Highlights

  • The Alvarez Empire was formed by Zeref Dragneel and aimed to conquer the continent of Alakatasia.
  • The empire’s primary objective was to acquire the Fairy Tail guild’s secret power, the Fairy Heart.
  • The Alvarez Empire had a powerful military force, including the feared Spriggan 12 and non-human soldiers, but suffered significant losses in a war against Fairy Tail.


Fairy Tail’s worldbuilding started off small and relatively underwhelming, yet the series made up for it with the introduction of the Alvarez Empire, a country located on a continent west of Ishgar. Despite no mention of the nation during most of the series, the Alvarez Empire has always been present in the backdrop, plotting against the continent of Ishgar to gain a power capable of disrupting time itself.

The existence of this empire may have come as a surprise to many, yet the actual jarring revelation pertaining to this nation is its leader, Zeref Dragneel. He has been a recurring antagonist in the series, yet his affiliations with an entire nation were left out previously. With Zeref at the helm of this kingdom, it’s truly no surprise that the Alvarez Empire has committed several crimes and boasts many heinous goals.

History of the Alvarez Empire

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The formation of the Alvarez Empire was a result of conquest, one led by Zeref Dragneel to subjugate the entire continent of Alakatasia. Almost 730 guilds fell victim to Zeref’s expansionist greed, and a nation that initially began as a small militia slowly engulfed the entire continent. Zeref’s otherworldly power towered over the entire continent, and none could contest his rule, with every single nation eventually bowing down to the newly crowned ‘Spriggan’ Emperor.

The exact year of the empire’s formation remains unknown, though it has been confirmed that Zeref took hold of Alakatasia years before the initial set time of the series. The series has also hinted that he had started working towards his goal during the time he met Mavis, meaning the conception of the empire dates back several decades.

The Empire’s Objectives

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The sole reason behind the formation of the Alvarez Empire was to rival Ishgar and eventually subjugate the entire continent. This objective of the empire stems from Zeref’s goals of acquiring the Fairy Tail guild’s secret power, the Fairy Heart. Zeref could have potentially taken hold of the power himself, yet he was intelligent enough not to underestimate both the Fairy Tail Guild and the Magic Council’s might.

The empire’s primary force, the Spriggan 12, attempted to invade some parts of Ishgar a few years before Fairy Tail’s initial set time, yet their invasion was halted by the Magic Council’s threat to use the Etherion Cannon and Face. These two weapons were enough to deter the Alvarez Empire and Zeref for years. However, the Magic Council’s fall and the destruction of Face left Ishgar vulnerable to another invasion, an event that eventually came to pass.

While the Spriggan 12 were aware of the goal of acquiring Fairy Heart, Zeref kept them in the dark about the actual purpose of achieving this power. The Spirggan 12 believed this power would grant them god-like status, dominating not just Alakatasia but the entire world. However, Zeref’s goal was much different, as he intended to use the Fairy Heart to relive his life with Time Magic, allowing him to escape the curse of immortality.

The Alvarez Empire’s Military Might

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Unlike Ishgar, the Alvarez Empire is a military regime, possessing more than two million trained soldiers ready for battle. However, this ginormous army is the least of any nation’s problems, as the real threat lies in the emperor’s personal guard, otherwise known as the Spriggan 12. Each member of this group is a renowned powerhouse in the wizarding world, with God Serena, the strongest Spriggan member, being a former Wizard Saint of Ishgar.

Other notable members include August and Irene, two of the strongest wizards in the entire world. All 12 members further boast personal armies of their own, commanding entire platoons and battalions of soldiers. What makes the group even more fierce is the fact that Zeref has given each member complete autonomy over their armies, with some members even blatantly defying Zeref’s orders.

While the Spriggan 12 are certainly the primary threat, the Alvarez Empire also boasts an army of non-human soldiers, composed mostly of Etherious demons from the Books of Zeref and machines capable of magic called Machias. The empire also has advanced weaponry and war machines, such as advanced airships and artillery guns for long-range destruction.

Aftermath of the Alvarez Empire

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The war between Fairy Tail and the Alvarez Empire is the longest arc in the entire series, and its length accurately depicts the intensity of the war. While the Fairy Tail guild eventually came out on top, several casualties had to be endured on both sides. However, the Alvarez Empire was hit the hardest, with the nation losing its emperor, and most of the Spriggan 12 as well.

After the war, Ajeel Raml took over the kingdom and proclaimed himself as the King of Alvarez. Jacob became his advisor, and the two sought to rebuild the fallen empire once more, albeit without the tyranny that Zeref had inflicted. Relations between Alvarez and Fiore were also restored as the former hostile government had been overthrown. Suffice to say, the Alvarez Empire lost its initial might in the war, turning into a pacifist nation seeking peaceful coexistence.

Fairy Tail is available to stream on Prime Video.