Balasun

Balasun was a kingdom that existed in the Free Years. It was established after the end of the Trolloc Wars, rising out of the former territories of Aelgar and the southernmost stretches of Safer. After the War of the Hundred Years its territory became part of the kingdom of Tarabon, although the southernmost stretches were consumed by the wilderness of the Shadow Coast.
==Geography==
Balasun was one of the larger kingdoms of this epoch. It was bordered by the Aryth Ocean to the west, the River Andahar to the north, one of the Andahar's tributaries to the east, and the Sea of Storms to the south. Its neighbors were Elan Dapor to the north and Kharendor to the east. Much of the Shadow Coast was contained within Balasun's borders, including the peninsular of Windbiter's Finger.
The location and identity of Balasun's capital city is unclear, but it is believed to have been the modern city of Tanchico, which at this time was very close to the border with Elan Dapor. The modern Taraboner city of Elmora also lay within Balasun's borders.
==History==
Balasun is one of the few nations of the Free Years for which we have hard information regarding its governmental structure. The kingdom was ruled by a King or Queen balanced by a Panarch, elected from the Assembly, which consisted of nobles, merchants, and guild representatives. The King, Panarch, and Assembly balanced one another's power and prevented any from becoming too powerful. It is unknown when this system was adopted.
Balasun was conquered by the false Dragon Guaire Amalasan during the War of the Second Dragon. After his defeat by Artur Hawkwing, the kingdom fell into chaos and lawlessness. It was later annexed by Hawkwing during the Consolidation. At the time of Hawkwing's death, the governor of the province containing the former territory of Balasun was Lord Boral Amadia. Within twelve years of Hawkwing's death, Amadia had seized Tanchico. He and his allies restored the system of King, Assembly, and Panarch and proclaimed the founding of Tarabon, against the wishes of rivals who wished to restore the kingdom of Balasun. By the end of the War of the Hundred Years Tarabon had grown to its present size and taken most of the former territory of Balasun under its control.
==Sources==
The role Balasun played in the War of the Second Dragon, plus a depiction of its borders, is shown in The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. The details of its governmental structure and how the territory became Tarabon are depicted in The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game.
es:Balasun
Category:Nations of the Free Years
Category:Historical nations