Seanchan

In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan (IPA pronunciation: ['ʃɔntʃæn] [1]) is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire. The capital is called Seandar (IPA: ['ʃɔndɑr] [2]).

Geography and natural features

Seanchan is far larger than the continent on which most of the action of The Wheel of Time takes place; being a continent of such vast size, it has great diversity of terrain and climate. It is divided into two landmasses separated by a wide dividing channel, and is longer north-to-south than east-to-west, although it is split by many fissures and fjords.

There are many creatures native to Seanchan, such as the torm, a large animal that looks like a cross between a cat and a lizard and can be ridden like a horse.

History

Ancient

During the time of the Trolloc Wars, the people of Seanchan used Portal Stones to reach alternate worlds and return with such creatures as grolm, torm, lopar, corlm, raken, s'redit, and to'raken. Integrating these creatures into their armies, the people of Seanchan were able to drive back the Trollocs. The Blight in the north of Seanchan is slightly less dangerous than the one on the "main continent". Thanks to the alien creatures, Trollocs and Myrddraal are unknown in Seanchan, though Draghkar still exist.

A thousand years later, after unifying his own continent (or at least the part of it west of the Aiel Waste), Artur Hawkwing sent a vast fleet led by his son, Luthair Paendrag Mondwin, across the Aryth Ocean. Luthair's fleet never returned to the continent from which they came, so it was presumed lost. In actuality, the fleet had successfully made it across the ocean to arrive in Seanchan. Furthermore, by playing the native nations against each other, Luthair and his descendants eventually subjugated and unified the continent into the Seanchan Empire, a process called the Consolidation. Luthair's heirs continue to rule the Empire.

Recent events

Recently, the Seanchan Empire has engaged in a concerted effort to retake the continent from which the Empire's rulers' ancestors hailed. This campaign is known as the Corenne (IPA: ko'riːnə) in the Old Tongue or simply the Return. The Seanchan made their first attempt in The Great Hunt, seizing the city of Falme and surrounding lands, but were driven back. Later, the Seanchan were successful in taking Tarabon. In A Crown of Swords, the Seanchan continued their advance, taking Amadicia and Altara. They were then halted in The Path of Daggers, when the forces of Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, fought the Seanchan to a standstill. With the arrival of the main Seanchan fleet and Tuon, the Daughter of the Nine Moons, the Seanchan are poised to make further advances. Locked in an uneasy stalemate, Rand al'Thor sought to make a truce with the Seanchan in Crossroads of Twilight. In the next book in the series, Knife of Dreams, it is revealed by the Forsaken Semirhage that the Seanchan Imperial Court and Empress Radhannan are murdered, leaving the entire country in chaos as fighting breaks out for succession of the throne. The High Lady Suroth plots to take the throne for herself by having Tuon killed. However, thanks to Mat and the Band of the Red Hand, Tuon made her way to Ebou Dar and exposed Suroth as a traitor, proclaiming her da'covale.

Politics

The Seanchan Empire is led by an Empress who has absolute power. She reigns from the Crystal Throne at the Court of the Nine Moons; the throne itself is a ter'angreal, inspiring awe and wonder of the person who sits on it. According to the Seanchan version of the Prophecies of the Dragon, the Dragon Reborn must kneel to the Crystal Throne before Tarmon Gai'don. Below the Empress and those of her immediate family is the Blood, the noble class of the Empire. The elite guard around the throne is provided by the Deathwatch Guards, while the Seekers for Truth hunt Darkfriends and act as a secret police.

The power of the Seanchan Empire is based around the enslavement of damane (literally "Leashed Ones" in the Old Tongue), women who can channel the One Power, through the use of collars called a'dam (in actuality, a type of ter'angreal). The handlers of damane are called sul'dam, or "Leash Holders".

The nation of Seanchan is ruled by a rigid class structure. The lowest class of people are the da'covale, "those who are property." However, not all servants hold low rank in Seanchan society. The hereditary servants of the Imperial family hold higher rank than free men and women. So'jhin, literally "a height among lowness" in the Old Tongue, are the upper servants who may hold positions of power.

The highest tier of Seanchan society is held by those who are of the Blood. Initially, it was only the descendants of Luthair and his armies who were of the Blood, but over time others have been raised to the Blood. Being raised to the Blood, while exceptionally rare, is the greatest honor possible for one who was born a commoner.

Culture

At the center of Seanchan culture is the concept of honor or sei'taer, literally "straight eyes" or "level eyes" in the Old Tongue.

Seanchan coins have the image of the Empress on one side and the Crystal Throne on the other.

Robert Jordan has said that they speak with a Texas like drawl , while audiobook narrators Kate Reading and Michael Kramer use a more sibilant, hissing accent.

Real-world references

Seanchan's culture and people shows many correspondences to the culture and people of East Asia, as well as the Ottoman Empire. The Seanchan continent is also similar to Asia in its vast size. However, the people of Seanchan do not, at the very least, all possess an Asian physical appearance, given that some have been mentioned as having blonde hair. Due to its size, Seanchan can be assumed to be home to a wide range of ethnicities.

The Seanchan military forces are called the Ever Victorious Army, which was an appellation for the British and Chinese armed forces of Chinese Gordon. What we know as the Spanish Armada is also called la Invencible Armada ("the Invincible Navy").

External links

• WoT compendium: Seanchan for a detailed description of Seanchan military costuming, weaponry, and organization