The Fall of Hyrule
A century of darkness ends as the hero rises from slumber.
The Fall of Hyrule refers to the cataclysmic event depicted in 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,' marking a devastating era where the kingdom was overrun by Calamity Ganon. While 'Tears of the Kingdom' serves as its sequel set after Calamity Ganon's defeat, this period represents the lowest point in the realm's history prior to that victory, characterized by the destruction of the Divine Beasts, the death or petrification of the Champions, and the sealing of Princess Zelda holding back an ancient evil for over a century.
- Event Type
- Cataclysmic Invasion
- Primary Antagonist
- Calamity Ganon
- Key Defender
- Princess Zelda
- Duration of Sealing
- Over 100 Years
- Outcome
- Kingdom in Ruins, Hero Awakens
Lore & Background
As time passed, the land outside the castle walls transformed into a desolate wasteland filled with monsters and corrupted flora. The civilization that once thrived in the kingdom crumbled into ruins, leaving only scattered shrines and ancient technology as remnants of a forgotten age. The royal family and the Knights of Hyrule were largely wiped out, leaving the fate of the world hanging in the balance until the prophesied hero could be roused from his long slumber.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled through the shattered stone arches of a once-bustling market square, now choked by silence. A lone bird circled overhead, its shadow dancing over fields where vibrant green grass had been strangled by twisting veins of purple Malice. In the distance, Hyrule Castle loomed like a blackened tooth against a bruised grey sky, pulsating with an ominous red glow that seemed to breathe in time with the land's dying heart. The air was thick with dread, broken only by the distant, mechanical groan of a Guardian waking from its century-long vigil—its eye glowing with a hollow hatred, waiting for a command that would never come.
Reader's Guide
The climax erupted as Link confronted Calamity Ganon in his primal and derived forms, while Zelda, having held the beast at bay for a hundred years, finally unleashed her sealing power to shatter its defenses. In a desperate, final struggle, the hero and the princess fought in unison; with Zelda's light weakening the ancient evil, Link delivered the decisive blow, purging the land of Malice and breaking the century-long darkness that had suffocated Hyrule.
Did You Know?
- The Calamity specifically targeted the Divine Beasts because they were piloted by the Champions via neural connection, making them vulnerable to Ganon's corruption.
- Princess Zelda did not die during the sealing; she remained conscious and active inside the castle for over a century, fighting alone.
- The Sheikah technology used to create the Divine Beasts was originally developed to fight off an ancient version of Calamity Ganon thousands of years prior.
- Link's memory loss is not due to physical brain damage but rather a magical side effect of being in stasis for such a prolonged period.