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The Ten Nations
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The Ten Nations In the even earlier period before the Trolloc Wars, ten nations controlled much of the Westlands. At some time during the approximately thousand years between the ending of the Breaking and the Trolloc Wars, these ten formed a pact, the so-called Covenant of the Ten Nations. Many cities, buildings and artefacts survive from this era. Some cities have been destroyed, but with the name partly preserved in a new town constructed nearby. Examples include Fal Dara (originally Mafal Dadaranell), Cairhien (originally Al'cair'rahienallen), and Caemlyn (originally Hai Caemlyn). The Ten Nations all had inauspicious beginnings, populated by refugees who had survived the Breaking of the World. Each grew to become larger and more powerful than the succeeding nations during the Free Years or the New Era. Aelgar Geography The nation of Aelgar encompassed the lands now known as Tarabon and Amadicia as well as the Shadow Coast. It was bordered by Safer, Manetheren, Eharon and the Aryth Ocean. The capital city of Aelgar was Ancohima; little is known about Ancohima except that it had a Waygate. Other cities in Aelgar included Shar Honelle, Condaris, and Mainelle. Condaris, like Ancohima, had its own Waygate. Mainelle was located where Tanchico now stands. The fabled lost mines of Aelgar supposedly lie in the mountains south of modern day Amadicia. Formation, Government and Nobility Like the other nations in its time, Aelgar was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. King Remedan the Goldentongued was the ruler who signed the Compact on behalf of Aelgar. Nothing else about the government or nobility is known. After the Trolloc Wars Aelgar was one of the few nations that survived the Wars. However, it was so weakened by the forces of the Shadow that it soon fell due to this fragility. It was succeeded by the nations of Balasun and Kharendor, and eventually Tarabon. Almoren Geography The nation of Almoren lay in the area that is now known as Cairhien, and bordered on what is now known as the Spine of the World. Almoren also bordered on the lands that were held by Tar Valon and the Aes Sedai of the White Tower. The capital city of Almoren was Al'cair'rahienallen, which bears some resemblance to the name of the modern-day capital of Cairhien. During the construction of this city, the Ogier built a Waygate here. The only other city that is known of from Almoren is Jennshain. Formation, Government and Nobility The nation of Almoren was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. The ruler who signed the Compact on behalf of Almoren was King Coerid Nosar. Other than this, of the government we know only sometime before the Trolloc Wars, Almoren was ruled by a Queen whose name we do not know. After the Trolloc Wars The nation of Almoren fell to the Shadow sometime during the Wars. The date of its fall is not known, only the fact that Almoren did not survive. According to the maps, Ileande and Hamarea, and later Cairhien, grew out of the ruins of Almoren. Aramaelle Geography The nation of Aramaelle was located in what is now Malkier, Shienar, and the unclaimed territory to its southwest. It was one of the two nations whose northern border actually extended well into the Mountains of Dhoom. To the west lay Aridhol, to the north-west Jaramide, Coremanda to the south, and the land held by Tar Valon was located to the east. The capital city of Aramaelle was Mafal Dadaranell; this city was located where Fal Dara is now situated. During the construction of Mafal Dadaranell, a Waygate was constructed by the Ogier. The only other cities of Aramaelle whose names we know were Anolle'sanna, Cuebiyarsande and Rhahime Naille. Formation, Government and Nobility The nation of Aramaelle was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. When the Compact was signed, Mabriam en Shereed, a ta'veren Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah, was queen of Aramaelle. Mabriam en Shereed was very instrumental in the formation of the Compact. One legendary character, Kirukan, was the warrior queen of Aramaelle who carried the Sword of Kirukan that is now wielded by the Swordbearer of Kandor. After the Trolloc Wars The nation of Aramaelle fell to the Shadow sometime during the Wars. The date of its fall is not known, only the fact that Aramaelle did not survive. According to the maps, Rhamdashar, and later Shienar and Malkier, grew out of the ruins of Aramaelle. Aridhol Geography The nation of Aridhol was located in what is now largely unclaimed territory, near the northern half of the Mountains of Mist. To the west was Safer, with Jaramide to the north, Aramaelle to the northeast, Coremanda to the southeast, and Manetheren to the south. The capital city of Aridhol was also called Aridhol, and was located where Shadar Logoth stands today. Other cities in Aridhol included Abor'maseleine and Cyrendemar'naille. There was a Waygate in the city of Aridhol. Formation, Government and Nobility Like the other nations in its time, Aridhol was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. The ruler of Aridhol who signed the Compact of Ten Nations was Queen Doreille Torghin. At one point during the Trolloc Wars, Aridhol was ruled by King Balwen Mayal, also known as Balwen Ironhand. The Trolloc Wars and the Fall of Aridhol Like the other nations of the Compact, Aridhol stood against the Shadow. During the Trolloc Wars, Aridhol fell from within. Following is an excerpt from Chapter 19 of "The Eye of the World" regarding the fall of Aridhol. "Once it was called Aridhol", Moiraine replied, "and was one of the Ten Nations, the lands that made the Second Covenant, the lands that stood against the Dark One from the first days after the Breaking of the World. In the days when Thorin al Toren al Ban was King of Manetheren, the King of Aridhol was Balwen Mayel, Balwen Ironhand. In a twilight of despair during the Trolloc Wars, when it seemed the Father of Lies must surely conquer, the man called Mordeth came to Balwen's court." "The same man?" Rand exclaimed, and Mat said, "It couldn't be!" A glance from Moiraine silenced them. Stillness filled the room except for the Aes Sedai's voice. "Before Mordeth had been long in the city he had Balwen's ear, and soon he was second only to the King. Mordeth whispered poison in Balwen's ear, and Aridhol began to change. Aridhol drew in on itself, hardened. It was said that some would rather see Trollocs come than the men of Aridhol. The victory of the Light is all. That was the battlecry Mordeth gave them, and the men of Aridhol shouted it while their deeds abandoned the Light. "The story is too long to tell in full, and too grim, and only fragments are known, even in Tar Valon. How Thorin's son, Caar, came to win Aridhol back to the Second Covenant, and Balwen sat his throne, a withered shell with the light of madness in his eyes, laughing while Mordeth smiled at his side and ordered the deaths of Caar and the embassy as Friends of the Dark. How Prince Caar came to be called Caar One-Hand. How he escaped the dungeons of Aridhol and fled alone to the Borderlands with Mordeth's unnatural assassins at his heels. How there he met Rhea, who did not know who he was, and married her, and set the skein in the Pattern that led to his death at her hands, and hers by her own hand before his tomb, and the fall of Aleth-loriel. How the armies of Manetheren came to avenge Caar and found the gates of Aridhol torn down, no living thing inside the walls, but something worse than death. No enemy had come to Aridhol but Aridhol. Suspicion and hate had given birth to something that fed on that which created it, something locked in the bedrock on which the city stood. Mashadar waits still, hungering. Men spoke of Aridhol no more. They named it Shadar Logoth, the Place Where the Shadow Waits, or more simply, Shadow's Waiting. "Mordeth alone was not consumed by Mashadar, but he was snared by it, and he, too, has waited within these walls through the long centuries. Others have seen him. Some he has influenced through gifts that twist the mind and taint the spirit, the taint waxing and waning until it rules ... or kills. If ever he convinces someone to accompany him to the walls, to the boundary of Mashadar's power, he will be able to consume the soul of that person. Mordeth will leave, wearing the body of the one he worse than killed, to wreak his evil on the world again." After the Trolloc Wars The nation and city of Aridhol were desolate by this time, and the ruins of the capital became known as Shadar Logoth, "Shadow's Waiting". The territory once controlled by Aridhol came to form the nation of Masenashar and also part of Oburun, and more recently parts of Caralain and Andor. Coremanda Geography The nation of Coremanda was located in what is now known as eastern Andor. To the south it was bordered by Eharon to the southwest and Essenia to the southeast. To the west was Manetheren, with Aridhol to the northwest, Aramaelle to the north, and Tar Valon and Almoren to the northeast. The capital city of Coremanda was Shaemal, famous for its crystal dome. Other cities included Braem (now New Braem), Hai Caemlyn (now Caemlyn), and Nailine Samfara. There were Waygates at Shaemal, Braem and Hai Caemlyn. Formation, Government and Nobility Like the other nations in its time, Coremanda was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. The ruler of Coremanda who signed the Compact was King Ladoman. Before the Trolloc Wars Before the Trolloc Wars began, supposedly the whole world envied Coremanda's splendor and might. Nothing else is known. After the Trolloc Wars The Trolloc Wars took a heavy toll upon the nation of Coremanda. Braem and Shaemal were completely destroyed during the Wars. By the end of the wars, the entire nation of Coremanda was destroyed. Some ruins of Coremanda can still be seen along the Tar Valon road. According to the maps, Aldeshar, Dal Calain, Caebarin and part of Nerevan, and later a great part of Andor, grew out of the ruins of Coremanda. Eharon Geography The nation of Eharon was located on the Sea of Storms, largely covering the same area as present-day Altara and Illian. Eharon was bordered on the west by Aelgar, the north-west by Manetheren, the north-east by Coremanda, and the east by Essenia. The capital city of Eharon was Londaren Cor, which had a waygate. Other cities of importance included Barashta, the predecessor to Ebou Dar, and Dorelle Caromon, located where Illian now stands. Both of these cities contained Waygates as well. After the Trolloc Wars Eharon was one of the nations that survived the Trolloc Wars, though it was very weak. Within a short amount of time, according to the maps, the nation of Shiota, and later, Altara and Illian, grew out of the eventual ruins of Eharon. Essenia Geography The nation of Essenia was located in what is now known as Tear and the Plains of Maredo. To the north was Coremanda, with Eharon to the west and the Spine of the World to the east. The capital city of Essenia was Aren Mador, which eventually became the city of Far Madding as it is today. Other cities of Essenia included Dalsande and Tear. There were Waygates built at Aren Mador and Tear. Formation, Government and Nobility Like the other nations in its time, Essenia was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. The ruler of Essenia who signed the Compact of Ten Nations was First Lord Cristol. Before the Trolloc Wars Before the Trolloc Wars began, Essenia was known for its philosophers and seats of learning. Its capital city, also called Manetheren, stood close to the village of Emond's Field. The city of Manetheren had a Waygate, built during the construction of the city, and an Ogier Grove said to be the most beautiful in the world except that at Tar Valon. Other than Manetheren, the names of only three other cities are known: Corartheren, Jara'copan and Shanaine. Nothing is known about Corartheren, but we know the approximate locations of the other two. Jara'copan was located somewhere south of the capital city, in the foothills of the Mountains of Mist, and Jehannah now stands were Shanaine was located. Formation, Government and Nobility The nation of Manetheren was formed after the Breaking of the World. At the time when the Compact of Ten Nations was formed, Manetheren was ruled by Sorella ay Marena. Some time before the Trolloc Wars (exactly when is not known), a man named Buiryn was a ruler of Manetheren. He was defeated by Aedomon of Safer at Midean's Ford. During the Trolloc Wars, at the time of Aridhol's collapse, Thorin al Toren al Ban was king of Manetheren. It is unlikely that Thorin's son, Caar, succeeded him, as Caar died in the Borderlands after escaping from Aridhol. Likely, the throne passed straight to the last king, Thorin's grandson Aemon. Before the Trolloc Wars Little is known about Manetheren before the Trolloc Wars except that there was some degree of tension between Manetheren and the nation of Safer. Some time before the Trolloc Wars began, King Aedomon of Safer defeated Manetheren at Midean's Ford. Trolloc Wars During the Trolloc Wars, Manetheren was one of the strongest opponents of the Shadow and was said to be a thorn in the Dark One's Foot. Manetheren was considered to be the "sword that could not be broken." The men and women were brave, and fought with all they had to defeat the forces of the Dark One. When Aridhol fell to the Shadow, King Thorin of Manetheren sent his son, Caar, to try to bring the people of Aridhol back to the Light. Caar was imprisoned, escaping and becoming known as Caar One-Hand, but was forced to flee to the Borderlands, where he perished. In the days of Caar's son Aemon, a great Trolloc army attacked Manetheren. Aemon and his soldiers held the crossings of the Tarendrelle against overwhelming odds for ten days, but were betrayed by the Amyrlin Seat, Tetsuan, who persuaded other nations not to send reinforcements. Driven back to Emond's Field, Aemon and his remaining forces were surrounded and killed. His queen, Eldrene, used the One Power to kill the opposing generals, but killed herself and destroyed the city of Manetheren in the process, and the nation collapsed. After the Trolloc Wars By the time the Trolloc Wars came to an end, Manetheren had been completely destroyed. Eventually, the descendants of this great nation came to forget who they had been, and even about Manetheren itself. Today, all that remains of the city are broken shards of glass and melted rock. According to the maps, Farashelle and Dowlan, and later part of Andor and Ghealdan, grew out of the ruins of Manetheren. Safer Geography The nation of Safer was located in what is now known as Almoth Plain and Toman Head. The Aryth Ocean was located to the west, with Jaramide to the north, Aridhol, Coremanda and Manetheren to the east, and Aelgar to the south. The capital city was Iman, where Katar now stands. Other cities in Safer included Miereallen (now Falme) and Shainrahien. There was a Waygate in Iman. Formation, Government and Nobility Like the other nations in its time, Safer was formed sometime after the Breaking of the World. The ruler of Safer who signed the Compact of Ten Nations was Eawynd. At one point in time, before the Trolloc Wars, there was a king of Safer named Aedomon. Before the Trolloc Wars Little is known of Safer before the Trolloc Wars. However, there must have been some animosity between Safer and Manetheren; at the battle of Midean's Ford, king Aedomon of Safer wiped out Buiryn and the forces of Manetheren. After the Trolloc Wars Safer was one of the Ten Nations to survive the Trolloc Wars. However, it was greatly weakened and soon disappeared. According to the maps, Darmovan, Oman Dashar, and Elan Dapor, and later Almoth Plain, Toman Head and part of Arad Domon, grew out of the ruins of Safer. Safer lay in the area most recently known as Almoth Plain and Toman Head. During the time of the signing of the Compact, the ruler was King Eawynd. See Also
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