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{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with the {{Term|Series|Great Cataclysm|link}}.}}
{{Lacking Sources}}
{{Lacking Sources}}
{{Infobox 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''' is an event from ''The Legend of Zelda: 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 Princess 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 Princess Zelda sealing herself and Calamity Ganon away in Hyrule Castle the rest of Hyrule managed to survive and somewhat rebuild.
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 first emerged in the distant past, ten thousand years before the events of ''Breath of the Wild''. Ganon transformed into a monstrous creature of pure Malice known as Calamity Ganon. He ravaged Hyrule before being sealed away by the chosen Hero wielding the blade that seals darkness, and by the princess with divine powers inherited from the Goddess. Assisting the hero and the princess were the Guardians and four massive mechanical animal constructs called the Divine Beasts. The Ancient Sheikah tribe developed these machines with their unique technology, to help the Royal Family of Hyrule. Ganon.
{{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.  


Ten thousand years later, during the reign of Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, it was foretold that the return of Calamity Ganon was inevitable. The prophecy of Ganon's imminent return forced the Royal Family and Sheikah still loyal to the kingdom to excavate the ancient technology in preparation to confront Calamity Ganon as their ancestors had done 10,000 years prior. King Rhoam decided to act in accordance to their ancestors' plan and excavated the relics, including the Guardians and the four Divine Beasts. They recovered the mechanical army and were successfully able to reactivate and use them. The teenage Zelda assisted them in their research due to her interest in science as she still had trouble awaking her powers. King Rhoam then formed a group of exceptionally skilled warriors referred to as Champions lead by his daughter Princess Zelda. He requested each race of Hyrule choose a Champion, and four elite warriors were selected from across the kingdom by Zelda, Mipha the Zora Champion and crown Princess, Daruk the Goron Champion, Revali the Rito Champion, and Urbosa the Gerudo Champion and Chieftain. They were tasked with the duty of piloting the Divine Beasts 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 recent death of Hyrule's Queen saw this immense duty fall to her only surviving daughter who lost not only a mother but a mentor. As she was now sole bearer of this birthright which she inherited from her grandmother, the King ordered Zelda to focus on awakening her divine sealing powers to the exclusion of all else.
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.
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}}.


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 four of the Champions and imprisoning their spirits in the process. Succeeding in taking control of the Divine Beasts, Calamity Ganon proceeded to take control of the Guardians with his Malice to use against the people of Hyrule. He then destroyed Hyrule Castle Town and devastated much of Hyrule, slaughtering countless innocents. Among 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 the Akkala 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.
==={{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}}.


Zora's Domain was attacked at this time, though the bottleneck that is Zora River allowed the Zora Knights to hold off the assault very effectively and their army survived to continue defending Zora's Domain. However the Zora people greatly mourned Mipha's death and many Zora Knights and adults blamed Link and the Hylians for the Great Calamity. However King Dorephan though regretting having allowed his daughter to fight understood she would not forgive him for holding Link responsible and realized they had all underestimated Ganon's cunning and power. Though he was very young at the time, Mipha's younger brother Prince Sidon would come to share his father's views in the years to come with the Zora out living most of their non-Zora allies due to Zora having longer lifespans and aging at a different rate.
==Other Appearances==
 
==={{HWAoC|-}}===
Link and Zelda, meanwhile, had been unable to help in Central Hyrule, and retreated south to Fort Hateno where they made their desperate last stand against an army of Guardians. Though Link wielded the True Master Sword which reacted to Ganon's corruption within the Guardians with skill and personally destroyed countless Guardians himself, they were simply too numerous and he was eventually overcome.
{{Noncanon|Start}}
 
[[File:HWAoC Screen of the Ancient Hero.png|thumb|right|250px|Tapestry depicting the {{Term|HWAoC|Great Calamity}} in {{HWAoC|-}}]]
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 by purging them of Ganon's influence. The Guardians had been stopped from destroying Link, but despite being saved by Zelda he still succumbed to his injuries and collapsed to the ground, seemingly dying in Zelda's arms.
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}}
Heartbroken, Zelda wept in despair. As if responding to her cries, the Master Sword activated on its own and spoke to Zelda. It revealed to her that Link was not yet dead and could still be saved reminding Zelda of 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 deliver Link to the Shrine of Resurrection upon the Great Plateau, and to place him in the experimental Slumber of Restoration. Zelda then returned the battle-damaged Master Sword to its pedestal in front of the Great Deku Tree, making to the blade the promise 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 Ganon and herself inside, ending the Great Calamity.
 
===={{HWAoC}}====
The arrival of the Guardian [[Terrako]] 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 timeline, King Rhoam survived the attack on Hyrule Castle and the Four Champions are able to be saved. Being led by Princess Zelda--who succeeded in activating her sealing power--the people of Hyrule united to fight [[Astor]] and eventually Calamity Ganon in the Castle Town. Zelda, Link, and their allies subsequently prevailed in defeating them both.


==Nomenclature==
==Nomenclature==

Latest revision as of 18:05, 26 April 2024

Not to be confused with the Great Cataclysm.
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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
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

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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