Difference between revisions of "Arelon"

|capital=[[Elantris (city)|Elantris]],<br />[[Kae]] <small>(followingunder theKings Reod[[Iadon]] and [[Telrii]])</small>

|books=[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]

'''Arelon''' was the westernmost knownnorthwestern-most nation on the continent of [[Opelon]] on the planet [[Sel]].

Before the Reod, Arelon was ruled by the Elantrians as a theocratic nation, ruled by the Elantrians{{book ref|Elantris|7}},. whoThey were worshipped as deities by virtue of their magical abilities. Although the Elantrians were regarded as gods by many of the citizenry, other religions existed and were not contested by the Elantrians.{{book ref|Elantris|46}}

After the collapse of Elantris due to the Reod, the merchantwealthiest class rose up as theand most powerful andmerchants wealthyrose citizens,up and overthrewseized thecontrol formerof governmentthe nation.{{book ref|Elantris|6}} The merchants then became the new nobility, the capital city moved from Elantris to one of the surrounding towns, [[Kae]], and the head of the merchants guild [[Iadon]] was crowned as king, the new government ruled that someones nobility was directly tied to their wealth, which lead to the reinstatement of a form of slavery of the peasant class as all the nobles struggled to gain more wealth and so rise in rank.{{book ref|Elantris|8}} In addition to barons, counts, and dukes,{{book ref|elantris|11}} the system also had lesser titles like Kimeon (and its feminine version, Kimess) and Tore.{{glossary ref|Elantris|K}}{{glossary ref|Elantris|T}}{{ref|text=These titles are found only in the ''Elantris'' glossary from [[Brandon Sanderson|Brandon's]] website.}} This system of government was incredibly unstable and it is believed that even without the [[invasion of Arelon]] the government would soon have collapsed.

Some people of [[Aonic]] heritage, residing in Arelon would be struck by a phenomenon known as the [[Shaod]] and would gain the ability to draw [[Aon]]s symbols, which when drawn correctly, could produce a magical effect,. theseThese symbols were strongest when used close to the city of Elantris and inside of Arelons borders. Each Aon also resembled some of the landscape of Arelon. The central Aon that was required to draw all others was a basic map of Arelon itself.{{book ref|Elantris|46}}

After the [[Reod]] and the Fall of Elantris, King [[Iadon]] established a plantation system in order to control Arelon. Peasants were bound to a Plantationplantation in a practice similar to serfdom. Each Plantationplantation was named for a different Aon. Due to the competitive nature of Arelene noble status, the peasants were often poorly treated, as the nobles were anxious to retain their titles.{{book ref|elantris|11}}

* In the first published edition of ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]'', the term "Arelish" was used to describe things originating from the nation of Arelon. This was changed in the tenth anniversary edition of ''Elantris'' such that "Arelene" is now used as the nation's demonym and adjectival form.