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{{nation
|map=Locator_Alethkar.png
|capital=[[Kholinar]]
|ruler=
|occupied=[[Singer]]s
|ethnicity=[[:Category: Alethi|Alethi]]
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{{update|book=sa3}}
}}▼
'''Alethkar''' is the largest and most prominent of the five [[Vorinism|Vorin]] nations on [[Roshar]]. It is split into ten princedoms, each with its own [[highprince]]. People from Alethkar are known as '''Alethi'''.
== Geography ==
[[FILE:Alethkar Color.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Map of Alethkar by [[Isaac Stewart]]. Alethi territories (barring the [[Shattered Plains]]) are marked in purple.]]
Alethkar lies in eastern [[Roshar]], stretching across the entire continent, from the [[Steamwater Ocean]] in the North to the [[Tarat Sea]] in the South-West. To the East, it leans on the [[Unclaimed Hills]], while to the South, it reaches the nationless [[Frostlands]] and the [[Shattered Plains]], the latter of which it has recently claimed for itself. In the West, Alethkar has a long and long-disputed border with [[Jah Keved]], which currently follows two rivers and the bend of the [[Sunmaker Mountains]]. In North-West, Alethkar borders [[Herdaz]] across a stretch of land decided through a few years of border wars.{{map ref|Roshar}}{{book ref|sa3|52}}
Besides the mainland, the Alethi have a number of territories off the coast. On the [[Steamwater Ocean]], Alethkar has [[Akak]] and a number of surrounding islands, giving it complete control over the [[Bay of Elibath]]. On the [[Tarat Sea]] - more specifically, a region of it called [[Mevan Bay]] - it controls a number of small islands in the delta of [[Deathbend River]], near the city of [[Karanak]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
== History ==▼
At the tail end of the [[Era of Solitude]], Alethkar is the largest state on Roshar, covering around seven million square kilometers of land.{{url ref| url=https://www.17thshard.com/forum/blogs/entry/634-roshar-physical-characteristics-and-areas/|text=Roshar Physical Characteristics And Areas|site=17th Shard}} Despite the fact that it is far more exposed to the [[highstorm]]s than any country further West, large swathes of it are lush with animals and vegetation.{{book ref|sa3|5}} It has numerous rivers crossing it, the two major ones being [[Windrunner River|Windrunner]] and [[Deathbend River|Deathbend]]. The Windrunner River runs East to West, from Unclaimed Hills to the Bay of Elibath, and has numerous tributaries across the northern half of the country. The Deathbend River likewise starts in the Unclaimed Hills, though it turns South, ultimately ending in the Mevan Bay, with one of its major tributaries being an enormous lake called the [[Sea of Spears]]. The North and South of Alethkar are divided by a long, cross-shaped masiff called the [[Sunmaker Mountains]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
=== Notable cities ===
<!-- That the city has a name does not make it notable, so let's not list every city on the map -->
* [[Kholinar]] - the seat of [[House Kholin]] and the national capital following Alethkar's unification. The [[Alethela]] [[Oathgate]] is located there.
* [[Rathalas]] - ruined city once known for being constructed in a massive canyon for safety. It was burned down by [[Dalinar Kholin]] following the rebellion of the local [[highprince]], [[Tanalan]]
* [[Revolar]] - one of the largest cities in the [[Vamah]] princedom. During the [[True Desolation]], it's taken over by the [[Voidbringer]]s and used as a major assembly point for their armies.
* [[Hearthstone]] - a large town in the [[Sadeas]] princedom, and home of [[Kaladin Stormblessed]].
* [[Dumadari]] - a major city on the border of Alethkar and [[Jah Keved]]
==
Alethkar was founded as [[Alethela]] in the [[Silver Kingdoms]] Epoch. It survived the Desolations, but fell under the sway of the [[Hierocracy]] until the [[Sunmaker]] led the kingdom in a successful revolt against the [[Vorin]] rule. After the Sunmaker's death, his ten sons could not agree on one of their number as his successor. With none of them willing to forego their claim to the throne, they split the kingdom into ten princedoms, which they ruled individually as [[Highprince]]s, with no unifying government.
The Alethi culture is divided into two major castes, the [[lighteyes]] and [[darkeyes]]. The distinction between the two is the coloring of the person's eyes, the lighteyes standing as the upper class, and darkeyes as the working/lower class. Each of these classes are further divided in rank according to their [[dahn]] (in the case of lighteyes) or their [[nahn]] (in the case of darkeyes). There are many ways for a person to improve their ranking and it is hereditary. Many darkeyes volunteer to become soldiers for the chance to increase their rank and that of their children.▼
Several centuries later, in approximately {{Rosharan date|1158}}, [[Gavilar Kholin]]--inspired by the Sunmaker--sought to conquer and unite the highprinces, which he achieved by about {{Rosharan date|1163}}. He was then crowned king and his brother [[Dalinar Kholin]] became highprince to the [[House Kholin|Kholin]] Princedom. Hower, due to the lineage of each Princedom going back to the Sunmaker and his sons, the Highprinces were loathe to surrender their autonomous power to a supreme ruler. The integrity and unity of Gavilar's kingdom is therefore questionable, as evidenced by the ferocity with which the Highprinces resisted his military approach to unification and continued to strain against his rule. The most severe instance of this was the rebellion in [[Rathalas]], where Gavilar eventually had to send troops led by [[Dalinar]] and [[Sadeas]] in order to quench the revolt, as political means had resulted in a failure.
When Gavilar was assassinated by the [[Parshendi]] in {{Rosharan date|1167}}{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}, his son [[Elhokar Kholin]] became king and declared war on the killers. Each of the highprinces joined the [[Vengeance Pact]] and they set out into the [[Shattered Plains]] to besiege the Parshendi in the [[War of Reckoning]]. However, the siege took much longer than was expected, and was still active by {{Rosharan date|1173}}. It eventually ended when the Parshendi summoned the [[Everstorm]], beginning the [[True Desolation]] during the [[Battle of Narak]]. Afterwards, some of the Highprinces -- [[Dalinar]], [[Aladar]] and [[Sebarial]] -- along with their remaining forces, took refuge in [[Urithiru]], while others remained on the [[Shattered Plains]], slowly taking over the abandoned warcamps of those who left and consolidating their power base there.
Meanwhile, the Alethkar homelands were besieged by the newly awakened [[singer]] forces led by the [[Fused]], culminating in the [[Siege of Kholinar|siege]] and eventual fall of [[Kholinar]].
The Alethi system of government revolves around class. The lighteyes compose the ruling upper caste, which also has a ranking system (dahn). The highest ranked lighteyes is [[Elhokar|King Elhokar]], who rules over all of the [[highprince]]s. Next in line in terms of prestige and power are any lighteyes who were also [[Shardbearer]]s, with significant overlap into the princedom (i.e. many highprinces are generally Shardbearers as well).▼
After Elhokar was killed by [[Moash]] during the siege, and [[Adolin Kholin]] refused to take the throne after the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], [[Jasnah Kholin]] became Queen. The current heir to the throne is Elhokar's son, [[Gavinor]] -- however, he's still a child and a regency in his name was deemed too unstable and dangerous during the time of the [[Last Desolation]].
▲The Alethi culture is divided into two major castes, the [[lighteyes]] and [[darkeyes]]. The distinction between the two is the coloring of the person's eyes, the lighteyes standing as the upper
▲The Alethi system of government revolves around class. The lighteyes compose the ruling upper caste, which also has a ranking system (dahn). The
The word ''Mathana'' is a formal term for an older sister,{{book ref|sa1|22}} and for "aunt" it is ''Mashala''.{{book ref|twok|60}}
Most of the Alethi are [[Vorin]], followers of the [[Almighty]]. The priests of Vorinism are called [[ardent]]s and are divided into [[Devotary|Devotaries]]. Vorinism has a large impact on the culture of Alethkar. Alethi each chooses a profession and an attribute of the Almighty to emulate: a [[Calling]] and a Glory. These can be changed during life but it is generally frowned upon culturally. [[Soulcasting]] is considered sacred to the Alethi and so only the ardents are permitted to use Soulcasting [[fabrial]]s.
==
[[File:Alethkar Color.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Alethi Princedoms by [[Isaac Stewart]]]]
Though it is ruled by a single king, Alethkar is divided into ten princedoms, each ruled by a [[lighteyes|lighteyed]] [[highprince]]. Each princedom is named after the family controlling it, and each has its own military, independent of one another - a remnant of the times prior to the reunification. While the highprinces do work together, the king has limited control over them, maintained less through tradition, and more through sheer military power and access to amenities like [[Soulcaster]]s.{{book ref|sa1|15}} In addition, the ruling [[House Kholin]] controls the largest territory, as apart from their own princedom, they also hold an underpopulated stretch of land called the [[Eastern Crownlands]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
The territories of Alethkar and their major settlements are:
{{columns|
;[[Kholin princedom]]: In the east of Alethkar
* '''[[Kholinar]]'''
* [[Shulin]]
;[[Sadeas princedom]]: In the north-west of Alethkar
* [[Hearthstone]]
* [[Tomat]]▼
* [[Mourn's Vault]]
▲* [[Tomat]]
;[[Aladar princedom]]: In the north of Alethkar
;[[Vamah princedom]]: In the north-west of Alethkar
* [[Farcoast]]
;[[Ruthar princedom]]: In the west of Alethkar
;[[Thanadal princedom]]: In the center of Alethkar
* [[Savalashi]]
▲* [[Davinar]]
* [[Rathalas]]▼
;[[Hatham princedom]]: In the west of Alethkar
▲* [[Shamel]]
* [[Darkhill]]
;[[Bethab princedom]]: In the south-west of Alethkar
▲* [[Karanak]]
* [[Dumadari]]
* [[Karanak]]
;[[Sebarial princedom]]: In the south of Alethkar
* [[Rashir]]
;[[Eastern Crownlands]]: In southeast Alethkar
== Military ==▼
▲* [[Rathalas]]
▲}}
▲=== Military ===
{| class="infobox side" style="width: 22em; float:right; font-size: 88%;"
!colspan='3' style="text-align:center; background:#cce" |'''Chain of command'''
|colspan='3' | <small>In companies made solely of lighteyes, the rank "lieutenant" is used as the equivalent of sergeant.</small>
|}
The modern Alethi army is one of the strongest military forces on Roshar with well over 100,000 troops{{book ref|sa1|6}} and over thirty [[Shardbearer]]s.{{book ref|sa2|5}} The army employs most of its troops as spearmen and archers, as well as a very small amount of cavalry due to the rarity of horses on Roshar;{{book ref|sa1|6}} only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Soldiers are usually trained in one or two additional Skills, i.e. horse grooms.{{book ref|twok|28}} Under most circumstances, military service is voluntary, though the leaders of the army has the right of conscription for darkeyes that do not provide an essential function to a community (e.g. a town's only surgeon) when they feel there is need for additional troops.{{book ref|sa1|44}} It is extremely rare for a darkeyed soldier to rise higher than the rank of squadleader.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Lighteyed officers that have the command of a branch of the army are usually referred by their duties (e.g. cavalrylord, infantrylord).{{book ref|sa1|26}}
Despite Alethkar being a monarchy, the king has very little actual say in how the military is run and does not directly command any force other than the 250-strong King's Guard. The troops are sworn to and led by their individual highprinces.{{book ref|sa2|5}} In that sense, Alethkar army is not truly a unified army, but a loose coalition between ten smaller armies. Indeed, even in wartime, there is constant in-fighting between the highprinces' armies,{{book ref|sa1|47}} and cooperation between the highprinces themselves is seen as a weakness;{{book ref|sa1|54}} this is bolstered by the tenets of Vorinism that say the purpose of life is to prepare in order to join the Heralds in the fight to regain the [[Tranquiline Halls]] and Alethi belief that everything is a competition in life.{{book ref|sa1|15}}
== Trivia ==
*Alethi are modeled on half Asian and half Hawaiian people, and according to Brandon, picturing Alethi as looking east-Indian works very well.{{
== Notes ==
{{partial}}
{{stormlight}}
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