The Aiel War began in 976 NE when the [Aiel] learned that King [Laman] of [Cairhien|Country of Cairhien] had cut down the chora tree %%ot [Avendoraldera]%%. Four clans invaded the western lands with the intent of killing [Laman]. The nations of the western lands banded together to fight the [Aiel] but never defeated them. [Laman] was finally killed in the Battle of the Shining Walls, also known as the Blood Snow, at [Dragonmount] late in 978 NE. After his death the [Aiel] retreated back to the [Aiel Waste]. After the Aiel War, the [Gray Ajah] attempted to hold together the coalition of nations but were unsuccessful. ! References (Posssible Spoilers) %%collapse * In [New Spring] ** [NS,Ch1] - [Lan] and [Bukama] spent two years fighting the [Aiel] in [Cairhien|Country of Cairhien], [Andor] and [Tear|Country of Tear]. During the war 200,000 men fought the [Aiel]. ** [NS,Ch2] , [NS,Ch3] - As horns sounded announcing the death of King [Laman], the [Aiel] began moving east toward the [Spine of the World]. ** [NS,Ch17] - [Cadsuane] briefly came out of retirement at the beginning of the Aiel War. ** [NS,Ch25] - [Moiraine] thinks one of the reasons so many [Aes Sedai] are about is to tie up loose ends from the Aiel War. ** [NS,Epilogue] - Five hundred men fought under [Lan] at the Battle of the Shining Walls also known as the Blood Snow. Half died in the battle. * In [The Eye of the World] ** [TEotW,Ch6] - [Rand] learns that his father, [Tam], participated in the Aiel War and found him as a newborn infant on [Dragonmount]. * In [The Dragon Reborn] ** [TDR,Ch39] - [Elayne] recounts how the Aiel War, from their perspective, was simply and execution of King [Laman] for cutting down %%ot [Avendoraldera]%%, a sapling of %%ot [Avendesora]%%. * In [The Shadow Rising] ** [TSR,Ch34] - [Rhuarc] explains some of [Rand]'s visions in the [glass columns|Glass Columns]. The young man giving them water was [Cairhien|Country of Cairhien]. This led to the gift of %%ot [Avendoraldera]%%, its cutting by [Laman], the Aiel War, and thereby [Rand]'s birth. * In [A Crown of Swords] ** [ACoS,Ch19] - After the Aiel War, the [Gray Ajah] attempted to hold together the coalition of nations formed to fight the [Aiel], but it broke apart anyhow. * In [The Path of Daggers] ** [TPoD,Ch28] - [Daved Hanlon] participated in the looting of [Cairhien|City of Cairhien] during the Aiel War. * In [Crossroads of Twilight] ** [CoT,Ch8] - [Gerard Arganda] fought at [Tar Valon] in the Aiel War. %% ---- More [Category History]