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{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with the {{Term|Series|Great Cataclysm|link}}.}}
{{Lacking Sources}}
{{Lacking Sources}}
{{Plot Event
{{Infobox Event
|name= Great Calamity
|image= File:BotW Calamity Ganon Tapestry.png
|image= File:BotW Calamity Ganon Tapestry.png
|caption= The Calamity Ganon Tapestry depicting the first Great Calamity
|caption= The {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon Tapestry|link}} depicting the {{Term|Series|10,000-Year-Old Calamity}} from {{BotW|-}}
|game= {{BotW}}, {{HWAoC}}
|pronunciation=
|location= [[Hyrule]]
|game= BotW, TotK
|other= HWAoC
|location= {{Term|Series|Hyrule|link}}
|paticipants=  
|occurrence=  
|occurrence=  
|resolution=  
|resolution=  
|theme=  
|theme=  
}}
}}
The {{Term/Store|Great Calamity|Great Calamities|Series, BotW}} refers to two distant events in [[Hyrule]]'s history related to the resurgence of the [[Calamity Ganon]] in {{BotW}}.
The {{Term/Store|Great Calamity|Great Calamities|Series, BotW, HWAoC, TotK}},{{Exp Game|BotW, HWAoC}}<ref>{{Cite|The Great Calamity was merciless... It devastated everything in its path, lo, a century ago. It was then that my life was taken away from me.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|{{Big|The Great Calamity}}<br/>Guardians were originally intended to protect Hyrule, but Calamity Ganon has taken control of them, using them as his own vanguard.|Game Screen|HWAoC}}</ref> also known as the '''Calamity''', refers to several events in {{Term|Series|Hyrule|link|display=Hyrule's}} history related to the resurgence of the {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon|link}} in {{TLoZ|Series}}.{{Name Ref|TotK}}


==History==
==Overview==
==={{BotW|-}}===
====10,000-Year-Old Calamity====
The {{Term|Series|10,000-Year-Old Calamity}} refers to the emergence of {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}}, 10,000 years before the events of {{BotW|-}}.<ref>{{Cite|You got any pictures or proof to back up this so-called {{Color|TotK Red|10,000-year-old Calamity}}?|Sefaro|TotK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|We of the Sheikah tribe have long been heralded as a people of great wisdom. Our technology became the key to sealing {{Color|BotW Red|Ganon}} away during the Great Calamity, some ten thousand years ago. At one point, our technology was praised as the power of the gods...but eventually the people turned on it. Turned on us. Our creations came to be viewed as a threat to the kingdom. The Sheikah became outcasts, forced into exile. Some, like us, chose to cast off our technological advances and strove to live normal lives. Others fostered a hatred toward the kingdom that shunned them. These sad souls swore their allegiance to {{Color|BotW Red|Ganon}}. They now call themselves the {{Color|BotW Blue|Yiga Clan}}. Their sole mission is to eliminate all who stand against {{Color|BotW Red|Ganon}}. Please, dear hero... be careful out there.|Cado|BotW}}</ref> {{Term|BotW|Ganondorf|link}}, having given up on his endless cycle of reincarnation, rose to conquer {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}} as the {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon|display=Calamity}}, a monstrous creature imbuing pure hatred – or, {{Term|BotW|Malice|link}}. As this was anticipated by the {{Term|BotW|Hylian|link}} civilization, opposing {{Term|BotW|Ganon|link}} was an {{Term|BotW|Ancient Hero|link}} chosen by the {{Term|BotW|Master Sword|display=Sword that Seals the Darkness|link}}, and a Princess blessed with an unspecified "sacred power" (illustrated by a {{Term|BotW|Triforce|link}} symbol on the {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon Tapestry}} displayed at {{Term|BotW|Impa|link}}'s home in {{Term|BotW|Kakariko Village|link}}),<ref>{{Cite|We also learned of a princess with a sacred power and her appointed knight, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness. It was they who sealed Ganon away using the power of these ancient relics.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> and the mechanical creations of the then-highly advanced {{Term|BotW|Sheikah|link}} tribe: the {{Plural|BotW|Guardian|link}} and the four {{Plural|BotW|Divine Beast|link}}. The {{Term|BotW|Hylian}} side was victorious and {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} was successfully sealed. It was then prophesied that {{Term|BotW|Ganon}} would eventually break free of the seal as he always had. Sometime after this, the King of Hyrule began to see the Sheikah and their incredibly advanced technology as a threat to Hyrule, and banished the tribe from the kingdom, scattering them throughout the land. As a result, the Sheikah decided to cast away their technology and adopt simpler lives, resulting in the secrets of their sciences being lost to time.<ref name="Cado">{{Cite|At one point, our technology was praised as the power of the gods...but eventually the people turned on it. Turned on us. Our creations came to be viewed as a threat to the Kingdom. The Sheikah became outcasts, forced into exile. Some, like us, chose to cast off our technological advances and strove to live normal lives.|Cado|BotW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|It's said that, some time ago, they had advanced techniques that were more powerful than anything anyone had seen. But that power put them at odds with the king at the time, and they were scattered across the land...|Rensa|BotW}}</ref>


===First Great Calamity===
====The Calamity====
The {{Term|BotW|Great Calamity|display=Calamity}} is an event from {{BotW|-}}. This event serves as the main historical context of the game. It corresponds to the disaster caused by {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} throughout {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}} that occurred on {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda|link}}'s 17th birthday, one hundred years prior to event of the game. After {{Term|BotW|Link|link}} awakens at the {{Term|BotW|Shrine of Resurrection|link}} at the beginning of {{BotW}}, he discovers much of {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}} ruined and devastated by {{Term|BotW|Ganon}}'s forces. However, thanks to {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} sealing herself and {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} away in {{Term|BotW|Hyrule Castle (Dungeon)|link}} the rest of {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}} managed to survive and somewhat rebuild.


The first Great Calamity refers to the first battle between [[Calamity Ganon]], 10,000 years before the events of ''Breath of the Wild''. Anticipated by the then-highly advanced Hylian civilization, the conflict opposed Calamity Ganon to an unnamed knight designated by [[Master Sword|"the sword that seals the darkness"]] and a Princess blessed with an unspecified "sacred power" (illustrated by a [[Triforce]] symbol on the Calamity Ganon Tapestry displayed at [[Impa]]'s home in [[Kakariko Village]])<ref>{{Cite|We also learned of a princess with a sacred power and her appointed knight, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness. It was they who sealed Ganon away using the power of these ancient relics.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref>, helped by the mechanical creations of the [[Sheikah]] tribe: the [[Guardian (Breath of the Wild)|Guardian]]s and the four [[Divine Beast]]s. The Hylian side was victorious and Calamity Ganon was succesfully sealed. It was then prophesied that Calamity Ganon shall break free of the seal, prompting [[King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule]] to conduct archeological surveys and unearth the forgotten Sheikah machines, 9,900 years after the first Great Calamity.<ref>{{Cite|But there was also...a prophecy. "The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear. And the power to oppose it lies dormant beneath the ground." We decided to heed the prophecy and began excavating large areas of land. Is wasn't long before we discovered several ancient relics made by the hands of our distant ancestors.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref>
10,000 years before the {{Term|BotW|Great Calamity|display=Calamity}}, during the reign of {{Term|BotW|King Rhoam|display=Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule|link}}, it was foretold that the return of {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} was imminent. This prompted {{Term|BotW|King Rhoam}} to conduct archeological surveys and unearth the forgotten {{Term|BotW|Sheikah}} machines,<ref>{{Cite|But there was also...a prophecy. "The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear. And the power to oppose it lies dormant beneath the ground." We decided to heed the prophecy and began excavating large areas of land. Is wasn't long before we discovered several ancient relics made by the hands of our distant ancestors.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> in preparation to confront {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} as their ancestors had done 10,000 years prior. They eventually recovered the mechanical army, and were able to reactivate and use them. The teenage {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} assisted them in their research, as she still had trouble awakening her powers. {{Term|BotW|King Rhoam}} then requested each race of {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}} produce a {{Term|BotW|Champions|link}} to pilot a Divine Beast, and four elite warriors were selected from across the kingdom by {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} herself: {{Term|BotW|Mipha|link}}, crown Princess of the {{Term|BotW|Zora|link}}, {{Term|BotW|Daruk|link}} the {{Term|BotW|Goron|link}}, {{Term|BotW|Revali|link}} the {{Term|BotW|Rito|link}}, and {{Term|BotW|Urbosa|link}} the {{Term|BotW|Gerudo|link}} chieftain. They were each tasked with the duty of piloting a {{Term|BotW|Divine Beast|link}} to assist the Hylian Champion, the knight {{Term|BotW|Link}}. The final key to defeating {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} was the divine sealing powers of the royal family's bloodline, and the death of Hyrule's Queen saw this immense duty fall to {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}. As she was now the sole bearer of this birthright, {{Term|BotW|King Rhoam}} ordered {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} to focus on awakening her divine sealing powers, to the exclusion of all else.


===Second Great Calamity===
Unfortunately, having learned from his previous defeat, {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} created four phantom embodiments of himself representing the elements of fire, water, thunder, and wind, each tasked with corrupting and taking control the {{Plural|BotW|Divine Beast}}, and killing the four {{Plural|BotW|Champions}}. Succeeding in taking control of the {{Plural|BotW|Divine Beast}} and killing their respective {{Plural|BotW|Champion}}, {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} proceeded to take control of the army of {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}} using his {{Term|BotW|Malice|link}}, and turned the machines against {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}}. He then destroyed {{Term|BotW|Hyrule Castle Town|link}} and devastated much of {{Term|BotW|Hyrule}}, slaughtering countless innocents. Amidst the chaos, {{Term|BotW|King Rhoam}} was killed, and the remaining soldiers and {{Plural|BotW|Knight of Hyrule|link}} who survived the attack on the castle were helpless against the {{Term|BotW|Guardian}} onslaught, and were forced to retreat to a massive citadel in {{Term|BotW|Akkala|link}}. The final remnants of the Hyrulean Army took their final stand in {{Term|BotW|Akkala Citadel|link}}, the kingdom's largest stronghold, which was all but destroyed in the historic battle, leaving the once great structure in ruins.


The second Great Calamity was a period of mass destruction in [[Hyrule]] caused by the return of Calamity Ganon after being imprisoned for 9,900 years.<ref>{{Cite|The Great Calamity was merciless... It devastated everything in its path, lo, a century ago.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> This event led to many deaths and almost every structure across Hyrule crumbling into ruins.<ref>{{Cite|It's hard to even talk about the {{Color|BotW Blue|Great Calamity}}. It was a disastrous event that took place 100 years ago. Villages everywhere were burned. Many lives were lost...|Reede|BotW}}</ref> [[Hyrule Castle (Breath of the Wild)|Hyrule Castle]] itself fell under Ganon and King Rhoam was killed during the disaster.<ref>{{Cite|It was then that my life was taken away from me. And since that time, here I have remained, in spirit form.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> With Hyrule Castle having fallen and the army of Hyrule with no leader, they fell back to the fortress that protected [[Akkala]], which also fell and was later known as the [[Akkala Citadel Ruins]].<ref>{{Cite|That's the {{Color|BotW Red|Akkala Citadel Ruins}}. Long ago, at the peak of Hyrule's power, they built a fortress to protect Akkala. It was said to be unassailable, but during the Great Calamity, Hyrule Castle fell... The army had no royalty to lead them. With no other choice, they fell back to this citadel to make their last stand.|Nell|BotW}}</ref> The Great Calamity caused a great split within the [[Sheikah]] tribe, as a separate tribe known as the [[Yiga Clan]] grew and fought in allegiance to Calamity Ganon.<ref>{{Cite|We {{Color|BotW Blue|Sheikah}} have long served the royal family of Hyrule in secret. During the {{Color|BotW Red|Great Calamity}} of 100 years ago... the royal family was destroyed, and the members of our tribe scattered. Sadly, there were some who swore allegiance to {{Color|BotW Red|Ganon}} at that time. They joined together as the Yiga Clan, seeking out all who opposed {{Color|BotW Red|Ganon}}... cutting them down, one after another.|Paya|BotW}}</ref> Due to the Great Calamity, the population of monsters in Hyrule significantly increases.<ref>{{Cite|Not sure if it's Calamity Ganon's fault or what, but I hear monsters have been attacking people more than ever lately.|Daruk|BotW}}</ref> It also caused [[Stalkoblin]]s, [[Stalmoblin]]s, and [[Stalizalfos]] to appear at night.<ref>{{Cite|Everything looks just as it always has, but the effects of the {{Color|BotW Red|Great Calamity}} still linger. For example, a lot of {{Color|BotW Blue|monsters}} come out at night, so be careful when the sun sets...|Rensa|BotW}}</ref>
Hyrule's allies fared far better than the doomed kingdom. {{Term|BotW|Ganon}}'s attack focused squarely on the heartlands of Hyrule, and though the {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}} advanced throughout the kingdom, but they did not invade or attack the realms of the {{Term|BotW|Gerudo}}, {{Term|BotW|Rito}}, or the {{Plural|BotW|Goron}}. A single {{Term|BotW|Guardian}} advanced into {{Term|BotW|Zora's Domain|link}}, though, before being hurled into a ravine by the {{Term|BotW|Zora}} {{Term|BotW|King Dorephan|link}} before it could cause any damage to the {{Term|BotW|Zora's Domain|display=Domain}}.


Calamity Ganon achieved much of the destruction by possessing the same Guardians and Divine Beasts that were used to defeat it 10,000 years before.<ref>{{Cite|Ganon was cunning, and responded with a plan beyond our imagining. He appeared from deep below Hyrule Castle, seized control of the Guardians and the Divine Beasts, and turned them against us.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> Calamity Ganon successfully had the lives of the [[Champion]]s [[Daruk]], [[Urbosa]], [[Revali]], and [[Mipha]] cut short through the Blight Ganons. Out of the Champions, only [[Link]] survived the Great Calamity, but was placed to slumber for 100 years within the [[Shrine of Resurrection]] after being injured while defending [[Princess Zelda]]. To prevent the destruction of the entirety of Hyrule and all its people, Zelda spends the 100 years after the Great Calamity inside Hyrule Castle with Calamity Ganon, keeping the demon in place within the castle. This sets the tone for the events of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]]'', which take place 100 years after this event.  
{{Term|BotW|Link}} and {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}, meanwhile, were ambushed by the {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}} in {{Term|BotW|Central Hyrule|link}}, and retreated south to {{Term|BotW|Fort Hateno|link}}, where they made their desperate last stand against an army of {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}}. Though {{Term|BotW|Link}} skillfully wielded the {{Term|BotW|True Master Sword|link}}, which reacted to {{Term|BotW|Ganon}}'s corruption within the {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}}, and managed to take several down, there were simply too many, and he was eventually overcome. It was here, faced with the impending death of a loved one, that {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}'s powers were truly awakened, allowing her to shut down the {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}} with a blinding ray of light which purged them of {{Term|BotW|Ganon}}'s influence. Though the {{Plural|BotW|Guardian}} were stopped, {{Term|BotW|Link}} was nonetheless greatly injured, and seemingly died in {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}'s arms. Heartbroken, {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} wept in despair. As if responding to her cries, the {{Term|BotW|Fi|display=spirit within the Master Sword|link}} suddenly spoke to {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}, and revealed to her that {{Term|BotW|Link}} could still be saved by using the {{Term|BotW|Shrine of Resurrection}}, an ancient {{Term|BotW|Sheikah}} medical facility her research team had discovered. Wasting no time, {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} ordered her {{Term|BotW|Sheikah}} allies, {{Term|BotW|Impa}}, {{Term|BotW|Purah|link}}, and {{Term|BotW|Robbie|link}}, to carry {{Term|BotW|Link}} to the {{Term|BotW|Shrine of Resurrection}} upon the {{Term|BotW|Great Plateau|link}}, and to place him in an experimental {{Term|BotW|Slumber of Restoration|link}}. {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} then returned the battle-damaged {{Term|BotW|Master Sword}} to its pedestal in front of the {{Term|BotW|Great Deku Tree|link}}, promising the blade that {{Term|BotW|Link}} would one day return for it. In a final sacrifice, {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}} marched alone on {{Term|BotW|Hyrule Castle}} and used her newly awoken powers to seal both {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} and herself inside.  


===={{HWAoC}}====
With {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} sealed, however temporarily, the devastated kingdom of Hyrule was left to rebuild. Though no longer free to rampage, {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}}'s power still remained, as his armies of monsters and some corrupted Guardians remained in the land to wreak havoc. Periodically, an event known as the [[Blood Moon]] would occur, reviving any of Ganon's army that had fallen, practically ensuring an eternal stalemate with the survivors left in Hyrule. The kingdom was reduced to several settlements scattered about the land.
{{stub}}
The arrival of the Guardian [[Terrako]] from the future in which the events of {{BotW}} occur produces a ripple effect, fundamentally changing the outcome of the Second Great Calamity.
100 years later, with {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} close to breaking free of {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}'s seal, {{Term|BotW|Link|link}} awakens at the {{Term|BotW|Shrine of Resurrection|link}}. After freeing the Divine Beasts and allowing the ghosts of the Champions to take back control, regaining his lost memories, and regaining the Master Sword, Link goes on to face {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} just as he overpowers {{Term|BotW|Princess Zelda}}'s magic, and after being defeated the ensuing battle, the Princess uses her magic to definitively seal {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} away, finally ending the {{Term|BotW|Great Calamity|display=Calamity}}.
 
==={{TotK|-}}===
During the events of {{TotK|-}}, {{Term|TotK|Symin|link}}, a school teacher in {{Term|TotK|Hateno Village|link}}, teaches the children of {{Term|TotK|Hateno Village}} about {{Term|TotK|Hyrule}}'s history of the {{Term|TotK|Great Calamity|display=Calamity}}. {{Term|TotK|Calamity Ganon}}'s attack 100 years prior left {{Term|TotK|Hyrule Castle}} damaged and weakened the seal on the {{Term|TotK|Demon King Ganondorf}}. This eventually lead to the {{Term|TotK|Upheaval}} as {{Term|TotK|Ganondorf}}'s {{Term|TotK|Gloom|link}} began to seep out from {{Term|TotK|Beneath Hyrule Castle|link}}.
 
==Other Appearances==
==={{HWAoC|-}}===
{{Noncanon|Start}}
[[File:HWAoC Screen of the Ancient Hero.png|thumb|right|250px|Tapestry depicting the {{Term|HWAoC|Great Calamity}} in {{HWAoC|-}}]]
The arrival of the Guardian {{Term|HWAoC|Terrako|link}} from the future in which the events of {{BotW|-}} occur produces an alternate timeline, where the events of the second Great Calamity unfold and end quite differently. In this version of events, {{Term|HWAoC|King Rhoam}} survived the attack on {{Term|HWAoC|Hyrule Castle}} and the four {{Plural|HWAoC|Champions}} are able to be saved. Being led by {{Term|HWAoC|Princess Zelda}}-who succeeded in activating her sealing power-the people of {{Term|HWAoC|Hyrule}} united to fight {{Term|HWAoC|Astor}}, and eventually {{Term|HWAoC|Calamity Ganon}} atop {{Term|HWAoC|Hyrule Castle}}. {{Term|HWAoC|Zelda}}, {{Term|HWAoC|Link}}, and their allies subsequently prevail in defeating them both.
{{Noncanon|End}}


==Nomenclature==
==Nomenclature==

Latest revision as of 18:05, 26 April 2024

Not to be confused with the Great Cataclysm.
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Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations.

The Great Calamity,(BotW | HWAoC)[1][2] also known as the Calamity, refers to several events in Hyrule's history related to the resurgence of the Calamity Ganon in The Legend of Zelda series.[name references needed]

Overview

Breath of the Wild

10,000-Year-Old Calamity

The 10,000-Year-Old Calamity refers to the emergence of Calamity Ganon, 10,000 years before the events of Breath of the Wild.[3][4] Ganondorf, having given up on his endless cycle of reincarnation, rose to conquer Hyrule as the Calamity, a monstrous creature imbuing pure hatred – or, Malice. As this was anticipated by the Hylian civilization, opposing Ganon was an Ancient Hero chosen by the Sword that Seals the Darkness, and a Princess blessed with an unspecified "sacred power" (illustrated by a Triforce symbol on the Calamity Ganon Tapestry displayed at Impa's home in Kakariko Village),[5] and the mechanical creations of the then-highly advanced Sheikah tribe: the Guardians and the four Divine Beasts. The Hylian side was victorious and Calamity Ganon was successfully sealed. It was then prophesied that Ganon would eventually break free of the seal as he always had. Sometime after this, the King of Hyrule began to see the Sheikah and their incredibly advanced technology as a threat to Hyrule, and banished the tribe from the kingdom, scattering them throughout the land. As a result, the Sheikah decided to cast away their technology and adopt simpler lives, resulting in the secrets of their sciences being lost to time.[6][7]

The Calamity

The Calamity is an event from Breath of the Wild. This event serves as the main historical context of the game. It corresponds to the disaster caused by Calamity Ganon throughout Hyrule that occurred on Zelda's 17th birthday, one hundred years prior to event of the game. After Link awakens at the Shrine of Resurrection at the beginning of Breath of the Wild, he discovers much of Hyrule ruined and devastated by Ganon's forces. However, thanks to Zelda sealing herself and Calamity Ganon away in Hyrule Castle the rest of Hyrule managed to survive and somewhat rebuild.

10,000 years before the Calamity, during the reign of Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, it was foretold that the return of Calamity Ganon was imminent. This prompted King Rhoam to conduct archeological surveys and unearth the forgotten Sheikah machines,[8] in preparation to confront Calamity Ganon as their ancestors had done 10,000 years prior. They eventually recovered the mechanical army, and were able to reactivate and use them. The teenage Zelda assisted them in their research, as she still had trouble awakening her powers. King Rhoam then requested each race of Hyrule produce a Champion to pilot a Divine Beast, and four elite warriors were selected from across the kingdom by Zelda herself: Mipha, crown Princess of the Zora, Daruk the Goron, Revali the Rito, and Urbosa the Gerudo chieftain. They were each tasked with the duty of piloting a Divine Beast to assist the Hylian Champion, the knight Link. The final key to defeating Calamity Ganon was the divine sealing powers of the royal family's bloodline, and the death of Hyrule's Queen saw this immense duty fall to Zelda. As she was now the sole bearer of this birthright, King Rhoam ordered Zelda to focus on awakening her divine sealing powers, to the exclusion of all else.

Unfortunately, having learned from his previous defeat, Calamity Ganon created four phantom embodiments of himself representing the elements of fire, water, thunder, and wind, each tasked with corrupting and taking control the Divine Beasts, and killing the four Champions. Succeeding in taking control of the Divine Beasts and killing their respective Champions, Calamity Ganon proceeded to take control of the army of Guardians using his Malice, and turned the machines against Hyrule. He then destroyed Hyrule Castle Town and devastated much of Hyrule, slaughtering countless innocents. Amidst the chaos, King Rhoam was killed, and the remaining soldiers and Knights of Hyrule who survived the attack on the castle were helpless against the Guardian onslaught, and were forced to retreat to a massive citadel in Akkala. The final remnants of the Hyrulean Army took their final stand in Akkala Citadel, the kingdom's largest stronghold, which was all but destroyed in the historic battle, leaving the once great structure in ruins.

Hyrule's allies fared far better than the doomed kingdom. Ganon's attack focused squarely on the heartlands of Hyrule, and though the Guardians advanced throughout the kingdom, but they did not invade or attack the realms of the Gerudo, Rito, or the Gorons. A single Guardian advanced into Zora's Domain, though, before being hurled into a ravine by the Zora King Dorephan before it could cause any damage to the Domain.

Link and Zelda, meanwhile, were ambushed by the Guardians in Central Hyrule, and retreated south to Fort Hateno, where they made their desperate last stand against an army of Guardians. Though Link skillfully wielded the True Master Sword, which reacted to Ganon's corruption within the Guardians, and managed to take several down, there were simply too many, and he was eventually overcome. It was here, faced with the impending death of a loved one, that Zelda's powers were truly awakened, allowing her to shut down the Guardians with a blinding ray of light which purged them of Ganon's influence. Though the Guardians were stopped, Link was nonetheless greatly injured, and seemingly died in Zelda's arms. Heartbroken, Zelda wept in despair. As if responding to her cries, the spirit within the Master Sword suddenly spoke to Zelda, and revealed to her that Link could still be saved by using the Shrine of Resurrection, an ancient Sheikah medical facility her research team had discovered. Wasting no time, Zelda ordered her Sheikah allies, Impa, Purah, and Robbie, to carry Link to the Shrine of Resurrection upon the Great Plateau, and to place him in an experimental Slumber of Restoration. Zelda then returned the battle-damaged Master Sword to its pedestal in front of the Great Deku Tree, promising the blade that Link would one day return for it. In a final sacrifice, Zelda marched alone on Hyrule Castle and used her newly awoken powers to seal both Calamity Ganon and herself inside.

With Calamity Ganon sealed, however temporarily, the devastated kingdom of Hyrule was left to rebuild. Though no longer free to rampage, Calamity Ganon's power still remained, as his armies of monsters and some corrupted Guardians remained in the land to wreak havoc. Periodically, an event known as the Blood Moon would occur, reviving any of Ganon's army that had fallen, practically ensuring an eternal stalemate with the survivors left in Hyrule. The kingdom was reduced to several settlements scattered about the land.

100 years later, with Calamity Ganon close to breaking free of Zelda's seal, Link awakens at the Shrine of Resurrection. After freeing the Divine Beasts and allowing the ghosts of the Champions to take back control, regaining his lost memories, and regaining the Master Sword, Link goes on to face Calamity Ganon just as he overpowers Zelda's magic, and after being defeated the ensuing battle, the Princess uses her magic to definitively seal Calamity Ganon away, finally ending the Calamity.

Tears of the Kingdom

During the events of Tears of the Kingdom, Symin, a school teacher in Hateno Village, teaches the children of Hateno Village about Hyrule's history of the Calamity. Calamity Ganon's attack 100 years prior left Hyrule Castle damaged and weakened the seal on the Demon King Ganondorf. This eventually lead to the Upheaval as Ganondorf's Gloom began to seep out from Beneath Hyrule Castle.

Other Appearances

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Non-Canon Information
Tapestry depicting the Great Calamity in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

The arrival of the Guardian Terrako from the future in which the events of Breath of the Wild occur produces an alternate timeline, where the events of the second Great Calamity unfold and end quite differently. In this version of events, King Rhoam survived the attack on Hyrule Castle and the four Champions are able to be saved. Being led by Zelda-who succeeded in activating her sealing power-the people of Hyrule united to fight Astor, and eventually Calamity Ganon atop Hyrule Castle. Zelda, Link, and their allies subsequently prevail in defeating them both.

Nomenclature

ZW Nomenclature Asset.png Names in Other Regions ZW Nomenclature Asset 2.png
LanguageNamesMeanings
Canada
FrenchCA
Grand Fléau[9]Great Scourge
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References

  1. ↑ "The Great Calamity was merciless... It devastated everything in its path, lo, a century ago. It was then that my life was taken away from me." — King Rhoam (Breath of the Wild)
  2. ↑ "The Great Calamity
    Guardians were originally intended to protect Hyrule, but Calamity Ganon has taken control of them, using them as his own vanguard.    " — Game Screen (Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity)
  3. ↑ "You got any pictures or proof to back up this so-called 10,000-year-old Calamity?" — Sefaro (Tears of the Kingdom)
  4. ↑ "We of the Sheikah tribe have long been heralded as a people of great wisdom. Our technology became the key to sealing Ganon away during the Great Calamity, some ten thousand years ago. At one point, our technology was praised as the power of the gods...but eventually the people turned on it. Turned on us. Our creations came to be viewed as a threat to the kingdom. The Sheikah became outcasts, forced into exile. Some, like us, chose to cast off our technological advances and strove to live normal lives. Others fostered a hatred toward the kingdom that shunned them. These sad souls swore their allegiance to Ganon. They now call themselves the Yiga Clan. Their sole mission is to eliminate all who stand against Ganon. Please, dear hero... be careful out there." — Cado (Breath of the Wild)
  5. ↑ "We also learned of a princess with a sacred power and her appointed knight, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness. It was they who sealed Ganon away using the power of these ancient relics." — King Rhoam (Breath of the Wild)
  6. ↑ "At one point, our technology was praised as the power of the gods...but eventually the people turned on it. Turned on us. Our creations came to be viewed as a threat to the Kingdom. The Sheikah became outcasts, forced into exile. Some, like us, chose to cast off our technological advances and strove to live normal lives." — Cado (Breath of the Wild)
  7. ↑ "It's said that, some time ago, they had advanced techniques that were more powerful than anything anyone had seen. But that power put them at odds with the king at the time, and they were scattered across the land..." — Rensa (Breath of the Wild)
  8. ↑ "But there was also...a prophecy. "The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear. And the power to oppose it lies dormant beneath the ground." We decided to heed the prophecy and began excavating large areas of land. Is wasn't long before we discovered several ancient relics made by the hands of our distant ancestors." — King Rhoam (Breath of the Wild)
  9. ↑ Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity pour Nintendo Switch - Détails du jeu Nintendo , www.nintendo.com, retrieved September 8, 2020.
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