The Athha family is one of the five royal families of Orb, introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Overview[]
The Athha family is a proud family whose members include the three Chief Representatives who led the Orb Union before and during the First Alliance-PLANT War and through and after the Second Alliance-PLANT War.
History[]
First Alliance-PLANT War[]
In C.E. 58, the Athha family became the ruling family of the Orb Union with the appointment of Uzumi Nara Athha as the nation's Chief Representative. Following the start of the First Alliance-PLANT War, Lord Uzumi proclaimed that the Orb Union would maintain its independence and be unaligned with both the Earth Alliance and PLANT. However, unbeknownst to Uzumi, the Sahaku family had made a deal with the Atlantic Federation to construct Earth Alliance mobile suits at the Orb's space colony, Heliopolis.[1] After it was revealed that Orb and the EA were working together to build mobile suits, Uzumi stepped down as Orb's Chief Representative due to political pressure from PLANT, with his brother Homura Athha taking the position. Despite no longer officially holding the position, Uzumi essentially remained Orb's leader, acting from behind closed doors while Homura acted as the public figure.[2]
Battle of Orb[]
Following the Battle of Porta Panama, the EA sent Orb an ultimatum, ordering the nation to join the Alliance, disarm its military, and have the Athha family renounced from power. Despite knowing the inevitability of an attack should Orb refuse, Uzumi maintained his stand on nonintervention and rejected the EA's demands, leading to the Battle of Orb.[3] At the battle's climax, Uzumi ordered the remainder of Orb's military to board the Kusanagi and leave with the Archangel to fight another day. After the two ships launched, he and several of Orb's Cabinet members remained to oversee the destruction of Morgenröte Headquarters and Orb's Mass Driver, sacrificing their own lives in the process. After the battle, Homura remained in Orb to oversee the nation during the EA's occupation.[4]
Uzumi's absence[]
With Uzumi's death, the position of Orb's leader was up for grabs and the other noble families, particularly the Sahaku family, sought to obtain it.[5] Meanwhile, Uzumi's daughter Cagalli Yula Athha led the Orb military remnant into space, which later became part of the Three Ships Alliance.[6] As part of the TSA, the Orb forces made up a large part of the organization's military strength and played a significant role at the Battle of Mendel and the war's climatic end at the Second Battle of Jachin Due.[7][8][9]
Post-War[]
Following the end of the First Alliance-PLANT War, Orb regained its independence status and the nation continued to be led by the Athha family, with Cagalli having been made Orb's new Chief Representative. During the post-war period, Cagalli oversaw the reconstruction of the nation. It was also revealed that Cagalli had a twin brother, Kira Yamato, who was granted status as part of the Athha family.
Second Alliance-PLANT War[]
In C.E. 73, Cagalli began to face political pressure from Orb's other noble families, particularly the Seiran family, regarding Orb's neutrality. Following the "Break The World" Incident, Cagalli was overpowered by Orb's cabinet members who chose to join the Earth Alliance.[10] In preparation for the nation's change in policy, Cagalli was to marry Yuna Roma Seiran.[11] However, before the marriage ceremony began, Kira arrived in the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and “Kidnapped” Cagalli, bringing her to the Archangel.[12] With Cagalli gone, the opportunistic Yuna took her position as Orb's Chief Representative and had Orb officially join the Earth Alliance.
After the Archangel left the Orb Union's territory, Kira confronted Cagalli regarding her capitulation to the Seiran's and allowed Orb to join the EA. Challenging her decision to keep Orb safe at the expense of its ideals and the potential safety of other nations, Kira reminded her of the values Uzumi taught them, resulting in Cagalli coming to terms with her mistake.[13] Deciding to rectify her decisions, Cagalli and the Archangel crew intervened in the Battle of Dardanelles to prevent Orb forces from attacking ZAFT. However, Yuna proclaimed Cagalli as an imposter and ignored her calls to disengage.[14] Despite a similar failure at the Battle of Crete, the Archangel received several crew from the Takemikazuchi, who chose to abandon the Seiran controlled Orb in favor of the ideals of the Athha family.[15][16] Later, the Archangel returned to the Orb Union and was repaired by loyalists within Morgenröte.
Operation Fury - Second Battle of Orb[]
Later, Cagalli learned that Yuna had provided asylum to Lord Djibril, following the Battle of Heaven's Base. Knowing that Djibril's presence would prompt a ZAFT attack, Cagalli deployed her forces to defend Orb, leading the group in her ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam. During the ZAFT invasion, Cagalli ousted Yuna from command and reclaimed her position as Orb's leader. Once in control, Cagalli rallied the Orb forces to hold the line against ZAFT while they searched for Djibril.[17] During the battle, many of the Pro-EA cabinet members, including the entire Seiran family, were killed by ZAFT mobile suits, allowing Cagalli to take back control of the nation with ease following ZAFT's retreat and reinstate its neutrality.[18][19]
Climax of the Second Alliance-PLANT War[]
Following the reveal of the superweapon Requiem and the Destiny Plan, Kira was made an Admiral and appointed the head of the Orb Union's space fleet. With the Archangel, now his official flagship, he led Orb's space forces while Cagalli remained in the nation to oversee its restoration.[20] Kira and Lacus Clyne led a combined Orb Union and Three Ships Alliance attack against ZAFT during the Battle of Messiah.[21][22] After their victory, Cagalli met in peace negotiations with the PLANT Supreme Council and brought an end to the Second Alliance-PLANT War in C.E. 74.[22]
Members[]
- Uzumi Nara Athha - Known as the "Lion of Orb" and Chief Representative of Orb before the Heliopolis incident.
- Homura Athha - Younger brother and Chief Representative of Orb after Uzumi resigned.
- Cagalli Yula Athha - Chief Representative of Orb after Orb Union was restored to its pre-war state.
- Kira Yamato - Admiral and Commander of the Orb Space Fleet.
Gallery[]
Notes & Trivia[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- PHASE-01, False Peace
- First Appearance
- PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
- PHASE-07, The Scar of Space
- Mentioned only
- PHASE-24, War for Two
- PHASE-32, In the Promised Land
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-41, Trembling World
- PHASE-42, Lacus Strikes
- PHASE-15, The Respective Solitudes
- PHASE-16, Burning Sandstorm
- PHASE-17, Cagalli Returns
- PHASE-18, Payback
- PHASE-19, Fangs of the Enemy
- PHASE-20, On a Calm Day
- PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- PHASE-22, The Sea Dyed Red
- PHASE-23, Fateful Encounter
- PHASE-25, The Land of Peace
- PHASE-28, Kira
- PHASE-29, The Turning Point
- PHASE-31, Grieving Skies
- PHASE-36, In the Name of Justice
- Flashback(s) Only
- PHASE-37, Divine Thunder
- PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
- PHASE-39, Athrun
- PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
- PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- PHASE-49, The Final Light
- PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- PHASE-01, False Peace
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-08, Junction
- PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
- PHASE-14, Flight to Tomorrow
- PHASE-40, Legacy of Gold
- OVAs and ONAs
References[]
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-01, False Peace
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-27, Endless Rondo
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray Chapter 9, Parts 9: Re. H.O.M.E.'s Maiden Voyage
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-49, The Final Light
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-08, Junction
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-14, Flight to Tomorrow
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-15, Return to the Battlefield
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-23, The Shadows of War
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-30, A Fleeting Dream
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-40, Legacy of Gold
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-42, Freedom and Justice
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-43, A Call for Counterattack
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-45, Prelude to Revolution
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-49, Rey
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny PHASE-50, The Final Power