

Norne's status as a royal knight is initially somewhat vague. She volunteers to accompany Marth and the knights to Talys, but is not acknowledged as a knight then, during the main game, or in her ending which claims she returned home and gives her "The Volunteer" title.^[22] However, New Mystery of the Emblem indicates her ending is no longer applicable to Shadow Dragon, as her depictions in Chapter 6 and third DLC episode imply her fulfilling a knightly role.^[23]^[24] Furthermore, her Japanese Meet some of the Heroes entry for Norne: Seaside Volunteer directly claims her to be part of the royal knights;^[25] mistranslated in English as "royal guard".^[26]

Members


Jagen	Arran	Cain	Abel	Frey

Gordin		Draug	Norne

Kris	Ryan	Luke	Cecil	Roderick

7th Platoon

“	Kris, all of us in the 7th Platoon, we're partners. That will never change. Let's...all of us, together... Let's get Katarina back. Someday, definitely...	”	— Cecil

The 7th Platoon (Japanese: 第七小隊 Seventh Platoon) is a group of knight apprentices training to become knights of Altea. Kris was selected to be its leader. The group's combat instructor was Cain,^[27] while Frey provided lectures three months into their training as it grew more arduous.^[28]^[29] The group was knighted by Marth after clearing their tests. Due to Katarina's ties to a group of assassins however, she did not further pursue knighthood.

Another known group like this is the 9th Platoon^[30] (Japanese: 第九小隊 Ninth Platoon). Cecil was originally part of this group^[31] until her teammates deserted^[32] amongst many other platoons.^[33]

Members


Kris	Katarina	Ryan

Luke	Roderick	Cecil

Grustian Expeditionary Force

“	Our main force will consist of you rookies, Gordin, Draug and the paladin Arran. The strongest among us is Sir Arran.	”	— Jagen

The Grustian Expeditionary Force (Japanese: グルニア遠征軍 Grunia Expeditionary Force) is a division of the royal knights. It is comprised of newly appointed knights from the 7th Platoon and veterans. Arran was made its commander.^[11] This force was established following Emperor Hardin's demand for military aid to quash a rebellion in Grust.

Members


Arran	Kris	Luke	Roderick

Cecil	Gordin	Ryan	Draug

Other apperances

Fire Emblem anime

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Fire Emblem Trading Card Game

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Fire Emblem Trading Card Game data for the Altean knights
	Class: Soldier / Cavalier	Level 20 Cavalry	Direct Attack
	Energy: 5	Atk.: 3 / Counter: 1	WLv.: A
	Equip: Steel Lance	Skills: Rush (If an attack after moving causes an adjacent enemy to withdraw, can move to the square the enemy unit was) Summon A
	Card #6-037 • Rarity: -- • Artist: Katsuyoshi Koya
Card scans and information translation provided by Aquantis.

Trivia

The Temple Knights name is used in Cain's ending of the Japanese version of Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light,^[34] but this was removed in the remakes^[35]^[36] and the Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light localization.^[37]
Likely erroneously, Ryan's ending in New Mystery of the Emblem where it states he joined the Temple Knights was not altered from Mystery of the Emblem even after he was knighted during Prologue 8.^[38]

Etymology and other languages