When the very first Fire Emblem game came out in Japan, one man stood out on the game's cover. His name was Marth, and for the years to come, he would be one of the franchise's staple main characters. He maintained a legacy that made him appear in Super Smash Bros. Melee, earning him worldwide recognition outside of Japan. For a long time, he strictly had a Japanese-only voice provided by Hikaru Midorikawa, but in Fire Emblem Fates and onward, he is voiced by acting legend Yuri Lowenthal. For being the first starting lord of the franchise, Marth is one of the most beloved and memorable.
For games relating to Marth, there was only one released outside of Japan where players can get to know Marth and how he started as a prince of an invaded kingdom to beome the kind and just ruler. That game was the Nintendo DS remake called Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon and it was the first proper introduction to Marth and his story. What was Marth like before he got caught in a whirlwind of events in the continent of Archanea? Here is everything you need to know about Marth's past.
5 His Family
Marth is the son of King Cornelius and Queen Liza of Altea, the younger brother of Elice and the grandson of Marius. They descended from Marcelus, the brother of Anri the Great. Anri had no children of his own, so Marth and his family are indirectly related to the hero that saved Altea from Medeus, the Shadow Dragon that would return many years later for Marth and his allies to take on. As seen in the prologues from Shadow Dragon and the OVA, he is especially close to his sister Elice and she was willing to risk her life to ensure her brother's safety when Altea was being invaded. This is emphasized when his form in Fire Emblem Heroes, as the Legacied Hero, says the following, "My elder sister is a very kindhearted person."
4 Childhood
In the Fire Emblem OVA, while not exactly canon, Marth has in a strained relationship with his father for being too gentle and not living up to the greatness of Anri in Cornelius' eyes. In the games, it is not known how close they were, as Cornelius went away to fight Dohlr's forces with the legendary sword Falchion. However, he has perceived his father as a great warrior regardless. While his father was fighting, he stayed with his mother and Elice to focus on his studies. According to his dialogue in Fire Emblem Heroes as young Marth, he says, "I must get strong, and study hard so I can become a great king someday." In an ironic sense, he also says this in his alt, "Altea is at peace. I hope it stays that way forever..." If only he'd known what would happen in the years to come.
3 Friends
While getting accustomed to his studies, he encountered friends who will eventually remain with him for a very long time. One of them is the magic-user Merric, an Altean noble who also is friends with Elice, and later would marry her after the events of Mystery of the Emblem. There is also Jagen, Cain, Abel, Draug, and Gordin, all of whom accompanied Marth when Altea was being invaded. Jagen acts as a father figure to Marth, acting as his tactician and guide and is the most loyal person a prince could ask for. All of them, asides from Merric who has resided in Khadein to continue his studies, remained with Marth for two years in exile.
2 Thus, His Adventure Begins
Unexpected to all that were fighting off Dohlr's forces, the country of Gra suddenly betrayed Altea when King Jiol ordered the attack on Altea's forces, effectively taking Cornelius' life. This caught Altea by surprise and the kingdom was close to being captured. Cain, one of the cavaliers that would accompany Marth, informed the prince about his father's death. His sister Elice stayed behind to give Marth more time to escape and try to reunite with their mother. Escaping the castle, Marth rescued Gordin before he could be fully captured by Gra's forces. In Shadow Dragon, the character Frey can be chosen to stay as a decoy, eventually sacrificing his life to let Marth escape, or so the player believes if they went with the option.
1 Forming An Unforgettable Bond
As Marth and his friends escaped to Tayls, they met up with the king of the island nation, Mostyn, as well as the princess Caeda. Despite not being a large nation, Tayls served as a calm hiding place for the gang for the time being. The kindhearted and beloved Caeda would eventually become fast friends with Marth, and during his exile, the two grew close and eventually formed feelings for one another. Things were peaceful, but Marth took the time to train with Jagen and his other subordinates to ensure that they get back their homeland. When Galder pirates started to raid Talys, Marth took it upon himself to stop the invasion, but that would mean he and the others, including Caeda, would have to march on forward to take on Dohlr once and for all.