Alliance of Lordaeron

This article is about the predecessor of the current Alliance. For the in-game book, see  [The Alliance of Lordaeron]. For other uses, see Alliance (disambiguation).

Alliance of Lordaeron
Lordaeron's coat of arms, the kingdom considered as the heart of the Alliance.
Main leader	Terenas Menethil II †  Daelin Proudmoore †  Varian Wrynn  Turalyon (MIA)  Khadgar (MIA)  Antonidas †  Alonsus Faol  Magni Bronzebeard  Gelbin Mekkatorque  Falstad Wildhammer
Formerly	Genn Greymane  Thoras Trollbane  Anasterian Sunstrider  Anduin Lothar †  Aiden Perenolde
Secondary leaders	Uther the Lightbringer †  Muradin Bronzebeard  Alleria Windrunner (MIA)  Danath Trollbane (MIA)  Kurdran Wildhammer (MIA)  Brann Bronzebeard  Jaina Proudmoore
Formerly	Arthas Menethil  Kael'thas Sunstrider  Sylvanas Windrunner  Daval Prestor  Derek Proudmoore †
Race(s)	Human  High elf  Wildhammer dwarf  Ironforge dwarf  Gnome
Capital	Capital City, Stormwind City, Boralus, Dalaran, Ironforge, Gnomeregan
Formerly	Gilneas City, Stromgarde, Alterac City, Silvermoon City
Other major settlements	Aerie Peak, Baradin Hold, Cathedral of Light, Tyr's Hand
Formerly	Stratholme, Bastion of the Silver Hand
Base of operations	Eastern Kingdoms
Theater of operations	Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend, Kalimdor (Human Expedition), Draenor/Outland (Alliance Expedition)
Language(s)	Common, Dwarven, Thalassian, Gnomish
Sub-group(s)	Alliance Expedition Human Expedition
Status	Defeated in the Third War, most of the members regrouped into Alliance or/and Alliance resistance

The Alliance of Lordaeron (aka Lordaeron Alliance, Great Alliance, Grand Alliance, Human Alliance, or Alliance) 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 the Holy Light. This coalition formed as a response to the threat of the Orcish Horde during the Second War, unifying its forces under the command of Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar.

Following the defeat of the Old Horde, and the destruction of the Dark Portal by the Sons of Lothar during the Invasion of Draenor, the Alliance of Lordaeron experienced its share of internal political conflicts. It eventually began to collapse with the departure of the kingdoms of Gilneas, Stromgarde and Quel'Thalas, which decided to withdraw for their own interests following the liberation of the internment camps by the New Horde. Nevertheless, the other kingdoms remained steadfast in their commitment and reaffirmed their support for the cause of King Terenas Menethil II.

The faction was ultimately disbanded during the Third War, as a result of the spread of the Plague of Undeath across Lordaeron and the corruption of Prince Arthas Menethil, who became the champion of the Lich King and killed his father during the Scourging of Lordaeron. At the head of the Undead Scourge, the prince brought ruin to the mightiest nations of the Eastern Kingdoms, paving the way for the Burning Legion's invasion. In the aftermath, the memories of the Alliance of Lordaeron's allegiances and idealism served as the ultimate inspiration for the new Alliance of the present day.

History

Second War

Main article: Second War

Turalyon rallies the Council of Seven Nations to form the Alliance of Lordaeron.

Leaders of the Seven Kingdoms, and representatives from Khaz Modan and Quel'Thalas, meet to form the Alliance of Lordaeron.

Following the destruction of the Kingdom of Stormwind 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 the Holy 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. He and his brethren continued to offer hope and teachings and power of the Light to anyone in need, but realizing that it would take more than people armed with the power of the Light alone, Alonsus, along with Uther the Lightbringer, created an order of holy knights, the paladins, known as the Knight of the Silver Hand.

The Alliance of Lordaeron 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.

After the death of Lothar, the Alliance of Lordaeron was led by King Terenas Menethil II. He accepted ambassadors or 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. 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).

The war left the Alliance in a dire financial situation. All kingdoms contributed, even Alterac, as its treasuries were added to the Alliance's after its occupation. The costs of reconstructing Stormwind City, building up Nethergarde, and staffing the internment camp system proved an immense strain on their coffers.

Invasion of Draenor

Main article: Invasion of Draenor

High General Turalyon leading the Sons of Lothar during the 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 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. In particular, tensions began to arise between the high elven nation and its human allies - humanity came to distance itself from Quel'Thalas; the elven kingdom, in turn, proving to be an uneasy ally. The tension came to a head when High King Anasterian Sunstrider seceded; a turn of events that changed the face of the Alliance and weakened it considerably. Anasterian's secession, and the liberation of the orcs from internment camps, sparked the nations of Gilneas and Stromgarde to follow suit, and the Alliance of Lordaeron lost roughly half of its members in rapid succession.

However, Kul Tiras remained loyal to Terenas and the Alliance of Lordaeron. Thus, Kul Tiran fleets patrolled the trade lanes hunting pirates and marauders on the high seas. Several Alliance ships reported that they had escaped a band of pirates whose leader carried glowing blades oozing black smoke, and soon it became clear that those ships were the lucky ones. A newly empowered crew of pirates was preying on Alliance vessels, and when the raiders captured a ship, they left no survivors. Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore led the search for the rogues, and after weeks of hunting, his small fleet cornered their ship a few miles off the Eastern Kingdoms' shores. The pirate crew seemed to be possessed, barely human, but after a coordinated cannon barrage, Proudmoore sent the Bellwether, to the bottom of the ocean. The admiral sailed away, believing he had killed them all.

Third War

Main article: Third War

A battle between the Scourge armies and the Alliance forces during the Third War.

Years later, an orc gladiator named Thrall led an orcish insurrection against the orcish internment camps. Some Alliance leaders feared the young Warchief and his smaller volatile Horde might pose as dire a threat as the Old Horde did. 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. 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.

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 20 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 resistance led by Grand Marshal Garithos who attempted to reclaim Lordaeron from the undead. The blood elves abandoned the Alliance resistance 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 resistance 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. This granted the kingdom immense prestige and influence on the world stage, while Stormwind City became the new base of the faction. 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, becoming their staunchest and closest geographical allies.

Memories of past allegiances and idealism ultimately inspired the new Alliance of the present day led by the Wrynn dynasty.

Organization and leadership

Alliance army

Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar
Supreme Commander Turalyon -

Alliance navy

Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore -

The Seven Kingdoms

Kingdom of Stormwind

Sir Anduin Lothar, the Lion of Stormwind and Supreme Commander of the Alliance of Lordaeron.

•  Anduin Lothar - Regent Lord of Stormwind, and Supreme Commander of the Alliance armies
•  Varian Wrynn - Crowned king of Stormwind after the Second War -

Kingdom of Lordaeron

•  Terenas Menethil II - King of Lordaeron and primary founder of the Alliance of Lordaeron -
  • Arthas Menethil

Kingdom of Stromgarde

•  Thoras Trollbane - Lord and king of Stromgarde -
  • Danath Trollbane -

Admiralty of Kul Tiras

•  Daelin Proudmoore - Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras, and Grand Admiral of the Alliance fleets -

Kingdom of Gilneas

•  Genn Greymane - Lord and king of Gilneas -

Magocracy of Dalaran

•  Antonidas - Leader of the Kirin Tor and ruler of Dalaran -

Kingdom of Alterac

•  Aiden Perenolde - Lord and king of Alterac, he betrayed the Alliance and allied with the Horde

Non-human nations

Kingdom of Quel'Thalas

•  Anasterian Sunstrider - High King of Quel'Thalas -
  • Kael'thas Sunstrider -
  • Sylvanas Windrunner -
  • Alleria Windrunner -

Kingdom of Ironforge

•  Magni Bronzebeard - King of Khaz Modan -
  • Muradin Bronzebeard -
  • Brann Bronzebeard -

Wildhammer clan

•  Kurdran Wildhammer - Chief thane of the Wildhammer clan located at the Hinterlands, Northeron, the Aerie Peaks, and the capital of Aerie Peak -
• Falstad Wildhammer -

Nation of Gnomeregan

•  Gelbin Mekkatorque - High Tinker after the Second War and leader of Gnomeregan

Other major groups and entities

Church of the Holy Light

Knights of the Silver Hand fighting Death knights during the Battle of Hillsbrad Foothills.

•  Alonsus Faol - Leader of the Church of the Holy Light, which included most of the people from all the kingdoms combined. -

Knights of the Silver Hand

•  Uther the Lightbringer - Supreme Commander of the newly formed Silver Hand alongside Archbishop Alonsus. -
• Alexandros Mograine

History	Second War				Interbellum	Third War
Alliance army	Anduin Lothar		Turalyon		No known leader
Stormwind	Anduin Lothar Varian Wrynn		Varian Wrynn
Lordaeron	Terenas Menethil II										Othmar Garithos
Kul Tiras	Daelin Proudmoore
Dalaran	Antonidas
Stromgarde (formerly)	Thoras Trollbane
Gilneas (formerly)	Genn Greymane
Alterac (formerly)	Aiden Perenolde
Church of the Holy Light	Archbishop Alonsus Faol					Archbishop Benedictus
Knights of the Silver Hand	Uther the Lightbringer											Alexandros Mograine
Ironforge	Magni Bronzebeard
Wildhammer	Kurdran Wildhammer				Falstad Wildhammer
Gnomeregan	Gelbin Mekkatorque
Quel'Thalas (formerly)	Anasterian Sunstrider										Kael'thas Sunstrider

History of the factions

Human factions

Faction	First War	Second War	Interim	Invasion of Draenor	Interim	Third War	Post-Third War
Lordaeron	Healthy	Joined the Alliance	Hunts down and imprisons the majority of Orcish clans	Sent troops to Draenor, helps fund the rebuilding of Stormwind	Imposed taxes to keep orcs imprisoned and alive and for continuing rebuilding efforts	Scourging of Lordaeron	See Forsaken
Stormwind	Destroyed	Joined the Alliance	Reclaimed by the Alliance	Starts rebuilding, sent troops to Draenor	Rebuilt	Stonemasons Guild's riots	-
Dalaran	Healthy	Joined the Alliance	Starts rebuilding	Sent troops to Draenor	Rebuilt	Siege of Dalaran	Rebuilt, left Alliance
Kul Tiras	Healthy	Joined the Alliance	Remained in the Alliance	Sends troops to Draenor	Patrolled the high seas, fighting pirates	Expedition fleet sent to Kalimdor to search for Jaina and those who fled Lordaeron with her	Left the Alliance and fell silent after the Invasion of Durotar
Stromgarde	Healthy	Joined the Alliance	-	Sent troops to Draenor	Left the Alliance	Destroyed	Rejoined Alliance
Gilneas	Healthy	Joined the Alliance	-	Sent troops to Draenor	Left the Alliance, walls off kingdom to the outside world	Northgate Rebellion	Worgen curse
Alterac	Healthy	Joined the Alliance, later betrayed their allies to the Horde	Under martial law by the Alliance	Alterac crisis, Alliance garrison wiped out by black dragons	Falls into decay	-	Claimed by Crushridge clan and Syndicate

Other factions

Faction	First War	Second War	Interim	Invasion of Draenor	Interim	Third War	Post-Third War
Kingdom of Ironforge	-	Joined the Alliance	-	Sent troops to Draenor	-	Served in the Third War	-
Quel'Thalas	-	Joined the Alliance	-	Sent troops to Draenor	Left the Alliance	Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas	Rejoined the Alliance resistance
Gnomeregan	-	Joined the Alliance	-	-	-	Destroyed	-
Wildhammer clan	-	Joined the Alliance	-	Sends troops to Draenor	-	Served in the Third War	-

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

When the refugees from Stormwind arrived on the shores of Lordaeron bringing their tales of the Orcish Horde, the humans saw the common sense in forming an Alliance of their countries, and with their neighbor races. It was not as simple as that, however. When the refugees arrived on the shores of Lordaeron fleeing the horrible Horde, King Terenas of Lordaeron called delegates from the seven nations of humanity together to meet to discuss the threat. King Terenas of Lordaeron called the other human kings together to discuss the Horde and Stormwind. King Terenas took the refugees at their word about the danger in the south and agreed to join forces. Backed by Daelin Proudmoore of Kul Tiras, he moved that the humans unite to save the Stormwind people and remove the Horde from the land. The other five leaders were harder to convince. Kul Tiras, Dalaran and Stromgarde were agreeable, while Gilneas and Alterac were hesitant.

As they were meeting, the Ironforge dwarves faced the Horde as it rampaged through their lands, and knew they needed aid if we were to protect their homeland. The Horde also caught the attention of the high elves in Quel'Thalas. Each of the races approached the humans to discuss the Horde and to eventually join the Alliance. Most of the human countries, after much quarreling, finally agreed to unite for the betterment of the future. They called themselves the Alliance and put their armies under the control of Anduin Lothar, who had faced the Horde. They included all seven of the human nations, some more grudgingly than others.

Notes and trivia

• At its foundation, the Alliance of Lordaeron was compared to the ancient Arathi Empire, with all humanity united under a descendant of King Thoradin.
• It was the first time in history that humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes were brought under the same banner.
• As a good marker of the differences in philosophical viewpoints between the Alliance of Lordaeron and the Old Horde, the human clerics and paladins were able to heal their wounded allies, while the orcish necrolytes and death knights were only willing to raise their fallen comrades as undead. Spellcaster abilities were originally the only gameplay differences between the two factions.
• While not seen in the game but only in World Editor, the faction the player controls in the Warcraft III human campaign is called the Alliance of Lordaeron and later Alliance Forces (which was the name of the team in the first two missions).
• In early builds of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos the high elves were much more involved in the military of the Alliance of Lordaeron, deploying rangers as hero units, as well as dragonhawk riders and mage-priests.
• It is implied that the Vanguard faction in Stormgate (made by ex-Blizzard developers) took inspiration from the Alliance.

Gallery

• 

  Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness design document.
• 

  Zul'Aman besieged by the Alliance of Lordaeron forces.
• 

  Human Alliance in Warcraft III: Reforged.
• 

  The Icon of Courage

Fan art

• 

  Seven Nations by Hipnosworld
• 

  Alliance navy by Hipnosworld
• 

  Royal Court of Lordaeron by Hipnosworld

See also

• High Command
• Alliance Traitors