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| ==The Republic of Zeon== | ==The Republic of Zeon== | ||
| The '''Republic of Zeon''' was initially founded by ] (father of ]), who declared the ] located at the second Earth-Luna ], named ], independent from the ] in UC 0058. For the next several years, Zeon Zum Deikun and his followers dealt with issues surrounding their independence, chiefly the economic pressure applied to Side 3 by the ], in their efforts to force Side 3 back into the Federation. During this time, Side 3 formed its first ] unit. Unfortunately, for the Republic of Zeon, Zeon Zum Deikun unexpectedly died ( |
The '''Republic of Zeon''' was initially founded by ] (father of ]), who declared the ] located at the second Earth-Luna ], named ], independent from the ] in UC 0058. For the next several years, Zeon Zum Deikun and his followers dealt with issues surrounding their independence, chiefly the economic pressure applied to Side 3 by the ], in their efforts to force Side 3 back into the Federation. During this time, Side 3 formed its first ] unit. Unfortunately, for the Republic of Zeon, Zeon Zum Deikun unexpectedly died (assassinated) in UC 0068, leaving Side 3 without a leader. After the end of the ], the Republic was reestablished with a puppet government which the ] controlled. | ||
| ==The Principality of Zeon== | ==The Principality of Zeon== | ||
| After Deikun's death, his advisor, ], became the new leader and renamed the Republic the '''Principality of Zeon''', changing its flag as well. Degwin rapidly expanded the colony's national guard units into a full fledged ]. ] and other unique weapons made their first appearance. War was soon declared on the Earth Federation. Outside of the armed forces ranks, Degwin Sodo Zabi is sometimes referred to as the "Sovereign of Zeon". | After Deikun's death, his advisor, ], became the new leader and renamed the Republic the '''Principality of Zeon''', changing its flag as well. Degwin rapidly expanded the colony's national guard units into a full fledged ]. ] and other unique weapons made their first appearance. War was soon declared on the Earth Federation. Outside of the armed forces ranks, Degwin Sodo Zabi is sometimes referred to as the "Sovereign of Zeon". | ||
| The resulting conflict became against the Federation was known as the ]. The first week, known as the One-Week War (from January 3 UC 0079 to January 10 UC 0079) resulted in the deaths of 3 billion people (2.8 billion colonists, by indiscriminate use of ]s, and an estimated 0.2 billion from ], as a result of ]).<ref name ="GOOWW">Gundam Officials, One Week War</ref> Following the Battle of Loum on January 15 UC 0079, most residents of the ] colony were also killed. The combined attacks during this period resulted in the death of nearly a third of the total human population around the Earth sphere. | The resulting conflict became against the Federation was known as the ]. The first week, known as the One-Week War (from ] UC 0079 to ] UC 0079) resulted in the deaths of 3 billion people (2.8 billion colonists, by indiscriminate use of ]s, and an estimated 0.2 billion from ], as a result of ]).<ref name ="GOOWW">Gundam Officials, One Week War</ref> Following the Battle of Loum on ] UC 0079, most residents of the ] colony were also killed. The combined attacks during this period resulted in the death of nearly a third of the total human population around the Earth sphere. | ||
| Initial estimations put the death toll of the colony drop at 2.32 billion: 0.32 billion as a direct result of the drop itself, and an additional 2 billion due to the drop's after-effects (that is, many places in the vicinity of the drop zone losing contact with the rest of the world, and thus losing any aid in their survival). Post-war research, however, lowered the number to a total of 0.2 billion deaths directly related to the drop.<ref name="GOOWW"/> As a consequence of the astounding losses, the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon signed the ] on January 31 UC 0079, banning the used of NBC weapons and colony drops. | Initial estimations put the death toll of the colony drop at 2.32 billion: 0.32 billion as a direct result of the drop itself, and an additional 2 billion due to the drop's after-effects (that is, many places in the vicinity of the drop zone losing contact with the rest of the world, and thus losing any aid in their survival). Post-war research, however, lowered the number to a total of 0.2 billion deaths directly related to the drop.<ref name="GOOWW"/> As a consequence of the astounding losses, the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon signed the ] on ] UC 0079, banning the used of NBC weapons and colony drops. | ||
| The next day, immediately after the treaty was signed, Zeon began the formation of its Zeon Earth Attack Force. By the middle of UC 0079, the Zeon forces had controlled over 70% of the Earth's surface.<ref name ="GOOYW">Gundam Officials, One Year War</ref> Nevertheless, after several major operations (Velvet<ref name="GOOYW"/> |
The next day, immediately after the treaty was signed, Zeon began the formation of its Zeon Earth Attack Force. By the middle of UC 0079, the Zeon forces had controlled over 70% of the Earth's surface.<ref name ="GOOYW">Gundam Officials, One Year War</ref> Nevertheless, after several major operations (Velvet,<ref name="GOOYW"/> Odessa, et al.), the Earth Federation regained much of their lost ground. The war eventually climaxed in the Battles of ] and ], where the Earth Federation's superior forces took control of both Zeon fortresses. The Principality of Zeon finally surrendered with the ''Treaty of Granada'', on ], UC 0080. | ||
| Several years later, in UC 0083, the Delaz fleet, under ], sought to rebuild Zeon in ]. The resulting colony drop destroyed much of the North American farmland. The Delaz fleet was soon defeated, but the war led to the Earth Federation's creation of a force called the ] to prevent future insurrections. | Several years later, in UC 0083, the Delaz fleet, under ], sought to rebuild Zeon in ]. The resulting colony drop destroyed much of the North American farmland. The Delaz fleet was soon defeated, but the war led to the Earth Federation's creation of a force called the ] to prevent future insurrections. | ||
| ===Zeon Armed Forces=== | ===Zeon Armed Forces=== | ||
| Within the storyline, the Zeon army was composed of three branches in |
Within the storyline, the Zeon army was composed of three branches in UC 0079: | ||
| *'''Zeon Space Attack Force''' | *'''Zeon Space Attack Force''' | ||
| :The equivalent of the Earth Federation Space Force, the Space Attack Force consisted of six battle fleets, modeled after the Earth Federation Navy, with space battleships and mobile suit carriers used as their primary weapons. | :The equivalent of the Earth Federation Space Force, the Space Attack Force consisted of six battle fleets, modeled after the Earth Federation Navy, with space battleships and mobile suit carriers used as their primary weapons. | ||
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| :According to the story, the Earth Attack Force was presumably the largest of the other three branches, the role of Garma Zabi was practically ceremonial, since the Earth Attack Force consisted of an army, navy, and air force and he was at the time only in his early twenties. Other senior officials who still reported to Garma hold the reins in the army, navy and air force, respectively. Garma's main duty was to serve as commandant of Zeon-occupied ].<ref>Gundam Officials</ref> | :According to the story, the Earth Attack Force was presumably the largest of the other three branches, the role of Garma Zabi was practically ceremonial, since the Earth Attack Force consisted of an army, navy, and air force and he was at the time only in his early twenties. Other senior officials who still reported to Garma hold the reins in the army, navy and air force, respectively. Garma's main duty was to serve as commandant of Zeon-occupied ].<ref>Gundam Officials</ref> | ||
| ==Neo-Zeon Movements== | ==Neo-Zeon Movements== | ||
| ===The First Neo-Zeon Movement (Axis Zeon)=== | ===The First Neo-Zeon Movement (Axis Zeon)=== | ||
| Several more years passed as the Titans reigned with brute force. In UC 0088, the Titans were defeated by the ]. | Several more years passed as the Titans reigned with brute force. In UC 0088, the Titans were defeated by the ]. | ||
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| The '''Axis Zeon''' (or simply '''Axis''') were remnant members of the Pricipality of Zeon who, for various reasons, retreated to the giant asteroid ''Axis'', at the end of the ]. Most members of this group seek to forcibly re-establish the Principality of Zeon. They were led by ], who was chosen to rule over the Principality supporters, until ], remaining survivor of the Zabi family, became old enough to do so on her own. However, Minerva was merely Haman's puppet and tool to establish her right to lead. | The '''Axis Zeon''' (or simply '''Axis''') were remnant members of the Pricipality of Zeon who, for various reasons, retreated to the giant asteroid ''Axis'', at the end of the ]. Most members of this group seek to forcibly re-establish the Principality of Zeon. They were led by ], who was chosen to rule over the Principality supporters, until ], remaining survivor of the Zabi family, became old enough to do so on her own. However, Minerva was merely Haman's puppet and tool to establish her right to lead. | ||
| Axis returned to the Earth Sphere on October 12, UC 0087, during the height of the Earth Federation's civil war, the ]. Both the Titans and the AEUG were eager to ally with the Axis fleet, thus virtually doubling their fleet. The AEUG was the first group to open negotiations with Axis, but failed as Haman chose to side with the Titans. Later, the AEUG secretly opened a second round of negotiations, where Haman agreed to assist them against the Titans. In truth, Haman's goal was to play the Titans and the AEUG against each other, so that whichever side emerged victorious would be sufficiently weakened, allowing her forces to overcome them and seize control of the Earth sphere. | Axis returned to the Earth Sphere on ], UC 0087, during the height of the Earth Federation's civil war, the ]. Both the Titans and the AEUG were eager to ally with the Axis fleet, thus virtually doubling their fleet. The AEUG was the first group to open negotiations with Axis, but failed as Haman chose to side with the Titans. Later, the AEUG secretly opened a second round of negotiations, where Haman agreed to assist them against the Titans. In truth, Haman's goal was to play the Titans and the AEUG against each other, so that whichever side emerged victorious would be sufficiently weakened, allowing her forces to overcome them and seize control of the Earth sphere. | ||
| For the next year or so, the bulk of the Earth Federation's military fought the newly created '''Neo-Zeon''' army, led by the former anti-Titans group, ] and surviving members of the AEUG from the Gryps Conflict. |
For the next year or so, the bulk of the Earth Federation's military fought the newly created '''Neo-Zeon''' army, led by the former anti-Titans group, ] and surviving members of the AEUG from the Gryps Conflict. Despite this, many inside the Federation government chose to appease Haman, even after Haman dropped a colony in ], as a show of Neo-Zeon's strength, causing massive civilian casualties. Haman's movement, however, died with her not long after, due to the rebellion of the self-proclaimed clone of ], ] which resulted in a Neo-Zeon civil war, thus concluding the First Neo-Zeon Movement. | ||
| ===The Second Neo-Zeon Movement=== | ===The Second Neo-Zeon Movement=== | ||
| In UC 0093, Zeon Zum Deikun's son, Casval Rem Deikun (aka Zeon's legendary ace, ], the "Red Comet"), created a second Neo-Zeon. This movement was founded under the ceremonial goal of "speeding up" the space migration of all of humanity, so the theoretical evolution of humanity into ] could be realised. Char's plan involved a series of massive asteroid drops against the Earth, ultimately leading to an eternal nuclear winter |
In UC 0093, Zeon Zum Deikun's son, Casval Rem Deikun (aka Zeon's legendary ace, ], the "Red Comet"), created a second Neo-Zeon. This movement was founded under the ceremonial goal of "speeding up" the space migration of all of humanity, so the theoretical evolution of humanity into ] could be realised. Char's plan involved a series of massive asteroid drops against the Earth, ultimately leading to an eternal nuclear winter, rendering the planet uninhabitable. The final collision attempt was to involve the Axis asteroid, headquarters of the previous Neo-Zeon movement. The plan was ultimately foiled by the Federation's ] taskforce, headed by ], and his old adversary from the One Year War, ], when Amuro managed to push the falling Axis away, sacrificing himself in the process (his death, however, was never officially confirmed). Char's loss of the Second Neo-Zeon Movement effectively ended the Zeon/Neo-Zeon movement. | ||
| In UC 0100, the Republic of Zeon officially rejoined the Earth Federation. | In UC 0100, the Republic of Zeon officially rejoined the Earth Federation. | ||
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| Early official romanizations were rendered "'''Zion'''". Early English language anime publications frequently used the alternate spelling '''"Jion"''' when writing articles about Gundam. ] chose to use "Zeon" when he translated the Gundam novels into ], and this later became the official romanization. Schodt mentions in his notes to the Gundam novelizations that he chose this to keep the sound correct, yet avoid unintentional offense problems concurrent with the use of the term ], which is also a religious/political term in the real world. In the ] run and English localization of ], the Zeons were also derisively referred to as "'''Zeeks'''", originally taken from '']: 0079'', one of the many Gundam ] written by ] and added by translator ], to reflect the tendency to nickname war enemies, i.e. Yankees/Rebs (Civil War), Jerries/Tommies (WWI), Japs (WWII), Commies (Cold War), Charlie (Vietnam). The Zeons use similar nicknames for the Earth Federal Forces, such as "Feddies". | Early official romanizations were rendered "'''Zion'''". Early English language anime publications frequently used the alternate spelling '''"Jion"''' when writing articles about Gundam. ] chose to use "Zeon" when he translated the Gundam novels into ], and this later became the official romanization. Schodt mentions in his notes to the Gundam novelizations that he chose this to keep the sound correct, yet avoid unintentional offense problems concurrent with the use of the term ], which is also a religious/political term in the real world. In the ] run and English localization of ], the Zeons were also derisively referred to as "'''Zeeks'''", originally taken from '']: 0079'', one of the many Gundam ] written by ] and added by translator ], to reflect the tendency to nickname war enemies, i.e. Yankees/Rebs (Civil War), Jerries/Tommies (WWI), Japs (WWII), Commies (Cold War), Charlie (Vietnam). The Zeons use similar nicknames for the Earth Federal Forces, such as "Feddies". | ||
| <!--following section hidden before someone edited out the speculation and OR. |
<!--following section hidden before someone edited out the speculation and OR. People stating they have sources are only putting out speculation instead of actual sources right now. | ||
| ==The Zeon-German connection== | ==The Zeon-German connection== | ||
| {{Original research}} | {{Original research}} | ||
| According to some fan websites{{Fact|date=March 2007}}, Zeon is a reference to ] under ]. In early ] plastic Gundam model kits, the "Principality of Zeon" was titled "'''Zion Dukedom'''"; in some cases, "'''Herzogtum'''" (] for ''dukedom'') was used. In ], the prototype mobile suit, ], is German for ''fighter'', and a sniper-type variation of the ], the ]; Jäger is German for ''hunter''. |
According to some fan websites{{Fact|date=March 2007}}, Zeon is a reference to ] under ]. In early ] plastic Gundam model kits, the "Principality of Zeon" was titled "'''Zion Dukedom'''"; in some cases, "'''Herzogtum'''" (] for ''dukedom'') was used. In ], the prototype mobile suit, ], is German for ''fighter'', and a sniper-type variation of the ], the ]; Jäger is German for ''hunter''. In ], the gigantic mobile armour at the end of the series, the ], which is German for ''new goal''; in addition, two new variants of the ] were introduced: the ] (German for ''tropical'') and the ] (German for ''five''). In ], Zeon's tradition of Germanifying mechs continued (albeit more and more of them started to sound Asian/African in origin, like the ] and the ]), with the ] (Sturm is German for ''storm''), and the ] (this may of may not be a corruption of the German word ''dreizehn'', which is ''thirteen'', but the ''drei'' indicates that the number three is involved; plus, it even looks like a Dom). In ], the German-themed mobile suits ended with the ] (Jagd is ''hunt'' in German) and the Zeon movement. However, in ], a mobile armor appears, named the ] (a Japanese corruption of part of the name of ] ]). Starting from ], the Nazi German themes were no longer introduced, due to the shift from Zeon to the Crossbone Vanguard. | ||
| When Bandai re-issued new Gundam plastic model kits in 1999, "Zion Dukedom" was renamed to "Principality of Zeon". |
When Bandai re-issued new Gundam plastic model kits in 1999, "Zion Dukedom" was renamed to "Principality of Zeon". In the official Sunrise-approved name list, it was explained that the "kokoku" is used to describe the real-world principalities of Andorra, Monaco, et cetera. | ||
| Also to support this connection is the Adolf Hitler reference in episode 40 of ] (episode 39 in the English dub). The head of the Zabi family, Degwin Sodo Zabi, asked his eldest son (and the person with all the real power), Gihren Zabi, what he wanted to do if and when he managed to destroy the Earth Federation with the ]. Gihren says that he will lower the human population and only permit breeding among the "superior races". Degwin asks him if he's heard of Adolf Hitler, and Gihren responds that he thinks he was a person from the Middle Ages (not to be confused with the ] in present human history), and Degwin says that he was a tyrant, and a madman, "completely out of touch with the rest of the world". He notes that Gihren is following him. Gihren claims that he will be victorious, and tells his father that he should "see how a Hitler follower fights" (in some versions, he calls himself a "Hitler Tail"). Degwin mutters that Hitler was defeated (in some versions, he says that Hitler was killed by his own people). This exchange was heavily changed in the English dub to eliminate all references to Hitler, replacing them with more general talk of ]. The exchange is complete in the subtitles for the three Gundam movies. | Also to support this connection is the Adolf Hitler reference in episode 40 of ] (episode 39 in the English dub). The head of the Zabi family, Degwin Sodo Zabi, asked his eldest son (and the person with all the real power), Gihren Zabi, what he wanted to do if and when he managed to destroy the Earth Federation with the ]. Gihren says that he will lower the human population and only permit breeding among the "superior races". Degwin asks him if he's heard of Adolf Hitler, and Gihren responds that he thinks he was a person from the Middle Ages (not to be confused with the ] in present human history), and Degwin says that he was a tyrant, and a madman, "completely out of touch with the rest of the world". He notes that Gihren is following him. Gihren claims that he will be victorious, and tells his father that he should "see how a Hitler follower fights" (in some versions, he calls himself a "Hitler Tail"). Degwin mutters that Hitler was defeated (in some versions, he says that Hitler was killed by his own people). This exchange was heavily changed in the English dub to eliminate all references to Hitler, replacing them with more general talk of ]. The exchange is complete in the subtitles for the three Gundam movies. | ||
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| Other similarities between the Nazis and Zeon include rallying cries, their defeat and rebirth, even the term "Axis". The two most familiar Nazi phrases are "Heil Hitler" and "Sieg Heil", meaning, respectively, "Hail Hitler" and "Victory and Glory". Gihren Zabi coined the phrase "Sieg Zeon" (actually, Ja: ジーク・ジオン, ''Jiiku Jion'') at his younger brother, Garma's, funeral. This has been used in many of the Japanese series with Zeon in them, but the Americans, under the supervision of ], changed this in the two ]-dubbed Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam:Char's Counterattack; to keep the phrase in a similar fashion, it was merely changed to "Hail Zeon". This is not true of American-dubbed versions. The English-translated releases of Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: The 8th MS Team, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, and ], as well as video games, such as ] and ], use the "Sieg Zeon" cry in even the dubbed English versions, although this is because the two of the series was translated before Mobile Suit Gundam' was dubbed into English and the three series where not Tomino-directed series. | Other similarities between the Nazis and Zeon include rallying cries, their defeat and rebirth, even the term "Axis". The two most familiar Nazi phrases are "Heil Hitler" and "Sieg Heil", meaning, respectively, "Hail Hitler" and "Victory and Glory". Gihren Zabi coined the phrase "Sieg Zeon" (actually, Ja: ジーク・ジオン, ''Jiiku Jion'') at his younger brother, Garma's, funeral. This has been used in many of the Japanese series with Zeon in them, but the Americans, under the supervision of ], changed this in the two ]-dubbed Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam:Char's Counterattack; to keep the phrase in a similar fashion, it was merely changed to "Hail Zeon". This is not true of American-dubbed versions. The English-translated releases of Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: The 8th MS Team, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, and ], as well as video games, such as ] and ], use the "Sieg Zeon" cry in even the dubbed English versions, although this is because the two of the series was translated before Mobile Suit Gundam' was dubbed into English and the three series where not Tomino-directed series. | ||
| Most prominently featured in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory is the battle flag of Zeon, which is similar to the war ensign of Nazi Germany. |
Most prominently featured in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory is the battle flag of Zeon, which is similar to the war ensign of Nazi Germany. The Zeon flag uses the same color and striping scheme, with the Zeon emblem in black on a white disc, with black and white striping. However, differing from the Nazi war ensign, the Zeon emblem is located in the center of the flag, while the original ] was placed more on the left side. The flag was used on the DVD cover of the 2nd volume of the Mobile Suit Gundam release in North America, as a backdrop for Char Aznable and his ], although this flag did not appear within any Tomino-directed series. | ||
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Revision as of 22:03, 4 June 2008
For the Judaic religious concept of Zion which can be confused with this subject's title due to differences of romanization, see Zion.- For the Shining Force II character called Zeon, see Shining Force II
- For the Konjiki no Gash Bell!! character called Zeon, see Zeno and Dufort
In the television anime Mobile Suit Gundam (Universal Century series) universe, Zeon can refer to the Republic of Zeon, the Principality of Zeon or Neo-Zeon. It is also referred to as the Duchy of Zeon or the Zeon Dukedom. Before the English translation of Japanese name to Zeon was canonized by Nippon Sunrise in the late 1990s, it is some times translated as Zion or Jion, latter being closer to actual pronunciation in Japanese.
The Republic of Zeon
The Republic of Zeon was initially founded by Zeon Zum Deikun (father of Char Aznable), who declared the colony located at the second Earth-Luna Lagrangian Point, named Side 3, independent from the Earth Federation in UC 0058. For the next several years, Zeon Zum Deikun and his followers dealt with issues surrounding their independence, chiefly the economic pressure applied to Side 3 by the Earth Federation, in their efforts to force Side 3 back into the Federation. During this time, Side 3 formed its first national guard unit. Unfortunately, for the Republic of Zeon, Zeon Zum Deikun unexpectedly died (assassinated) in UC 0068, leaving Side 3 without a leader. After the end of the One-Year War, the Republic was reestablished with a puppet government which the Earth Federation controlled.
The Principality of Zeon
After Deikun's death, his advisor, Degwin Sodo Zabi, became the new leader and renamed the Republic the Principality of Zeon, changing its flag as well. Degwin rapidly expanded the colony's national guard units into a full fledged army. Mobile suits and other unique weapons made their first appearance. War was soon declared on the Earth Federation. Outside of the armed forces ranks, Degwin Sodo Zabi is sometimes referred to as the "Sovereign of Zeon".
The resulting conflict became against the Federation was known as the One Year War. The first week, known as the One-Week War (from January 3 UC 0079 to January 10 UC 0079) resulted in the deaths of 3 billion people (2.8 billion colonists, by indiscriminate use of NBC weapons, and an estimated 0.2 billion from nuclear winter, as a result of Operation British). Following the Battle of Loum on January 15 UC 0079, most residents of the Side 5 colony were also killed. The combined attacks during this period resulted in the death of nearly a third of the total human population around the Earth sphere.
Initial estimations put the death toll of the colony drop at 2.32 billion: 0.32 billion as a direct result of the drop itself, and an additional 2 billion due to the drop's after-effects (that is, many places in the vicinity of the drop zone losing contact with the rest of the world, and thus losing any aid in their survival). Post-war research, however, lowered the number to a total of 0.2 billion deaths directly related to the drop. As a consequence of the astounding losses, the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon signed the Antarctic Treaty on January 31 UC 0079, banning the used of NBC weapons and colony drops.
The next day, immediately after the treaty was signed, Zeon began the formation of its Zeon Earth Attack Force. By the middle of UC 0079, the Zeon forces had controlled over 70% of the Earth's surface. Nevertheless, after several major operations (Velvet, Odessa, et al.), the Earth Federation regained much of their lost ground. The war eventually climaxed in the Battles of Solomon and A Baoa Qu, where the Earth Federation's superior forces took control of both Zeon fortresses. The Principality of Zeon finally surrendered with the Treaty of Granada, on January 14, UC 0080.
Several years later, in UC 0083, the Delaz fleet, under Aiguille Delaz, sought to rebuild Zeon in Operation Stardust. The resulting colony drop destroyed much of the North American farmland. The Delaz fleet was soon defeated, but the war led to the Earth Federation's creation of a force called the Titans to prevent future insurrections.
Zeon Armed Forces
Within the storyline, the Zeon army was composed of three branches in UC 0079:
- Zeon Space Attack Force
- The equivalent of the Earth Federation Space Force, the Space Attack Force consisted of six battle fleets, modeled after the Earth Federation Navy, with space battleships and mobile suit carriers used as their primary weapons.
- The Commander of the Space Attack Force was Vice Admiral Dozle Zabi. The Space Attack Force's headquarters were based in the Fortress of Solomon.
- Zeon Mobile Assault Force
- The Commander of the Mobile Assault Force was Rear Admiral Kycilia Zabi.
- Its headquarters were based at the lunar city of Granada. Consisting of the equivalent of about one battle fleet, Kycilia's forces include intelligence services, research projects, like the Flanagan Institute, resource and mining operations, and special forces teams, like the Black Tri-Stars, Chimaera Corp and the Midnight Fenrir Corp .
- Zeon Earth Attack Force
- Commanded by Captain Garma Zabi, the Earth Attack Force was headquartered in California.
- According to the story, the Earth Attack Force was presumably the largest of the other three branches, the role of Garma Zabi was practically ceremonial, since the Earth Attack Force consisted of an army, navy, and air force and he was at the time only in his early twenties. Other senior officials who still reported to Garma hold the reins in the army, navy and air force, respectively. Garma's main duty was to serve as commandant of Zeon-occupied North America.
Neo-Zeon Movements
The First Neo-Zeon Movement (Axis Zeon)
Several more years passed as the Titans reigned with brute force. In UC 0088, the Titans were defeated by the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG).
The Axis Zeon (or simply Axis) were remnant members of the Pricipality of Zeon who, for various reasons, retreated to the giant asteroid Axis, at the end of the One Year War. Most members of this group seek to forcibly re-establish the Principality of Zeon. They were led by Haman Karn, who was chosen to rule over the Principality supporters, until Mineva Lao Zabi, remaining survivor of the Zabi family, became old enough to do so on her own. However, Minerva was merely Haman's puppet and tool to establish her right to lead.
Axis returned to the Earth Sphere on October 12, UC 0087, during the height of the Earth Federation's civil war, the Gryps Conflict. Both the Titans and the AEUG were eager to ally with the Axis fleet, thus virtually doubling their fleet. The AEUG was the first group to open negotiations with Axis, but failed as Haman chose to side with the Titans. Later, the AEUG secretly opened a second round of negotiations, where Haman agreed to assist them against the Titans. In truth, Haman's goal was to play the Titans and the AEUG against each other, so that whichever side emerged victorious would be sufficiently weakened, allowing her forces to overcome them and seize control of the Earth sphere.
For the next year or so, the bulk of the Earth Federation's military fought the newly created Neo-Zeon army, led by the former anti-Titans group, Karaba and surviving members of the AEUG from the Gryps Conflict. Despite this, many inside the Federation government chose to appease Haman, even after Haman dropped a colony in Dublin, as a show of Neo-Zeon's strength, causing massive civilian casualties. Haman's movement, however, died with her not long after, due to the rebellion of the self-proclaimed clone of Gihren Zabi, Glemy Toto which resulted in a Neo-Zeon civil war, thus concluding the First Neo-Zeon Movement.
The Second Neo-Zeon Movement
In UC 0093, Zeon Zum Deikun's son, Casval Rem Deikun (aka Zeon's legendary ace, Char Aznable, the "Red Comet"), created a second Neo-Zeon. This movement was founded under the ceremonial goal of "speeding up" the space migration of all of humanity, so the theoretical evolution of humanity into Newtypes could be realised. Char's plan involved a series of massive asteroid drops against the Earth, ultimately leading to an eternal nuclear winter, rendering the planet uninhabitable. The final collision attempt was to involve the Axis asteroid, headquarters of the previous Neo-Zeon movement. The plan was ultimately foiled by the Federation's Londo Bell taskforce, headed by Bright Noa, and his old adversary from the One Year War, Amuro Ray, when Amuro managed to push the falling Axis away, sacrificing himself in the process (his death, however, was never officially confirmed). Char's loss of the Second Neo-Zeon Movement effectively ended the Zeon/Neo-Zeon movement.
In UC 0100, the Republic of Zeon officially rejoined the Earth Federation.
Mars Zeon
Appearing in the manga series Gundam F90, the Mars Zeon was a group of Zeon rebels who fled to Mars, rather than to Axis, after the One-Year War. Surviving on their own for a long time, the Mars Zeon was later reinforced by remnants of the Second Neo-Zeon Movement. Using the former Neo-Zeon members' AMS-119 Geara Doga mobile suits, the Mars Zeons were able to produce mobile suits outwardly, similar to the Principality's most famous designs, but possessing performance superior to the Geara Doga. Mars Zeon first made their presence known in UC 0120, when they stole one of the prototype F90 Gundam F90 units, leading the 13th Autonomous Corps to pursue them back to Mars. There, it was learned that the Mars Zeons had converted Olympus Mons into a gigantic rail cannon, and were planning on bombarding the Earth and destroying the Federation. Thanks to the efforts of the 13th Autonomous, however, the Mars Zeons were defeated and the Olympus Cannon was destroyed.
The Mars Zeons were also nicknamed the Oldsmobile Army by the Federation, because of their use of mobile suits of old-style appearances. The Oldsmobile Army eventually invaded Earth in UC 0122, allying with the Crossbone Vanguard. However, when the Federation started to deploy their down-scaled mobile suits, such as the F71 G-Cannon and the RGM-109 Heavygun, they proved to be very effective against Mars Zeon's larger mobile suits.
Variations in name
Early official romanizations were rendered "Zion". Early English language anime publications frequently used the alternate spelling "Jion" when writing articles about Gundam. Frederick Schodt chose to use "Zeon" when he translated the Gundam novels into English, and this later became the official romanization. Schodt mentions in his notes to the Gundam novelizations that he chose this to keep the sound correct, yet avoid unintentional offense problems concurrent with the use of the term Zion, which is also a religious/political term in the real world. In the Cartoon Network run and English localization of Mobile Suit Gundam, the Zeons were also derisively referred to as "Zeeks", originally taken from Gundam Sentinel: 0079, one of the many Gundam side stories written by Masaya Takahashi and added by translator Neil Nadelman, to reflect the tendency to nickname war enemies, i.e. Yankees/Rebs (Civil War), Jerries/Tommies (WWI), Japs (WWII), Commies (Cold War), Charlie (Vietnam). The Zeons use similar nicknames for the Earth Federal Forces, such as "Feddies".
Other uses of the word Zeon
In the Star Trek episode "Patterns of Force", Zeon was a planet in the same system as the planet Ekos, which had (thanks to interference by Federation historian John Gill, who had been sent as a cultural observer) developed a Nazi culture; on Ekos, Zeons were the persecuted minority, analogous to the Jews in Nazi Germany.
Star Trek's Zeon (ZAY-on) is pronounced differently from Gundam's Zeon (ZEE-on), and predates Gundam by over a decade.
In the Doctor Who serial, "The Armageddon Factor", the people of the planet Astrid are involved in a nuclear war with the planet called Zeos and its people- The Zeon. This story was first broadcast January 1979.
Zeon is also the King of Devils in a Sega Genesis game called Shining Force 2, the sequel to Shining Force, Legacy of Great Intent. Zeon's health and magic are in the 500s and he can cast Greater Demon Blaze, however, he is immobile.
The Japanese name of the antagonist Zeno from Zatch Bell! is "Zeon".