Algaria

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Algaria is a fictional country in the David Eddings book series The Belgariad (and its sequel The Malloreon), located in the middle of the Western continent. Algaria is characterised by its vast plains and lack of defined cities. The Vale of Aldur, the legendary retreat of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, is located within the southern tip of its borders. Its people are known as the Algars.

Algaria is named after its first ruler Algar Fleet-foot.The Algars breeding programs have produced horses of a significant size and cattle that are very large and moderately tractable. Algars are also nomads and only have one fortress, the Algarian Stronghold, a decoy designed to attract Murgo armies to come and fight the Algars.

In large-scale strategic battles with other armies, Algars fight as light cavalry armed with sabres and shortbows. They often fight using flanking or hit-and-run tactics, methods which work especially well on the plains of Algaria.

They have a unique title for their rulers: along with the title of King, an Algar ruler is sometimes called the Chief of the Clan Chiefs, a somewhat cumbersome title that is a clear description of Algar politics.

Algaria is a brother nation to the Alorn countries Cherek, Drasnia, and Riva. Cho-Hag is the king of Algaria at the time of both the Belgariad and Malloreon.

Interestingly, Algaria produces Sha-Dar, people with telepathic bond with horses. They are very few, and the discovery of one is cause for national celebration and instant nobility for the Sha-Dar in question.