Timeline Events
Some important events that happened in history in this region: wars, political events, and anything else of note.
-2 - Harmonia Established
The Hero Hikusaak defeats the Kingdom of Aronia and establishes the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia.
0 - Harmonian Calendar
Hikusaak becomes High Priest and begins his theocratic rule. The Solar Year (In Solis) adopted.
070 - Gate Rune Clan Massacre
Harmonia massacres the Gate Rune Clan, Windy and Leknaat divide the Gate rune and flee.
407 - Fire Bringer War Begins
A Grasslander known as the Flame Champion begins a guerilla campaign against Harmonia with the help of his True Fire Rune and the Fire Bringer, a group of bandits he formed. Thusly the Fire Bringer War begins.
417 - Flame Champion Imprisoned
After ten years of war and some gains, the Flame Champion gives himself up to Harmonia in exchange for 5000 [Grassland] prisoners. In his absence, the Fire Bringer lose power over many villages they had concquered.
421 - Flame Champion Escapes
The Fire Bringer break the Flame Champion out of Harmonian prison and help him regain his True Fire Rune. The war flares up again.
424 - True Fire Rune Devastates Grasslands
Harmonia escalates the Fire Bringer War by sending a large force into the Grasslands, but their army, along with that of the Fire Bringer, is mostly decimated by the massive explosion caused by the Flame Champion losing control of his rune.
425 - Fire Bringer War Ends
Harmonia signs a 50 year non-aggression pact with the Grasslands, ending the Fire Bringer War.
472 - Higheast Rebellion
Harmonia incites an uprising within the Higheast region of Dunan, formerly known as Highland. In response to the attack, Shu, the prevailing strategist of the Dunan Unification War, incites a civil war within Harmonia. Harmonia withdraws from Dunan to quell the civil war, and Higheast remains a territory of Dunan.
475 - Second Fire Bringer War
The Lizard and Karaya Clans in the Grasslands ambush the Zexen Knights at a peace treaty negotiations at the Amur Plains following the Lizard Chief Zepon's murder, and fighting between the Grasslands and Zexen continues. Meanwhile, Harmonia attacks the Grasslands, capturing the Safir Clan and attempting to invade the Chisha Clan. In response, a young Grasslander boy named Hugo gains control of the True Fire Rune and becomes the new Flame Champion. After some hesitation, the Grasslands and the Zexen Knights are united under this new banner and the Second Fire Bringer War begins. The Fire Bringer suffer initial defeats but then drive the Harmonians under Bishop Sasarai from Brass Castle. Luc, another Harmonian Bishop, gains control of all five True Elemental Runes in an attempt to destroy his True Wind Rune, and Sasarai's Harmonian forces switch sides to help the Fire Bringer face Luc and his forces, who are soon defeated.
Harmonia
Harmonia is the largest nation in the Suikoden world, not only by size but also by the vastness of its military and political power. Historically it is the oldest known nation in existence, officially created on the year 2 after Hikusaak defeated the Kingdom of Aronia. Hikusaak has been the head of state ever since with the aid of the Circle Rune. Thus, Hikusaak has been ruling Harmonia for the past four and a half centuries, feared by many as "The Absolute One."

However, the weakening of Harmonia's power is evident from the numerous civil uprisings, resulting in the succession of the Scarlet Moon Empire and indirectly causing the indendence of the Highland Kingdom. Rumors of Hikusaak's death has existed for the past two centuries, but "The Temple" has always insisted that he is alive. He has not made any public appearances in the recent times, and regardless of his status, he is a non-player in Harmonian politics.

This has resulted in power shifting towards the aristocrats and political factions forming within the government, namely the Temple Faction and the People's Faction. The Temple Faction is composed of artistocrats who are in support of the priests, and they believe that the status quo must be preserved. The People's Party, on the other hand, seek equality between all citizen ranks, and to abolish the non-ranked "sub-human" rank used for kobolds and other non-human races.

The priests manipulate the two parties behind the scene, helping one party or the other depending on circumstance. They employ the Howling Voice Guild to carry out assassinations and other acts of espionage to further their agenda. It was through such means that the priests destroyed the Latkje family, a powerful People's Faction aristocratic supporter. However, the Howling Voice Guild also has their own agenda, acting on their own at times to manipulate aristocrats. Due to this fact, priests have become weary of the Howling Voice Guild.

Regardless of all these political in-fighting, Harmonia manages to maintain a powerful military. Each led by a Priest General, the armies of Harmonia are well armed and can be dispatched to remote locations swiftly. This was seen when Priest General Sasarai was sent to aid Luca Blight during the Dunan Unification War. Harmonia has other military forces, such as the Temple Guards composed mainly by sons and daughters of aristocrats, and the Harmonian Southern Fringe Security Force, which patrols and protects Harmonia's border with the Grasslands. Harmonia also employs the help of various mercenary troops, and the combined might of all these forces are said to be in the millions.

Harmonian society is governed by a strict hierarchy, where those born in a certain rank generally stay in that rank for life. Pure Harmonians, such as the aristocrats, are called "First Class Citizens," and enjoy a vast array of privileges not available to the rest. First Class Harmonians always have blonde hair and blue eyes, due to strict marriage practices. "Second Class Citizens" are members of nations who have surrendered to the rule of Harmonia. Second Class Citizens generally enjoy similar privileges as First Class Citizens, but are only rarely members of the aristocracy. "Third Class Citizens" are members of nations who have resisted Harmonian rule, and are treated like slaves. Children of Third Class Citizen families are routinely sent to First Class households as servants. Another unofficial rank is that of "sub-human" which is used against non-human races. They perform various menial tasks and are considered to be disposable property. There are a few exceptions to the above ranks, such as the priests, who exist entirely outside the social structure, and the Howling Voice Guild, who choose their members based on skill rather than social rank.

Although the above information seems to make Harmonia sound extremely strict and almost uninhabitable, Harmonia possesses an extremely sophisticated culture, and many students come from around the world to study at the various academies in Harmonia's capital, Crystal Valley. Crystal Valley is also the location of the "One Temple," which is the largest library known to exist in the world. Many scholars and other seekers of knowledge visit Crystal Valley from afar to visit this institution.

Harmonia is also known to be extremely interested in acquiring True Runes. The purpose for this is unknown, but many villages have been burned down by Harmonian forces in search of True Runes. With all this information, Harmonia remains to be a nation of great mystery.

Blue Moon's comment:
There ain't much to say about Harmonia... Well, actually, there is--in fact, too much to say. They have their share of shady deals and political scandals. Murayama compares Harmonia to Russia, but his idea of Russia seems to be a bit off because they don't seem to have vodka in Harmonia.
A citadel in the southern edge of Harmonia that acts as frontier defense against Grassland. This is the base of the Harmonian Southern Frontier Defense Force, a group of special op mercenaries. Set high up in the mountains, it is nearly impossible to attack head on.

Blue Moon's comment:
The first town revealed within Harmonia besides Crystal Valley. They have prisons, slave-kobolds, and crazy doctors all in one. It seems like it's not really a town, but just a military fortress.
"The Tower" is the coveted headquarters of the Howling Voice Guild. It is also called "The garden" by members of the guild. "The Tower" itself is a small fortress with one central tower. Those who live inside the tower are normally not allowed to leave unless they are on a mission. Rations are delivered to "The Tower" by the temple, and no actual crop harvesting takes place within the walls. For greater detail on the Howling Voice Guild, please refer to The Howling Voice Guild Page.

Blue Moon's comment:
One place you don't want to end up in, yet the only way for Harmonains of lower rank to gain power.
Before the Fire Bringer War 50 years prior to Suikoden III, this area was in the area of a tribe of Grasslanders, called the Carna Tribe. However, during negotiations, this area fell to Harmonia.The people are treated as third-class citizens, essentially slaves, and are taken to Crystal Valley to work as children, ingraining Harmonian ideals and thinking into their mind. The Carna Tribe can control Mantors, giant insect like beasts, and ride them as flying mounts.

Blue Moon's comment:
So, what founder of this tribe came up with the idea of riding giant bugs? I would exile myself if born into this village.
The old capital of Harmonia, Rupanda was taken over by Kranach Rugner when the Scarlet Moon Empire succeeded from Harmonia. Since then it has been called Gregminster. It is said that the old city included a Sindar ruin, but the ruin has been destroyed during the creation of Gregminster's "Hanging Gardens."

Blue Moon's comment:
Another historical fact you didn't need to know, yet you just love to know.
Crystal Valley is the capital of Harmonia. It is where the "One Temple" is located and where the bulk of Harmonian politics take place. The city is said to be extremely huge--one person described that it would take a horse-drawn wagon two days to get from one side of Crystal Valley to the other side. Crystal Valley is also the location of many academies, including the Soledt Academy of Military Science and schools on rune mastery and phonology.

The city is well protected by the elite Temple Guards, but it was once penetrated by the "Flame Champion," who raided Harmonia. It is said that he sneaked into the "One Temple" and stole the True Fire Rune, but whether that is fact or fiction is in the realm of speculation.

Blue Moon's comment:
This is where the last battle in Suikoden history would take place! Well, maybe...
The Village of the Gate Rune Clan existed for the protection of the Gate Rune, a treasure of the village. It was destroyed in roughly IS 70 by Harmonia, who massacred the clan in looking for the Gate Rune. However, Leknaat and Windy, two 'sisters' of the village, were able to divide the Rune into two halves and flee.
A small country that was conquered by Harmonia around the year 440. Sanadia resisted Harmonia's aggression, and thus its citizens became third class under Harmonian rule. This resulted in many families being torn apart as servants for first class citizens. Sanadia is currently considered a province within Harmonia, and is run by ex-Sanadian aristocrats who have become Harmonian sympathizers.

Blue Moon's comment:
The cause of Zaj's intense hatred of first class Harmonians. Must suck to live in a conquered nation. Maybe they should have just surrendered?
Marid is a small village located beside a mountian in Harmonia. The village is run by an innkeeper, and the people there are generally weary of foreigners. The village was recently plagued by a renegade dragon, but the dragon threat was removed by a group of travellers.

Blue Moon's comment:
This is where we get to see the World of Wings and Scales/Nash go berserk depending on what you choose in Suikogaiden.
A school for military strategists created by Soledt the legendary "blind strategist." Soledt was a Harmonian general who lost his sight due to treachery by a rival. Since then he had to live as a nobody, but one day he heard that the village he grew up in was suffering from the tyranny of his rival. He collected a handful of his servants and traveled to his home village, which was protected by the soldiers of his rival. He used his knowledge of terrain and climate to devise a series of strategies to defeat his rival's forces with a handful of his men and succeeded in defeating him. Since then, Soledt became known as a military strategist, and created an academy to teach military science.

The academy is known as the best institution to study military science, and many students come from abroad to hone their skill. Apple and Klaus Windamier are among the students who have graduated from this academy and later participated in wars as strategists.

Blue Moon's comment:
An odd tid-bit revealed in the Suikoden Short Stories Anthologies Vol.3.
The "One Temple" is a huge library, where it is said most all of the knowledge and wisdom of mankind is stored for all to see. Many scholars dream to visit this megalithic library in search of knowledge.

Blue Moon's comment:
Futch and Humphrey went here to research if Bright was really a dragon or not. Seen in Suikoden III, when Luc and Sasarai finally confront eachother, and Luc takes his True Earth Rune.
Located near Le Buque, this mountain houses a shrine built by the original Flame Champion. During Suikoden III, Luc and Sarah held the villagers of Le Buque hostage on Mt. Senai and managed to steal Geddoe's True Rune, then left his party near the shrine to protect the villagers from thousands of monsters summoned by Luc.

Blue Moon's comment:
The altar was originally the Flame Champion's Altar, but in order to prevent Harmonia from destroying it, the people of Le Buque called it a mantor altar.