Joshua Rosfield

Joshua Rosfield is a main character from Final Fantasy XVI. He is the Archduke of Rosaria's second-born son and Clive's younger brother.

Despite being the younger child, Joshua inherited the power of the Eikon of Fire, Phoenix, and serves as its Dominant, with the ability to assume the Eikon's form. As Clive has sworn to protect him as his Shield, Joshua bestowed the Blessing of the Phoenix upon Clive, enabling him to wield part of the firebird's power.

Joshua is kind-hearted, compassionate, and bookish, and despite being frail and sickly, he wants to do his part to help his family and their home. As a child, he was especially close to his older brother, Clive, viewed Jill as a sister and had a close bond with Clive's wolf pup, Torgal. Joshua admires and respects his father Elwin, coming to him for advice regarding his role as the Phoenix's Dominant. His relationship with his mother, Anabella, is uneasy despite being her favorite. Joshua feels constrained and pressured after being chosen by the Phoenix, as Anabella often kept him in the confines of the castle and objected to how he mingled with the people due to her obsession with prestige and lineage. Though he would later on come to be disgusted with his mother's actions, a piece of Joshua nonetheless still loves her and he even tries to save her after all of her plans come crashing down, leaving Anabella to be driven mad. He is left saddened that his mother refused to be saved and denied reality until the end.

Though Joshua was chosen by the Phoenix over Clive, he did not hold anything against his brother and silently objected to their mother's poor treatment of Clive. Even at ten years old Joshua believed Clive would have been the more suitable choice as the Phoenix's Dominant, given how his older brother was more confident, daring, and skilled in combat, but after encouragement from Clive, he accepted his position and vowed to fulfill his duty. Since Joshua was still naïve and inexperienced, he was emotionally unprepared for the struggles of combat, much less the horrors of war, as he quickly lost control over his Dominant abilities after seeing his father die.

Following the Night of Flames and going into hiding, Joshua has become more serious and determined, but his compassion for his people remains, as well as his love for his older brother; he does not blame Clive for what happened with Ifrit. After learning of Ultima's existence and of the deity's plans for Clive, Joshua made it his mission to stop the powerful being from using Clive as his vessel, even willing to use himself to hold one of his extensions prisoner, despite the risks to his health. Joshua is a capable leader like his brother, having contributed to the leadership of the secretive order, the Undying, taking measures to preserve Rosaria's culture and find any valuable information regarding Ultima. Joshua can hold his own in battle since mastering his Dominant abilities and practicing swordsmanship, such as holding off a rampaging Bahamut, but welcomes aid from Clive in subduing him. Joshua carries his own weight on missions despite the toll trapping Ultima within himself is costing him, refusing to be seen as a burden that needs constant protection, which Clive takes pride in. At the same time, Joshua objects to those who carry all the burden, admonishing and punching Clive after learning he accepted Shiva's power from Jill.

Joshua displays unwavering resolve in defeating Ultima, not just to protect his beloved brother, but also to save the world. His willingness to use his own body as a prison to hold Ultima and delay his plans only shows Joshua's strength of will and the lengths he is willing to go to.

Much as Joshua has matured over the years, a part of him is still naïve in certain social situations. He still cannot stand eating carrots, and when meeting Midadol Telamon for the first time, he greets her in a formal manner that leaves the young engineer confused and uncomfortable. Joshua wants to protect his loyal attendant, Jote, and asks her to stay at the hideaway while he travels with Clive for her protection; Jote theorizes that being burdened by duty all his life, Joshua wanted to free her from duty, and give her freedom.