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First exalt

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
(Redirected from Founder of Ylisse)

An unnamed man, commonly referred to as the first exalt (Japanese: 初代聖王 First Holy King) by Ylisseans, was the founder of the modern Halidom of Ylisse. Little is known of the man, but legends of his life are still told through the course of Fire Emblem Awakening.

First exalt

No image available.

Gender

Male

Race

Human

Family

Emmeryn, Chrom, Lissa, Lucina, Owain, and Ophelia (descendants)

Nationality

Ylissean

Title(s)

Exalt of Ylisse

Appearance(s)

Awakening

The blood of the first exalt flows strong in us. You and I will keep Ylisse safe. I believe it with all my heart.
— Emmeryn

Biography

One thousand years prior to the era of his descendant Chrom, the first exalt arose in opposition to the Fell Dragon Grima, who was terrorizing the world at the time. Using the Fire Emblem and Falchion,[1] he traveled to Mount Prism,[2] performed the first known rite of Awakening and entered a blood pact with the divine dragon Naga. Wielding Naga's power through Falchion and Fire Emblem, the man fought and defeated Grima, sealing him in an unending sleep, and thus restored peace to the land.[3]

Following Grima's defeat, the man founded Ylisse and ruled as its first exalt. During his reign he worked to put an end to his people's deep-rooted racism toward the taguel, declaring them an equal people and working to free them from centuries of slavery and abuse. While the actions backing these words took time to arise and was ultimately unsuccessful, his gesture restored to the taguel their dignity and independence, and in exchange all taguel believe they owe any Ylissean exalt, past or present, their aid should it be needed.[4] Among the first exalt's companions was a renowned pegasus knight that loved him. This woman was both an extremely talented warrior, able to take out large knights with her spear, and a master of diplomacy who, like Caeda, possessed great charisma and frequently recruited more allies to the exalt's side.[5]

The rest of the first exalt's life is unknown, as is his death. His descendants continued to rule Ylisse for the following thousand years, with his most recent descendants to inherit the full breadth of his power being Chrom and Lucina.

Trivia

  • Based off his ownership of Falchion and his descendants being descended from Marth, it is likely the founder of Ylisse was a descendant of Marth.
  • The description of the First Exalt's Pegasus Knight companion, indicates she used the Wing Spear.

References

  1. "She carries Falchion, my same sword. And the same sword the first exalt used to defeat Grima long ago." — Chrom, Fire Emblem Awakening
  2. "Frederick: It's said the first exalt paid tribute to Naga at a site on Mount Prism.
    Chrom: Do you know where, exactly?
    Frederick: Yes. There is an altar at the peak of the mountain. If milord would perform the Awakening, it must be done there.
    " — Frederick and Chrom, Fire Emblem Awakening
  3. "Long ago, at the dawn of our age, the fell dragon tried to destroy the world. But the first exalt joined forces with the divine dragon and laid the beast low. Exalt Emmeryn reminds us all of the peace we fought for then." — Frederick, Fire Emblem Awakening
  4. "Libra: I apologize for disturbing you, but there's something I need to ask. Why did you come to the exalt's aid?
    [...]
    Panne: I knew neither her face nor her name. All I knew is she was descended from the first exalt.
    Libra: Your debt was to a man who died over a thousand years ago?
    Panne: It is the debt of all the taguel. We are told the story as kits. In his time, the taguel were slaves to humans. Kept as labor—or even pets—we were treated worse than livestock. The slightest resistance would earn a swift execution, to serve as an example.
    Libra: I've never heard of such cruelty.
    Panne: Humans are quick to forget history. ...Or rewrite it. But the first exalt had the strength and courage to end the horror. He stood up for the taguel, though it earned him the ire of his fellow humans. "We are all the same," he said. "Equal beings. No difference separates human and taguel." [...] It was a platitude then, as now. But in that platitude, my kind found salvation. Liberation and equality took time, but in those words we found dignity. And so we teach our young of the debt we owe him. Should any exalt ever need our aid, we will give it regardless of the cost.
    " — Libra and Panne, Fire Emblem Awakening
  5. "Cordelia: Yes. She lived back in the legendary times of the first exalt of Ylisse. She was his greatest knight and his most stalwart defender. She watched over him like the sun itself, swooping down to dispatch foes. The slow, heavy knights feared her aerial dance most of all. At night they huddled together and told tales of a death-dealing lance from the sky.
    Donnel: Gosh! She sounds mighty impressive.
    Cordelia: Oh, she was. But she was more than just a warrior. She had the courage of a demon, yes, but the heart of an angel. They say the people loved her even more than she loved the exalt. In fact, for every foe she defeated, she won two more to her side with her charisma.
    " — Cordelia and Donnel, Fire Emblem Awakening
  This article is part of Project Characters, a project focused on writing articles for every character present in the Fire Emblem series.
Fire Emblem Awakening
Playable characters AnnaAversaBasilioBradyChercheChromCordeliaCynthiaDonnelEmmerynFlaviaFrederickGaiusGangrelGeromeGregorHenryInigoKellamKjelleLaurentLibraLissaLon'quLucinaMaribelleMirielMorganNahNoireNowiOliviaOwainPannePriamRickenRobinSay'riSeveraStahlSullySumiaTharjaTikiVaikeVirionWalhartYarneYen'fay
Non-playable characters HollandMaidenNagaOld HubbaPhila
Bosses AlgolAnguillaArdriAversaBovisCampariCanisCassiusCervantesChalardDalenDaltonDracoEquusExcellusEzraFarberGallusGangrelGarrickGeckoGrimaGyralIgnatiusJamilLepusMarthMorristanMusMustafaNelsonNombryOrtonOvisPherosPorcusPriamRaimiRisen ChiefRoddickRugerSimiaTigrisValidarVastoVictorVincentWalhartXalbadorYen'fayZanth
Background characters First exaltKe'riMarth
DLC characters AlmCatriaCelicaEirikaEldiganElinciaEphraimEstIkeKatarinaLeifLynPrince MarthMicaiahPallaRoySeliph
SpotPass characters Shadow Dragon CaedaGharnefLindeMerricMinervaNavarreNynaOgmaPrince MarthTiki
Gaiden AlmBoeyCelicaClairCliveDeenLuthierMycenNomahValbar
Mystery of the Emblem AthenaCatriaEtzelHardinHoraceKatarinaKing MarthLegionMaliceNorne
Genealogy of the Holy War G1 ArdenArvisAyraDeirdreEthlynJamkeLewynQuanRaquesisSigurd
Genealogy of the Holy War G2 AltenaAresArthurCedFeeJuliaJuliusLarceiSeliphUlster
Thracia 776 DagdarEyvelFinnLeifMareetaNannaOlwenRaydrikSaiasSalem
Binding Blade CeciliaLilinaLughPercevalRaighRoyShannaSophiaWoltZephiel
Fire Emblem EliwoodFlorinaHectorJaffarKarelLynMatthewNergalNinoSerra
Sacred Stones AmeliaEirikaEphraimInnesL'ArachelLuteLyonMarisaMoulderSeth
Path of Radiance AshnardElinciaGeoffreyIkeLuciaMiaMistSorenTitaniaZihark
Radiant Dawn Black KnightBromEdwardLeonardoMicaiahNepheneeSanakiSephiranSigrunSothe
Others CamusIshtarLinusLloydNarcianOliverPetrineSelenaTravantUrsula
Regalia and personal weapons AmatsuArmadsBalmungBook of NagaDouble BowExcaliburFalchion (Exalted FalchionParallel Falchion) • ForsetiGáe BolgGoddess StaffGoetiaGradivusGrima's TruthGungnirHauteclereHelswathMercuriusMissiletainnMjölnirMystletainnNidhoggNoble RapierParthiaRagnellRapierSol KattiTyrfingValflameWolf BergYewfelle
Chapters Main story Pm: Invisible Ties • P: The Verge of History • 1: Unwelcome Change • 2: Shepherds • 3: Warrior Realm • 4: Two Falchions • 5: The Exalt and the King • 6: Foreseer • 7: Incursion • 8: The Grimleal • 9: Emmeryn • 10: Renewal • 11: Mad King Gangrel • 12: The Seacomers • 13: Of Sacred Blood • 14: Flames on the Blue • 15: Smoldering Resistance • 16: Naga's Voice • 17: Inexorable Death • 18: Sibling Blades • 19: The Conqueror • 20: The Sword or the Knee • 21: Five Gemstones • 22: An Ill Presage • 23: Invisible Ties • 24: Awakening • 25: To Slay a GodE: Grima
Paralogues 1: Sickle to Sword • 2: The Secret Seller • 3: A Strangled Peace • 4: Anna the Merchant • 5: Scion of Legend • 6: A Man for Flowers • 7: Noble Lineage • 8: A Duel Disgraced • 9: Wings of Justice • 10: Ambivalence • 11: Twin Wyverns • 12: Disowned by Time • 13: Rival Bands • 14: Shadow in the Sands • 15: A Shot from the Dark • 16: Daughter to Dragons • 17: The Threat of Silence • 18: The Dead King's Lament • 19: Irreconcilable Paths • 20: A Hard Miracle • 21: Ghost of a Blade • 22: The Wellspring of Truth • 23: The Radiant Hero
Xenologues Champions of Yore 1Champions of Yore 2Champions of Yore 3The Golden GaffeEXPonential GrowthInfinite RegaliaLost Bloodlines 1Lost Bloodlines 2Lost Bloodlines 3Smash Brethren 1Smash Brethren 2Smash Brethren 3Rogues & Redeemers 1Rogues & Redeemers 2Rogues & Redeemers 3Death's EmbraceFive-Anna FirefightRoster RescueHarvest ScrambleSummer ScrambleHot-Spring ScrambleThe Future Past 1The Future Past 2The Future Past 3Apotheosis
Locations YlisseFerox (Arena Ferox) • Outrealm Gate (Outrealms) • Plegia (Dragon's Table) • YlisseValmChon'sinRosanneValm
Groups, objects, and concepts AwakeningEinherjarFire EmblemGrimleal (Deadlords) • RisenShepherds
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Related topics Ancient LettersBirthdayDouble DuelDownloadable contentName chartNintendo Dream comics • Other games (GaidenGenealogy of the Holy WarShadow DragonNew Mystery of the Emblem) • Pre-release information (Unused content) • Unit Gallery (Soundtrack) • SpotPassStreetPassTimelineWorld map