Events in the Wheel of Time series
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This article is about the fictional world history of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time fantasy fiction series.
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Creation
The world was created by the Creator, driven by the Wheel of Time, with existence unfolding in the turning of seven ages. As the introduction of each book states: "The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave its birth comes again."
The Wheel of Time is driven by two halves of the One Power - the male half is Saidin, and the female half is Saidar. Some humans can manipulate the One Power, an ability which seems to be transferred genetically.
At the moment of creation, the Creator bound the Dark One in a prison away from the world. The nature of the Dark One is not explored - perhaps an antithesis to the benevolent nature of the Creator.
The Age of Legends
The Age of Legends is the name given to the previous Age: preceding the Time of Madness and the Breaking, where society was advanced to levels undreamed of today. In this society, channelers were far more common and Aes Sedai - trained channelers - were extremely powerful, able to make angreal, sa'angreal, and ter'angreal, and holding important civic positions. One of the most powerful institutions in the world was the Hall of Servants, to which all channelers were accountable. The most powerful Aes Sedai in the Hall was Lews Therin Telamon, who would be called 'Dragon' by his followers.
The Age of Legends is seen as a utopian society without war or crime, and devoted to culture and learning. Aes Sedai were frequently devoted to academic endeavours, one of which inadverdantly resulted in a hole - 'The Bore' - being drilled in the Dark One's prison. The immediate effects were not realised, but the Dark One gradually asserted power over humanity, swaying many to become his followers.
The War of Power
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 Dark achieved quick gains before a war of attrition began.
Aes Sedai, both due to their ability to wield 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 forces of the Dark, becoming 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, 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 20,000 were killed, but it was the Dark One's counterstroke that was the true defeat: he placed a taint on upon 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.
The Breaking of the World
In what is also known as the Time of Madness, male Aes Sedai changed the world. In their insanity they used the One Power to destroy mountians and raise new ones, to drain oceans and flood dry land. Cities were wiped out and civilization completely failed to exist during this time, only re-establishing itself in primitive form after the last of the male Aes Sedai were dead.
Much of the world was completely changed, and most of the world's population died in the upheaval.
The Trolloc Wars
The Trolloc Wars refers to a series of sustained wars between humanity and Shadowspawn (hence 'The Trolloc Wars') campaigning out of the Blight with a ferocity otherwise unseen since the War of Power. Ishamael was free for 40 years during this period, and it is presumed he led the Dreadlords, male channelers following the Dark One, which hurt the Ten Nations dramatically. It marks a cultural and historical landmark, as many nations were destroyed, and those that were spared ultimate destruction still fell to political and social upheaval. In particular, the Trolloc Wars marked the end of the Compact of Ten Nations, which had formed the political landscape from soon after the Breaking.
Artur Hawkwing and the War of the Hundred Years
Artur Paendrag Tanreall was king of the minor nation of Shandalle when the False Dragon, Guaire Amalasan, rose and began conquering the lands of the west. Artur Paendrag was among those who led forces against him. Quickly proving himself a master tactician and general, he was instrumental in defeating Amalasan. The speed at which he could move his forces earned Artur the name Hawkwing.
In returning to his homeland, Hawkwing inflicted a perceived slight to the Amyrlin Seat, the infamous Bonwhin, which resulted in the concerted invasion of Shandalle by several neighbours. Moving quickly to blunt the attacks, Hawkwing soon found himself conquering his neighbours. A war of consolidation followed as he gained power, eventually conquering all the lands spanning from the Dragonwall to the Aryth ocean. Hawkwing failed only to take Tar Valon itself, despite besieging it for 20 years.
It is presumed that the most powerful of the Forsaken, Ishamael, was free for 40 years at this point and it is presumed that he influenced Hawkwing into his insane hatred of Aes Sedai. He also made Hawkwing send ships into Seanchan and Shara. The ships under Hawkwing's son, Luthair, took over the constantly fluctuating Seanchan, and another either fully conquered Shara and threw of the idea of an empire, or was destroyed by the Sharan Empire. Ishamael altered the Seanchan Kareatheon Cycle, changing it from 'He shall bind the nine moons to serve him' to 'He shall bow to the Crystal Throne.' The Crystal Throne is an immense ter'angreal which makes all nearby in awe of the one sitting on it, and is the throne of Seanchan.
Unfortunately, on Hawkwing's death, his empire disintegrated under the weight of a hundred bids for supreme power. The empire was torn apart in a series of wars now collectively referred to as the War of the Hundred Years, and the modern nations of the land were formed in the ashes of these conflicts. The War of the Hundred Years forms a cultural and historical landmark because it provides a point of reference for Hawkwing's effects on the world and, like the Trolloc Wars, because it forms a divisive point in history for social and cultural development: so many nations changed and social development was set back significantly.
The Aiel War
The Aiel War occurred when King Laman of Cairhien cut down Avendoraldera, a gift from the Aiel. Four clans crossed the Dragonwall to punish him for this slight. They attacked and looted several cities, and while they focused on Laman and Cairhien, they also fought in Andor and Tear. The threat was so vast that it effectively united all the nations, who each sent soldiers to try and battle the Aiel back to the Dragonwall. In reality, the war ended when Laman was killed, at the Battle of the Shining Walls. The Aiel then returned to the Waste, not to return again until the coming of the Car'a'carn.
Battle of Dumai's Wells
The Battle of Dumai's Wells occurs in Chapter 55 of Lord of Chaos, the sixth book in the series. .
Forces
'Pro-Rand' Side
- Led by Perrin
Two Rivers Men
- Led by Dannil Lewin
- Unknown Number of Men
Cairhienin Men
- Led by Dobraine Taborwin
- Unknown Number of Men
Winged Guards (from Mayene)
- Led by Havien Nurelle
- Unknown Number of Men
Asha'man
- Led by Mazrim Taim
- 200 Asha'man fought
- Formed of men who can channel that Rand has formed to offer protection and to add another weapon to his armoury.
Salidar Aes Sedai
- 9 Aes Sedai fought
Wise Ones
Other Aiel
'Anti-Rand' Forces
Tower Aes Sedai
Shaido Aiel
- Led by Sevanna
- Numbered about 40,000
Younglings
- Led by Gawyn
- Unknown Number of Men
The Battle
Initially, the pro-Rand armies are situated on a ridge around Dumai's Wells. The Shaido surround a group of wagons on which the Aes Sedai are situated, and unsucsessfully try to overwhelm its defenders. The Two Rivers men, Cairhienin, Aiel and Winged Guards are to charge down into the valley after an attack of wolves, with Perrin at their head. The Salidar Aes Sedai and Wise Ones are to stay up on the ridge. However, when fighting, Perrin sees some Salidar Aes Sedai fighting.
In the thick of battle, about 200 Asha'man led by Mazrim Taim travel to Dumai's Wells and are instrumantal in turning the tide of the battle.
In the mean time, Rand breaks out of the chest he was trapped in as three of the six Aes Sedai shielding him are called to the battle. The three remaining (Tower) Aes Sedai left maintaining the shield are stilled as breaks through their shield. He then finds Min. Rand continues shielding more Tower Aes Sedai from within their lines and as he is using Saidin he is undetecable to them. Gawyn rides up, and wants to take Min away, but she refuses.
The 200 Asha'man create a dome of Air around the wagons, to keep the remaining Shaido Aiel out. Some Asha'man are holding a few Tower Aes Sedai hostage. The rest of Rand's allies are outside of the dome, still fighting.
Rand orders the Asha'man to open the dome, and let the allies in. Next, he orders the Asha'man to 'send a message' to Sevanna. The Asha'man kill thousands of Shaido, who break and run.
After the battle, the 9 Salidar Aes Sedai come over to congratulate Rand. Rand forces them to kneel and swear an oath of fealty to him, which they do. In the words of Mazrim Taim: "Kneel, or you will be knelt."