Amestris (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Amestris is the nation-state that serves as the principal setting of the anime series "Fullmetal Alchemist". Culturally and technologically similar to turn-of-the-century Europe, 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 Ishbal in the East is ethnically and culturally distinct, populated by religious-minded tribes similar to the people of India, Spain, North Africa or the Middle East. It is held together by a military dictatorship controlled by the eccentric King Bradley. King Bradley has, legally or not, the official title of president but is referred to by the political title "Fuhrer". It is unclear how long King Bradley has been in control of the state.
Amestris is bordered by a number of other countries, many of which have a less than peaceful attitude toward it. The State Military is constantly engaged in border-clashes with Creta in the west and Aerugo in the south. Drachma, Amestris' neighbour to the north, has signed a non-aggression pact with Amestris after border wars between the two countries, but diplomatic relations remain shaky--Amestris's government still considers Drachma to be the home of "barbarians". However, the two countries are separated by the Briggs Mountain Range, which aids in keeping another full-scale engagement at bay. Far to the east, past Ishbal and beyond the Great Desert, lies the country of Xing (in the manga only). Xing is ruled by an imperial government, and its people use alchemy for medical purposes, rather than warfare. At the moment, there have been no mentions of conflict between Xing and Amestris.
In the anime, the country's name is deliberately kept obscure. On screen, it is always referred to simply as "the State." In the anime as well, King Bradley is a homunculus controlled by Dante who is in fact the hidden true ruler of the state. In the manga King Bradley is the homonculus Wrath and the highest levels of the military are aware of that fact.
Flag
The flag of Amestris is a green field charged with a rampant white dragon. It appears twice in the course of the series. Once, it is draped over Brig. Gen. Maes Hughes' coffin, elsewhere, it is pulled down and torn apart by an angry mob of Ishbalans in the course of a rebellion.
Appearing more frequently is the flag of the military government, a yellow-bordered green gonfalon with the same charge. It can often be seen hanging from the facades of government buildings, Regional Military HQ's in particular.
External Links
- Amestris Map from the official Fullmetal Alchemist Perfect Guidebook 2
- Fullmetal Alchemist World Map provides a graphical representation and descriptions of Amestris and its surrounding countries/areas.
