Ganondorf in ToTK is, of course, a missed oppurtunity for a more nuanced narrative, but thats not going to stop me from exploring what Nintendo will not.
I like looking at him like a man who was justified, but ultimately got carried away by his own ambition and hatred. Hell. He was seen as a "Hero" by the Gerudo, so clearly he was not a tyrant to them. Not at first.
I don't believe there was an actual war between Rauru and the Gerudo- though Rauru clearly did seek to conquer them via Cold War means. In addition to flaunting his power that Rauru and his family wear as accessories, there are not many easily traveled paths in and out of the desert. It would be simple to restrict trade and starve them out if Rauru got impaitient.
Regardless of his intentions, Rauru was essentially disrespecting their sovereignty, and Ganondorf took insult to that. Perhaps because he saw that as a threat to his own power, perhaps because he took insult with Rauru playing at King. Maybe some of it had to do with his care for the Gerudo, but i do think it was more so the first two.
He's a fascinating character if you actually put some thought into him. Hes not selfless. He starts by doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, and those wrong reasons are what ultimately drive his ambition to the monstrous one we know by the end of his story.
Again. A travesty Nintendo ignored the potential here so much.
