Politics
The Seanchan Empire is led by an Empress who has absolute power. She reigns from the Crystal Throne at the Court of the Nine Moons; the throne itself is a ter'angreal, inspiring awe and wonder of the person who sits on it. There has not been an Emperor in Seanchan for 900 years. According to the Seanchan version of the Prophecies of the Dragon, the Dragon Reborn must kneel to the Crystal Throne before Tarmon Gai'don. Below the Empress and those of her immediate family are the Blood, the noble class of the Empire. The elite guard around the throne is provided by the Deathwatch Guards, while the Seekers for Truth hunt Darkfriends and act as a secret police.
The power of the Seanchan Empire is based around the enslavement of damane (literally "Leashed Ones" in the Old Tongue), women who can channel the One Power, through the use of collars called a'dam (in actuality, a type of ter'angreal). The handlers of damane are called sul'dam, or "Leash Holders".
The nation of Seanchan is ruled by a rigid class structure. The lowest class of people are the da'covale, "those who are property." However, not all servants hold low rank in Seanchan society. The hereditary servants of the Imperial family hold higher rank than free men and women. So'jhin, literally "a height among lowness" in the Old Tongue, are the upper servants who may hold positions of power.
The highest tier of Seanchan society is held by those who are of the Blood. Initially, it was only the descendants of Luthair and his armies who were of the Blood, but over time others have been raised to the Blood. Being raised to the Blood, while exceptionally rare, is the greatest honor possible for one who was born a commoner.
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Famous quotes containing the word politics:
“Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country—and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians.”
—Charles Krauthammer (b. 1950)
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—Germaine Greer (b. 1939)
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