Byleth Eisner was one of the Five Heroes of the Crimson War that was raised as a mercenary and taught at Garreg Mach Officer's Academy for a year before it began. It is unknown whether Byleth was a man or woman as evidence seems to suggest that either conclusion is possible. Some recent scholars have even taken to the outrageous claim that Byleth may, in actuality, have been two different people. It is known that Byleth taught in the Imperial Year 1180 at Garreg Mach Monastery where their parents, Sitri and Jeralt Eisner, met. Surviving artwork depicts them as either a man or woman with light blue eyes, deep teal hair, and wielding the Sword of the Creator. It is believed that they were a bearer of a long forgotten crest, The Crest of Flames.
History indicates that Byleth reunited with Yuri Leclerc sometime after the Crimson War to establish a mercenary company in honor of their late father. This company would go on to eventually fund the reconstruction of the Garreg Mach Officer's Academy. Although they are lost to time after this, many rumors have circulated about Byleth's life. Some of these claims include that they were a reincarnation of a forgotten goddess, that they punched a dragon in the face, that they married into royalty, and that they had multiple lovers in their lifetime of both genders.
Edeglard von Hresvelg is one of the Five Heroes of the Crimson War and is often cited as the origin of the conflict. As the only surviving child of Emperor Ionius IX, she was the final Emperor of the Adrestian Empire that fell into obscurity following the Crimson War. She is usually depicted in artwork as an intimidating woman donning red armor. Although this was originally believed to have been symbolic of the blood spilled during her crusade, scholars have since come to the conclusion that she may have actually wore such attire. She is usually depicted wielding Aymr in battle and is believed to have not have a Crest of her own when alive.
She attended Garreg Mach Officer’s Academy in the Imperial Year 1180 where she acted as the house leader for The Black Eagles. While there, she befriended Claude von Riegan, Byleth Eisner, and Yuri Leclerc who would come to assist her in the coming conflict. It is believed that she started her crusade against the Church of Seiros while still attending the Officer’s Academy. Edelgard eventually disappears from history after the conclusion of the Crimson War and is believed to have gone into hiding to live an ordinary life, possibly in Brigid. Her opinions likely influenced some of King Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd’s ruling style, however, and it is believed that he often sought her out for advice. Stories of her escapades still inspire Fódlan’s military forces to this day and she is often credited as one of the greatest military leaders to have ever lived.
Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd was the first ruler of the United Kingdom of Fódlan and perhaps the most polarizing Hero from the Crimson War. He was the final prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus that disowned in the Imperial Year 1186 and a survivor of the Tragedy of Duscur that occurred in the Imperial Year 1176 where he lost his father. His mother died of the plague when he was a child though the exact year had never been recorded. He is often depicted as an imposingly tall man with a black eyepatch over his left eye. He is usually seen wielding Areadbhar.
Originally siding with the Church of Seiros after war broke loose, he eventually betrayed the archbishop after seeing her set fire to his hometown, Fhirdiad. It is theorized that he lost his left eye at the Battle of Tailtean Plains where he was spared by Claude von Riegan. Hatred guided much of his actions during the war though this began to fade after the eradication of those responsible for the Tragedy of Duscur, Those Who Slither In The Dark. Following its establishment, Dimitri was crowned as the first official ruler of the United Kingdom of Fódlan where he went on to become a benevolent and empathetic king that championed people of all social statuses. He is cited for passing many reforms, including ones that abolished Fódlan’s oppressive social system at the time. It is believed that he maintained a close friendship with the Almyran king, Claude von Riegan, and often sought out the advice of Edelgard von Hresvelg while ruling.
Claude von Riegan went on to become one of Almyra's greatest kings following his contribution to the Crimson War. Little about his early life is known though his mother, Tiana, hailed from the Leicester Alliance and crossed the border at some point in her life to be with Claude's father, the king of Almyra. He was born in the Imperial Year 1162 as Khalid and later changed his name after arriving in Fódlan. He became legitimized as the heir of the Leicester Alliance dukedom in the Imperial Year 1179 though this nation would also become obsolete following the conclusion of the Crimson War. Claude is often depicted riding a wyvern and wielding Failnaught.
It is known that Claude attended the Officer Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery in the Imperial Year 1180 where he befriended Edelgard von Hresvelg, Yuri Leclerc, and Byleth Eisner. He was the house leader of the Golden Deer and shocked Fódlan with his decision to fight against the Church of Seiros. It is believed that he was responsible for sparing his former classmate, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, at the Battle of Tailtean Plains. This is often cited by scholars as the turning point for the war against the Church of Seiros. After the conclusion of the Crimson War, it is recorded that he returned to his homeland of Almyra to take his rightful place as the country’s ruler. He went on to strengthen bonds with Fódlan, Brigid, Dagda, and surrounding nations by opening his own for trade, immigration, and travel. Most scholars cite that he remained exceptionally close with the other Five Heroes until his death. It is widely believed that he had multiple lovers of both genders during his lifetime.
Yuri Leclerc, or the "Savage Mockingbird", was one of the Five Heroes of the Crimson War. He was born in a poor town in a western Faerghus to a prostitute and unknown father. At some point during his life, he was adopted by Count Rowe and sent to attend the Officer's Academy in the Imperial Year 1174. He, however, was later expelled for scandal and somehow ended up in Abyss. He was later invited to join the Golden Deer House in the Imperial Year 1180 by Claude von Riegan. He is often depicted with a silver sword and wearing the Fetters of Dromi leading many scholars to speculate that he may have had the Crest of Aubin.
While attending Garreg Mach Officer's Academy for a second time, Yuri managed to befriend Claude von Riegan, Byleth Eisner, and Edelgard von Hresvelg. When war was declared by the latter, he was more than willing to offer his aid with hopes of sparing Abyss from destruction. After the Crimson War came to an end, he eventually reunited with Byleth Eisner to establish a mercenary band that went on to fund the reconstruction of the Officer’s Academy. When it reopened its doors in the Imperial Year 1193, the Ashen Wolves House was found in his honor. Yuri seems to disappear from history following this though his name reappears years later in a correspondence between Claude von Riegan and a sender of a different name.