Born the prince of Shandalle, Artur Paendrag Tanreall was the son of King Myrdin and Queen
Mailinde, trained from a young age as a warrior, strategist and leader.
His homeland of Shandalle was a small Kingdom surrounded by larger armies that kept them
under constant threat of attack, and forced them to develop a strong professional army.
In addition the kingdoms close proximity to Tar Valon, home of power Aes Sidai sorceresses,
likely helped discourage major military action against them.
In 937 FY, Artur married Amaline Tagora, and then ascended to the throne in 939 when his
parents both died of Black Fever, which ravaged the land.
Shortly after becoming King, a new threat rose in the Westlands, when Guaire Amalasan
declared himself the Dragon Reborn, claiming he was Lews Therin Telamon reincarnated, the
hero from the Age of Legends who prophecies proclaimed would one day come again.
However, after Saidin, the male half of the One Power was tainted by the Dark One Shaitan,
male Aes Sidai like Lews Therin and his companions went mad and creating such devastation it
caused the reshaping the continents.
And so it fell the female Aes Sedai of the White Tower to track down their male counterparts
and eliminate them as a threat.
Afterwards, men were forbidden from channelling the one power, and so from time to time, when
a man falsely proclaimed himself as the Dragon Reborn, and started channeling Saidin, war
often followed as some flocked to his banner, while others rose in opposition.
Such was the case for Guiare Amalasan , who he led his followers to conquer a great number
of territories, prompting the remaining nations to join with the Aes Sedai of the White Tower
to oppose this aggression.
However all of these armies were defeated by the False Dragon, save for those under
Artur Paendrag who came to be known as Artur Hawkwing, when his forces gained a reputation
for speed.
Although Hawkwing was often outnumbered his skill as a commander left him to eventually
defeat and capture the False Dragon at the Battle of Jolvaine Pass in 943.
Some believe that the War of the Second Dragon, as it came to be known, was fought between
two Ta’veren, who each possessed great skill and the ability to inspire devotion from those
around them, and who were destined to drastically influence history.
In order to hand the False Dragon over to the Aes Sedai for punishment, Hawkwing marched
his forces to Tar Valon, yet this greatly offended the women of the White Tower, who
accused him of breaking the law that forbade armies from entering their territory.
Although it is unknown whether or not the Aes Sedai who accompanied Hawkwing gave him
permission, they were punished in any case by the White Tower for allowing this action.
The King of Shandalle was then given 5 days to rest before departing, yet Tar Valon soon
fell under attack by false dragon loyalists, with many claiming the Aes Sedai were forced
to ask for assistance from Hawkwing and his army who swiftly defeated the enemy.
Nevertheless Bonwhin Meraighdin, leader of the Aes Sedai was displeased with all that
had occurred, and remained an enemy of Hawkwing who soon returned home.
Yet peace was not to last, as Shandelle soon fell under attack by an alliance of Caembarin,
Tova and Khodomar, possibly supported by the Aes Sedai under Bonwhin Meraighdin and who
resented Hawkwing’s military prowess, fearing he meant to conquer his neighbours.
After defeating the alliance, Hawkwing raised fresh troops and launched a 19 year campaign
that came to be known as the Consolidation, in which he conquered all of the Westlands
save for Tar Valon, which was placed under siege.
Successfully creating a mighty empire, Artur Hawkwing made peace with the Aes Sedai and
re-established cordial relations, then ruling for 55 years, during which there were seven
rebellions and a Trolloc invasion from FY 986 to 987 FY, each of which were put down
by the High King and his forces.
Artur and his wife Amaline had four children however each of them met tragic fates, as
his son Modair was killed in battle the other three as well as his wife were poisoned to
death.
Deeply affected by the loss, the king became bitter and harsh, suspecting that the Aes
Sedai were behind the attack.
Yet in the year 965, he married his second wife Tamika who calmed his anger and together
had several more children.
For many years Hawkwing proved an invincible military commander and wise ruler, beloved
by the common folk for promoting people based on merit, rather than class or bloodline.
But he eventually made decisions that greatly weakened the empire and sowed the seeds of
war, with some believing this was due to the influence of Jalwin Moerad, who came to his
court in 973 and rose become one of the High King’s most trusted advisor.
Yet this was no ordinary man, as many centuries later it was learned, Jalwin Moerad was in
fact Ishamael, a servant of the Dark One, who came to sow chaos and war in Hawkwing’s
empire.
After Lews Theran trapped the Dark One’s servants away during the Age of Legends, Elan
Morin Tedronai, later known as Ishamael, was only partially imprisoned, able to return
to the world for roughly 4 decades every thousand years.
With Jalwin Moerad by his side, Hawkwing’s relations with the White Tower once again
soured, as he believed they were scheming against him, and using him to further their
own power.
This led the High King to dismiss all Aes Sedai from his court, once again laying Siege
to Tar Valon.
Nearing the end of his life, Hawkwing decided to expand his empire further, by sending 2
great armadas to explore new lands, each of them consisting of roughly 2000 ships and
300000 soldiers . The first group was sent in 992 across the Aryth ocean to Seanchan,
led by the King’s son Luthair, while the second group was sent to the eastern lands
of Shara, led by one of his daughters.
Unfortunately contact was lost with both expeditions, and the Empire was greatly weakened by their
loss.
After 5 decades of rule, Artur Hawkwing became ill, and possibly following the advice of
his closest councillor, refused medicine and treatment, leading to his death.
The empire, which had been weakening and destabilizing for years, immediately collapsed as various
powers declared independence and the siege of Tar Valon was lifted.
In addition many believe Jalwin Moerad furthered this chaos by assassinating the last of the
High King’s children, then becoming a royal advisor to other possible successors like
Marithelle Camaelaine, Norodim Nosokawa, and Elfraed Guitama, each of which died under
mysterious circumstances.
After 40 years of causing as much damage as possible, Moerad suddenly disappeared, and
was never heard from again.
Following Artur’s death and the fall of his empire, the Westlands fell to a hundred
years of chaos and war, however Hawkwing’s empire continued on across the sea.
Although the armada sent to Shara was likely defeated and destroyed, those sent under Luthair
to Seanchan survived and established a settlement.
Over the next 500 years they expanded and conquered the native population, leading to
their own period of Consolidation, led by strong rulers said to be of the blood of Luthair,
son of Hawkwing.
During their rise to power, the invaders destroyed all shadowspawn in the continent, and because
of their distance to Shayol Ghul, the population could not recover, and so future generations
came to believe they were creatures of myth.
Although his Empire in the Westlands died alongside him, Artur Hawkwing was remembered
as a legendary hero, warrior and king for many years to come, and proved so valiant
and mighty during his life, that his spirit became tied to the Horn of Valere, an ancient
item of great power with the ability to call the greatest warriors of history from their
graves, so they might fight once more alongside the living.