Tar Valon
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Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.
The City
Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power. A saying used by Aes Sedai sums up the importance of Tar Valon and the White Tower: "The Wheel of Time turns around Tar Valon, and Tar Valon turns around the Tower." Kings and Queens bow before the power that Tar Valon holds.
The city is accessible from the mainland via six bridges, three crossing the west branch of the Erinin, and three to the east. Roads from Tar Valon go to all the principal towns in the Borderlands, as well as south to Caemlyn and Cairhien. Additionally, there are two ports - Northharbor and Southharbor - for river traffic on the Erinin. Tar Valon thus functions as a hub of trade and commerce for the North, as well as being a centre of major political importance; besides the ever-present Aes Sedai themselves, petitioners (mostly women, but occasionally men) come in significant numbers to the White Tower to seek Aes Sedai aid and counsel.
The White Tower
The Tower, and much of the city, was built by the Ogier, and they are among the oldest constructions since the Breaking of the World. Tar Valon is a city-state of sorts, over which the Amyrlin Seat rules. The "Shining Walls" of Tar Valon are thought to be impregnable, quite apart from the difficulty in taking a city filled with Aes Sedai, and the common belief is that no army has ever breached them. But this is an Aes Sedai deception. In the Trolloc Wars the armies of the Shadow actually managed to breach the Tower and burn part of it, though it is also said that the eventual rebuff of the Trolloc armies amounted to one of their greatest defeats in the Wars. Additionally, the armies of at least two false Dragons have reached the Tower in an effort to rescue them. In general, though, Tar Valon is a very difficult city to lay a successful siege to; a besieging army would need to hold both banks of the Erinin, while at the same time blockading the island.
The White Tower serves as the headquarters of the Aes Sedai. The White Tower is protected by a weave of saidar, repelling all rats and ravens from Tar Valon, who are thought to be the Dark One's spies and source of intelligence.
The Tower itself is divided into different sections for the various ranks and factions, including guards, Novices, Accepted and even the servants. The Tower grounds include training areas for guardsmen and Warders, as well as numerous gardens. While much of Aes Sedai business is conducted in the Tower proper certain rituals are conducted in the sublevels of the Tower, including the test for the Accepted and the test for the Shawl. These sublevels also serve to house items of the One Power which the Aes Sedai have collected since the Breaking. It also houses an underground prison used for those of the Black Ajah.
The Amrylin Seat, Elaida do Avriny a' Roihan, was in the constructing a massive palace, parts of which were to beat the Tower in height, before her capture by the Seanchan. With the reunification of the White Tower under Egwene Al'Vere, the fate of this palace is unknown.
Current state
Egwene al'Vere, Salidar's Amyrlin Seat, has united the White Tower under her rule.
Younglings
A group of young men led by Gawyn Trakand, the Younglings are mostly former students of Warders in the White Tower. When Siuan Sanche was deposed and a number of Warders attempted to rescue her, Gawyn and several of the Younglings opposed them. Several on both sides were killed in the fighting, and the Younglings pledged their allegiance to Elaida, the new Amyrlin Seat. However, after numerous instances in which it was clear that they were to be disposed of, the Younglings have become extremely distrustful of the Tar Valon Aes Sedai.
Historical and mythical references
As with many aspects of the Wheel of time, Tar Valon is influenced by mythological and historical references. The name 'Tar Valon' resembles that of Avalon from the Arthurian Legend, and the city may be modeled after Avalon.
The White Tower may be borrowed in part from the White Tower which is a part of the Tower of London, where Yeoman Warders serve.
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