Information about Calormen

In C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series of novels, Calormen (pron. "CAH-lor-men" [ˈkaːlɔ(r)ˌmen]) is a large country to the southeast of Narnia. Lewis derived its name from the Latin calor, meaning "heat". When used as an adjective Lewis spelled the name with an 'e' at the end (e.g. a Calormene (pron. "CAH-lor-meen" [ˈkaːlɔ(r)ˌmiːn]) soldier). Narnia and Calormen are separated by a large desert and the country of Archenland. In The Horse and His Boy Calormen is described as being many times the size of its northern neighbours, and it is implied that its army is always either conquering more land or keeping down rebellions, in wars with which neither Narnia or Archenland are involved. The border of the Calormene Empire extends from the Western Mountains to the Great Eastern Ocean. The Calormene capital city is Tashbaan, a vast, walled metropolis near the northern desert separating Calormen from its northern neighbors, located near the mouth of the Calormen River.

History

The origins of Calormen and the Calormenes are not made clear during the Chronicles (unlike the human inhabitants of Narnia who are identified as the descendants of pirates or outlaws from our world). According to the Narnian timeline published by Walter Hooper, Calormen was founded by Archenlander outlaws, who traveled over the Great Desert to the south some 24 years after Archenland's founding; however, some have disputed the 'authenticity' of that timeline. The Calormenes speak a flowery version of the standard English favoured by both human and animal Narnians, which might support this argument; however, Jadis also speaks English. The reason for the ancient Persian, Mughal, and Ottoman Turkish aspects of Carlomene culture, or the origin of their religion, has not been satisfactorily explained; this might be seen as supporting an argument that Calormen was founded, at least partially, by an independent group of travelers from Earth, who possibly intermarried with the English-speaking Archenlanders and took their language. (It should be noted that there is no trace of Islam in Calormene religion, which actually appears to be closer to Hinduism than Islam.)

Throughout the times covered by the Chronicles of Narnia, Calormen and Narnia maintain an uneasy, albeit generally peaceable, coexistence. The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle contain plot lines that focus on Calormen, while some of the other books have peripheral references. In The Horse and His Boy the main characters (one a young member of the Calormene nobility) escape from Calormen to Archenland and Narnia whilst the Calormene cavalry under Prince Rabadash attempts to invade Narnia and capture the Narnian Queen Susan for his bride. The rather small (200 horse) Carlomene invasion force is rebuffed at the gates of the Kingdom of Archenland. In The Last Battle, some level of trade and travel exist between Narnia and Calormen, and a successful invasion by the Calormene military precipitates the end of the Narnian universe.

Calormenes are described as dark-skinned, with the men mostly bearded. Flowing robes, turbans and wooden shoes with an upturned point at the toe are common items of clothing, and the preferred weapon is the scimitar. Lavish palaces are present in the Calormene capital Tashbaan. The overall leitmotif of Calormene culture is portrayed as ornate to the point of ostentation. The people of Calormen are concerned with maintaining honour and precedent, often speaking in maxims and quoting their ancient poets. Veneration of elders and absolute deference to power are marks of Calormene society. Power and wealth determine class and social standing, and slavery is commonplace. The unit of currency is the Crescent. Narnians hold Calormenes in disdain for their treatment of animals and slaves. Conversely, Calormenes refer to the human inhabitants of Narnia as "barbarians", perhaps because of their friendly association with their animal compatriots.

The ruler of Calormen is called the Tisroc and is believed by the Calormene people to have descended in a direct line from the god Tash, whom the people worship in addition to other gods and goddesses. The Calormenes express a conventional desire for the current Tisroc to be immortal. Below the Tisroc are his sons (princes), a Grand Vizier, and the nobled class, who are addressed as Tarkaans and Tarkheenas. Beneath them are soldiers of the empire's vast army, merchants, and the peasantry, with slaves being the lowest rung on the social ladder. The Calormene leaders are portrayed as quite war-like, and the Tisrocs all seem to have a wish to conquer the "barbarian" lands to their north.

Tarkaan

A Tarkaan is a Calormen nobleman while a Tarkheena is a noblewoman. This rank of Calormene is first mentioned in the book, The Horse and his Boy. There are many Tarkaans in Calormen, the first mentioned is Anradin Tarkaan. 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 descended of previous Tisrocs such as Aravis, who is a great-great-granddaughter of the Tisroc Ilsombreh.

Calormene Poetry

The poetry of Calormen is prolix, sententious, and moralizing, "full of choice apophthegms and useful maxims". It includes such pithy sentiments as the following, which doubtless lose something in the translation:

Application to business

is the root of prosperity

but those who ask questions

that do not concern them

are steering the ship of folly

towards the rock of indigence.

Natural affection is stronger than soup

and offspring more precious than carbuncles.

He who attempts to deceive the judicious

is already baring his back for the scourge.

Swords can be kept off with shields

but the Eye of Wisdom pierces through every defence.

Deep draughts from the fountain of reason are desirable

in order to extinguish the fire of youthful love.

Interestingly Calormenes disparage Narnian poetry, contending that it is all about things like love and war and not about useful maxims; however, when the Calormen-raised Shasta and Aravis first hear Narnian (or Archenlandish) poetry, they find it much more exciting. Calormen also prizes the art of story-telling, which, according to Lewis, was taught to the nobility in school. Bree, not fond of most things Calormene, thinks highly of this art.

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