War of the Lions ( event ) The War of the Lions , also known as the Lion War , is a civil war in " Final Fantasy Tactics " over the throne of Ivalice . Origin . The War of the Lions is fought between the Order of the Northern Sky Knights of Duke Larg under the banner of the White Lion , and the Order of the Southern Sky Knights of Duke Goltanna under the banner of the Black Lion . King Ondoria Atkascha III died due to the Black Death and his heir , Prince Orinus , is just two years old . A regent is sought to rule in the prince ' s place , and both dukes who were decorated generals in the Fifty Years ' War were nominated as regent . One of the main reasons behind the War is the rift between Queen Louveria and the nobles of Ivalice . Queen Louveria is regarded as a power - mad queen who desires her offspring on the throne so that she may rule the kingdom . The Council of Nobles , out to stop her from asserting influence onto the kingdom , appoints Duke Goltanna as their preferred candidate for the regency . Major battles . Attacks on Lesalia . The first major battle of the War of the Lions , the Battle of Lesalia Plain , is a massive assault of Chocobo Knights from Gallionne on the plains south of the Royal City of Lesalia , where the royal palace is built . The Southern Sky is driven out of the city and forced to their strongholds at Fort Besselat and Limberry Castle . The victory leads to Southern plans mostly revolving around an attack on Lesalia , at a time sending an army led by Cidolfus Orlandeau to take the city , though it is driven away . Further Southern attempts to attack Lesalia culminate in the Battle of Groffovia , fought on the plains between Limberry , which was generally pro - Southern , and Lesalia proper . The battle is inconclusive , but within three months after casualties reach 400 , 000 , sapping what little public support there is for the war . Conditions Worsen . Around this time , Queen Louveria and Chancellor Glevanne were accused of abducting Princess Ovelia to allow for Duke Larg ' s ascendancy to the throne . In addition , famine overtakes Zeltennia and Limberry because of a drought , and Gallionne and Fovoham , causing mass starvation amongst civilians . The losses sustained by the Southern Sky are worsened by the Battle of the Fusse Plains , in which Marquis Elmdore is killed by a stray arrow . He is possessed by the Lucavi Zalera , and fights for the Knights Templar at the Battle of Riovanes Castle . Despite the death of nearly half a million soldiers , the war reaches a stalemate . The Northern Sky plans to make an all - or - nothing attack at Fort Besselat , planning to take it and use it as a base from which they can wage total war against Southern food supply . Climax at Fort Besselat . The War ' s decisive battle is the Battle of Fort Besselat , in which Ramza Beoulve intervenes by opening the garrison ' s sluice , bringing the battle to an indecisive halt . Mossfungus is released into the air by Barich Fendsor , one of the Knights Templar , severely weakening both sides . In the confusion , both Dukes are murdered by their respective traitors : Larg by Dycedarg Beoulve and Goltanna by Delita Heiral . As originally planned , the Church offers mediators . Despite the loss of both Order ' s leaders , their armies are still strong and refuse the idea . This may be because of Ramza ' s intervention , whereas without it , both sides would have suffered major losses if the sluice wasn ' t opened . Ramza Beoulve travels with his companions to Orbonne Monastery to stop the Knights Templar and the Lucavi ' s plot for Ultima ' s resurrection . Killing the Church ' s forces that dared to stop them , they are teleported to the Airship Graveyard beneath the Necrohol of Mullonde and destroy Ultima with their own fate left a mystery . With the two sides crippled , the War comes to an end . In lack of a leader ; with the two dukes killed , Queen Louveria imprisoned in Fort Besselat , High Confessor Funebris murdered , Dycedarg slain , and Orlandeau missing and believed dead , Delita Heiral exploits the situation by claiming he rescued Princess Ovelia , marrying her to become King of all Ivalice . Truth . The War was engineered by the Church of Glabados so that it may take center stage after both sides are weakened to exhaustion . The High Confessor Marcel Funebris , wishing for the Church to gain power over the land , supported both sides secretly and assisted in their plots for the throne . The Church planned to destroy the two Lions from the inside and use the Zodiac Stones to strengthen the Church ' s military power . In reality , the manipulating Church was being manipulated by the Knights Templar under Folmarv Tengille , who attempted to collect every Zodiac Stone to help the Lucavi who granted them immense strength and power . The Lucavi ' s motive was the resurrection of their leader , Ultima , the High Seraph , who wishes to destroy Ivalice . The bloodshed needed for Ultima ' s coming was the reason behind the War of the Lions .