Difference between revisions of "Amyrlin Seat"

Revision as of 13:09, 17 June 2007

Author: Sonea Ilandred

The Amyrlin Seat

The Amyrlin Seat is the Aes Sedai charged with leading the White Tower and Tar Valon. It is generally thought that the Amyrlin is one of the most, if not the most powerful ruler within the lands. She sits on a chair called the Amyrlin Seat, having been raised to it from any of the seven Ajahs. A new Amyrlin is normally raised when the previous one dies, as the role is one taken for the rest of that Aes Sedai’s life. Exceptions have occurred when Amyrlins have been deposed, like Siuane Sanche. Elected by all seven Ajah’s, it is her role to rule over the Hall and Tar Valon, though it is expected that all decisions are discussed with the Hall prior to being made law (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).

The Amyrlin and the White Tower

The Amyrlin is deemed to be of no Ajah, wearing a seven striped stole that represents all of the Ajahs. On her raising, she leaves her Ajah behind and becomes the face of the Tower itself (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24). Her relations with the Ajahs, even her own previous Ajah, are often delicate (CoT, Ch. 19). The Keeper of the Chronicles is normally raised from the same Ajah when a new Amyrlin is chosen (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24). The breakdown of the Ajahs from which Amyrlins have been raised is as follows:

• Blue Ajah: 11
• Gray Ajah: 9
• Green Ajah: 7
• White Ajah: 5
• Yellow Ajah: 3
• Red Ajah: 2

(Numbers from TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).

As the head of the White Tower, the Amyrlin is expected to liaise with the Sitters of the Hall, therefore maintaining the strength of the Tower; because the Amyrlin Seat is seen as only a first among equals in the Hall of the Tower, this balance is very important (CoT, Ch. 19). It has been suggested that the reason Siuan Sanche was deposed was because she failed to maintain the balance. It has also been suggested that her youth was at fault, being the youngest Amyrlin raised at that time (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).

Since the Breaking of the World, only 3 Amyrlins have been officially stripped of the stole and stilled. Tetsuan was the first; it is rumored that she aided in the betrayal of Manetheren during the Trolloc wars. Bonwhin Meraighdin was stilled for attempting to manipulate Artur Hawkwing. Tetsuan and Bonwhim were both of the Red Ajah (TGH, Ch. 5; TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24). Siuan Sanche, as mentioned earlier, was the third. However, while these are the only three Amyrlins to have ever been stilled, others have been removed from office and exiled. Shein Chunla, who attempted to rule the Hall with an iron hand but ended up being ruled by the Hall itself, was removed, along with the Hall, by the remainder of the Aes Sedai. Although she supposedly died of natural causes, she was actually sent into exile, where she was smothered in her bed fifty-one years later, when a plot to restore her to the Amyrlin Seat was uncovered. Aside from Shein, five other mutinies have occurred, with the Aes Sedai pulling down incompetent Amyrlins and Halls (KoD, Ch. 24).

Elisane Tishar is stated to have been the first Amyrlin in 98 AB; however, this date is not entirely accurate as it is thought that she ruled in this position for several years before it was recorded. This Amyrlin was in power over 100 years before the White Tower was finished (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 9).

List of Amyrlins

Below you will find a list of the known Amyrlins, but names have been lost during Artur Hawkwing’s time, unless they are kept within the Tower itself.

• Year 98 AB: Elisane Tishar, Ajah unknown.
• Year 939 AB (approx.): Bonwhin Meraighdin, raised from the Red Ajah. She was stripped of the shawl for attempting to control Artur Hawkwing.
• Years 992 – 1084 AB: Deane Aryman, raised from the Blue Ajah.
• Years 1084 – 5 NE: Selame Necoine, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 5 – 36 NE: Rabayn Marushta, raised from the White Ajah
• Years 36 – 64 NE: Dalaine Ndaye, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 64 – 115 NE: Edarna Noregovna, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 115 – 142 NE: Balladare Arandaille, raised from the Brown Ajah
• Years 142 – 171 NE: Medanor Eramandos, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 171 – 197 NE: Kiyosa Natomo, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 197 – 223 NE: Catala Luncanvalle, raised from the Yellow Ajah
• Years 223 – 244 NE: Elise Strang, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 244 – 276 NE: Comarra Zepava, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 276 – 306 NE: Serenia Latar, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 306 – 332 NE: Doniella Alievin, raised from the Brown Ajah
• Years 332 – 355 NE: Aliane Senican, raised from the White Ajah
• Years 355 – 396 NE: Suilin Escanda, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 396 – 419 NE: Nirelle Coidevwin, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 419 – 454 NE: Ishara Nawan, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 454 – 476 NE: Cerilla Marodred, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 476 – 520 NE: Igaine Luin, raised from the Brown Ajah
• Years 520 – 533 NE: Beryl Marle, raised from the White Ajah
• Years 533 – 549 NE: Eldaya Tolen, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 549 – 578 NE: Alvera Ramosanya, raised from the Yellow Ajah
• Years 578 – 601 NE: Shein Chunla, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 601 – 638 NE: Gerra Kishar, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 638 – 681 NE: Varuna Morrigan, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 681 – 705 NE: Cemaile Sorenthaine, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 705 – 732 NE: Marasale Jureen, raised from the Yellow Ajah
• Years 732 – 754 NE: Feragaine Saralman, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 754 – 797 NE: Myriam Copan, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 797 – 817 NE: Zeranda Tyrim, raised from the Brown Ajah
• Years 817 – 866 NE: Parenia Demalle, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 866 – 890 NE: Sereille Bagand, raised from the White Ajah
• Years 890 – 922 NE: Aleis Romlin, raised from the Green Ajah
• Years 922 – 950 NE: Kirin Melway, raised from the Brown Ajah
• Years 973 – 979 NE: Tamra Ospenya, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 979 – 984 NE: Sierin Vayu, raised from the Gray Ajah
• Years 984 – 988 NE: Marith Jaen, raised from the Blue Ajah
• Years 988 – 999 NE: Siuan Sanche, raised from the Blue Ajah. She was stripped of the stole and stilled along with her Keeper.

(All dates and names from TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).

The Amyrlin Seat Today

• Year 999 NE: Elaida a’Roihan, raised from the Red Ajah – The White Tower in Tar Valon
• Year 999 NE: Egwene al’Vere, not raised from any Ajah – The White Tower in Exile

The division of the Tower into two factions in 999 NE is the first in the history of the Tower. Both factions believe that they are the rightful Tower and claim the authority to name their own Amyrlin, who should have power over all Aes Sedai. Obviously, this divide has damaged the relations of the Aes Sedai and the foundations of the White Tower itself (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 24).