Hardin

"I'm going to take my men east to join our might with Marth's. Together we will retake the castle.."

- Hardin in FE1

Prince Hardin is the younger brother of the King of Aurelis. He is the leader of the rebellion army protecting Aurelis from Doluna and was assigned to guard Princess Nyna of Akaneia. A just and honorable man, he also helps out Marth in his quest. It's revealed that Hardin freed the plains people, like Wolf, Roshea, and others from slavery, and in return they swore loyalty to him.

He also acts as the main character in one of the satellaview games along with Minerva. They befriend and team up against Medon deserters but he does not give out his name.

Hardin was in fact in love with Nyna. As Akaneia was in need of a new Emperor, Hardin was eventually assigned to the position, but he is more happy that it means he gets to be with his beloved Nyna. Unfortunately, she did not love him the way he did. When he found out, he was struck with grief and locked himself in a room. Gharnef posed as a merchant and offered him the Darksphere, which consumed Hardin's soul and transforms him into a twisted man. He changes the Empire from a just one into an iron-fisted one, spreading terror throughout the land. Marth eventually defeats him, but was unable to save his life in process. In his dying breath, Hardin thanks Marth for freeing his soul and asks him to watch over Nyna.

Trivia

 * Hardin seems to share many similarities with Zephiel from Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken and Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi. Both (chronologically) start out as benevolent princes who merely wish for peace, both personal and worldwide, but are later in life twisted; partly by personal grief (in Hardin's case it was caused due to unrequited love, while Zephiel was never acknowledged by his own father as a son) and becoming a huge threat to their respective continents. However, there are differences, like Hardin who comes back out of his brainwashed state when near death, while Zephiel never seems to show regret of his own planned actions.