Flag of Amestris' military government

Amestris is the nation-state that serves as the principal setting of the anime and manga series Fullmetal Alchemist. Its name is deliberately kept obscure early in the anime. By Conquer of Shamballa its name is stated at the start of scenes to tell the viewer where they are. Amestris is quite large and diverse, both in terms of terrain and inhabitants. In the central and southern provinces the citizens seem to be of European extraction. The province of Ishval in the East (annexed by Amestris 14 years earlier) is ethnically and culturally distinct from the rest of country; it is populated by religious-minded tribes similar to the people of India, North Africa or the Middle East. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... Animé redirects here. ... This article is about the comics created in Japan. ... Demographic Shōnen Serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangan Original run January 2001 – still running Volumes 19 volumes, with 81 total chapters (as of March 12, 2008) TV anime Director Seiji Mizushima Studio Bones Licensor Aniplex FUNimation Entertainment MVM Films, then Revelation films Madman Entertainment Network MBS-TBS, Animax Original run... Ishval ), spelled Ishbal in the Funimation adaptation of the anime, is a fictional region in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist. ...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

A military dictatorship controls Amestris, which was originally founded in 1558. The Head of State holds the official title of "Führer", and is at the same time the highest ranking Army officer (showing four stars on his shoulders) and the Commander in Chief of the military. King Bradley (King here is a first name, not a title) is the Führer throughout the series. It is unclear how long he has been in control of the country, but his term at least precedes the Ishvalan War. Amestris shares some parallels with Nazi Germany, especially considering the use of the title "Führer" as its leader and the human experiments during the Ishvalan War, paralleling the human experiments of the Nazis during World War II. In the manga, one may note the use of World War II-era weapons by the State Military, such as the Colt M1911, Browning Hi-Power, MP40, and Mauser Karabiner 98k. In the anime, however, weapons technology is closer to the Vietnam War era, as shown by the State Military's use of the M14 rifle and M60 machine gun. For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... Nazi propaganda poster. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the . ... The Browning Hi-Power is a semi-automatic, single-action, 9 mm pistol. ... The MP40 (Maschinenpistole 40, literally machine pistol 40) was a submachine gun developed in Germany and used extensively by paratroopers and platoon and squad leaders, and other troops during World War II. The MP40 had a relatively lower rate of fire and low recoil, which made it more manageable than... The Karabiner 98 Kurz (often abbreviated Kar98k or K98k) was a bolt-action rifle adopted as the standard infantry rifle in 1935 by the Wehrmacht,[3] and was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... M14 and M-14 redirect here. ... For other uses, see M60. ...

Neighbours

Amestris is, as far as it is known, a landlocked country; it is bordered by Aerugo in the south, Creta in the west, and Drachma, resembling the real-life Soviet Union, in the north. A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ...

The relationship between Drachma and Amestris is similar to the one between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union; in the manga, for the first time in chapter 78, the Drachman Army is seen, and what seems to be its Commander in Chief dresses in a quasi-Russian style. Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... For the television series, see Commander in Chief (TV series). ...

In the east, Amestris once bordered the nation of Ishval, which was eventually conquered and annexed. Beyond the Amestris-controlled Ishval is the Great Desert, which divides Amestris from Xing, an Empire resembling China in antiquity. The nation of Xerxes, which was allegedly destroyed by alchemy in a single night, homeland of Van Hohenheim, was located in the Great Desert.

Nothing is known about what, if anything, lies beyond Creta, Aerugo, Drachma, nor about any other continent beyond the one these countries lie on. It is known that there is a water route between Xing and Amestris, but no details exist.

Very little is known about diplomatic relations between Amestris and the neighbours: as of chapter 79, Amestris has been revealed to be at war with Aerugo, Creta and Drachma, and seems to have no conflicts ongoing with the Empire of Xing. During the war with Ishval, Aerugo supplied the Ishvalans with weapons, but refused to grant refugees of the war any sanctuary when the Amestrians turned the tide of the war in their favour. While little is known about the southern and western fronts, the Amestrian Army has maintained steady control of its northern border, fortified by the harsh weather and natural barrier of Briggs Cliff and the strict control enforced by Major General Armstrong. When Zolf J. Kimblee apparently betrays the Amestrians by informing the Drachman Army of the Major General's departure from Briggs, they move to attack but are utterly annihilated by the well-trained and technologically advanced forces at Briggs Fortress. Members of the State Military. ...

Notable locations

• Central

Central is the seat of government in Amestris. The National Library, Central Headquarters, and Laboratory 5 are all located in Central.

• Dublith

A city of the south, it is the home of Sig and Izumi Curtis as well as the Devil's Nest. Ed and Al were trained in alchemy there after their mother died.

• East City

Located in a backwater region near the desert, East City was the home base of Colonel Mustang and his entire outfit for most of the early portions of the anime and manga. It's reasonably close to Lior and Resembool, making it a sort of central hub for some of Ed and Al's early adventures.

• Lior

The desert city of Lior is home to a unique ethnic group who, like the Ishbalans, hold religion in high regard. They were formerly under the control of Father Cornello, the so-called "Prophet", but he was deposed by the Elric brothers, leading to a period of civil war that nearly destroyed the entire city. Rose comes from Lior. Leto, the Solar God of Lior Lior (spelled Reole in the original Japanese manga; spelled Liore in a scene in the English dub of Conqueror of Shamballa) is a fictional city of Fullmetal Alchemist, on the East border of Amestris, the central country of Fullmetal Alchemist. ...

• Resembool

This far-flung town is the home of the Elrics, and a great deal of important events happened here. This is where Winry and Pinako live and the site of the Elrics' burned down house.

• Rush Valley

A city of the South, it is known for its automail mechanics. By train, it is near Dublith.

• Youswell

A coal mining town far to the east, it is the last stop on the railroad.

• Xenotime (Note: Only appears in the anime and novel Land of Sand)

Xenotime was once known as the "City of Gold", due to its rich deposits of said element. They sold their wares far and wide, gaining great wealth, but when the gold was exhausted, the town fell into disrepair. The land-baron Mugwar attempted to use the toxic Red Water hidden in the mines to forge Red Stones, so that he could transmute gold and return the city to its former glory. However, the Elric Brothers caught on to him and, together with the sons of alchemist Nash Tringum, stopped his plan.

• New Hiessgart (video game only)

A city founded and governed by Professor Wilhelm Eiselstein, a member of the Ten Alchemists, when Hiessgart was overrun by chimeras. The city is relatively new and lies somewhere between Resembool and Central City. It appears only in the first video game, Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, where it acts as the story's primary setting.

• Siam-Sid (video game only)

Once a gleaming metropolis, the former capital of Lebis is now little more than ruins. Long ago, the king of Lebis attempted to create the perfect human being, unleashing an untold horror which destroyed the entire civilization in a single night. The city and the fate of its residents are often referenced in the anime, but are only directly dealt with in the second video game, Curse of the Crimson Elixir.

• The Underground City (anime only)

An old city that once stood on the site of what is now Central City. In the anime, Hohenheim used the city's entire population to create a Philosopher's Stone, and pulled the city itself beneath the earth, four centuries ago. Dante used the city as her headquarters to create new stones. In the manga, it is a massive underground complex where the mysterious "Father" lives. In the movie parts of the underground city is raised above ground destroying parts of central.

• Briggs (manga only)

The northern base of Amestris located in a mountain range, commanded by Major General Olivia Mila Armstrong. It is a huge underground complex housing thousands of soldiers who regularly go out on patrols, as well as the centre for the development of non-alchemic weapons. Most if not all the soldiers there are extremely paranoid, accusing anyone whom they do not know of being spies from the nation of Drachma to the north. Apparently, only one incident involving patrolling soldiers successfully being attacked occurred over a period of a month about twenty years before the arrival of Major General Armstrong; the attacker was identified to be a woman, though not a spy from Drachma. Gaiden chapter "Tales of the Master" reveals that the woman was actually a young Izumi Curtis. Izumi Curtis in One is All, All is One Izumi Curtis ) is the name of a character from Fullmetal Alchemist. ...

Flags

Flag of Amestris

The official flag of Amestris is green with the symbol of a rampant white dragon. It appears twice in the course of the anime: one flag was draped over Brigadier General Mäes Hughes' coffin, and another flag was shown being torn apart by an angry mob of Ishbalans. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Flag (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dragon (disambiguation). ... Members of the State Military. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Appearing more frequently is the flag of the military government: a yellow-bordered green gonfalon with the same dragon symbol. It can often be seen hanging from the façades of government buildings, most notably on the several regional military headquarters. A gonfalon is an ensign or flag emblematic of royalty. ...

The dragon symbol also appears on the uniform of the State Military as a lapel insignia on the right collar. The person's rank is displayed after it. Also, the cover of the pocket watches carried by state alchemists, used to amplify their transmutations, has the dragon on its face.

In the manga, the dragon is shown in the center of the design for the transmutation circle that destroys Xerxes, and gives "Father" and Von Hohenheim new bodies

Conspiracy

In the manga, recent developments have led to a horrifying discovery: the very existence of Amestris is due to alchemy and genocide.

Approximately 350 years before the present date, alchemy was taught to the then-tiny country of Amestris by a mysterious man from the East now known as "The Eastern Philosopher". Amestris almost immediately transformed into a military dictatorship and began conquering its neighbors, most likely through the use of destructive alchemy.

Since then, there have been nine incidents of mass murder in Amestris-- all involving the military. Ishbal is not even the most recent - Due to interference from Central, Lior fell into chaos soon after Edward defeated Leto. Marking these locations on a map and connecting them in concentric circles creates a pattern-- the alchemic array discovered under the Fifth Laboratory used to create Philosopher's Stones. The secret purpose of the nation of Amestris itself was simply to create this array. Ishbal is a fictional region in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist. ... Leto, the Solar God of Lior Lior (spelled Reole in the original Japanese manga; spelled Liore in a scene in the English dub of Conqueror of Shamballa) is a fictional city of Fullmetal Alchemist, on the East border of Amestris, the central country of Fullmetal Alchemist. ...

The ultimate purpose of this gigantic array is as of yet unknown, but one thing is certain: when it is activated, it will kill every living thing in Amestris. One may assume that this is what happened to the neighboring country of Xerxes - the home of the "Eastern Philosopher". And only one area remains to be marked - the Briggs mountain range.

External links

• Fullmetal Alchemist World Map provides a graphical representation and descriptions of Amestris and its surrounding countries/areas.