[SPOILERS for 5.5 and 6.0] The Fate of the Garlean Empire

[Garnix]

Well, Garlemald is really just a city and the area surrounding it, isn't it? One city that is now in ruins...So...I don't think anything will be done with it in the future.
I think it will stay in ruins forever, just like the Sharlayan colony in the Dravanian hinterlands is now occupied by Goblins and creatures of all kinds.

As for the occupied Garlean territories in Ilsabard, I think they will split in many smaller independent provinces, as they once were.
Just like when the Soviet Union broke up in many independent countries.
So for example, Werlyt would be independent, Landis, Corvos as well, etc. Maybe they will form the Ilsabard GC, just like the Eorzea GC was formed in 5.55. But I don't think the Garlemald name will be kept for anything, as it is so closely tied to the Empire, which is probably something that the people (well, most people, obviously not all) across Ilsabard will want to stay part of History books.


As of all the Garleans, well...Isn't Zenos basically killing them all in order to "drink a sea of souls?'. And a lot of others are probably trapped in that big tower to summon whatever the dreamer is.
There will be some left, but certainly not enough to form a nation.

[YianKutku]

Well, Garlemald is really just a city and the area surrounding it, isn't it? One city that is now in ruins...So...I don't think anything will be done with it in the future.
I think it will stay in ruins forever, just like the Sharlayan colony in the Dravanian hinterlands is now occupied by Goblins and creatures of all kinds.

As for the occupied Garlean territories in Ilsabard, I think they will split in many smaller independent provinces, as they once were.
Just like when the Soviet Union broke up in many independent countries.
So for example, Werlyt would be independent, Landis, Corvos as well, etc. Maybe they will form the Ilsabard GC, just like the Eorzea GC was formed in 5.55. But I don't think the Garlemald name will be kept for anything, as it is so closely tied to the Empire, which is probably something that the people (well, most people, obviously not all) across Ilsabard will want to stay part of History books.


As of all the Garleans, well...Isn't Zenos basically killing them all in order to "drink a sea of souls?'. And a lot of others are probably trapped in that big tower to summon whatever the dreamer is.
There will be some left, but certainly not enough to form a nation.

Garlemald was actually a fairly sizeable territory when they were the Garlean Republic. They existed as such for several centuries. I don't know whether the capital city is also named "Garlemald", but I wouldn't be surprised, considering, well, Sharlayan and its many other Sharlayans.

The whole "Garlean Empire spreading across Ilsabard, invading Othard, and attempting to invade Eorzea" was less than a century old, and entirely the fault of Solus/Emet-Selch. Those territories will probably be liberated, and if they wish to be part of a new Garlemald, that's based on their own choice. (Which has its own deep levels of political problems, but we'll probably get to them when it's relevant.)

So the original borders of the Garlean Republic would be a good place to draw the map lines.

[Garnix]

It was a really small republic though. Wasn't it? I am not sure on that anymore but the gamerescape wiki says "Garlemald was a remote and sparsely populated republic"
https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Garlean_Empire

I really think that the Garlemald zone will basically cover it all, and that's also why the zone is called Garlemald depsite it not being the city alone (and yes, Garlemald is the name of the capital city as well). So maybe we will find some smaller settlements over there, but not much aside of the main capital city itself.

At best, Garlemald/the Garlean Republic/the Garlean Empire will become a new Idyllshire or something like that: an isolated settlement. But truth be told....I don't even know what Idyllshire's political status is...

[myahele]

We don't know what happened to Nerva yet, he and his followers could either have been captured and put into one of those towers or he could be in hiding. Then there's the Populares that escaped with Maxima sometime in Stormblood.

I think Garlemald will return to become a Republic like it originally was before Emet-Selch used them. I think some of the remaining Legatus (Legati?) will end up destroyed or greatly diminished off screen during Final Days just so that the writers wont have to write yet another liberation story. Others might try to make their own nation and since its been said some nations like Garlemald occupation they might rejoin the Republic and have a seat in their senate.

I'm sure there will be nations that want to retaliate, but WoL and Scions will convince them not to that.

[Kiurai]

Since I haven't said anything yet, I suspect either a republic will return with the loss of provinces assuming all the unknown legati aren't dead, They'll probably have some role in the 6.0 MSQ (who knows maybe there is another agrius class vessel or allagan relic somewhere we don't know about and will take advantage of at some point /shrug)

[WhiteArchmage]

I like to keep stuff organized so, uh... how many and which Legati are we missing right now?

So far I count (obviously if I get stuff wrong please correct me):
I: ???
II: ??? (USED to be Varis? I legitimately don't remember)
III: Nerva yae Galvus
IV: Noah van Gabranth
V: ???
VI: Regula van Hydrus (deceased)
VII: Valens van Varro (deceased)
VIII: ???
IX: ???
X: ???
XI: ???
XII: Zenos yae Galvus (now promoted to Emperor via patricide)
XIII: ???
XIV: Gaius van Baelsar (defected)

So we have 8 Legati unaccounted for (plus Nerva, who is name dropped but whose fate is currently unknown). Depending on how things go in 6.1 we might involve ourselves in some "Garlean reconstruction" either allying with the remaining Legati that want to "play nice", or helping the newly liberated territories (which will probably liberate themselves off-screen both because Garlemald has effectively fallen already and... we've already done 3 liberation plots), or just exploring the remnants of the Empire and the new Republic(s) establishing themselves in the are, which would be a great way to clear the clouds over Ilsabard.

Then again, I've been saying those clouds would move since 4.4 and, well...

[MoofiaBossVal]

A Garlean leader (like Nerva, if he survives) becomes the next emperor. Establishes a peace treaty with the Eorzean and Eastern Alliances. Recently conquered provinces like Nagxia where an independance movement is popular are allowed to break off. Provinces that have been apart of the Empire for longer and where the Empire is more popular (like Corvos) stay. Buffer states or demilitarized zones between Garlemald and the Eorzean/Eastern alliaces are established. The Burn and the Ghimlyt Dark would make natural boundaries.

The new emperor repeals "Service guarentees citizenship", as historically this led Rome to becoming a state of war cultists. Landowners are allowed to vote (and institute a law forbidding guilds or rich folks from acquiring too much land, to prevent them from hogging all of the voting power).

Cid and Nero return to Garlemald to help rebuild.

[FrightfulNight]

I could see it resting with one person at first, ala Ishgard or Ala Mhigo while they get situated before shifting to a republic, given they're getting a Zone they've going to use it, we tend to revisit zones, and zones get quests, there need to be people on zones to give us quests, though it's possible its someone other than Garlean's on the zone giving us quests, so who knows.
Personally I think we'll get a Doman/Isgard restoration deal post 6.0 with them.

I would find that incredibly disappointing if it was someone other than the Garlean citizens that give quests in Garlemald, generally when a country is added as a zone the people of that country give quests and you learn more about that country and the inner thinking. If the quest givers are say the Alliance then that is incredibly anti climatic as it robs players the opportunity of working with the citizens and basically makes all those years of build up pointless, they can easily explain it as some refugee camps on the outskirts or even some holdouts who have escaped tempering perhaps by being close to those Aetherytes that were leaked in the artwork, maybe it helps disrupt the flow of the tower. The scions are also working for a way to free people from the tower which is what I imagine the Thravnirian dungeon with all the Matanga and the Magus sister sculptures will be about.

As for people suggesting restoration quests tied to it that is not so far fetched as i imagine we will be getting new housing districts every even number expansions and quests tied to building them like the Ishgard restoration every odd numbered one (I believe they hinted Dalmascus might be the next one so we might get a restoration quest for a housing district there in 7.0 before getting the housing district in 8.0). If that holds up then there might be some restoration quest related to a non housing area similar to the Doman reconstruction in 4.0 (an even number expansion we got a housing district with) and right now the capitol or some nearby area makes the most sense.

[Raikai]

I don't know if they'll ever attempt to write a restoration of the nation as a whole, because it's something massive, but I highly suspect we might see something akin to the Doman Enclave, but for the Garlean refugees, built somewhere...

[GoldStarz]

I imagine the conquered territories will take advantage of the confusion and broken chain of command and attempt to retake their homeland. Territories closer to Garlemald might be slower to do so due to assimilation (although Garlemald is a relatively young empire so I kinda doubt this) and a potential higher number of troops present. On the other side, other legati that escaped the destruction might take after Gabranth's example and use their forces to attempt to establish their own territories from the areas they were stationed in. Overall, I expect Garlemald as a political body is more or less destroyed.