Archadian Empire

The Archadian Empire is an imperialist nation and the main antagonist faction of Final Fantasy XII.

History
At the start of the game they invade Dalmasca to obtain the Dusk Shard, having previously invaded and conquered the nation of Nabradia to claim the Midlight Shard. However, a resistance soon arose to fight back against the Archadian occupation, led by the previously thought to be dead princess of Dalmasca, Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca.

Later, seeking to become the sole player in Archadia's government, the son of Archadian Emperor Gramis Solidor, Vayne Solidor, killed his father and framed the Senate for it, allowing him to become the full autocratic ruler of the Archadian Empire.

It is also eventually revealed that Vayne and Doctor Cid, the head of Archadia's Draklor Laboratories, are in league with Venat, a rogue Occuria seeking to "put the reigns of history back in the hands of Man", and that Archadia's campaign of expansion was a cover for them to obtain the shards of nethicite.

Infiltrating the Archadian Sky Fortress Bahamut, the Party battles and defeats Vayne and Venat. Vayne's younger brother Larsa then becomes the Archadian Emperor, and Dalmasca is freed with Ashe as its new Queen.