Sanc Kingdom

The Sanc Kingdom (サンクキングダム, Sanku Kingudamu), also known as the Cinq Kingdom, was a pacifist monarchy located in Northern Europe (possibly Denmark) that was ruled by the Peacecraft Dynasty in the After Colony era. Known for its unwavering commitment to total pacifism, the kingdom cultivated peaceful diplomatic and economic relations with the space colonies through their representative Heero Yuy. The kingdom was invaded and destroyed by the United Earth Sphere Alliance in AC 182 for its pacifist stance, which the Alliance viewed as threatening to its militaristic agenda. The kingdom was later liberated and restored in AC 195 by Zechs Merquise and led by Relena Peacecraft before being absorbed into the Earth Sphere Unified Nation.

Overview

The Sanc Kingdom represented an idealistic vision of governance based on total pacifism—the belief that lasting peace could only be achieved through complete disarmament and rejection of military solutions. Under the rule of King Peacecraft, the kingdom became a symbol of this philosophy, demonstrating that a nation could thrive without military power through diplomacy and economic cooperation.

The kingdom’s most beloved monarch was King Peacecraft, who cultivated a peaceful diplomatic and economic friendship with the space colonies through their political representative Heero Yuy. Both men became close friends during an era of increasing tension between Earth and the colonies, and both advocated pacifism in a world becoming more militaristic. This alliance between an Earth nation and the colonies threatened the United Earth Sphere Alliance’s control and the Romefeller Foundation’s ambitions.

Going by maps shown in the series and several hints (such as the Royal Copenhagen tea set Lucrezia Noin served Relena with in Frozen Teardrop), the Sanc Kingdom was likely located in or was once part of Denmark, positioned along the Baltic Sea coast in Northern Europe.

History

Early history and Peacecraft Dynasty

Before the creation of the United Earth Sphere Alliance in AC 133, the Sanc Kingdom existed as an independent monarchy in Northern Europe. The kingdom had been under the peaceful rule of the Peacecraft Dynasty for many years, with the family name itself embodying their commitment to peace.

The kingdom’s philosophy of total pacifism set it apart from other nations. Whilst most governments maintained military forces for defence, the Peacecrafts believed that even defensive militarism perpetuated the cycle of violence. They advocated complete disarmament, diplomacy, and economic cooperation as the only paths to lasting peace.

King Peacecraft and Heero Yuy alliance

One of the most beloved Peacecraft monarchs was King Peacecraft, the last reigning monarch before the Alliance’s invasion. Under his rule, the Sanc Kingdom cultivated peaceful relations with the space colonies through their political representative Heero Yuy. King Peacecraft was a great admirer of Yuy, and both men became good friends, united in their advocacy for pacifism during an era of increasing militarisation.

King Peacecraft had two children: Milliardo Peacecraft (later known as Zechs Merquise) and Relena Peacecraft. The royal family represented the hope that pacifism could prevail even as the world moved towards greater conflict.

Alliance invasion and royal family massacre

In AC 182, the United Earth Sphere Alliance invaded the Sanc Kingdom. The Alliance viewed the kingdom’s pacifism as a threat to its militaristic agenda and its alliance with the colonies as undermining Earth’s control. During the invasion, the Alliance military slaughtered the royal Peacecraft family.

King Peacecraft was killed, and his children would have died as well had not loyalists intervened. The infant Relena was saved by Vice-Minister Darlian, a local politician loyal to the Peacecraft family, who fled with her and raised her as his own daughter. Milliardo, as a young boy, survived but went into hiding, eventually joining OZ under the alias Zechs Merquise to seek revenge.

The kingdom’s destruction and the massacre of the Peacecraft family demonstrated the Alliance’s brutal approach to dissent. The attack also coincided with the assassination of Heero Yuy, eliminating two of the strongest voices for pacifism within a short period.

Restoration by Zechs and Relena

In AC 195, Zechs Merquise successfully liberated the Sanc Kingdom region from control of Alliance remnants following OZ’s takeover. However, having served in the Alliance Military and as a member of OZ, Zechs felt unworthy to lead a pacifist nation with blood on his hands. He left leadership to his sister Relena, though she was unaware of their relationship at the time.

After Vice-Minister Darlian’s assassination by Lady Une, he revealed to Relena her true heritage as a Peacecraft princess. She returned to the Sanc Kingdom and took up her post as its leader, calling herself “Chief Representative” rather than Queen, though as daughter of King Peacecraft and with Milliardo having renounced his claim to the throne, she was the rightful heir.

Pacifist advocacy and growing influence

As Chief Representative, Relena continued her father’s ideal of total pacifism. The Romefeller Foundation saw the restored Sanc Kingdom as a threat to their plans of controlling Earth and the colonies. The Foundation attempted to isolate the kingdom diplomatically, but more and more nations began embracing the ideal of total pacifism, drawn by Relena’s persuasive advocacy.

The kingdom established a school where Relena taught pacifism to children of nobles, spreading the philosophy to the next generation of leaders. Dorothy Catalonia, Duke Dermail’s granddaughter, came as a student but actually served as a spy whilst acting as devil’s advocate to Relena’s ideals.

Second invasion and final dissolution

Seeing no alternative to contain the kingdom’s growing influence, the Romefeller Foundation engineered a second invasion. When members of the Treize Faction took refuge at the kingdom’s borders, OZ used this as justification to attack. The pacifist nation was technically unable to defend itself, though Lucrezia Noin had secretly created a small army of white Taurus mobile suits for defence, and the Gundam pilots assisted in repelling the first attack.

When Romefeller forces moved against the kingdom a second time, Relena chose to surrender rather than allow the Sanc Kingdom to be destroyed again. The Romefeller Foundation made her Queen of their newly created Earth Sphere Unified Nation, using her influence for their purposes.

At this point, the Sanc Kingdom became a member state of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation and ceased to exist as an autonomous nation. Following the war, Relena served as Vice Foreign Minister of the ESUN, continuing to advocate for the pacifist ideals her father and the Peacecraft Dynasty had championed.

Appearances

The Sanc Kingdom appeared in the following works:

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (anime series, episodes 5-49)
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (OVA)
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Episode Zero (manga)
New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop (novel series)
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers (manga)
Gundam Build Divers (anime, recreated in Gunpla Battle Nexus Online)
SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays (video game)

External links

Sanc Kingdom on the Gundam Wiki