Cairhien
From A Wheel of Time Wiki
| |
| Cairhien | |
|---|---|
| Formed | |
| Ended | |
| Location | Westlands |
| [[Image:{{{map}}}|80px]] | |
| Ruler | Dobraine Taborwin (steward) |
| Capital | Cairhien |
Cairhien is a nation that borders the Spine of the World, north of Tear and south of the Borderlands. Its capital city is also named Cairhien. It is famous for the topless towers of its eponymous capital city, and for reputedly creating and exporting Daes Dae'mar, the politically intrigued Game of Houses. Its flag is a golden rising sun on a field of blue. Cairhienin speak in a precise, clipped accent, enunicating every word.
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[edit] Name
Pronounced "KEYE-ree-EHN", Cairhien's name comes from Al'cair'rahienallen an Old Tongue word that means "Hill of the Golden Dawn." After the Trolloc Wars and the War of the Hundred Years, the original name was shortened to simply "Cairhien". Before then, the city had been the capital of the nation of Almoren, which later became Tova. After the War of the Hundred Years, the province of Cairhien rose up against their Tovan rulers and slaughtered the entire ruling line.
[edit] Appearance and custom
Cairhienin are usually short in stature and of rather pale complexion, usually with dark hair. They are also, outwardly at least, a very reserved people. Their love of order and control is best illustrated by the perfect grid of their capital's streets, ignoring even hills and, where possible, waterways. The map in LoC ch. 18, p. 406, is accordingly grossly inaccurate and misleading.
It is said that when Cairhienin reserve breaks, it can do so to a surprising degree. A good example is Cairhien during the Feast of Lights. During this two day celebration, all social barriers fall, and any man may kiss any woman, and any woman may kiss any man; nobles and commoners alike can be seen in the streets in various states of undress. After the two days are over, life procedes as if nothing had occurred.
[edit] History
Cairhien's fortunes originate in a random encounter; during the Breaking of the World, a tribe of people gave water and shelter to the Aiel who were guarding the treasures entrusted to them by the Aes Sedai. In a time when so much of civilization was reverting to barbarism, and the peaceful Aiel were preyed on more than most, this kindness stuck in their heads. Centuries later, they discovered that the people of that small village had later gone on to form the nation of Cairhien. In 566 NE (or possibly as early as 509 NE - the histories are unclear) the Aiel gifted the Cairhienin with Avendoraldera, a cutting from the great chora tree Avendesora, and right of passage through the Aiel Waste, so long as they carried a banner with the trefoil leaf of the tree. Thus was born the Silk Road.
[edit] Silk Road
With passage through the Aiel Waste came access to the remote land of Shara, whose silks and other rare goods had previously only been available through trade with the Sea Folk. Despite the Sharan reputation for being fierce and unscrupulous hagglers, Cairhienin fortunes prospered and the nation grew rich and prominent in the following centuries.
[edit] Laman's Pride
Laman Damodred took the Sun Throne of Cairhien in 965 NE, and nearly immediately began an on-again, off-again war with Andor. The political marriage of his newphew Taringail to Andor's Daughter-Heir failed to bring an end to the bloodshed, as it became apparent that House Damodred sought to rule both nations. King Laman began to face stiff opposition at home to the ongoing war, and cut down Avendoraldera to make a throne for himself that would be unmatched across the known world. This simple action triggered what would become the Aiel War.
[edit] Aiel War
When the Aiel clans learned of Laman's actions, they were outraged. Janduin, the charismatic clan chief for the Taardad, led four clans across the Spine of the World and began to hunt Laman "Treekiller" down. Cairhien was put to the torch and the spear, and Laman fled for his life, perhaps finally realizing what he had done. Fear of the "Aiel savages" looting and pillaging their lands galvanized the nations to unite in the Great Alliance. They fought the Aiel all the way to Tar Valon, where the Battle of the Blood Snow appeared to finally turn the tide. In truth, the Aiel had finally succeeded in executing Laman; with justice having been served in their eyes, they turned immediately to return to their Three-Fold Land. Harrying parties tried to engage the "retreating" Aiel, but did not pursue them across the Spine.
[edit] Rebuilding
After the war, of course, the Silk Road was closed to the Cairhienin (now called "oathbreakers" by the Aiel, and the country's fortunes dried up almost immediately. Fear of an Aiel return kept eastern lands uninhabited, and the fertile grain harvest became a near-famine. Galldrian of House Riatin succeeded Laman on the throne, and set about rebuilding the city, and its topless towers. Loss of revenue kept him from being able to pay the Ogier and human masons what they required, however, and eventually work ground to a halt.
[edit] Recent events
King Galldrian's rivaly with House Damodred never cooled, however, with the latter constantly scheming to regain their former place of privilege. This set in motion events that led, in the way that only Daes Dae'mar can, to Galldrian's death and the destruction of the Foregate which surrounds the city proper. The death of another king triggered a civil war which pushed the nation even further into privation, and it remained in that state until the Shaido Aiel crossed the Dragonwall ahead of the Dragon Reborn and the Aiel loyal to him. To the Cairhienin, it must have seemed like the end of all existence; another Aiel War and the destruction of all they knew.
In fact, the Shaido were defeated within a few days, and Rand al'Thor took control of the city and country, providing grain from Tear so that the people would not starve. He intends the Sun Throne for Elayne Trakand, by virtue of her right through her father Taringail Damodred. Colavaere Saighan's abortive attempt at seizing the throne during Rand's absence in early 999 NE met with disastrous results when he returned, and she killed herself in shame at having been stripped of her lands and titles. Most recently, Dobraine Taborwin has been named Steward of Cairhien in the Dragon Reborn's place, until such time as Elayne can make her own claim to the throne.
[edit] References
Cairhien is thought by many to be based in part on France during the reign of Louis XIV, as well as Japan. Their bell-shaped helmets are similar to open-faced bascinets worn in the mid 14th-century.
[edit] See also
Altara | Amadicia | Andor | Arad Doman | Arafel | Cairhien | Ghealdan | Illian | Kandor | Murandy | Saldaea | Shienar | Tarabon | Tear City-states: Far Madding | Mayene | Tar Valon Former Nations of the Westlands in the New Era Almoth | Caralain | Goaban | Hardan | Irenvelle | Kintara | Malkier | Maredo | Mar Haddon | Mosara |
