The Seventh Umbral Calamity, often known simply as the Calamity, ended the Sixth Astral Era. Foretold in the Divine Chronicles, the prophesied cataclysm that brought the Seventh Umbral Era was long considered apocryphal, as the six Calamities preceding it had each corresponded to one of the six, distinct elemental aspects.

The Seventh Umbral Calamity was brought about by the Meteor Project of the Garlean Empire—a plan intended to bring the lesser moon Dalamud crashing down onto the realm of Eorzea. Wrought by Nael van Darnus and Midas nan Garlond, the project was put on hold after the Bozja Citadel Incident claimed the life of the latter and the entire stronghold. However, after the Battle of Silvertear Skies, the project resumed.

Though the VIIth Legion was routed and Van Darnus defeated at Rivenroad, the lesser moon of Dalamud continued its descent. Archon Louisoix and the Circle of Knowing implored the people of Eorzea to pray to the Twelve, while the Eorzean Alliance gathered to meet what remained of the VIIth Legion at ground zero of Dalamud's impact: Carteneau Flats.

As the Battle of Carteneau waged, the moon broke apart to reveal the Elder Primal Bahamut. Freed from millennia of imprisonment, Bahamut razed the realm in his fury. Louisoix attempted his ritual and failed, but sent the adventurers who aided him away into an aetherial rift. Light engulfed the battlefield, and what happened after is unclear to the denizens of Eorzea.