Kingdoms

For the World of Remnant episode of the same name, see Kingdoms (WoR episode).

The four kingdoms: Vale (center), Vacuo (west), Atlas (north) and Mistral (east)

Kingdoms are the main outposts of civilization in Remnant. These havens are safe from the threat of the Grimm compared to the hostile world that exists outside of their borders. The majority of Humans and Faunus live within the safety of the Kingdoms.

The four Kingdoms currently in existence are:

• Vale - located on the central continent of Sanus
• Mistral - on the eastern continent of Anima
• Vacuo - on the central continent of Sanus
• Atlas - on the northern continent Solitas

Each of the kingdoms have their own distinct culture - for example, Atlas is known for its militaristic nature and technological innovation and Vacuo for its rough-and-tumble lifestyle. Not near a oceans? The four Kingdoms are associated with a color and have a distinct symbol as their national emblem. For example, Vale is identified with the color green and has a pair of crossed axes as their emblem. The color and emblem is also shared with the Huntsman Academy of that Kingdom.

History

It is known that numerous civilizations existed before the founding of the Kingdoms, but they did not endure. Protected by natural barriers and human tenacity, the Kingdoms of Vale, Vacuo and Mistral were founded more than 80 years ago and managed to weather the hostility of the world into the present day. The Kingdom of Mantle existed in the region currently known as Atlas.

The Great War involved all four Kingdoms

Around 80 years before the start of the series, all four Kingdoms became involved in the Great War, the greatest conflict in recorded history, fought over questions of individuality and oppression, among other reasons. The destructive war came to an end when a peace was brokered on the small island of Vytal.

The peace forged at Vytal would last for the next 80 years, and is celebrated biennially by the Vytal Festival, a cultural exchange and celebration of the diversity of the four Kingdoms.

Also founded at the peace accords of Vytal were the four Huntsmen Academies, one to each Kingdom, whose purpose was to train Huntsmen and Huntresses, warriors who would fight the Creatures of Grimm and whose allegiance would not be linked to a Kingdom. Huntsmen and Huntresses from these Academies would also compete in a combat tournament in the Vytal Festival every two years. The Huntsman academies and the Kingdoms they correspond to are:

• Vale - Beacon Academy
• Mistral - Haven Academy
• Vacuo - Shade Academy
• Mantle - Atlas Academy

The CCTS enabling communication between the kingdoms

Some time after the founding of the Academies, the Kingdom of Mantle ceased to exist. The Academy, military and government coalesced into one new Kingdom, known as the Kingdom of Atlas.

As a gift to the other Kingdoms, Atlas also gifted the other three Kingdoms with a new communication technology known as the Cross Continental Transmit System, which would allow all four to stay in contact.

Politics

The kingdoms are governed by councils

Each of the Kingdoms has a governing council that sees to the needs of its people. The councils presumably control the day-to-day running of the Kingdoms and make policy decisions.

The Huntsmen Academies are separate from the government but still work under the authority of the governing council, which have some influence over the appointments to the headmaster of the Academy. Huntsmen and Huntresses are also sent on missions to uphold the security and safety of the Kingdoms.

In addition to Huntsmen and Huntresses, conventional militaries also exist, but most Kingdoms only call upon their citizens when it is necessary.

However, Atlas is distinct to the other three Kingdoms, in that the Academy, military and government all exist as a single institution. Atlas is also known to keep a standing conventional military which also includes Specialists, or Special Operatives Huntsmen, who work with the military. However, this is a controversial practice given that Huntsmen are intended to be independent of Kingdom allegiance.