Alliance army

Alliance army
Main leader	High King Anduin Wrynn  Lord Commander Turalyon
Formerly	High King Varian Wrynn † Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar †
Secondary leaders	Alliance High Command  High Commander Halford Wyrmbane  Grand Marshal Tremblade  Grand Marshal Fury
Formerly	High Marshal Twinbraid †  Highlord Bolvar Fordragon
Race(s)	Various races and allies
Capital	Stormwind City
Formerly	Capital City †
Base of operations	Valgarde, Valiance Keep, Highbank, Lion's Landing, Honor Hold, See more...
Formerly	Lunarfall, Stormshield, Nethergarde Keep
Theater of operations	Azeroth, Outland
Formerly	Alternate Draenor
Language(s)	Common, Various languages
Sub-group(s)	Various factions and forces
Affiliation	Grand Alliance
Formerly	Alliance of Lordaeron
Status	Active

“Stand as one! For the Alliance!”

— High King Anduin Wrynn

The Alliance army is the collective land-based military force of the various nations within the Great Alliance. Founded under the Alliance of Lordaeron to oppose the Orcish Horde during the Second War, it has since become the Alliance Forces' ground army, safeguarding the modern faction's interests throughout Azeroth and beyond. During their numerous campaigns against the Horde and other threats to the world, they are bolstered with a wide variety of artillery and siege engines, and are further supported in their operations by the Alliance navy and the Alliance air force.

While the major part of the Alliance's military power comes from its member states, several organizations exist within the Alliance that do not belong to any of them, such as the Alliance Vanguard or the Wrynn's Vanguard. Rather than answering to a racial leader, these coalitions are organized as part of major military campaigns, all under the authority of the High King of Stormwind and the command structure they appoint.

History

Second War

Main article: Alliance of Lordaeron

The Siege of Blackrock Spire in Ashbringer.

Prior to the Second War in 5 ADP, after the Council of Seven Nations voted to form the Alliance of Lordaeron, debates followed about who could best lead the Alliance military. The rulers of the Seven Kingdoms ultimately chose Lord Anduin Lothar of Stormwind, who had no political ties to the northern human nations and would act as a neutral party in disputes. As Supreme Commander, Lothar wielded more power and influence than any human had since the days of King Thoradin and the Empire of Arathor.

As the Alliance army prepared itself, its ranks were composed of disparate nations, some of which were rivals, and all had different customs and ways of life. Lothar needed champions whom every human could rally behind. The solution came from Archbishop Alonsus Faol of the Church of the Holy Light, who offered the supreme commander to form the paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand.

The official start of the war happened during the Battle of Hillsbrad Foothills, which was the first time in history that the full power of the Horde and the Alliance met on the battlefield. When the Horde invaded the Hinterlands, the Alliance army arrived to support the Wildhammer clan, pushing the orcs away from the Wildhammer dwarf capital of Aerie Peak. After the Burning of Quel'Thalas, the Alliance of Lordaeron received the full support and backing of Quel'Thalas against the orcs and their Amani troll allies.

After the Siege of Capital City failed, the Alliance forces pursued the orcs retreating to Khaz Modan, liberating the cities of Ironforge and Gnomeregan from the Bleeding Hollow clan. The Bronzebeard dwarves and the gnomes soon emerged and pledged their forces to the Alliance, and for the first time in the war, nearly every noble race in the Eastern Kingdoms was united.

The Alliance of Lordaeron ultimately defeated the Orcish Horde during the Siege of Blackrock Spire in 6 ADP. Although Lothar was slain by Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer, his death inspired Turalyon to push the Alliance to victory, and with a final battlecry, the paladin rallied the Alliance army to defeat the orcs and their leaders. Pursuing the retreating survivors in the Black Morass, the Alliance forces destroyed the Dark Portal in order to prevent the Horde from ever returning to their world, thus ending the Second War.

In the following years, the vast ranks of the Alliance armies were eventually replenished, with the stoic footmen serving as Lordaeron's first line of defense. The Alliance also dedicated more time and resources to hunting down the orcs who freely roamed the land; groups of humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes soon stalked the Eastern Kingdoms for the orcish survivors, and the unfortunate ones they found were usually killed on the spot rather than captured.

Invasion of Draenor

Main article: Sons of Lothar

High General Turalyon leading the Sons of Lothar to the Dark Portal during the Invasion of Draenor.

In Year 8 ADP, when the orc Ner'zhul planned to open rifts to new worlds to conquer, High General Turalyon raised his banner and declared that he would lead the Sons of Lothar into the orcish homeworld, where they would end the Horde of Draenor forever. Not all of the Alliance's soldiers answered the call, but most did, with nearly every one of the Second War's most revered heroes, including Alleria Windrunner, Danath Trollbane, and Kurdran Wildhammer, who brought their forces to Nethergarde Keep in preparation for war. The Sons of Lothar then marched through the Dark Portal and began the invasion of Draenor. The Alliance of Lordaeron did its best to keep sending its Draenic expedition supplies and reinforcements, but in an ironic twist, while the Sons of Lothar were keeping their own side of the Dark Portal firmly under control, the Azerothian side of the Dark Portal switched sides several times during the late stages of the invasion.

At the end of the invasion, while most of the Alliance soldiers stationed at Hellfire Citadel had already retreated back to Azeroth, Archmage Khadgar and his magi's spellwork ignited a massive explosion that destroyed the Dark Portal's stone frame, severing the bridge between both worlds. The missing soldiers were presumed dead, and statues of the expedition's leaders were erected in the Valley of Heroes of Stormwind City, while the Alliance's nations maintained their ties and shared both resources and military strength to protect Azeroth.

Third War

Main article: Third War

The Great Alliance fighting to protect Mount Hyjal.

On the onset of the Third War, the New Horde skirmished with the Alliance Forces and freed Grommash Hellscream and his Warsong clan, later secretly infiltrating Southshore during the night to steal its ships so they could sail to Kalimdor.

During the Scourging of Lordaeron in 20 ADP, while most of the Alliance nations were unprepared to deal with the undead threat, mages from Dalaran, dwarves from Ironforge and Aerie Peak, gnomes from Gnomeregan, and soldiers from neighboring human kingdoms still converged on Lordaeron to vanquish the Scourge. Even Quel'Thalas, which had cut its ties to the Alliance, dispatched high elf priests to help defeat the undead, however, none of them could stand against the armies of the Lich King Ner'zhul. In time, only small pockets of Alliance forces remained, but they were little more than stubborn holdouts, as Lordaeron now belonged to the Scourge.

Though all the Alliance races had sent soldiers to aid Lordaeron, the gnomes were largely absent from the fighting. Though they dispatched their armaments to the battlefields, they offered little in the way of soldiers since they were fighting the troggs besieging their capital of Gnomeregan. Their leader, High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque, briefly considered calling on the Alliance for help but abandoned the idea, as protecting Lordaeron from the Scourge was of the utmost importance, and he didn't want to divert any resources from that front.

Prior to the Siege of Dalaran, Lady Jaina Proudmoore worked tirelessly to rally as many refugees as she could after she had been convinced by the mysterious Prophet that sailing west to Kalimdor was the only course to save humanity. When she set sail for Kalimdor, her forces included members from nearly every Alliance race, including humans from all Seven Kingdoms, as well as dwarves, gnomes, and high elves. Named the Human Expedition, it was accompanied by the several military factions while in Stonetalon Mountains, including the Lordaeron Brigade, Lordaeron Corps,Gilneas Brigade, Kul Tiras Elite Corps, the Stromgarde Brigade, and even the 7th Legion. After they had come into conflict with the New Horde and the night elves of Ashenvale, Medivh was able to unite the warring factions in to the Great Alliance, in order to defend the World Tree Nordrassil from the Burning Legion's assault.

Following the Battle of Mount Hyjal in 21 ADP, though many pockets of Alliance resistance were scattered, the largest group had gathered in Silverpine Forest under the command of Grand Marshal Othmar Garithos, the highest-ranking survivor of Lordaeron's military. At the end of the Plaguelands civil war, Garithos was killed by Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken, putting an end to the human resistance in Lordaeron.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

The Might of Kalimdor assaulting Ahn'Qiraj.

After the Third War, the balance of power among the Seven Kingdoms shifted, and with Lordaeron in ruins, the kingdom of Stormwind arose as a new bastion of leadership and military might in the Great Alliance. This granted the kingdom immense prestige and influence on the world stage, but it also made it a target for many threats. The armistice between the Alliance and the Horde was tenuous at best, and major battles gradually erupted in strategic locations like Alterac Valley, Warsong Gulch, and Arathi Basin, bringing the two factions closer to all-out war.

During the Ahn'Qiraj War in 25 ADP, the Might of Kalimdor was a combined Alliance-Horde army raised through an unprecedented agreement between Regent Lord Bolvar Fordragon and Warchief Thrall, as both factions reunited the might of their armies in response to the stirring of the qiraji who were locked behind the Scarab Wall in Silithus. Their forces were placed under the command of the Supreme Commander Varok Saurfang in Cenarion Hold.

As a valley bordering Ashenvale and the Barrens, the Warsong Gulch hosts a constant battle between the Horde and Alliance, with members of every race in Azeroth rushing to lend sword, or spell, to the conflict. As the main Alliance force, the Silverwing Sentinels began to recruit adventurers to shatter the Horde's Warsong Outriders and stop the disappearance of their precious land.

At some point, Alliance commanders decided to establish new fortifications at the abandoned Lordaeron towers in the Eastern Plaguelands, in order to tighten the noose around their enemies.

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

In Year 26 ADP, Kil'jaeden decided to attack the forces of Azeroth, luring them into Outland where the Alliance and Horde armies would strike against both the Burning Legion and the Illidari. Once weakened from the battle, the demonlord planned to destroy them all. The Legion launched several attacks on both worlds, opening portals to several Alliance territories across the Eastern Kingdoms, and in retaliation the defenders of Azeroth pushed through the Dark Portal, beginning the invasion of Draenor.

During the campaign, the Alliance soldiers were shocked to discover that the Sons of Lothar were alive at the Honor Hold, where Force Commander Danath Trollbane welcomed them with open arms.

At some point, the death knight Ragnok Bloodreaver sought to overthrow Illidan Stormrage and become the new Lord of Outland and, eventually, Azeroth. When Ragnok's armies set out to conquer the Dark Portal, a combined Alliance, Horde, Aldor, Silver Hand, and Broken army defeated them at the Stair of Destiny.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Main article: Alliance Vanguard

The Alliance and Horde forces converging on Icecrown Citadel to destroy the Scourge.

Following the Scourge Invasion of Stormwind City in 27 ADP, King Varian Wrynn mobilized the Alliance armies and commanded Highlord Bolvar Fordragon to destroy the Scourge. The forces under his control were dubbed the Valiance Expedition, and upon reaching Northrend, it established a beachhead on the Howling Fjord. During the course of the Northrend campaign, the Expedition eventually joined forces with the other Alliance armies established themselves throughout Northrend, thereby uniting into the Alliance Vanguard.

Several conflicts soon began across the icy continent. As the Alliance vanguard began to course over the continent of Northrend, its mystics awoke to dizzying visions of the Strand of the Ancients, where they fought against the Horde for its control. Both factions crossed swords to get the control of Wintergrasp and have a crack at the titanic relics within the Vault of Archavon. In Grizzly Hills, they fought for the control of Venture Bay, which was used by the Venture Company as a harbor and base for mining and clear-cutting operations in the region.

The Alliance and Horde forces were also locked in an epic struggle for the Isle of Conquest, a tiny island rich in resources, and a highly prized base in the war against the Lich King. Both factions deployed devastating weapons to drive each other from this strategic location. Day and night, the ground trembles under lumbering siege vehicles while monstrous airships pummel enemy positions with fiery cannons. The bloody conflict spread to every corner of the island as new heroes arrived to aid their factions.

During the Battle of Angrathar the Wrathgate, Grand Apothecary Putress and his followers unleashed the lethal New Plague on the battlefield, killing the living and the undead alike. The Alliance forces lost Highlord Bolvar Fordragon and almost five thousand soldiers that day. During the Battle for the Undercity, the Alliance invasion was helmed by King Varian, Jaina Proudmoore, Broll Bearmantle, and Valeera Sanguinar, who stormed through the city's sewers and killed the grand apothecary. Still seething with rage, King Varian then declared war upon Warchief Thrall and his people right then and there, but before a catastrophic battle could unfold, Lady Jaina intervened by freezing the combatants solid and teleporting all Alliance forces out of the Undercity.

Following the Lich King Arthas Menethil's defeat at the Frozen Throne, the armies of the Alliance returned home as conquering victors. The factions also reached a temporary ceasefire in the Alterac Valley after a truce was signed.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Main article: Alliance-Horde war

The Battlescar in the Southern Barrens.

During the war against Deathwing in 28 ADP, the Alliance launched a counterattack against the Twilight's Hammer, establishing Highbank as their major base of operations, and targeting the cult's holdings in the Twilight Highlands. The Twin Peaks eventually became a strategic chokepoint crucial to both factions' assaults on the forces of Deathwing. The Alliance forces eventually joined forces with the red dragonflight for a unified attack on the ancient stronghold of Grim Batol, ripping it free from the clutches of Deathwing's cultists.

During the Ashenvale war, the Horde attacked the night elves' strongholds across Ashenvale, but their brutal offensive was short-lived as King Varian Wrynn led his forces, along with King Genn Greymane and the Gilnean worgen, to repel Warchief Garrosh Hellscream's troops. The combined forces crashed against the Horde lines and halted their advance, and though the Alliance reclaimed some of its holdings in the regions, the forest remained a bitterly contested territory in the following years.

After the kingdom of Gilneas joined the Alliance, the elite 7th Legion spearheaded a vast Alliance offensive to reclaim all of Lordaeron from the Forsaken, starting with the Ruins of Gilneas. The combined forces of the Alliance, Gilneas Liberation Front, and now-allied Bloodfang worgen quickly pushed the Forsaken past the Greymane Wall. However, the Horde managed to rally in Silverpine Forest, and Crowley later surrendered to Sylvanas after she took his daughter hostage, threatening her with undeath. This signaled an end to the Alliance offensive in Silverpine Forest.

The Bloodmire battlefield in the Swamp of Sorrows.

In the Swamp of Sorrows, the Alliance forces of Marshtide Watch managed to defeat the orcish troops in the region, laying siege to Stonard. The outcome ended undetermined as the Horde managed to save Stonard, but failed to seize control of the swamps, while the humans secured the kingdom of Stormwind's back yard.

In the Badlands, the Dragon's Mouth outpost was established to give the Alliance their first real foothold in the region, which had previously traditionally been Horde territory.

In Lordaeron, the death knight Thassarian was tasked by King Varian Wrynn to take control Andorhal, confronting the Forsaken forces led by Koltira Deathweaver. Over the course of the Battle for Andorhal, both sides entered a truce to destroy Araj the Summoner and the remaining Scourge, then prepared to face one another. Victory was almost in the Alliance's grasp until the Forsaken started employing the Val'kyr. The Alliance forces were ultimately overwhelmed and forced to retreat to Chillwind Camp.

In Kalimdor, the Alliance forces began to push further into the Barrens, where they established Fort Triumph to link Theramore Isle and Northwatch Hold by land. The site for the construction was notably chosen by the Alliance High Command. At the same time, the Horde established their own base across the Battlescar, the battlefield between both sides, which they named as Desolation Hold. The Alliance garrison and Northwatch Expeditionary Unit eventually met at least some success against, though their dwarven siege engines proved ineffective in the theater.

After Lord Hiram Creed's fall, both factions withdrew from Gilneas' mainland for unknown reasons, leaving the only area of activity in the zone along the coastline where the Battle for Gilneas raged on.

Tides of War

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Prior to the Attack on Theramore Isle, Lady Jaina Proudmoore called upon all the leaders of the Alliance to send whatever resources they could muster, desperate to save her city after the Horde destroyed Northwatch Hold. Despite great cost, every member of the Alliance in the Eastern Kingdoms sent generals and troops across the Great Sea to aid in Theramore's defense. In reality, the Alliance was playing right into Warchief Garrosh Hellscream's hands, who planned to break the Alliance's military might in one fell swoop. When the bulk of the Alliance's forces had amassed in Theramore, the Horde dropped their mana bomb, empowered by the Focusing Iris, and nearly everyone in the city was annihilated in an instant. As one of the survivors, Jaina met with High King Varian Wrynn in Stormwind City, urging the Alliance to launch a full-scale attack against the Horde. However, the allied nations unanimously rejected the idea of an immediate retaliatory strike. While the loss of Theramore had been devastating to the Alliance forces at large, the kingdoms needed time to heal and regroup before they could consider any sort of offensive. The Alliance fleet was eventually sent to break the Horde blockade around Kalimdor.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

Main article: Operation: Shieldwall

Admiral Taylor leading the Alliance against the Horde at Serpent's Heart.

During the Alliance-Horde war in 30 ADP, upon discovering that the Horde forces had allied themselves with the Forest Hozen, Admiral Taylor allied himself with the Pearlfin Jinyu, equipping them with Alliance weaponry and training them in their superior military knowledge. After a contingent of jinyu troops was ready, the conflict eventually culminated in a battle at Serpent's Heart, where Taylor led the Alliance forces. The violence and hatred from the battle, however, broke the seal that the statue protected and released the Sha of Doubt. While the sha killed many combatants on both sides, the Alliance adventurer rescued Taylor and other soldiers from the sha's fallout.

In time, the sha slowly spread their corruption across the continent, seizing hold of the emotions of the Horde and Alliance forces, amplifying their hatred and driving them toward bloody and unnecessary conflict.

Two months after the rediscovery of Pandaria, High King Varian Wrynn and the Alliance forces arrived in the Krasarang Wilds, where they established Lion's Landing as part of Operation: Shieldwall, in order to counter the Horde presence at Domination Point. The fortress was then placed under the command of High Marshal Twinbraid, whom the High King granted the full might of Stormwind, Ironforge, and Gnomeregan to crush the Dominance Offensive and protect the people of Pandaria.

During the Lion's Landing scenario, the Horde attacked Lion's Landing, dispatching a squad of trained soldiers from the Kor'kron to shatter Alliance pride and defenses in one brutal assault. In order to ensure that the fortress survived long enough for the Alliance forces to expand deeper into Pandaria, the heroes were sent to repel the invaders and kill their commander. During the Domination Point scenario, the soldiers of Lion's Landing and the 7th Fleet descend upon the nascent base of Domination Point, hoping to nip Warchief Garrosh Hellscream's fortifications in the bud. However, the Horde heroes and their allies were eventually sent to repel the Alliance forces and their commander, allowing the fortification of the fortress to be completed.

When Vol'jin founded the Darkspear Rebellion, High King Varian Wrynn agreed to lend the Alliance's strength to the rebellion, as a weakened Horde or a deposed Garrosh Hellscream both presented positive outcomes for the Alliance. After the True Horde's blockade crumbled, the allied forces made landfall at Dranosh'ar Landing, beginning the Siege of Orgrimmar. After the defeat of Garrosh, King Varian prepared the Alliance forces to depart, but not before issuing a warning to Warchief Vol'jin: the Alliance would not hesitate to resume hostilities at the first sign of Horde malfeasance.

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

During his trial in Pandaria, Garrosh claimed that conquering Pandaria was necessary for the survival of the Horde and its people. If he had allowed the Alliance to take control of the continent, then the Horde's enemies would become unstoppably powerful. The Alliance armies would have inevitably wiped out the Horde at the first sign of aggression, and to the former warchief, an immediate show of force would have deterred the peoples of Pandaria from lending their might or resources to the Alliance.

Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content related to Warlords of Draenor.

Main article: Wrynn's Vanguard

Lunarfall, the Alliance garrison in alternate Draenor.

When the Iron Horde Incursion began in 31 ADP, their transgression drew the attention of Alliance authorities in the Blasted Lands, who dispatched their forces and adventurers to investigate. Battle between the Alliance and the Ironmarch quickly ensued, and while the heroes managed to clear the Blackrock Spire from the invaders, they still suffered heavy casualties in the process. Knowing that the Alliance forces would not be able to handle this threat on their own, both factions convened and decided to form a joint coalition, and eventually succeeded in pushing the orcs back through the Dark Portal.

After the Assault on the Dark Portal in alternate Draenor, the decision was made to divide the Horde and Alliance members into two parties; they could cover more ground if they went their separate ways. The Alliance forces headed south toward Shadowmoon Valley, determined to gather enough resources and allies to find and defeat both the Iron Horde and its mastermind, Garrosh Hellscream. At the request of King Varian Wrynn, Vindicator Maraad placed the adventurer in charge of the Alliance's operations across the orcish world, helping them to establish the Lunarfall garrison.

The outposts of Fort Wrynn, Southport, Telaari Station, and Admiral Taylor's Garrison were eventually built across several regions to fight against the Iron Horde and the local threats.

During the war in Draenor, Grand Marshal Tremblade led the Wrynn's Vanguard in Ashran, where they founded Stormshield as their base of operations. The Alliance forces were seeking a specific, large artifact, which was theorized to have powers rivaling that of titan technology, and would have been used for military applications against the Horde.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

High King Varian Wrynn and Sylvanas Windrunner fighting on the Broken Shore.

At the beginning of the third invasion of the Burning Legion in 32 ADP, during a joint council of war in Dalaran, the faction leaders agreed to lead the forces of the Horde and Alliance against the Burning Legion. Their combined forces sailed for the Broken Isles, followed by flying gunships carrying High King Varian Wrynn and Sylvanas Windrunner, who led the first wave of assault during the Battle for Broken Shore. The Third Fleet sent from Stormwind City then followed to reinforce them, but even with these large numbers, the battle proved a disaster for both factions. When the Horde forces retreated, King Varian commanded King Genn Greymane to redirect their remaining forces to the gunship for immediate evacuation. When a fel reaver grasped the airship, Varian sacrificed himself to destroy the Legion's war machine, then fought to the very end to get to Gul'dan, who ultimately killed him with fel magic. After their defeat, the Alliance had lost their greatest fighters, weapons, and worse, their high king.

During the Legion Invasions, the Alliance forces and heroes, along with the Illidari, were dispatched to repel the demonic invaders across the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.

In the aftermath, the Alliance forces had been reduced to a fraction of their former strength, but before they could get back in the fight, the faction had to set its affairs in order and pass the mantle of leadership. On the advice of his new peers, High King Anduin Wrynn succeeded his late father and began ordering Alliance troops to both Stormheim and Dalaran, from where they would work in parallel with the Horde to strike back against the Legion. Despite their shared goal of stopping the invasion, tensions remained high between the two factions, as many within the Alliance resented Sylvanas for calling the Horde's retreat at Broken Shore, blaming her for the death of their leader. Without hesitation, King Genn ordered Alliance troops to Stormheim, where they attacked the Forsaken troops across the vrykul lands.

Following the Argus Campaign, High King Anduin Wrynn sought new allies to replenish the Alliance's depleted ranks and bolster their forces in the event of future Horde aggression. Thanks to the efforts of High Exarch Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner, the Alliance recruited both the Lightforged draenei of the Army of the Light and the void elves of Telogrus Rift to their coalition.

After Azeroth had been wounded by Sargeras, a powerful new substance known as Azerite seeped up to the surface, reigniting hostilities between both factions who recognized the crystallized blood's potential to turn the coming battle in their favor. Under the command of Spymaster Mathias Shaw, the Alliance forces fought for control of Seething Shore against Nathanos Blightcaller and the Horde.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

Main article: Fourth War

High King Anduin Wrynn leading the Alliance army against the Horde during the Battle for Lordaeron.

At the beginning of the Fourth War in 33 ADP, High King Anduin Wrynn led the Alliance army to conquer the Ruins of Lordaeron, as an equal retaliation for the Burning of Teldrassil. During the course of the Battle for Lordaeron, Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner unleashed an improved strain of New Plague that killed both the Alliance and Horde soldiers on the field, allowing her to raise their corpses for battle. Driven from the battlefield by the miasma, King Anduin called for the survivors to regroup until Jaina Proudmoore arrived to remove the blight and clear an opening for the Alliance forces within the Forsaken capital. They eventually had to retreat when the Banshee Queen plagued the entire city in her escape.

While Lady Jaina and the adventurers persuaded Kul Tiras to rejoin the Alliance, the 7th Legion, an elite special force delegation of the Alliance army led by High Commander Halford Wyrmbane, was tasked to secure the Alliance's position on both Kul Tiras and Zandalar. Early in the war, Brann Bronzebeard and a group of powerful Alliance champions had traveled to Nazmir in hopes of recruiting the blood trolls. Though they had failed in this mission, they had remained at the Alliance outpost of Fort Victory, from where Brann learned that the Old God G'huun had been released from its prison. He eventually accompanied heroes of the Alliance into Uldir to confront the Blood God.

The Arathi Highlands eventually became a warfront, where the Alliance army planned to use Stromgarde Keep to cut off the Horde forces from Silvermoon City in the north, as holding a firm line in Arathi was critical to the Alliance's continued occupation of Lordaeron. During the invasion, various heroes of the Alliance arrived to defend the city, such as Turalyon, Muradin Bronzebeard, and Danath Trollbane. The battle ultimately ended in the Alliance's favor. After their victory, the Alliance soldiers returned home, leaving only a few behind as a precaution.

The Alliance forces eventually executed a series of hits to deter Horde activity in Zandalar. At Spymaster Mathias Shaw's direction, they assassinated High Examiner Arlethal Sunwatcher, head of the Reliquary's efforts in Vol'dun. Their success allowed them to kill Ranger Captain Areiel, one of Sylvanas's most trusted dark rangers, and sabotage the Horde's efforts in Nazmir. In their pursuit of Trade Prince Gallywix, General Shandris Feathermoon and the heroes eventually executed Blood Prince Dreven, who had claimed many Alliance lives in the war and prior to it.

During the Faction Assault on Nazmir, the Sundered Span was taken by the Alliance army coming from the Sunken Coast, turning it into a battlefield. While the Horde destroyed their forces with Pozzik's Experimental Bomber upgraded with Azerite, the Alliance troops deployed their submarines and managed to decimate the Horde's fleet north of the Necropolis.

In Year 34 ADP, Tyrande Whisperwind asked for Alliance aid in reclaiming Darkshore and the remains of Teldrassil from the Horde, however, King Anduin argued that their resources would be stretched too thin, as the Alliance army was already simultaneously fighting on several battlefronts across Azeroth. Despite the lack of support, the High Priestess decided that the Kaldorei would still reclaim their lands, with or without the Alliance. They nevertheless managed to secure support from King Genn Greymane and the Gilnean military, as well as Alliance adventurers. At the end of the Battle for Darkshore, the Darnassian Army and their Alliance allies eventually defeated the Horde forces, returning most of Darkshore under night elves' control.

The Alliance and Horde armies standing side-by-side before the Gates of Orgrimmar.

Following the events within the Eternal Palace, the Horde revolutionaries led by Varok Saurfang officially allied with the Alliance against Sylvanas, choosing "For Azeroth" as their rallying cry. After they conquered Razor Hill, the allied forces made their way before the Gates of Orgrimmar, where Saurfang challenged the warchief to Mak'gora, unwilling to spill more Horde blood. After his death and Sylvanas' escape, the Alliance forces were teleported out of Durotar.

After the armistice was signed, High King Anduin declared Turalyon as the Lord Commander of the Alliance Forces, with the task of finding Sylvanas Windrunner and bringing her to justice. Meanwhile, the Alliance abandoned any military holdfasts they had established on Zandalar as a show of good faith, while Horde bases have been abandoned in Kul Tiras as well.

Exploring Azeroth

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Following the war against the Jailer in 36 ADP, the Bronzebeard brothers reported that the skirmishes in Wintergrasp were still going on, both factions fighting over the Vault of Archavon.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

By the Year 40 ADP, the truce between both factions had been maintained for several years, during which Lord Commander Turalyon ensured that the Alliance regained its forces lost in the Fourth War.

The War Within

This section concerns content related to The War Within.

After the destruction of Dalaran in 42 ADP, Alliance forces led by Lord Commander Turalyon traveled to Khaz Algar, forming a strike force to defeat Xal'atath. As part of the Algari Offensive, the Alliance troops came to help the Arathi when the nerubians of Azj-Kahet launched an all-out assault on Hallowfall, then pulled back their soldiers of the isle after the conflict was over.

Organization

Leadership

High King Varian Wrynn in the War Room, planning the war against the Iron Horde.

“The Alliance will forge a new destiny for Azeroth!”

— High King Varian Wrynn

During the Second War, the Supreme Commander of the Alliance of Lordaeron, Anduin Lothar, was chosen by the Council of Seven Nations as the commander of all their land and air forces. After the Siege of Blackrock Spire, control over the Alliance army fell to Turalyon, followed by King Terenas Menethil II who became the "patron of the Alliance" after the defeat of the Orcish Horde.

Within the modern Alliance, the High King is the commander of all Alliance forces; a position that is trying to coordinate the actions of all the races in the Alliance, much like Anduin Lothar did as the Supreme Allied Commander. The High King has only control over the forces given to him, and leaders who don't like his calls can choose not to commit their forces, on the other hand, only they can sign the declaration of war and order the mass deployment of troops. Once the High King has troops at their disposal, they may freely assign them to military authorities of their choosing to carry out the required objectives.

After the Fourth War, High King Anduin Wrynn declared Turalyon as the Lord Commander of the Alliance forces, giving him control of all their forces across Azeroth.

The Alliance of Lordaeron's High Command once commanded their forces during Second War and invasion of Draenor, although it was never made clear who exactly composed it. The modern faction also has its own Alliance High Command, with High Commander Halford Wyrmbane of the 7th Legion as one of its members.

Membership

Main article: Alliance races

Several Alliance officer and enlisted ranks.

The ranks of the Alliance army are filled with troops from every nation, people, and organization that make up the Grand Alliance. The military hierarchy itself follows the same rank structure as that of the human kingdoms, with conscript as the lowest rank and grand marshal as the highest. In times of war, the high king can order all able-bodied citizens of the Alliance to enlist and report to conflict zones across Azeroth and beyond, using the Hero's Call Board to issue these calls. Recruiters may also be found in Alliance capitals and settlements, where they assess volunteers and either enlist them into the armed forces, or refer them to civilian liaisons in order to support the war effort, all of this depending on the quotas to be met.

The Alliance army—and most of its constituent forces—generally employs the following military formations, listed in ascending order according to the number of troops required: squads, platoons, companies, battalions, regiments, brigades, divisions.

Barracks are large, fortified structures that offer training and housing for the many warriors in the Alliance, including the footmen who serve as basic infantry and he bulk of the Alliance army.

At the time of the Second War, gender-based discrimination existed within the Alliance military. One such case was Lorin Remka, who had to disguise herself as a man, so she could avenge the killing of her family and the sacking of her village. Once her identity was uncovered, her commander deliberately sent her to the front lines, hoping she would be killed so he could avoid the trouble of reporting her. Nowadays, such inequalities no longer exist, with women admitted into the army from the lowest to the highest ranks, as exemplified by Grand Marshal Tremblade.

Logistics

In order to keep the army funded, fed, and ready to fight, the Alliance coffers fund most of the war effort with money, food, and supplies, the rest being financed by donations and the work of its citizens.

Requests for gold and ressources donations are thus regularly made by Alliance supply officers to support the war effort, particularly for the preparation of munitions, armors, weapons, potions, explosives, foods, and military utilitaries, as well as to ensure further training and supplies for the troops. During the Ahn'Qiraj War, official collectors were sent to the Alliance capitals, giving tasks to gather the necessary material needed for the upcoming conflict, including herbs, leather skins, metal bars, and cooked goods.

The Azeroth Commerce Authority maintains supply routes to Alliance forces worldwide with supply officers around the various capitals across Azeroth.

Transport ships are a vital part of the Alliance war effort, for it is these sturdy vessels that allow troops to traverse various waterways to engage in battle.

In order to sustain a siege and put pressure on the enemy's troops, the army air drop supplies, food and ammunition to support their ground forces.

Technology

See also: Gnomish technology

As part of their mutual defense agreement, the races and nations of the Alliance stand united, sharing their arms and technologies to safeguard their realms and confront all who threaten their faction. Among them, the gnomish people, along with their dwarven cousins, are the most actively involved in the production and development of military technology, whether in the fields of weaponry, artillery, or communication. Renowned for their skills in science and engineering, the gnomes supply the Alliance with its most advanced weaponry and war machines, such as the siege engines and transport vehicles.

The gnomecorder device is notably used by the Alliance army for long-distance communications with their agents on the field.

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  Artillery battery
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  Azerite war machine
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  Ballista
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  Cannon
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  Glaive thrower
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  Gnomecorder
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  Human cannon
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  Mortar
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  Siege engine
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  "Eagle" siege engine
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  "Wolf" siege engine
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  Siege turret
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  Siege tower
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  Spider tank
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  Warframe

Military forces

Main article: Alliance organizations

Coalition factions

The Alliance crest garrison monument.

Name	Current leader(s)	Secondary leader(s)	Former leader(s)	Status
Alliance Vanguard	Unknown	High Thane Muradin Bronzebeard Ranger-General Vereesa Windrunner  High Commander Halford Wyrmbane	Highlord Bolvar Fordragon	Active
Operation: Shieldwall	Unknown	High Marshal Twinbraid †	High King Varian Wrynn †	Active
Valiance Expedition	Unknown	General Arlos Captain Adams Vice Admiral Keller	Highlord Bolvar Fordragon	Active
Wrynn's Vanguard	Grand Marshal Tremblade	Marshal Karsh Stormforge Marshal Gabriel	N/A	Active
7th Legion	High Commander Halford Wyrmbane	Highlord Leoric Von Zeldig  Commander Lynore Windstryke  Duke August Foehammer	N/A	Active

Major contributors

Name	Current leader(s)	Secondary leader(s)	Former leader(s)	Status
Stormwind Army	King Anduin Wrynn  Regent Lord Turalyon	General Hammond Clay  General Bret Hughes	King Varian Wrynn †  Regent Lord Anduin Lothar †	Active
Gilnean Army	Queen Tess Greymane	Lord Darius Crowley  Commander Lorna Crowley	King Genn Greymane	Active
Stromgarde army	King Danath Trollbane	Radulf Leder  Field Marshal Oslight	Regent Marran Trollbane  King Thoras Trollbane †	Active
Theramore Guard	Lady Jaina Proudmoore	Commander Samaul	N/A	Defunct
Ironforge Guard	Council of Three Hammers	Captain Angus Stonehammer	King Magni Bronzebeard	Active
Gnomeregan Army	King Gelbin Mekkatorque	Captain Tread Sparknozzle  Commander Nevin Twistwrench	Unknown	Active
Darnassian Army	General Shandris Feathermoon	Commander Myara Nightsong  Commander Su'ura Swiftarrow	High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind	Active
Hand of Argus	Triumvirate of the Hand	Vindicator Vedaar  Knight-Defender Zunade	N/A	Active
Army of the Light	High Exarch Turalyon	Captain Fareeya	N/A	Active

Notes and trivia

• Admiral Taylor was rewarded by King Varian Wrynn with a loyalty ring after fifteen years of distinguished service to the Alliance.
• Corporal John J. Keeshan and General Shandris Feathermoon are of high enough rank to request files from SI:7, the Alliance's intelligence agency.
• New recruits of the Alliance commonly issued Tidesages' Warscrolls, Dwarven War Horns, Banded Gilnean Cloaks, and Hymnals of the 7th Legion during the Fourth War.

Gallery

World of Warcraft

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  The Alliance army besieging the Ruins of Lordaeron.
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  The army during  [60] The March to Nazmir.
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  The army during the Battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar.
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  The Alliance army and Horde revolutionaries.
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  The army landing on the Isle of Dorn.

Art

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  Alliance paladins fighting Old Horde death knights during the Battle of Hillsbrad Foothills.
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  The Alliance forces fighting the Scourge during the Third War.
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  Alliance and Horde forces facing the Burning Legion in Outland.

Cinematics

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  Battle for Azeroth Alliance wallpaper.
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  The Alliance army in the Old Soldier.
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  Alliance footmen and riflemen in What Makes Us Strong.
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  Alliance siege weapons in What Makes Us Strong.