Mayene

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may-EHN

VMayene.jpg
Mayene
Sigil A golden hawk in flight; the Golden Hawk
Banner A Golden Hawk in flight on a field of blue, fringed by gold when the first is present
Capital
Ruler Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron
Throne
Crown
Palace

General

Mayene is a city state, surrounded by the Sea of Storms to the south and the Drowned Lands to the north. It is ruled by a leader styled “The First”, for first lord or lady. Originally there was also a second, but that tradition changed and now there are usually many people who act as second, as many as nine at one time on occasion (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30). The ruling family claim descent from Artur Hawkwing, through a daughter he sent to lead an expedition to conquer Shara (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 12).

Though a small land, it does have its own armed forces, Winged Guards who act as the First's personal guard, though will go into battle as needed (LoC, Ch. 54) and their red breastplates and red streamed lances have been seen in many conflicts in which Mayene have taken part (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30).

History

Formation

More information about this section appears in the Wheel of Time Companion, but we did not include it in the TarValon.Net Library.

Relations and Trade

Relations with other Nations

Traditionally, Mayene’s only real enemy is Tear, though as Tear is much larger and more powerful, this rivalry is somewhat one sided. The Firsts of Mayene have used the ter'angreal to the realm of the Aelfinn to find answers that would help them keep Mayene out of Tear’s grasps. (TSR, Ch. 6). In the past, the threat of the much larger and stronger nation, led to Halvar, a First, to give away that ter’angreal to appease the Tairen Lords. This did not work as he was assasinated shortly after (TSR, Ch. 6).

The current leader, Berelain, is for the most part a much wiser ruler and has formed a strong alliance with the Dragon Reborn, even ruling Cairhien on his behalf at one point (LoC, Ch. 17), before going to Ghealdan for him (ACoS, Ch. 27).

After seizing the Stone of Tear, Rand gives his word to Berelain that Tear will no longer trouble Mayene (TSR, Ch. 2). Later he continues planning on forming a treaty between Tear and Mayene by trading grain from Tear for Mayener ships.

Trade

More information about this section appears in the Wheel of Time Companion, but we did not include it in the TarValon.Net Library.

Much of the resentment between Tear and Mayene comes from the fact that Mayne knows how to find oilfish, which is more popular than Tairen olive oil (TDR, Ch. 32).

People and Customs

The Mayeners are not as formal as, for example, the Tairens (TSR, Ch. 2). The customs of Mayene are also different than what Elayne and Egwene were born into. (TSR, Ch. 6). In Mayene, if a woman is interested in a man, she may speak her mind freely to him, or he to her. (TSR, Ch. 2).

Tairen lords have used assasins against nobility of Mayene in the past. Because of this and because Guards are not always close at hand, all high lords and ladies are trained in basic self-defense (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30). According to Berelain, this has become a custom of Mayene (TSR, Ch. 14).

Characters from Mayene

Mayener Character List

Quotes

““Even less a country than Murandy is. One city and a few leagues of land. They underprice the oil from our good Tairen olives just because their ships know how to find the oilfish shoals. They’ve no right to be a country at all.” (Huan Mallia, The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 32).