Dragonsworn
Encyclopedia
In the Wheel of Time
books, Dragonsworn is the name given to people who have sworn to serve and fight for the Dragon
, or for any False Dragon.
Dragonsworn are usually motivated, not by a desire to loyally serve the present Dragon, but by the hope of glory or profit. Often, the Dragonsworn are merely rioting peasants (or at least viewed as such by the authorities), and as a result clash frequently with the armed forces of whatever nation they arise in. Historically, however, False Dragons have often found themselves at the head of large armies of Dragonsworn. Usually fighting in ad hoc groups of various sizes, Dragonsworn have a reputation for being fanatical, but are poor soldiers, as they lack training and discipline.
In The Great Hunt
, where Rand al'Thor
fought above the city of Falme, word spread rapidly. Soon hundreds of bands roamed the countryside of Tarabon and Arad Doman
, after swearing to the Lord Dragon. By the time of the events related in The Shadow Rising
, the Dragonsworn had grown numerous enough to be called armies, and were found fighting against the armies of the King of Tarabon.
Unlike some of the False Dragons, Rand has not attempted to command or organise armies of Dragonsworn, and indeed is reluctant to associate with them, preferring to rely on the Aiel
soldiers, Asha'man
and Aes Sedai
under his command, and the armies of the nations under his control at the time. As a result, the Dragonsworn are poorly organised and poorly led, and make no positive contribution to Rand's war effort. Many of them, in fact, are little better than thieves and brigands, a nuisance and a threat in the areas they operate in. The exception to this trend is the Legion of the Dragon, a powerful and well-trained force containing soldiers from many nations, and commanded by the renowned general Davram Bashere
. The Legion, however, is not generally described as Dragonsworn.
The most powerful and best-organised force of Dragonsworn in the later books is that under the control of the self-proclaimed Prophet Masema Dagar. While hardly comparable to a professional army in organisation and tactics, it has the advantage of large numbers and fanatical devotion to its commander. Masema's Dragonsworn have raided many unwalled towns and farming districts in Ghealdan, Amadicia
and Altara
, as they are easily able to defeat local militias and small bands of men-at-arms
. For a time, having even beaten the royal forces, Masema and his Dragonsworn had de facto control of Ghealdan.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
books, Dragonsworn is the name given to people who have sworn to serve and fight for the Dragon
Dragon (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the Dragon is the champion of the Light and the Creator against the evil Dark One. Although the Dark One was imprisoned by the Creator at the moment of creation, he continually seeks to break free of his prison. In each Age, the Dragon...
, or for any False Dragon.
Dragonsworn are usually motivated, not by a desire to loyally serve the present Dragon, but by the hope of glory or profit. Often, the Dragonsworn are merely rioting peasants (or at least viewed as such by the authorities), and as a result clash frequently with the armed forces of whatever nation they arise in. Historically, however, False Dragons have often found themselves at the head of large armies of Dragonsworn. Usually fighting in ad hoc groups of various sizes, Dragonsworn have a reputation for being fanatical, but are poor soldiers, as they lack training and discipline.
In The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt is the second book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 15, 1990. The Great Hunt consists of a prologue and 50 chapters...
, where Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
fought above the city of Falme, word spread rapidly. Soon hundreds of bands roamed the countryside of Tarabon and Arad Doman
Arad Doman
Arad Doman is a fictional country in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series.-Geography:Arad Doman is a coastal nation in the north-west of the main continent, lying between the Aryth Ocean on the west and the Mountains of Mist in the east. To the south lies Almoth Plain...
, after swearing to the Lord Dragon. By the time of the events related in The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising is the fourth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on September 15, 1992...
, the Dragonsworn had grown numerous enough to be called armies, and were found fighting against the armies of the King of Tarabon.
Unlike some of the False Dragons, Rand has not attempted to command or organise armies of Dragonsworn, and indeed is reluctant to associate with them, preferring to rely on the Aiel
Aiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
soldiers, Asha'man
Asha'man
The Asha'man are an organization of men who can channel the male part of the One Power, Saidin, in the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time.-Description:...
and Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
under his command, and the armies of the nations under his control at the time. As a result, the Dragonsworn are poorly organised and poorly led, and make no positive contribution to Rand's war effort. Many of them, in fact, are little better than thieves and brigands, a nuisance and a threat in the areas they operate in. The exception to this trend is the Legion of the Dragon, a powerful and well-trained force containing soldiers from many nations, and commanded by the renowned general Davram Bashere
Davram Bashere
Davram Bashere is a fictional character featured in The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Bashere is a Saldaean nobleman, the High Seat of House Bashere, Lord of Bashere, Tyr, and Sidona, Marshal-General of Saldaea, Defender of the Blight Border. He is uncle to Saldaea's...
. The Legion, however, is not generally described as Dragonsworn.
The most powerful and best-organised force of Dragonsworn in the later books is that under the control of the self-proclaimed Prophet Masema Dagar. While hardly comparable to a professional army in organisation and tactics, it has the advantage of large numbers and fanatical devotion to its commander. Masema's Dragonsworn have raided many unwalled towns and farming districts in Ghealdan, Amadicia
Amadicia
-Geography:It is a landlocked nation in the southwest of the main continent, stretching from the southern end of the Mountains of Mist to the northern edge of the Shadow Coast .-Politics and government:...
and Altara
Altara
Altara is a fictional country in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series.-Geography:Altara is located between Illian and Amadicia. The river Eldar forms its western border.-Politics and government:...
, as they are easily able to defeat local militias and small bands of men-at-arms
Man-at-arms
Man-at-arms was a term used from the High Medieval to Renaissance periods to describe a soldier, almost always a professional warrior in the sense of being well-trained in the use of arms, who served as a fully armoured heavy cavalryman...
. For a time, having even beaten the royal forces, Masema and his Dragonsworn had de facto control of Ghealdan.
External links
- Dragonsworn - Website devoted to The Wheel of Time