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Hyrule is the name of the main setting of the The Legend of Zelda series. It first appeared in The Legend of Zelda for the NES in 1986. Hyrule, is both the name of the world as well as the name of the country that most of the games take place in. It is a medieval High Fantasy world filled with magic and inhabited by many creatures and intelligent races. Hyrule was created at the start of time by the three goddesses Din, Nayru and Farore who formed it out of swirling chaos. Din "Goddess of Power" molded the land with her flaming arms, Nayru "Goddess of Wisdom" created science and wizardry and brought order to nature, and lastly Farore "Goddess of Courage" through justice and vigor created life, the animals and plants to uphold the order. Their duty complete, the goddesses left behind a small but powerful portion of their essence in three golden triangles known as the Triforce. Although an inanimate object, each piece of the Triforce has the power to bestow one of three titles which gives the person who receives them great powers: "The Forger of Strength", "The Keeper of Knowledge", and "The Juror of Courage".
Although the Triforce brought beauty and prosperity to the land of Hyrule, it also became the target of bloody conflict both from greedy humans as well as demons who sought to corrupt its power and recreate Hyrule in their own hellish image. Because of this the Triforce was eventually sealed away in a sacred realm, known as the Golden Land, whose entrance was obscured and lost to time. Since the games takes place on a time frame that easily surpass 10,000 years between the first and last game in the timeline, Hyrule is depicted in very different states depending on the game though usually possesses many recognizable landmarks such as Death Mountain, Hyrule Field, the Lost Woods and Gerudo Desert. Due to some events, certain depictions of Hyrule are not even the same as the original one, such as the New Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
Outside of the series it has been featured in games such as Super Smash Bros. and its sequels Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
History[]
Unified Timeline[]
The Creation of Hyrule[]
Three Goddesses by the names of Din, Nayru, and Farore took it upon themselves to create a new world. Each infused their powers to create the new world, each with a unique ability. After the world had been created, they returned back to the heavens and gave responsibilities to the many races that they had created to uphold the laws of nature that they had developed. Upon leaving they left behind the Triforce to symbolize their utmost power, which contained three segments each representing a different quality including Power, Wisdom, and Courage. The one who would come in possession of the Triforce would have his or her wishes fulfilled, whether it be for good or for bad. The Triforce was left in the hands of another Goddess, Hylia who watched over the land of what in the early years of the world. The sacred land protected by the Goddess was what would eventually become Hyrule.
The War of the Demon King[]
After a period of peace, Demons started appearing from beneath the earth led by a powerful being named Demise who desired to obtain the power of the Gods for himself and rule the world. His hordes slaughtered many of the innocent creatures under Hylia's protection and she had to start a war against Demise. As a failsafe, she hid the Triforce inside the Statue of the Goddess and sent it into the sky with the defenseless Hylians. She also crafted a sword known as the Goddess Sword that was meant for her eventual Hero to recover in time of needs. She fought Demise and sealed him at the cost of her physical form. As she was dying, she decided to reincarnate in the land she sent into the sky to guide her hero on his quest to destroy Demise for good when the time would come.
Hyrule is established[]
The Hero was born as the first Link while Hylia was reborn as the first Zelda. Link reforged the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword throught trials and used his new strenght to reclaim the Triforce and wish Demise away. This worked until his servant, Ghirahim, traveled back in time to resurect him in the past. Link followed and defeated Demise in person. As his dying breath, the Demon cursed himself, Zelda and Link to be eternally bound to fight across the ages. Due to this, the land would eventually become plagued by an incarnation of Demise's hatred who would come to face a reincarnation of the first Link's spirit and Hylia's bloodline. Link and Zelda then welcomed back the habitants of the Sky on the Surface and the two created a new kingdom named Hyrule with Zelda's descendants as its rulers.
The battle for the Triforce[]
The many different races each upheld their responsibilities given to them by the goddesses. They each lived separately from one another, though for the most part were not enemies to one another, though contact was limited. The Hylians were the ones in power, though the other races had their own distinct qualities that bested those of the Hylians.
The location and the very existence of the Triforce and the Sacred Realm was known by few. The higher ups in the Hyrulian government knew of it, though they kept it a secret from other tribes to prevent civil war. Though word eventually got out and the various races across Hyrule would find of its existence, and almost automatically would attempt to gain its power. The first race to do so were the ones known as the Dark Interlopers. Their attempt to gain access to the Triforce brought fear into the other races. Ultimately in the end, the goddesses would punish the Dark Interlopers by banishing them to the world of the Twilight Realm.
The other races across Hyrule eventually would want the Triforce for themselves, each one having mixed reasons. Some wanted the Triforce to simply keep it from those who desired it for evil, while others wished to abuse its power. A war broke out among the races, and one women who had just given birth fled to a secure area whose race was not willing to partake in the conflict: the Kokiri. The Kokiri Forest was hidden from the rest of the world, and the childlike race wasn't interested in the doings of the outside world. The guardian of the forest and of the species was Great Deku Tree. The women who brought the child to him died shortly thereafter due to battle wounds. Though the Great Deku Tree would raise him as a Kokiri. The child's name was Link, and he would become the savior of Hyrule.
As Link grew up, his true identity as a Hylian was unknown to him. The Great Deku Tree would wait for another time when he was old enough to tell him of his heritage. The Deku tree knew of the child's future, and his destiny to save the world from evil. He would let destiny take its course and would not inform Link of his future. The prophesy that was foretold ages ago came true when the Gerudo king with a heart full of darkness and the bearer of the Triforce of Power developed a desire for the Triforce. He decided to seek out the keys to open the Sacred Realm, which included three stones and the Ocarina of Time. The Great Deku Tree held within him one of the Spiritual Stones, and refused Ganondorf access to it. Enraged, Ganondorf set a curse on the tree which would claim his life. In his final words, the Great Deku Tree told Link of his future, and that he was required to take the Spiritual Stone to Hyrule Castle Town.
Hyrulean Royal Family[]
Hyrule is presented as a federal monarchy centered around the belief of divine right. This means that Hyrule is more often than not a decentralized country where independant monarchs of different species rule certain regions. The actual leader of the country is the Hylian king, which is recognized as the highest authority in the kingdom due to them being descended of the Goddess Hylia. This is a list of all known rulers of Hyrule by chronological orders as well as their roles in the kingdom's history.
Unified Timeline[]
- Zelda (Skyward Sword) - Reincarnation of Hylia, progenitor of the Hyrulean Royal Family and founder of Hyrule.
- King Gustaf - A peaceful King who had good relations with the Wind Tribe
- War of the Bound Chest Princess - A Princess who recieved the power of the Light Force from the Minish during the War of the Bound Chest.
- King Daltus - The King of Hyrule durin The Minish Cap. He was iprisoned and impersonated by Vaati who used his name to throw the kingdom into chaos.
- Princess Zelda (The Minish Cap) - The host of the Light Force during The Minish Cap. She was petrified by Vaati who wished to sacrifice her to gain power. She used the Whishing Hat to bring back her ruined kingdom to normal.
- Princess Zelda (Four Swords) - The princess who was captured by Vaati when he broke free from the Four Sword for the first time.
- The Civil War King - The King who unified Hyrule during the Hyrulean Civil War. He is Zelda's father during Ocarina of Time. He was known to have been manipulated by Ganondorf who eventually kills him.
- Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time): The princess who saw through Ganondorf's manipulations and sent Link on a quest to retrieve the Master Sword. She eventually is forced to flee when Ganondorf takes over.
Adult Timeline[]
- Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time): In this timeline she hides from Ganondorf as Sheik until she can reveal herself as the Seventh Sage and help Link to seal Ganon. She then sent Link back in time causing the split.
- King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule - The last ruler of Hyrule, he was the king when Ganondorf was freed and died in the Great Flood before being brought back by the Gods as the King of Red Lions.
- The Antediluvian Princess - Daphnes' daughter, she escaped the flood and is the reason for the bloodline actually continuing.
- Tetra's Mother - A descendant of the Antediluvian Princess who was the chief of a band of pirate.
- Tetra - leader of the same group of pirate, she discovered her lineage after meeting Daphnes. She eventually help Link to defeat Ganon for the last time. She later founded New Hyrule.
- Princess Zelda (Spirit Tracks) - Tetra's great-great granddaughter. She fought against Malladus to protect New Hyrule.
Child Timeline[]
- King of the Hyrulean Civil War - Since Ganondorf was denounced in this timeline, he wasn't assassinated and even managed to arrest him.
- Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time) - In this timeline she learns of Link's time travel, and causes Ganondorf's arrest by denouncing him.
- Princess Zelda (Twilight Princess) - the princess who was deposed by Zant during the Twilight Invasion. She eventually managed to fight back the invation and helped Link killing Ganondorf.
- Princess Zelda (Four Swords Adventure) - The Zelda who was captured by Vaati when he escaped for a second time. She then helped Link sealing Ganon in the Four Sword.
Decline Timeline[]
- Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time) - After Link's defeat, she along with the other Sages sealed Ganon in the Sacred Realm.
- The King of Hyrule - The King who gave Agahnim his position before being betrayed and killed. He is resurected by the Triforce after Ganon is defeated.
- Princess Zelda (A Link to the Past) - The Zelda that was captured by Agahnim, she is the one who starts Link's quest by communicating with him telepathically. After Ganon's defeat she is targeted by the Twinrova who wants to sacrifice her in order to revive their master. This fails and is the result of Ganon's madness.
- Princess Zelda (A Link Between Worlds) - The Zelda who was captured by Yuga in order to revive and fuse with Ganon as a way to bait the Hero and ultimately allows Princess Hilda to gain the Triforce. She eventually helps Link in his battle against Yuga after he betrays Hilda. She then recreate Lorule's Triforce by using her own.
- The Wise King - The last king to have used the Triforce until the end of the Era of Decline. He is the one who split it to prevent further conflicts.
- The Wise King's son - A prince who was originally unfit to rule and tried to find the Triforce. This resulted in his sister's eternal slumber. He later vowed to redeem himself and became a just ruler.
- Princess Zelda (Zelda II) - The Wise King's daughter, doomed to sleep forever until Link saves her generations later.
- Princess Zelda (Zelda I) - The Zelda who broke the Triforce of Wisdom during Ganon's occupation. She was rescued from the monster after his final death at the hands of Link.
End of the Timelines[]
- The King of the First Calamity - The King who ruled 10,000 years before Breath of the Wild and successfully fought back against the first manifestation of Calamity Ganon. He then grew afraid of the Sheikah technology and made the ultimatum that led to the brutal removal of any advanced technology from the kingdom.
- The Princess of the First Calamity - The Princess who fought Calamity Ganon alongside the Hero 10,000 years before Breath of the Wild.
- King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule - The ruler of Hyrule during the Great Calamity. His misinterpretation of the prophecy of Ganon's return led to the destruction of the kingdom who was reduced to independants settlements for the next 100 years. He later guides Link as a ghost.
- Princess Zelda (Breath of the Wild) - The Princess who originally struggled with her powers but managed to unlock them and trap Ganon for 100 years, preventing herself from aging in the process.
Gallery[]
Locations in The Legend of Zelda | |
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Hyrule | Eagle Labyrinth • Moon Labyrinth • Manji Labyrinth • Snake Labyrinth • Lizard Labyrinth • Dragon Labyrinth • Demon Labyrinth • Lion Labyrinth • Death Mountain Labyrinth |
Locations in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | |
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Western Hyrule | North Castle • Rauru • Ruto • Saria • Mido • Tantari Desert • Parapa Desert • Moruge Swamp • Midoro Swamp • Death Mountain • Graveyard • King's Tomb |
Eastern Hyrule | Nabooru • Darunia • Kasuto • Maze Island • Three Eye Rock • Valley of Death |
Dungeons | Parapa Palace • Midoro Palace • Island Palace • Maze Island Palace • Palace on the Sea • Three Eye Rock Palace • Great Palace |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | |
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Light World locations |
Link's House • Secret Passage • Sanctuary • Graveyard • Haunted Grove • Kakariko Village • Kakariko Village Shop • Library • Lake Hylia • Lake Hylia Shop Cave • Wishing Well • Great Swamp • Desert of Mystery • Witch's Hut • Waterfall of Wishing • Zora's Lake • Zora's Waterfall • Death Mountain • Lost Woods |
Dark World locations |
Dark World Shield Shop • Pyramid of Power • Skeleton Forest • Skull Woods • Village of Outcasts • Lake of Ill Omen • Swamp of Evil • Misery Mire |
Light World dungeons |
Hyrule Castle • Eastern Palace • Desert Palace • Tower of Hera |
Dark World dungeons |
Palace of Darkness • Swamp Palace • Skull Woods • Thieves' Town • Ice Palace • Misery Mire Palace • Turtle Rock • Ganon's Tower |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | |
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Great Sea | Star Island • Northern Fairy Island • Gale Isle • Crescent Moon Island • Seven Star Isles • Overlook Island • Four-Eye Reef • Mother and Child Isles • Spectacle Island • Windfall Island (Bomb Shop • Chu Jelly Juice Shop • House of Wealth • School of Joy • Zunari's Shop • Cafe Bar • Game Room) • Pawprint Isle • Dragon Roost Island • Flight Control Platform • Western Fairy Island • Rock Spire Isle • Tingle Island • Northern Triangle Island • Eastern Fairy Island • Fire Mountain • Star Belt Archipelago • Three-Eye Reef • Greatfish Isle • Cyclops Reef • Six-Eye Reef • Eastern Triangle Island • Thorned Fairy Island • Needle Rock Isle • Islet of Steel • Stone Watcher Island • Southern Triangle Island • Private Oasis • Bomb Island • Bird's Peak Rock • Diamond Steppe Island • Five-Eye Reef • Shark Island • Southern Fairy Island • Ice Ring Isle • Forest Haven (Nintendo Gallery) • Cliff Plateau Isles • Horseshoe Island • Outset Island (Link's House • Fairy Woods • Savage Labyrinth) Headstone Island • Two-Eye Reef • Angular Isles • Boating Course • Tetra's Ship • Fairy Fountain • Beedle's Shop Ship • Ghost Ship • Sea Platform • Secret Cave • Submarine |
Dungeons | Forsaken Fortress • Dragon Roost Cavern • Forbidden Woods • Tower of the Gods • Earth Temple • Wind Temple • Ganon's Tower |
Others | Hyrule • Hyrule Castle |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | |
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Hyrule | Whereabouts of the Wind (Lake Hylia • Cave of No Return) Eastern Hyrule (The Coast • Village of the Blue Maiden) Death Mountain (Death Mountain Foothills • The Mountain Path) Near the Fields (The Field • The Swamp) The Dark World (The Lost Woods • Kakariko Village) Desert of Doubt (Desert of Doubt • Desert Temple) Frozen Hyrule (Frozen Hyrule • The Ice Temple) Realm of the Heavens (Realm of the Heavens • The Dark Cloud |
Dungeons | Hyrule Castle • Eastern Temple • Tower of Flames • Infiltration of Hyrule Castle • Temple of Darkness • Pyramid • Tower of Winds • Palace of Winds |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | |
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Hyrule | Castor Wilds • Cloud Tops • Eastern Hills • Elemental Sanctuary • Fairy Fountain • Figurine Shop • Funday School • Great Fairy Fountain • Happy Hearth Inn • Hyrule Castle • Hyrule Castle Garden • Hyrule Castle Town • Hyrule Field • Lake Hylia • Link's House • Lon Lon Ranch • Mama's Cafe • Mayor Hagen's Lakeside Cabin • Melari's Mine • Minish Village • Minish Woods • Mount Crenel • Percy's House • Post Office • Rem's Shoe Store • Royal Hyrule Library • Royal Valley • Stockwell's Shop • Town Fountain • Trilby Highlands • Veil Falls • Western Wood • Wind Ruins • Witch's Hut |
Dungeons | Deepwood Shrine • Cave of Flames • Fortress of Winds • Temple of Droplets • Palace of Winds • Dark Hyrule Castle |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | |
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Hyrule | Ordona Province (Ordon Village • Link's House • Sera's Sundries • Ordon Ranch • Ordon Woods • Ordon Spring) • Faron Province (Faron Woods • Faron Spring • Coro's Lantern Shop • Trill's Shop • Sacred Grove) • Eldin Province (Kakariko Gorge • Bridge of Eldin • Hidden Village) • Kakariko Village (Eldin Spring • Hot Spring • Barnes Bomb Shop • Elde Inn • Malo Mart • Renado's Sanctuary • Kakariko Graveyard) • Death Mountain (Goron Shop • Death Mountain Hot Spring) • Lanayru Province (Hyrule Field • Great Bridge of Hylia) • Hyrule Castle Town (Castle Town Sewers • Chudley's Fine Goods and Fancy Trinkets Emporium • Castle Town Cafe Bar • STAR Tent • Agitha's Castle • Fanadi's Palace • Telma's Bar • Jovani's House • Medical Clinic • Castle Graveyard) • Lake Hylia (Lanayru Spring) • Zora's River (Zora's Domain • Hena's Fishing Hole • Rapids Ride) • Desert Province (Gerudo Desert • Gerudo Mesa • Mirror Chamber) • Peak Province (Snowpeak • Snowpeak Top) • Twilight Realm (Curtain of Twilight) • Oocca Shop |
Dungeons | Forest Temple • Goron Mines • Lakebed Temple • Arbiter's Grounds • Snowpeak Ruins • Temple of Time • City in the Sky • Palace of Twilight • Hyrule Castle • Cave of Ordeals |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | |
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Hyrule | Forest Realm (Aboda Village • Hyrule Castle • Whittleton • Rabbitland Rescue • Trading Post • Forest Sanctuary • Dark Realm) • Snow Realm (Anouki Village • Wellspring Station • Bridge Worker's Home • Snowdrift Station • Slippery Station • Snow Sanctuary) • Ocean Realm (Papuchia Village • Pirate Hideout • Lost at Sea Station • Ocean Sanctuary) • Fire Realm (Goron Village • Fire Sanctuary • Goron Target Range • Disorientation Station • Dark Ore Mine • Ends of the Earth Station) • Sand Realm (Sand Sanctuary) • Altar of the Demon King • Altar of the Mountain Goddess • Hyrule Castle Town • Linebeck Trading Company • Link's House • Mountain of Fire • Ocean Floor • Stamp Station • Train Station • Tunnel to the Towe |
Dungeons | Forest Temple • Snow Temple • Ocean Temple • Fire Temple • Sand Temple • Tower of Spirits |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | |
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Hyrule | Eldin Volcano • Faron Woods • Hyrule • Lake Floria • Lanayru Desert • Sealed Grounds • Silent Realm • Skyloft • Thunderhead |
Dungeons | Skyview Temple • Earth Temple • Lanayru Mining Facility • Ancient Cistern • Pirate Stronghold • Sandship • Fire Sanctuary • Sky Keep |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | |
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Hyrule | Death Mountain • House of Gales • Kakariko Village • Lost Woods • Sanctuary • Link's House |
Lorule | Ravio's house • Thieves' Town • Misery Mire • Death Mountain |
Dungeons | Eastern Palace • House of Gales • Tower of Hera • Hyrule Castle • Dark Palace · Desert Palace • Ice Ruins • Skull Woods • Swamp Palace • Thieves' Hideout • Turtle Rock • Lorule Castle |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | |
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Great Plateau | Eastern Abbey • Forest of Spirits • Great Plateau Tower • Hopper Pond • Mount Hylia • River of the Dead • Shrine of Resurrection • Temple of Time • Woodcutter's House |
Faron Province | Faron Woods • Lake Hylia • Malanya Spring |
Akkala Province | Tarrey Town • Akkala Lake |
Central Hyrule | Hyrule Castle Town |
East Necluda | Hateno village • Hateno Ancient Tech Lab • Link's House |
Gerudo region | Gerudo Town • Kara Kara Bazaar • Yiga Clan Hideout |
Eldin | Great Hyrule Forest • Lost Woods • Bridge of Eldin • Death Mountain • Goron City • Southern Mine |
Hebra Province | Hebra Tower • Snowfield Stable |
Lanayru | Zora's Domain |
Tabantha Frontier | Rito Village • Cuho Mountain • Forgotten Temple |
West Necluda | Kakariko Village • Dueling Peaks |
Dungeons | Vah Medoh • Vah Rudania • Vah Naboris • Vah Ruta • Hyrule Castle • Divine Trial |