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In the TV anime Gundam (Universal Century) Universe, the Republic of Zeon
was initially founded by Zeon (Jion) Zum Daikun, who declared the colony
located at the second Earth-Luna Lagrangian Point, named Side 3, independent
from the Earth. After Zeon's (suspicious) death, his advisor, Degin Sodo
Zabi becomes leader and renames it the Principality of Zeon. War is declared
on the Earth Federation shortly thereafter.
The result is the One-Year War. The first week, known as the One-Week War
(Jan 3 - Jan 10, UC0079) resulted in more than a quarter of the Earth's
population of 12 billion people perishing. The Earth Federation and the
Principality of Zeon signed the Antarctic treaty (Jan 31) to prevent WMD use
and Colony Drops as a result of the astounding losses.
The very next day (Feb 1), Zeon begins the formation of its Earth Attack
Force. By the middle of 0079, the Zeon forces had control of much of the
Earth. Nevertheless, after several major operations (Velvet, Odessa, et
al.), the Earth Federation regained much of the lost ground. The war
eventually climaxed in the Battles of Solomon and Abawaku (A Baoa Qu),
finally resulting in the end of the war. The final surrender occurred with
the Treaty of Granada on January 14, UC0080.
Several years later (UC0083), the Delaz fleet, under Aguille Delaz,
sought to rebuild Zeon in Operation Stardust and 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 insurrection.
Several more years passed as the Titans reigned with brute force. In
UC0088 the Titans were eventually defeated by the Anti-Earth Federation.
Afterward a new Zeon arose under the leadership of Zeon Daikun's son,
Cassoval Rem Daikun (aka Char Aznable, the Red Comet). Neo-Zeon was founded
under the goal of moving all of humanity into space so the Earth could be a
sanctuary. Char's plan involved colliding the asteroid, named Axis, into the
Earth, thus making it uninhabitable, but his plan was foiled by his old
adversary from the One Year War, Amuro Ray, and Neo-Zeon was quickly
crushed.
In UC0100, The Republic of Zeon officially rejoined the Earth Federation.
Early official romanizations were rendered "Zion," the creators of Gundam
apparantly being unaware of that word's connotations. Early fansubbers often
used the alternate romanization "Jion." Frederick Schodt chose to use "Zeon"
when he translated the Gundam novels into English, and this later became the
official romanization.
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