Alliance of Lordaeron
- This article is about the predecessor organization to the current faction known as the Alliance.
| {{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:{{{2}}}|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]]Alliance of Lordaeron | |
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{{#if:Warcraft III Reforged - Humans Icon (2).webp|File:Warcraft III Reforged - Humans Icon (2).webp}} The Coat of Arms of the Alliance of Lordaeron. | |
| Main leader |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
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|#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Terenas Menethil II† |
| Formerly |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
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|#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Genn Greymane† |
| Secondary leaders |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:highelf
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
|high elf=HighElf
|#default=HighElf}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Alleria Windrunner (MIA) |
| Race(s) |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
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|#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
|high elf=HighElf
|#default=Human}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Human |
| Capital | Capital City of Lordaeron, Stormwind City, Boralus, Dalaran, Ironforge, Gnomeregan |
| Theater of operations | Eastern Kingdoms |
| Language(s) | Common, Dwarven, Gnomish, Thalassian |
| Status | Defeated in the Third War, most of the members regrouped into Alliance or/and Alliance Remnants |
| {{#if:|Reputation}} | |
| Tabard | {{#if:|[[File:{{{tabard}}}|90px]]}} |
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The Alliance of Lordaeron (aka Lordaeron Alliance,<ref>Day of the Dragon, chapter 1</ref> Great Alliance,<ref>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness The Official Strategy Guide, pg. 93</ref> Grand Alliance,<ref>World of Warcraft manual, pg. 171: "Even so, when the orcs invaded Azeroth and set out to conquer the human, elven, and dwarven lands, the dwarves offered to join the Grand Alliance."</ref> Human Alliance,<ref>Warcraft II: The Dark Saga manual, The Human Alliance</ref> or old Alliance<ref>Colonel Hardinus#On-click</ref>) was the union of the seven human kingdoms, along with the dwarves of Khaz Modan (which also included the gnomes of Gnomeregan) and Aerie Peak, the high elves of Quel'Thalas, and others with major political influence including the Church of Light. This coalition formed as a response to the threat of the Orcish Horde during the Second War.
History
Second War
Following the destruction of the Kingdom of Azeroth by the Orcish Horde during the First War, its survivors fled to Lordaeron. Realizing the threat the orcs posed, Regent Lord Anduin Lothar, leader of Azeroth's refugees, was able to convince the leaders of the other human kingdoms to unify against the orcs as the Alliance. The Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak and high elves also soon joined the Alliance, as well as the gnomes of Gnomeregan and the Ironforge dwarves later in the war.
The Church of Light was a strong supporter of Alliance's effort. During the First War, the Clerics of Northshire bravely supported the armies of the kingdom of Stormwind with clerics who healed wounds and channeled devastating powers of Holy Light against their foes. Following the destruction of Stormwind, Archbishop Alonsus Faol was one of the key figures in forming of the Alliance. Having perceived that the pious Clerics of Northshire, who suffered such terrible attrition in the First War, were ill-suited for the dangers of combat, he, along with many of the surviving Clerics of Northshire, sought those of only the greatest virtue among the knighthood of Lordaeron and tutored them in the ways of magic. Christening them the Knights of the Silver Hand, it now rested upon the newly-formed paladins to heal the wounds sustained in combat and to restore faith in the promise of freedom from Orcish tyranny.<ref>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Alliance Ground Units, Paladin</ref>
The Alliance — under the leadership of Sir Anduin Lothar as its Supreme Allied Commander — ultimately defeated the Old Horde during the battle of Blackrock Spire. Although Anduin Lothar was slain by Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer, his death inspired Turalyon to push the Alliance to victory. Turalyon's forces succeeded in destroying the Dark Portal, the mystical gateway that connected the orcs to their homeworld of Draenor. Cut off from its reinforcements and fractured by infighting, the Horde finally buckled in upon itself and fell before the might of the Alliance, thus ending the Second War.
The scattered orc clans were quickly rounded up and placed within guarded internment camps under the Alliance Internment Act. Though it seemed that the Horde had been defeated for good, some remained highly skeptical that peace would last. Khadgar, now an Archmage of some renown, convinced the Alliance high command to build the fortress of Nethergarde Keep that would watch over the ruins of the Dark Portal and ensure that there would be no further invasions from Draenor.<ref>The Alliance of Lordaeron</ref>
After the death of Lothar, the Alliance of Lordaeron was led by King Terenas Menethil II. He accepted ambassadors or the monarchs from all member nations and races to his capital. Rarely did the monarchs of the major realms come together. Generally, they spoke through couriers and diplomats, with the occasional state visit thrown in as well.<ref>Day of the Dragon, pg. 79</ref> One of the inner council of the Kirin Tor had ever been present at such events (with the exception of one meeting Dalaran was not invited, led by Lord Daval Prestor, though spied upon by Krasus).<ref>Day of the Dragon, pg. 86 - 87</ref>
Political crises
Several nations left the Alliance in response to decisions made after the Second War, including King Terenas's institution of a tax to fund the orcish internment camps and fund the rebuilding of Stormwind.<ref name="The Alliance Splinters">The Alliance Splinters</ref> Furthermore, there have been heated debates on what to do with the vacant territories of the treasonous Kingdom of Alterac, with the Kingdom of Stromgarde wanting to annex portions of it to their kingdom while others wanted to hand the kingdom whole to an Alterac noble promising increased influence to their kingdoms.<ref>Day of the Dragon, pg. 6</ref>
Disagreements over what to do with the lethargic orcs (mostly pertaining to internment camp costs) created tension between some member states of the Alliance of Lordaeron.<ref>Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, pg. 67</ref> The higher taxes that resulted, along with the high expense of maintaining and operating the numerous orc internment camps, led many leaders - Genn Greymane of Gilneas in particular - to believe that their kingdoms would be better off seceding from the Alliance. Quel'Thalas, led by King Anasterian Sunstrider, brusquely rescinded their allegiance to the Alliance, stating that the humans' poor leadership had led to the burning of their forests during the Second War. Terenas fought back his impatience and quietly reminded the elves that nothing of Quel'Thalas would have remained if not for the hundreds of valiant humans who'd given their lives to defend it. Nonetheless, the elves stubbornly decided to go their own way. In the wake of the elves' departure, Gilneas and Stromgarde seceded as well.<ref name="The Alliance Splinters" />
However, while Admiral Proudmoore of Kul Tiras also briefly followed suit,<ref>Assault on Kul Tiras (WC2 Orc)</ref> at some point after his nation came under attack by the Shadowmoon clan he and his nation rejoined the Alliance. In the aftermath of the splintering of the Alliance, Kul Tiras resumed its role as a stalwart ally of King Terenas along with Stormwind. Admiral Proudmoore, whose mighty fleets patrolled the trade lanes hunting pirates and marauders, maintained order on the high seas.<ref>Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos - A New Generation (manual text)</ref>
Invasion of Draenor
Under Ner'zhul's surgical command, the remnant orcs from Draenor eventually reassembled into the Horde of Draenor, reopened the Dark Portal, raided several Alliance settlements, and rounded up several Azeroth artifacts that they needed before fleeing back to the safety of Draenor.
King Terenas of Lordaeron, convinced that the orcs were preparing a new invasion of Azeroth, assembled his most trusted lieutenants. He ordered General Turalyon and the archmage, Khadgar, to lead an Alliance Expedition through the Dark Portal to put an end to the orcish threat once and for all. Those recruited into the Expedition included veteran heroes of the Alliance such as Danath Trollbane, Kurdran Wildhammer, and Alleria Windrunner. The Alliance Expedition, however, never returned because Turalyon and Khadgar agreed to make the ultimate sacrifice by destroying the Dark Portal from their side on Draenor. Though it would cost their lives, and the lives of their companions, they knew that it was the only way to ensure Azeroth's survival.<ref>[1]</ref>
Third War
Years later, an orc gladiator named Thrall led an orcish insurrection against the orcish internment camps.<ref>The New Horde</ref> Some Alliance leaders feared the young Warchief and his smaller volatile Horde may pose as dire a threat as the Old Horde did.<ref>The Warning (WC3 Human)</ref> At the same time, unbeknownst to the Alliance, Kel'Thuzad began forming the Cult of the Damned in Alliance lands and have been spreading the Plague of Undeath in Lordaeron.<ref>Kel'Thuzad and the Forming of the Scourge</ref> Uther and his fellow paladins investigated the infected regions in the hope of finding a way to stop the plague. Despite their efforts, the plague continued to spread and threatened to tear the Alliance apart. As the ranks of the undead swept across Lordaeron, Terenas' only son, Prince Arthas, took up the fight against the Scourge. The Scourge was a difficult foe to beat, for the undead ranks swelled with every soldier that fell defending the land. Arthas began employing extreme measures to fight the undead, and his obsession with defeating the Scourge led to him losing his humanity.<ref>The Scourge of Lordaeron</ref>
Eventually, the Alliance was ravaged by the Scourge and the Burning Legion during the Third War. Terenas led the Alliance — since the end of the Second War — until his murder almost 15 years later at the hands of Prince Arthas, leading to the collapse of Lordaeron during the scourging of Lordaeron. Arthas attacked Quel'Thalas shortly after, ransacking the elven homeland and nearly scouring the high elves from Azeroth. The survivors of this massacre proclaimed themselves blood elves in honor of their peoples' fall, and a group of them joined the Alliance Remnants led by Grand Marshal Garithos who attempted to reclaim Lordaeron from the undead. The blood elves abandoned the Alliance Remnants due to racism on behalf of its commander and left Azeroth to escape to Outland. Grand Marshal Garithos was killed in the following civil war of the Plaguelands, and the Alliance Remnants fell apart soon after his death.
Legacy
Following the Third War, the balance of power among the human kingdoms shifted. With Lordaeron's fall and the devastation of the northern kingdoms, the kingdom of Stormwind arose as a new bastion of leadership and military might in the Alliance. Despite the collapse of the Alliance of Lordaeron, King Magni Bronzebeard and the dwarves of the kingdom of Ironforge remained allies of the modern Alliance,<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [12] Protecting the Herd</ref> becoming their staunchest and closest geographical allies.
Organization and leadership
Alliance army
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] General Turalyon
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore
The Seven Kingdoms
Kingdom of Azeroth
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Anduin Lothar - Regent Lord of the kingdom of Stormwind, and Supreme Commander of the Alliance armies.
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Varian Wrynn - Crowned king of Stormwind after the Second War.
Kingdom of Lordaeron
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Terenas Menethil II - King of Lordaeron and primary founder of the Alliance of Lordaeron
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Arthas Menethil
Kingdom of Stromgarde
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Thoras Trollbane - Lord and king of Stromgarde
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Danath Trollbane
Kingdom of Kul Tiras
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Daelin Proudmoore - Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras, and Grand Admiral of the Alliance fleets
Kingdom of Gilneas
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Genn Greymane - Lord and king of Gilneas
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Magnus Greystone
Magocracy of Dalaran
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Antonidas - Leader of the Kirin Tor and ruler of Dalaran
Kingdom of Alterac
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Aiden Perenolde - Lord and king of Alterac, he betrayed the Alliance and allied with the Horde
Non-human nations
Kingdom of Quel'Thalas
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:highelf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=HighElf}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Anasterian Sunstrider - High King of Quel'Thalas
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:highelf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=HighElf}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Kael'thas Sunstrider
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:highelf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=HighElf}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Sylvanas Windrunner
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:highelf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=HighElf}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Alleria Windrunner
Kingdom of Ironforge
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:dwarf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Dwarf}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Magni Bronzebeard - King of Khaz Modan
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:dwarf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Dwarf}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Muradin Bronzebeard
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:dwarf
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Dwarf}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Brann Bronzebeard
Wildhammer clan
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:wildhammer
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Wildhammer}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Kurdran Wildhammer - Chief thane of the Wildhammer clan located at Northeron and the Aerie Peaks
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:wildhammer
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Wildhammer}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Falstad Wildhammer - High Thane of the Wildhammer clan and Lord of Aerie Peak
Other major groups and entities
Church of Light
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Alonsus Faol - Abbot of Northshire Abbey and Archbishop of the Church of Light
Knights of the Silver Hand
- [[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Uther the Lightbringer - Leader of the newly formed Silver Hand
Notes and trivia
- It was the first time in history that humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes were brought under the same banner. <ref>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness The Official Strategy Guide Chapter 3: The Annals of the Great Alliance intro</ref>
References
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