Rabanastre

**Royal City of Rabanastre** (王都ラバナスタ, *Ōto Rabanasuta*?) is a major city in Ordalia, and the capital city of Dalmasca (both the nation and the temporary province), located in the western portion of the Galtean Peninsula.

The city is a hub for merchants crossing the Dalmascan deserts, and consists of roughly four sections, each in a cardinal direction. To the east and west are merchant districts; in the north, the streets widen into a large plaza facing the Royal Palace; while in the south are the three gates leading to the outskirts of the city, as well as the aerodrome. In the northwestern part of the town stands a cathedral built in the Galtean style of architecture, the bell of which, when rung, sounds throughout the entire city. A short walk from the center of the city stand the gates of the Royal Palace, home to the royal family, as well as the barracks of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca. During the Archadian occupation, it was home to the province's appointed Consul, Vayne Carudas Solidor. Many changes to the palace have been made throughout the years, but the overall design of the architecture is Galtean.

In the underground beneath the city is Lowtown, of which the pillars support the soaring buildings above. Prior to the war with Archadia, it was a place used by merchants to store foodstuffs and wares, but with the Dalmascan defeat, many of the former Rabanastrans were relocated to Lowtown, leading to its gradual transformation into a residential area. Many orphans of the war adopted the area as their home, and it contains many passages to upper Rabanastre. Even further below runs the Garamsythe Waterway, built and rebuilt over the centuries, so much that no one alive seems to know all of its labyrinthine ways. There are stairs leading down to the waterway in Lowtown, but they are normally barred, and some of the paths in the waterway lead to the Royal Palace.

## History

Rabanastre has been the capital of Dalmasca for over 700 years, and also served as the capital of Raithwall's Galtean Alliance prior to that, as well as many nations in the storied past of the Galtean Peninsula. After the downfall of House Galtea, House Dalmasca took control of the city, and the independent kingdom was founded. Rabanastre has been a center for trade between the three continents of Ordalia, Kerwon and Valendia, and the many cultures that went through its trade routes have shaped the city's culture.

## Final Fantasy XII

**Spoiler warning: *Plot and/or ending details follow.*** *(Skip section)*

Two years prior, the relationships between the competing empires of Archadia and Rozarria had grown strained and Archadia was expected to invade the small nations situated between the borders of the two superpowers. In order to strengthen the national security of both nations Princess Ashelia of Dalmasca was to marry Prince Rasler of Nabradia.
The wedding was held in Rabanastre with the prince and princess paraded through the city streets in front of cheering crowds. Soon after, Archadia invaded Nabradia and, after the fall of Nabudis, Prince Rasler joined the Battle of Nalbina Fortress where he was killed. As the Empire moved to assassinate the king of Dalmasca and take over the kingdom Ashe escaped from Rabanastre and went into hiding, and a word was spread that she had committed suicide.

After the Empire took over Dalmasca, the life in Rabanastre greatly changed. Imperial soldiers took over the town and many of the old citizens were forced to move underground where they formed an underground city, known as Lowtown. Vaan and his childhood friend Penelo grew up during these events and after Vaan's (Reks, killed in the Battle of Nalbina Fortress) and Penelo's (parents, killed in the invasion of Rabanastre) caretakers, the two started to work for the bangaa Migelo, who would look after them. The people of Rabanastre hated the Archadian Empire but were powerless to do anything about it.

The story opens two years after Dalmasca has been invaded by the Archadian Empire. Vaan spends his days in Rabanastre practicing his hunting skills, dreaming of becoming a sky pirate and stealing from the imperials. A new Consul, Vayne Carudas Solidor, arrives in Rabanastre to be appointed to rule over Dalmasca, and the Royal City of Rabanastre prepares for a grand fete to commemorate the event. Vayne holds a speech to the citizens of Rabanastre and even if the crowd shows their disdain at first, Vayne is able to make an impression on the citizens by praising the late king.

On the night of the fete, the Resistance storms the Royal Palace with Princess Ashe as part of the Resistance forces, but the Imperial fleet, expecting the attack, stifles the skirmish quickly. Ashe escapes the palace via an underground waterway, but is caught by Vayne and her accomplices are thrown into the Nalbina Dungeons. The days of the new Consul are short-lived, however, and Vayne is soon summoned back to Archades, where he goes on to conspire to become the new emperor.

As the war between the Resistance forces led by Marquis Ondore and the forces of Archadian Empire, led by Vayne, breaks out, Rabanastre becomes the battleground. Princess Ashe manages to defeat Vayne, but the Imperial flagship Sky Fortress Bahamut loses its power and is in danger of falling on the city of Rabanastre, obliterating it. Ashe's comrade, the sky pirate Balthier, manages to fix the Bahamut's glossair rings just in time, and Bahamut crash-lands outside of the city, becoming a notable landmark in the area.

Vayne defeated, Larsa Ferrinas Solidor becomes the new emperor of Archadia, and settles peace with Princess Ashe. Dalmasca regains its sovereignty, and Ashe becomes the queen, continuing to rule Dalmasca from the Royal Palace in Rabanastre. A year later, Penelo notes in a letter to Larsa that Rabanastre is finally back to the way it was, back when her parents were still alive.

***Spoilers end here.***
## Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

**Spoiler warning: *Plot and/or ending details follow.*** *(Skip section)*

After losing his new airship at the Glabados Ruins, Vaan returns to Rabanastre. One day a mysterious derelict arrives at the city outskirts and Vaan, Penelo, Kytes and Filo venture inside. The derelict turns out to be the airship Galbana which leads the group into the trip to Lemurés. During their adventures the group runs into Velis, a former member of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca who once resided in Rabanastre.
After defeating Feolthanos in the Keep of Forgotten Time, the sky continent falls to pieces and Galbana flies away to locations unknown. Vaan, Penelo, Kytes and Filo return to Rabanastre, but unwilling to go back to their usual routine Vaan and Penelo sneak out of town during night to set out to new adventures, but are caught by Filo and Kytes.

***Spoilers end here.***
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sage Knowledge 39: Rabanastre.
2. ↑ Sage Knowledge 41: Royal Palace.
3. ↑ Sage Knowledge 40: Lowtown.
4. ↑ Sage Knowledge 42: Garamsythe Waterway.