"City of Cairhien" redirects here. For the country of Cairhien, see Cairhien (Country).

Pronunciation: KEYE-ree-EHN

Map: A map of Cairhien is available in Lord of Chaos hc p. 292, pb p. 406, and in the Guide, p. 259. There is a large map of Cairhien in TWoTRPG, p. 270.

The capital city of the country of Cairhien. It lies on the east bank of the Alguenya River just south of where it joins the Gaelin River. There is a large dock area on the river with many granaries on the other side. The city walls form a perfect square. The area outside the city walls, the Foregate, is also heavily populated. There is an Illuminators' chapter house a mile east of the city. The northern entrance to the city is the Jangai Gates. The eastern is the Dragonwall Gate.

Stores, Inns, Manor Houses#

Residents#

References (Possible Spoilers)#

  1. In The Eye of the World
    1. TEotW,Ch36 - Loial has already visited Cairhien.
    2. TEotW,Ch36 - Originally, the full name of Cairhien was Al'cair'rahienallen - Hill of the Golden Dawn in the Old Tongue.
  2. In The Great Hunt
    1. TGH,Ch9 - Hurin has tracked criminals as far as Maradon and Cairhien.
    2. TGH,Ch16 - When the Aiel sacked Cairhien they spared the Royal Library. They will not destroy a book.
    3. TGH,Ch21 - Selene disappears leaving a note for Rand saying she will meet him in Cairhien.
    4. TGH,Ch25 - Rand, Loial and Hurin arrive in Cairhien through the Jangai Gate. There is a detailed description of the city.
    5. TGH,Ch33 - Ogier masons were working in Cairhien, but they left because Galldrian stopped paying them.
    6. TGH,Ch35 - Rand and the others leave Cairhien for Stedding Tsofu.
  3. In The Dragon Reborn
    1. TDR,Ch31 - Thom tells Mat he had to leave Cairhien after killing someone.
  4. In The Fires of Heaven
    1. TFoH,Ch30 - Some young Tairen and Cairhienin nobles find Rand in Eianrod and report that Couladin and the Shaido attacked Cairhien.
    2. TFoH,Ch41 - Rand observes Cairhien from his tower.
    3. TFoH,Ch42 - Couladin has 160,000 Shaido spears around Cairhien.
    4. TFoH,Ch44 - After his tower collapses, Rand rides closer to Cairhien.
    5. TFoH,Ch46 - Rand and his party ride into the city where they receive an enthusiastic welcome, at least from the commoners. Meilan and a party of nobles escort them to the Sun Palace.
  5. In Lord of Chaos
    1. LoC,Ch16 - On the spur of the moment Rand decides to visit Cairhien for the first time in weeks.
    2. LoC,Ch17 - Rand Travels from Caemlyn to the Sun Palace in Cairhien accompanied by Aviendha.
    3. LoC,Ch19 - Rand returns to Caemlyn accompanied by Aviendha and Melaine.
    4. LoC,Ch20 - The Ogier built a Waygate at Al'cair'rahienallen during its construction.
    5. LoC,Ch24 - The White Tower embassy arrives in Cairhien.
    6. LoC,Ch25 - The eastern gate to the city is called the Dragonwall Gate.
    7. LoC,Ch26 - Rand decides to leave Caemlyn and return to Cairhien.
    8. LoC,Ch28 - Rand leaves Cairhien and returns to Caemlyn.
    9. LoC,Ch49 - When Rand learns there are thirteen Aes Sedai in Caemlyn, he and his party Travel back to the Sun Palace in Cairhien.
  6. In A Crown of Swords
    1. ACoS,Ch3 - Rand and the army Travel to Cairhien.
    2. ACoS,Ch4 - Rand and company enter Cairhien through the Jangai Gates. The Jangai Gates are three tall, square arches flanked by towers. The Foregate is still a burned ruin.
    3. ACoS,Ch9 - Egwene has heard from the Wise Ones that Rand and the Salidar Aes Sedai embassy are now in Cairhien.
    4. ACoS,Ch10 - The Wise Ones tell Egwene that Merana Ambrey and the others followed Rand to Cairhien, but took no pigeons.
  7. In The Path of Daggers
    1. TPoD,Ch28 - Daved Hanlon participated in the sacking of Cairhien during the Aiel War.
  8. In Winter's Heart
    1. WH,Ch9 - Halwin Norry reports to Elayne that the Sun Palace was attacked with the One Power.
    2. WH,Ch23 - Cadsuane and her party Travel from the Sun Palace in Cairhien to the Hills of Kintara just north of Far Madding. They enter the city via the Caemlyn Gate.
  9. In Crossroads of Twilight
    1. CoT,Prologue - Loial and Karldin return to Cairhien.
    2. CoT,Prologue - Logain and his Asha'man arrive in Cairhien.
    3. CoT,Ch18 - Siuan has an agent in Cairhien keeping tabs on Cadsuane.
    4. CoT,Ch22 - Pevara received a message from Toveine via an agent in Cairhien.
    5. CoT,Ch24 - Samitsu accompanies Logain to Rand, but Cadsuane sends her back to Cairhien to keep Sashalle under control.
    6. CoT,Ch30 - Romanda sent two Yellow Ajah sisters to Cairhien to investigate an exciting rumor there.
  10. In Knife of Dreams
    1. KoD,Ch20 - Rand sealed the Waygates at Caemlyn, Cairhien, Illian and Tear. He put a deadly trap on the open one at Fal Dara but he could not find the Waygate at Far Madding.