Pronunciation: KEYE-ree-EHN 
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! Location

Cairhien is in the east-central part of the [Westlands|Geography]. During the time after the Breaking, this area was the nation of [Almoren].

Shortly into the [War of the Hundred Years], nobles of the province of Cairhien seized control and murdered every descendant of the last rulers of [Tova]. After months of infighting, Lord Matraine Colmcille was crowned first King of Cairhien.

! Ruling Body

Cairhien is ruled by a monarchy.

* [Carewin Damodred]
* [Laman Damodred] (-978 NE)
* [Galldrian] su Riatin rie (978-998 NE)

! Noble Houses

As with most nations of the [Westlands|Geography], there are numerous strong noble Houses that wield influence. Known Houses of Cairhien are listed below.

%%columns
* Aesnan - [Lorstrum]
* Annallin - [Daricain], [Daricain]
* Chuliandred - [Alaine|Alaine Chuliandred], [Doressin|Doressin Chuliandred]
* Daganred - [Meresin]
* Damodred - [Laman], [Moiraine], [Moiraine], [Taringail], [Galad], [Moressin], [Moressin], [Aldecain], [Anvaere], [Innloine]
* Delovinde - [Talmanes]
----
* Dhulaine - [Arilyn|Arilyn Dhulaine]
* Hamarashle
* Maravin - [Semaradrid]
* Mavabwin
* Moseneillin - [Daigian]
* Osiellin - [Amondrid|Amondrid Osiellin], [Belevaere|Belevaere Osiellin]
* Riatin - [Galldrian], [Toram], [Ailil|Ailil Riatin]
* Saighan - [Colavaere], [Colavaere]
* Taborwin - [Dobraine], [Breane|Breane Taborwin]
%%

! Towns/Cities

%%columns
* [Cairhien|City of Cairhien] (capital)
* [Eianrod]
----
* [Jurene]
* [Maerone]
----
* [Morelle]
* [Selean]
----
* [Taien]
* [Tremonsien]
%%

!! References


* [TWoTRPG|../../books/guide/index.html#2] - Information on the history and culture of Cairhien.
* [PotD|Guide#4] - During the [Aiel War|../../history/aiel_war], House Mecandes lost its power because its wealth was based on trade through the [Silk Path|../geography/silk_path].
* [NS,Ch1|../books/new_spring/ch1] - [Lan] and [Bukama] were in Cairhien, [Andor] and [Tear|Country of Tear] for two years fighting the [Aiel War].
* [NS,Ch6|../books/new_spring/ch6] - The [White Tower] wants [Moiraine] as Queen of Cairhien.
* [NS,Ch6|../books/new_spring/ch6] -  Outside of [Moiraine]'s immediate family, House Damodred has a reputation for dark character.
* [NS,Ch13|../books/new_spring/ch13] - A Cairhienin spy stalks [Moiraine].
* [NS,Ch13|../books/new_spring/ch13] - The colors of House Damodred are red, green and white.
* [NS,Ch14|../books/new_spring/ch14] - Various Cairhienin Houses ply [Moiraine].
* [NS,Ch17] - There are four Houses vying for the throne.
* [NS,Ch21|../books/new_spring/ch21] - A Cairhienin spy hires [Caniedrin] to assassinate [Moiraine].
* [TEotW,Ch36] - Originally, the full name of Cairhien was [''Al'cair'rahienallen''|../history/compleat.html#al'cair'rahienallen] - Hill of the Golden Dawn in the [Old Tongue|../../history/old_tongue].
* [TGH,Ch9] - The sigil of Cairhien is the Rising Sun.
* [TGH,Ch9] - The sigil of House Riatin is Five Stars.
* [TGH,Ch21] - The colors of House Caldevwin are red and yellow.
* [TDR,Ch28] - Prices are high in Cairhien because of the civil war.
* [TDR,Ch37] - [Andor] and Cairhien have fought nearly as many wars as [Illian|Country of Illian] and [Tear|Country of Tear], but they are currently on good terms.
* [TDR,Ch46] - [Morgase] encourages [Morgase] to claim the [Sun Throne|../geography/cairhien/cairhien/sun_palace] by right of her marriage to [Taringail Damodred|../characters/t/taringail].
* [TSR,Ch13] - In a tavern in the [Maule|../geography/tear/tear/index], [Mat] spots an out-of-luck Cairhienin noble wearing slashes of red, gold and green.
* [TSR,Ch17] - The civil war in Cairhien is so bad that people are starving.
* [TSR,Ch21] - [Rand] sends the [Tairen|Country of Tear] army led by several High Lords to restore order and ease the famine in Cairhien.
* [TSR,Ch34] - [Rhuarc] explains some of [Rand]'s visions in the [glass columns|../items/glass_columns]. The young man giving them water was Cairhienin. This led to the gift of ''[Avendoraldera|../items/avendoraldera]'', its cutting by [Laman], the [Aiel War], and thereby [Rand]'s birth.
* [TSR,Ch41] - [Raen] tells [Perrin] that his band of [Tinkers] traveled from Cairhien to [Ghealdan] to [Andor] in the past year.
* [TFoH,Ch1] - [Alteima] tells [Morgase] that [Rand] left [Tear|Country of Tear] with the [Aiel]. [Morgase] is surprised because she thought he was headed to Cairhien.
* [TFoH,Ch23] - The [Shaido] enter Cairhien followed a few days later by [Rand] and the other clans.
* [TFoH,Ch24] - [Egwene] tells [Elayne] that they are now in Cairhien. [Couladin] and the [Shaido] decimated the town of [Selean|../geography/cairhien/selean/index].
* [TFoH,Ch33] - There are [Andoran|../geography/andor/index] soldiers in Cairhien. They want take the [Sun Throne|../geography/cairhien/cairhien/sun_palace] for [Morgase].
* [ACoS,Ch3] - [Rand] intends the thrones of [Andor] and Cairhien for [Elayne].
* [ACoS,Ch4] - The colors of House Saighan are red, yellow and silver. The sign of House Saighan is a silver diamond on a red and yellow checked field.
* [ACoS,Ch5] - Since the [Aiel War], most of the farms near the [Dragonwall|../geography/spine_world] are small and many have been abandoned.
* [ACoS,Ch19] - The colors of House Dhulaine are red and green.
* [ACoS,Ch35] - The colors of House Damodred are red and green and white.
* [TPoD,Ch21] - House Maravin has old alliances with House Riatin.
* [TPoD,Ch24] - House Saighan has estates in a region called Colchaine.
* [TPoD,Ch27] - The colors of House Taborwin are blue and white.
* [WH,Prologue|../books/wh/prologue] - [Rand] chooses [Dobraine] to be his steward in Cairhien until [Elayne] claims the [Sun Throne|../geography/cairhien/cairhien/sun_palace].
* [WH,Ch25] - [Alanna] reports to [Rand] that not all in Cairhien are happy with [Dobraine] as regent. Some may support [Toram Riatin|../characters/t/toram_riatin] if he returns. [Rand] sends her back to Cairhien.
* [CoT,Prologue] - Some nobles want to raise [Ailil|../characters/a/ailil_riatin] to High Seat of House Riatin, but the [Aes Sedai] refuse as [Toram Riatin|../characters/t/toram_riatin] might still be alive.
* [KoD,Ch24] - The Great Winter War was fought between [Andor] and Cairhien in 671 NE.
* [TGS,Ch9] - Once the [Asha'man] are sufficiently recovered, [Perrin] plans to [Travel|Weaves] to Cairhien or [Andor|../../geography/andor/index] to find [Rand].