Earthbender rebellions

The earthbender rebellions were a series of armed uprisings against the Fire Nation occupation of the Earth Kingdom during the Hundred Year War. Despite the conflict's name, the very mass of the rebels were nonbenders, and only a minority were earthbenders. Large rebellions were already occurring by the Great War's middle stages, and further escalated during the later war.
They became widespread some time after the Coup of Ba Sing Se in 100 AG. Their success alarmed the Fire Nation, and led to Fire Lord Ozai's decision to use the astounding power of Sozin's Comet to burn down the entire Earth Kingdom, ending the rebellions once and for all. The plan ended in failure, however, when Ozai was defeated by Avatar Aang upon their battle at Wulong Forest.
== Prelude ==
Historically, the Earth Kingdom was defined by its enormous size and the diversity of its population. Both factors resulted in the country being difficult to control for any power. After the Earth Kingdom's foundation, many regions were allowed great autonomy by the Earth Monarchs, as the latter could not exert direct control anyway. Even beyond this localized autonomy, state control was often weak, especially in rural areas. This allowed outlaws such as the daofei to become so widespread and powerful that they effectively existed as independent societies within the Earth Kingdom.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 73. Earth Monarchs who attempted to achieve greater control over their nation by various direct or indirect means, such as the 46th Earth KingEscape from the Spirit World: Avatar Kyoshi Online Comic Book. and Earth King Jialun, regularly encountered resistance.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 52.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 55. Rebellions and vigilantism were a relatively common occurrence.
In the 1st century BG, the aforementioned factors became intertwined with the rise of nationalism, xenophobia, and worsening social conflicts in the Earth Kingdom. On one side, this meant that the nation was deeply divided and weakened as the Fire Nation's aggression and imperialism grew. On the other side, the Earth Kingdom's citizens were also experienced in grassroots resistance and so localized in their outlook, that neither an inside nor an outside power could hope to swiftly defeat all of the Earth Kingdom.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 54.
When the Fire Nation under Fire Lord Sozin invaded the Earth Kingdom in 0 AG, it consequently won many great battles and drove the Earth Monarchs' armies back.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 62.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 63. However, controlling the vast Earth Kingdom proved extremely difficult for the Fire Nation, and even its most secure colonies became host to underground rebel movements.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 66. Many Fire Nation officials, both civilian as well as military ones, abused their powers and thus motivated Earth Kingdom natives to resist the occupation.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 57.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 66. In some regions, Fire Nation authorities even outlawed earthbending and instituted systems of de facto slavery.
However, a substantial number of Earth Kingdom natives arranged themselves with the Fire Nation occupation and colonization efforts. Many integrated into the colonial society, thereby indirectly supporting the Fire Nation.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 56. Some civilians acted as informers in return for pay or favors, and even parts of the Earth Kingdom military defected to form collaborationist units to aid the Fire Nation.
== Known rebel factions ==
Throughout the Hundred Year War, many rebel groups emerged. These included:
* Nalu's "merry band" (late war)Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 136.
* Omashu Resistance (100 AG)
* "Team Tyro" (99 AG - 100 AG)
* Armadillo Bears (late war)
* Freedom Fighters (late war)
== Rebellions ==
=== Early resistance ===
It is known that rebellions against Fire Nation occupation were already taking place during Fire Lord Azulon's reign. At one point, an armed uprising engulfed several colonies, forcing the Fire Nation military to intervene.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Quickstart, Version 1.0, 2021, p. 31. By the late Hundred Year War, King Bumi turned the city of Omashu into the main supplier of Earth Kingdom resistance groups. Despite his efforts, however, the city was unable to provide enough weapons and other resources to truly hinder the Fire Nation advances across the continent. The Fire Nation also conquered much of the surrounding territories, meaning that it became increasingly difficult for Omashu to supply its allies.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 62. In addition, the Earth Kingdom's de facto dictator, Long Feng, used his extensive spy network to fund and support rebels in their struggle against the Fire Nation.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 24.
Over time, natives of the Water Tribes also travelled to the Earth Kingdom, hoping to make a difference. This was especially the case for young Northern Water Tribe natives who disagreed with their tribe's policy of focusing solely on its own survival.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 61. Some of these, such as Nalu, joined local rebel groups. There were also isolated cases of Fire Nation deserters such as ZimoAvatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 138. and Chey aiding the Earth Kingdom resistance.
=== Later uprisings ===
By the time of Fire Lord Ozai's rule, large sections of the central Earth Kingdom had become the site of widespread guerrilla warfare. The Fire Nation tried to set up colonies in the area, for example at Laoshan, and improve security by using outposts and patrols. However, bands of rebels roved the area, striking at weakly defended Fire Army targets. The resistance groups were organized enough to construct Xiadi, a hidden stronghold which was connected to a tunnel network. Using Xiadi, insurgents could quickly attack Fire Nation soldiers before retreating again. One of the largest rebel factions operating from Xiadi were the "Armadillo Bears".
In the northwest, Jet organized young refugees into the "Freedom Fighters", a rebel group which attacked Fire Nation targets indiscriminately. For an extended period of time, Jet's force waged a resistance campaign, using the region's dense forests to its advantage.
In late 99 AG, Team Avatar began to inspire resistance in the occupied territories of the western Earth Kingdom. They freed many earthbenders from the Mo Ce Sea prison rig whereupon these banded together and went on to liberate smaller villages and towns at the western Earth Kingdom coast. Although many of these earthbenders were civilians and had no combat experience, they formed an effective militia under Tyro's command and later on came into possession of combat equipment. Nicknamed "Team Tyro", their first major action was to return to and capture the prison rig in cooperation with an Earth Kingdom Army unit under Boqin. However, Team Avatar also caused the disbandment of the Freedom Fighters when they encountered Jet, but opposed his brutal tactics.
After the Surrender of Omashu, and in course of the following Fire Nation occupation, a resistance movement was formed by Captain Yung of the Earth Kingdom Army. The resistance members were determined to use every means to liberate the city, including assassinations and kidnappings. However, as their actions proved to be futile, the resistance eventually evacuated all members and sympathizers in the hopes of fighting another day. Soon after the main resistance led by Yung had fled Omashu, Princess Azula's tyrannical behavior caused local protests to escalate into an armed uprising coordinated by a bandit leader. With the aid of her team and the Royal Procession, Azula successfully defeated the rebellion, though the insurgent leader proudly proclaimed that the spirit of resistance remained unbroken.
==== Day of Black Sun and spread of resistance ====
After Azula successfully overthrew the Earth Kingdom government by conquering the capital city of Ba Sing Se, many believed that the Earth Kingdom had fallen. Despite the Fire Nation army usurping control of the capital, the Fire Army was spread too thin to cover the entire Earth Kingdom, resulting in the continuous occurrence of rebellions throughout the kingdom in an attempt to regain control.
The uprisings and their successes were reported to Fire Lord Ozai in a war meeting on the day before the invasion of the Fire Nation. General Shinu admitted that the powerful Fire Nation armies in the Earth Kingdom had been unsuccessful in repressing the revolts and that the Domestic Forces would be required for reinforcement. Ozai then requested Prince Zuko to voice his opinion on the matter, considering his field expertise in the Earth Kingdom. Zuko argued that the people of the Earth Kingdom could resist any and all hardship as long as they had hope. Before he could outline his further thoughts, Ozai and Azula took the prince's advice and concluded that the Fire Nation had to destroy the resistance's hope entirely. The Fire Lord decided to use the power of Sozin's Comet to burn down the Earth Kingdom completely. Horrified at this idea, Zuko subsequently defected to Team Avatar.
On the Day of Black Sun, King Bumi successfully broke free of his metal prison and, taking advantage of the Fire Army soldiers' inability to firebend, used his exemplary earthbending abilities to defeat all of the powerless guards and soldiers who were trying to stop him. Bumi cast out the entire Fire Nation garrison and destroyed all buildings which had been related to the occupation. The liberation of Omashu was a disaster for the Fire Nation, as the Earth Kingdom resistance regained one of the most important strongholds on the continent.
The war, and thus the rebellions, ultimately ended when Team Avatar defeated Ozai and Azula upon the arrival of Sozin's Comet.
== Appearances ==
=== Avatar: The Last Airbender ===
==== Book One: Water (水) ====
==== Book Two: Earth (土) ====
==== Book Three: Fire (火) ====
=== Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game ===
* Core Book
* Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide
=== Video games ===
* Avatar: Generations
== References ==
== See also ==
* Surrender of Omashu
* Military of the Earth Kingdom
fr:Rébellions des maîtres de la terre
nl:Opstand van het Aarderijk
Category:A to Z
Category:Battles
Category:Battles in the Earth Kingdom
Category:Earth Kingdom
Category:Events
Category:Hundred Year War