Seanchan is a totalitarian empire located beyond the Aryth Ocean.[1] The expansionist Seanchan have started a great invasion of the Westlands, viewing the land as rightfully their own. They have begun to conquer much of Toman Head.[2]
Overview[]
Seanchan has an extremely hierarchical society. The Empress is the absolute monarch, who rules from the Court of the Nine Moons. Below the Empress is the Blood, the Seanchan term for nobility. There are various signifiers about one's internal standing. The length of one's nails, and the shortness (or absence) of hair indicates their standing in society, with the Blood being shaving the sides of their heads and having extremely long nails and the imperial family shaving their heads completely bald. The Blood also use a servant called a Voice to speak for them when they are around the masses, they are identifiable by shaving one side of their head and braiding the rest.
Seanchan also has an extensive system of slavery. There are several non-channeler slaves, such as da'covale, who mainly act as servants. All female channelers under the rule of Seanchan are enslaved as damane.[3][4] The Seanchan do not believe anyone should have the right to wield the One Power by accident of birth. They are held on leashes by sul'dam, women who train to properly "handle" damane.[5]
Knowledge of the Old Tongue is much more prevalent in Seanchan than in most of the Westlands. For example, the Old Tongue is often used in the military when giving commands. However, the New Tongue is still spoken on a day-to-day basis.[6]
Locations[]
- Seanchan homeland, beyond the Aryth Ocean
- Falme
People[]
Notable nationals include the following characters:
- Alwhin
- Arrata
- The Empress
- Miri
- Renna
- High Lady Suroth
- High Lord Turak
History[]
The Seanchan's empire was founded by people from the Westlands long ago, when a man named Luthair Paendrag sailed across the Aryth Ocean. However, this expedition was forgotten by many people from the Westlands over time. The successors of Luthair Paendrag remembered their origins, and continue to view the Westlands as their rightful land. This justified the preparation to make the Return, a great conquest of the Westlands.[6] They also viewed this conquest as necessary for people of the Light being unified under one single power that could face the Shadow.[4]
Season 1[]
The Seanchan begin their great invasion of the Westlands from across the Aryth Ocean. Rumors begin to reach the White Tower of many ships disappearing on the western coast.[7] They begin their invasion at Toman Head.[5]
Season 2[]
The Seanchan have made progress in the Hailene, the preliminary stage of their Return. High Lord Turak is the royal commander of the Hailene, and is stationed in Falme.[4]
High Lady Suroth leads a group of Seanchan to invade areas that are considered too difficult to hold, as she is being influenced by Ishamael, one of the Forsaken. The Seanchan easily take over Atuan's Mill, and after the town is captured, they make all others present swear allegiance to their empire. They execute Uno Nomesta after he refuses to swear the oaths.[6]
Suroth departs Atuan's Mill, and heads back to Falme. Loial is in her company, and he is now enslaved. Lord Ingtar Shinowa is also presented to Turak as a gift, given his station as a Shienaran lord. In the meantime, the town is captured by the Children of the Light, taking advantage of the power vacuum. Suroth is reprimanded by Turak for the mission to Atuan's Mill. For her failure to hold the town and her insubordination, her long nails are cut to show her disgrace. She later departs for a Waygate nearby, where Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara, and Elayne Trakand are presented to her. Nynaeve and Elayne manage to escape, but Egwene is captured and made damane.
It is also revealed that Ishamael is the one who spurred on the Return, as he previously traveled to Seanchan posing as a mysterious Westlander who could divine omens.[4]
Appearances[]
The Seanchan Empire appears in the following episodes:
| The Wheel of Time appearances | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 episodes | ✔ | |||||||
| Season 2 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Quotes[]
- High Lord Turak
- — Season 2 episode 5 Damane
I am guided by the Light. We have a mission: uniting all the people of the world under our empress to fight the Shadow.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Seanchan characters are the only characters in the series to use American English. This is a nod to the book series; the Seanchan are mentioned to have a "drawl" and Robert Jordan clarified that he imagined their accent to be Texan.
Changes from the book series[]
Seanchan is an adaptation of the empire of the same name 
(book spoilers!) from the book series.
[]
| Locations |
|---|
 Cairhien, a major city and the capital of the Cairhienin nation  Atuan's Mill, a village on Toman Head  Falme, a coastal city on Toman Head  Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams White Tower • Two Rivers • Tifan's Well • Sanitarium • The Ways • Season 1 locations • Season 2 locations • Browse all locations |
References[]
- ↑ CBR. The Wheel of Time Showrunner Breaks Down the Finale & Teases Season 2. December 24, 2021.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 2: Strangers and Friends.
- ↑ Rafe Judkins on Twitter. July 21, 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 5: Damane.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 8: The Eye of the World.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 3: What Might Be.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 6: The Flame of Tar Valon.