Tarkaan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Calormen. (Discuss)

A Tarkaan is a Calormen nobleman while a Tarkheena is a noblewomen. This rank of Calormene is first mentioned in the book, The Horse and his Boy by C.S. Lewis. There are many Tarkaans in Calormen, the first mentioned is Tarkaan Anradin, the father of Aravis Tarkheena. Tarkaans are characterized by a band of gold on their arm that signifies their nobility. They serve under the Tisroc, or the king of Calormen and the Grand Vizier, or right-hand man of the Tisroc. Some, or perhaps even most, Tarkaans seem to be related to the royal family, at least distantly; however it seems possible to be promoted to the position, as Ahoshta was. The weapons of a Tarkaan include a curved scimitar and a lance. Tarkaans can also dye their beards crimson as seen with Anradin in the opening of the Horse and His Boy. It is customary for Tarkaans to marry Tarkheenas (Calormene noblewomen). Their sons and daughters also bear the name of Tarkaan or Tarkheena. Unlike in English, the title goes after the Tarkaan/Tarkheena's personal name (for example, "Kidrash Tarkaan" instead of "Tarkaan Kidrash"). It is likely that most Tarkaan are decended of previous Tisrocs such as Aravis, who is a great-great-grandaughter of the Tisroc Ilsombreh.