Neither side of the argument is right per say. The truth is that it's somewhere closer to the middle ground. Garlemald has conquered the whole of Othard, every nation, region, and territory. However, the majority of Garlean occupation does not equate to a violent, tyrannical rule that one might expect given the harsh treatment we witness in Ala Mhigo, Doma, or even Eorzea. Garlemald does not topple governments or institutions already in place and, for the most part, allows conquered territories to exist much as they had before so long as they submit to Garlean rule willingly. It wasn't until Doma rebelled, seeking to take advantage of Garlemald's ongoing War of Succession as a distraction, that the Empire set an example of Doma for the other territories.
That said, both sides of the debate have valid arguments. Are the Xaela tribes guerrilla fighting the Empire? Maybe. There isn't much lore about the Xaela's interactions with the Empire with the exception of Sidurgu's tribe who fled Othard roughly 25 years ago to escape the Empire and were subsequently slaughtered by Ishgardians. This kind of gets discussed in this thread on Othard's occupation.
Seeing as how lore is thin in the area, my theory is that many of the tribes have not put up large resistance against the Empire since the initial fall. Seeing as how the Xaelan tribes are small, nomadic, and largely spread out across the Othardian continent, Garlemald likely does not have the resources to control the comings and goings of the many tribes. So long as they do not pose a serious threat, the Garleans really have no reason to try.
But again, this could vary widely based on the tribes. A tribe like the Jungid or Kharlu who are more aggressive or warlike would likely not willingly bow to the Empire and may hamper nearby castrums with guerrilla strikes. Conversely you have more peaceful tribes like the Bairon or even less nomadic tribes such as the Uyagir who would likely not have the means or desire to resist the Empire directly and may have accepted Garlean rule of their lands.
We do know that during the early years of Garlemald's invasion of Othard, the tribes summoned an unknown primal. However, Garlemald was eventually able to defeat this entity and then sweep through Othard mostly unhindered. It could've been that once the tribes saw their gods defeated by the Empire, they may have lost much of their will to fight.
Hope this helps! ^^ Lemme know if you have more questions!
Yugiri Wrote:For many years, my nation, Doma, suffered under the yoke of imperial rule, and my people yearned to be free. Thus, when a war of succession broke out in Garlemald, we sought to take advantage of the chaos and reclaim our liberty. Alas, our enemy proved less preoccupied than we had hoped, and our rebellion was put down in the most brutal fashion.
The Waning of the Sixth Sun Wrote:The new imperial army, now swelling with the might of countless assimilated nations, methodically subjugates the eastern continent of Othard and the remaining lands of Ilsabard, welcoming those nations willing to bow to imperial rule, while erasing those which refuse the Garlean standard.
With two of the three great continents now under its control, the Garlean Empire sets its sights on Aldenard, and in the year 1557, sends the XIVth legion to conquer Ala Mhigo in the first step to bring Eorzea's people under imperial rule. The Garlean Empire renames the conquered city-state and the surrounding lands of Gyr Abania to the Ala Mhigan Territory.
Lodestone Wrote:One nation after the next fell before their relentless onslaught, first those of the northlands, followed by the sovereign states of the eastern continent, Othard. Employing suppression and conciliation in equal measure, Garlemald indoctrinated the peoples it conquered, thus integrating them into its ever-expanding territory. So it was that the Garlean Empire came into existence.
That said, both sides of the debate have valid arguments. Are the Xaela tribes guerrilla fighting the Empire? Maybe. There isn't much lore about the Xaela's interactions with the Empire with the exception of Sidurgu's tribe who fled Othard roughly 25 years ago to escape the Empire and were subsequently slaughtered by Ishgardians. This kind of gets discussed in this thread on Othard's occupation.
Seeing as how lore is thin in the area, my theory is that many of the tribes have not put up large resistance against the Empire since the initial fall. Seeing as how the Xaelan tribes are small, nomadic, and largely spread out across the Othardian continent, Garlemald likely does not have the resources to control the comings and goings of the many tribes. So long as they do not pose a serious threat, the Garleans really have no reason to try.
But again, this could vary widely based on the tribes. A tribe like the Jungid or Kharlu who are more aggressive or warlike would likely not willingly bow to the Empire and may hamper nearby castrums with guerrilla strikes. Conversely you have more peaceful tribes like the Bairon or even less nomadic tribes such as the Uyagir who would likely not have the means or desire to resist the Empire directly and may have accepted Garlean rule of their lands.
We do know that during the early years of Garlemald's invasion of Othard, the tribes summoned an unknown primal. However, Garlemald was eventually able to defeat this entity and then sweep through Othard mostly unhindered. It could've been that once the tribes saw their gods defeated by the Empire, they may have lost much of their will to fight.
Hope this helps! ^^ Lemme know if you have more questions!
