War of Power

From A Wheel of Time Wiki

The War of Power occurred when those taken by the Dark One's influence rose in open war to destroy the existing order through conquest. At this time, the concept of war was unfamiliar to humanity, so the forces of the Shadow achieved quick gains before a war of attrition began.

Aes Sedai, both due to their ability to channel the One Power, and as important academic and civic figures, frequently became the leaders of the forces of the Light. However, many Aes Sedai - including some of the most powerful - went over to the Shadow and become the Dark One's Chosen - called the Forsaken by the forces of the Light - as leaders and generals on the opposite side of the battle. Some of the Forsaken were responsible for engineering the Shadowspawn armies: Trollocs, Myrddraal and Draghkar, as well as constructs like the Gholam.

Eventually, the forces of the Light began to succumb, particularly given the willingness of the enemy to use manufactured beasts and constructs such as the Trollocs as soldiers. The Hall of Servants was deadlocked on how to meet the threat. Taking matters into his own hands, the most powerful male Aes Sedai, Lews Therin Telamon, gathered loyal followers comprising over one hundred of the strongest Male Aes Sedai, the Hundred Companions and Traveled to Shayol Ghul. There he sealed the Dark One back in his prison, trapping the remaining Forsaken as well. 45 of the companions and the accompanying army of 10,000 were killed, but it was the Dark One's counterstroke that was the true defeat: he placed a taint on saidin, causing Lews Therin and his companions to instantly go insane, and all other Male Aes Sedai to gradually succumb to the same fate over the next few years.