View source for Sparda

[[File:SpardaDT.jpg|thumb|Sparda's True Form]]
'''Sparda''' is a mighty demon who is known as the "Legendary Dark Knight". Two thousand years ago, he "woke up to justice" and alone defeated [[Mundus]] and his legions. When sealing the [[Demon World|netherworld]], sensing his power had grown too strong, he intentionally sealed himself and his own demonic power in as well.<ref>'''''Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening''''', '''Character — Sparda''': "The legendary dark knight who defeated the Devil-king some 2000 years ago. When sealing the netherworld, sensing his power had grown too strong, he intentionally seals himself in as well."</ref> Later, he escaped his prison and quietly reigned the [[Human World|human world]] and continued to preserve harmony. Before his death, he resurfaced in the modern day and married [[Eva]], who gave birth to his twin sons, [[Dante]] and [[Vergil]].

==Physical appearance and personality==
[[File:Sparda.jpg|thumb|Sparda's human form, as shown by a downloadable skin (for Dante) in Devil May Cry 3.]]In his human disguise, Sparda was a tall, handsome man with blue eyes, a young face and slicked-back white hair. He was only ever shown to be wearing a purple Victorian outfit with a white cravat, a large red jewel around his neck (the Perfect Amulet) and a monocle over his left eye. Although not much is known about him on a personal level, it is said that he was both rebellious like Dante and level-headed like Vergil. Legends speak fondly of his courage and his thankless mission to protect the human world at the expense of being labeled as a traitor by all of demonkind.

In his true form, Sparda was a slightly-larger-than-human-sized, vaguely insectoid demon with clawed hands, a scaley hide, a pair of down-ward facing ram horns, beetle-like wings, hooves for feet, and reptilian spines protruding from his back. Parts of his body appeared to be made of grey scales with accents of red and purple. He also had gold veins on his hands and arms, chest, shoulders and back, a diamond shaped red gem in the center of his chest, and skull-shaped gold knees and elbow guards. His most notable feature were his slit-like eyes, which glowed red and did not have pupils. He is often shown wreathed in fire, although it is uncertain if he is simply impervious to it or if he summoned it.

==Biography==
===Before ''[[Devil May Cry 3 (manga)|Devil May Cry 3 Manga]]''===
Sparda was once one of [[Mundus]]'s loyal generals. During his time in service, he was the mentor of the twin brothers [[Baul & Modeus]], and he entrusted his teachings to Modeus. At some point he saw the tyranny and injustice of his master and rebelled, fighting to save humanity. Before his rebellion, he made a pact with his students to live true to their aspirations and to carry them out.<ref>'''''Devil May Cry The Animated Series''''', episode ''"The Last Promise"''</ref> He alone defeated the hellish host, before moving on to the Emperor of Darkness himself. Sparda defeated Mundus, sealing him into a marble vault<ref>''Devil May Cry Manual''</ref>, and what was left of Mundus's armies retreated back into the [[demon world]]. In order to close the gateway, Sparda used his own blood, along with the blood of a human priestess, in conjunction with his sword and a mystical [[Perfect Amulet|amulet]]. He poured his demonic energy into [[Sparda (Force Edge)|his beloved sword]] to close the door between realms, the [[Temen-ni-gru]], though this also robbed him of the lion's share of his abilities. As an added measure, he also imprisoned within the tower its gatekeepers, [[Cerberus]], [[Agni & Rudra]], [[Nevan]], [[Beowulf]] and [[Leviathan]], and took the names of the [[Seven Sins]] in order to imprison them and set them as seals keeping the [[Temen-ni-gru]] underground. In ''[[Devil May Cry 4]]'' it is revealed that he sealed another [[Hell Gate|path to hell]] in Fortuna using the [[Yamato]]. Sparda's activities over the next two thousand years are shrouded in legend, though it is understood that for a time after defeating Mundus, he ruled over the humans before eventually vanishing. Sparda later appeared in the twentieth century where he met and fell in love with a human woman named [[Eva]], who bore him [[Sons of Sparda|twin sons]].

===''[[Devil May Cry 3]]''===
[[Arkham]] uses the [[Sons of Sparda]] to open the gate to the Netherworld, in order to obtain the [[Sparda (Force Edge)|Force Edge]] and thus obtaining the powers of Sparda himself. While he is able to use it to temporarily take on Sparda's form, he is unable to truly resonate with it and soon transforms into a hideous mass of demonic ectoplasm.

===''[[Devil May Cry]]''===
Sparda is referenced frequently throughout the game. At the start of the battle with Mundus, Dante finally awakens the true powers of [[Sparda (Force Edge)|Sparda's sword]], and assumes Sparda's form as a new [[Devil Trigger]]. In this form, Dante can fly, shoot fireballs from his fists, and summon a spectral dragon. While fighting on the ground during the second part of the boss battle, Dante can also charge the fireballs, and the range of his sword is greatly extended.

===''[[Devil May Cry: The Animated Series]]''===
It is revealed that Sparda once had two apprentices, the twin brothers [[Baul & Modeus]].

===''[[Devil May Cry 4]]''===
The [[Fortuna#Order of the Sword|Order of the Sword]] is a group of demon hunters that worship Sparda. [[Nero]], the main protagonist of ''[[Devil May Cry 4]]'' is blood linked to Sparda, and referenced multiple times in Sparda's rebellious nature.

The demon [[Berial]] implies that he encountered Sparda when he came to the Human World two millennia prior, telling Nero, "You are just like he was..."

The readings of [[Sanctus|His Holiness]] reveal that Sparda is not just a devil: he has emotions and can love, and in this lies his strength. This actually explains why all of those who assert to gain his power fail, as no one of them did what they did because of love for humans.

===''[[Devil May Cry 2]]''===
During Dante's first meeting with [[Matier]], the old woman reveals that Sparda once fought alongside the Vie de Marli clan. Dante mentions that Sparda once crossed into the Demon world and returned. It is also revealed that Sparda once fought against [[Argosax]] and [[Bolverk]].

==Powers and Abilities==
The exact extent of Sparda's powers remains unknown; but it is shown that his powers surpassed even the "[[Mundus|Prince of Darkness]]" himself. Though it is to be seen that his powers stem from a heat related aspect, the exact nature of his powers are uncertain as his devil form appears to be partly corporeal-scales and flesh-and partly ghostly-as if made from smoke. As in Dante the abilities and utilization of fire and electricity seem to be among his abilities. But his power seems to transcend all reality. [[Arkham]] himself likened obtaining Sparda's power to becoming a god. In ''Devil May Cry 3'', Dante was unable to defeat [[Arkham]], who wielded the Sparda sword (and thus Sparda's powers) at the time, until Vergil shows up. However, it should be noted that [[Griffon]] in the first ''Devil May Cry'' admonished, after being defeated for the final time, that ''"[Dante's] are definitely the powers of Sparda. No, even more so."''. Also, [[Nero]] was able to defeat Sanctus, who wielded Sparda ''and'' was connected to the powers of [[The Savior]]. It is suggested in ''Devil May Cry 4'' that Sparda acquired the true extent of his power by embracing humanity, which would explain why the demons who attempt to augment their own power with Sparda's are unable to defeat the sons of Sparda.

===Weapons===
Sparda used both [[Yamato]] and [[Sparda]], before putting the latter to sleep by draining his power into it, turning it into the Force Edge. He also used the [[Luce & Ombra]], his own hand made pistols. Also, in ''Devil May Cry 3'' it is stated that [[Rebellion]] is a memento from Sparda.

==Trivia==
*In the ''Devil May Cry 3'' manga, the [[Seven Sins]] state that Sparda was once very rebellious, and that Dante's attitude resembles Sparda.
*In ''Devil May Cry'' and ''Devil May Cry 3'', Dante can obtain the "Legendary Dark Knight" costume by clearing Hard mode. In ''Devil May Cry'', this seems to actually be Sparda himself, as Dante's [[Ebony & Ivory]] are replaced with Sparda's [[Luce & Ombra]]. The sword Yamato is added to his arsenal, but players can still use [[Alastor]]. Yamato is basically a clone of Alastor, but when Sparda Devil Triggers, Yamato turns into the sword Sparda. Dante's DT and shadow are that of Sparda's devil form, no matter the equipped Devil Arm, though his abilities still depend on that Devil Arm.
*In ''Devil May Cry 3'', Dante's "DMC1 Dante" and "Coatless DMC1 Dante" costumes assume the form of Sparda while in Devil Trigger, possibly reference to how Dante, in the end of DMC1, takes the [[Sparda (Force Edge)|Force Edge]] and uses Sparda's Devil Form to defeat Mundus.
*Sparda's coat and general dress being purple appears to be a combination of Vergil and Dante's trademark colors, or rather their red and blue being a split. His hair also seems to be a middle ground between Dante and Vergil, slicked back but not as spiky as Vergil's.
**In ''Devil May Cry 4'', Nero's costume mimics the purple and red color scheme of Sparda's outfit, further illustrating the connection between the two.