Shartan

Shartan, also known as The Liberator, was the leader of the elven slaves who joined Andraste's Exalted March Against the Tevinter Imperium in -171 Ancient.
== Background ==
At Shartan's word, the sky
Grew black with arrows.
At Our Lady's, ten thousand swords
Rang from their sheaths,
A great hymn rose over Valarian Fields gladly proclaiming:
Those who had been slaves were now free.
—Shartan 10:1, Dissonant VerseCodex entry: Dark Moon
Shartan was born into captivity in the Tevinter Imperium, but dreamed of a homeland where the elves could once again be free and encouraged his fellow elven slaves to rise up against their Tevinter masters. He was said to lead an elven rebellion in central Tevinter, though Chantry scholars have been unable to verify its location, as the cities of Vol Dorma, Marnas Pell, Solas, Marothius and Hasmal, cited in different versions of the Canticle of Shartan, were all the sites of brutal slave uprisings, or verify that Shartan led any of them. Furthermore, as many aspects of his Canticle are similar to ancient elven folktales of a rebellion against tyrants led by a trickster warrior, some scholars have raised the idea that "Shartan," if he existed at all, may not have been a single man but a title or an ideal.
thumb|200px|Andraste makes Shartan her champion and gifts him with Glandivalis
According to one version of the Canticle of Shartan, the elves under Shartan's leadership successfully ambushed and overwhelmed the Tevinter legion that had chased them from Vol Dorma to Asariel, using whatever weapons they could fashion. As the elves celebrated their victory, they heard the clamor of Andraste's approaching army. Shartan went to investigate alone and was taken to speak to Andraste. They negotiated an alliance of equals and together joined forces. In -171 Ancient, they met the bulk of the Imperium's armies on Valarian Fields. During the battle, Andraste named Shartan her Champion for rescuing her and gave to him her mother's sword, which he renamed Glandivalis.Codex entry: Glandivalis: "Andraste gave him a mystic blade that he called Glandivalis (translation unknown)" Following their victory at the Battle of Valarian Fields, their armies marched on Minrathous. However, Andraste was betrayed by her husband, Maferath, and taken captive by the Imperium. Shartan and a hundred elves charged the pyre she had been tied to in an attempt to free her, but all were killed by a hail of arrows before they could get to her.
The support he and the other elven slaves rendered to the first Exalted March was not in vain, however. In -165 Ancient, the elves were rewarded by Maferath with the creation of a new homeland in the Dales. Elves from all over Tevinter migrated to the promised land in southern Thedas in a movement called "The Long Walk." Many elves perished along the way.Codex entry: The Long Walk
The Chant of Light originally included a canticle describing Shartan's contribution to Andraste's cause, but it was removed from the Chant by Divine Renata I after the Exalted March of the Dales and is now considered heretical; his involvement is now referred to as the "Heresy of Shartan."Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 19 The "New Cumberland Chant of Light", published by Divine Justinia V in the Dragon Age, does, however, include these passages.
Following the Exalted March of the Dales, all Chantry art including elves was destroyed. The only exception was a mural by Henri de Lydes featuring Shartan, Andraste, and her disciples. However, Shartan's ears were docked. A faithful reproduction of the mural exists at the University of Orlais.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 17
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age: Origins ===
If the Warden is an elf, they can ask the two chantry sisters who stand outside Denerim's chantry about elves in the Chant. They mention the Canticle of Shartan and say that Shartan himself was burned at a stake beside Andraste. Leliana will also speak a little about Shartan if asked if she knows any stories about the Dalish, explaining that he was born into captivity and died when Andraste was betrayed.
=== Dragon Age II ===
thumb|200px|An unusual example of a Chantry stained glass depicting Shartan
Hawke can find a book written by Shartan and gift it to Fenris. Hawke can also loot the sword Glandivalis that once belonged to Shartan from the pride demon Hybris. Interestingly, Hybris says that he has "fragments of every fool who held a throne, here or in the black."
=== Dragon Age: The Masked Empire===
Empress Celene travels to the University of Orlais to discuss the acceptance of common and elven students. There, she and her champion Ser Michel de Chevin note the reproduction of a mural of Shartan in its courtyard. Later, a human female actress portrays Shartan's involvement in Andraste's rebellion by way of a play aimed to critique Celene's position on the elves of Orlais.
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
If the Inquisitor is an elf, Mother Giselle mentions Shartan’s support to Andraste when conversed with.
== Quests ==
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== Quotes ==
* "The People will set ourselves free."Shartan 9:27 
== Codex entries ==
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== Trivia ==
* It appears that many Andrastians suspect, as a matter of salacious debate, that Shartan and Andraste were lovers during her rebellion against the Magisters of Tevinter.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 109-110 
* Though uncommon for a slave (most elven slaves of his time could not even write in Tevene, much less Elvish), Shartan was literate and wrote at least one book during his lifetime: A Slave's Life. His writings were later suppressed following the Exalted March upon the Dales.
* 
* The spirit who takes the appearance of Shartan during the Gauntlet is labelled as "Thane Shartan", even though "thane" seems to be an Alamarri/Avvar title; it might suggest that Shartan gained recognition as Thane among Andraste and Maferath's forces, the bulk of which consisted of Alamarri people.
== See also ==
:Chant of Light: Canticle of Shartan
:Chant of Light Verses: Canticle of Shartan
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== Gallery ==
Shartan (Heroes of Dragon Age).png|Artwork of Shartan from Heroes of Dragon Age
Shartan HoDA tier.jpg|Artwork of Shartan's tier progression in Heroes of Dragon Age
Stained Glass Redcliffe.png|Stained-glass windows telling Andraste and Shartan's story, featuring Shartan in the center
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Dragon Age: Origins characters
Category:Heroes of Dragon Age characters
Category:Historical characters
Category:Elves
Category:Slaves
Category:Disciples of Andraste
Category:Elven lore
Category:Spirits
Category:Andraste
ru:Шартан
de:Shartan