Who are the Children of the Light?

In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Children of the Light, disparagingly called Whitecloaks for their characteristic white cloaks, are a military organization based in Amador, the capital city of Amadicia with the stated goal of rooting out Darkfriends. Detractors of the

Children of the Light regard their methods as extreme and also question whether those the Children accuse of being Darkfriends are actually guilty. The Children are often at odds with the protagonists of the series. They are represented by a Sunburst icon on the heart of their white cloaks.

History of the Children of the Light


Founding and development

The Children of the Light were founded by Lothair Mantelar in FY 1021, during the War of the Hundred Years. Originally founded just to preach against Darkfriends, during these violent times the Children of the Light became increasingly militaristic, eventually evolving into the organization in its modern form. The Children were successful in taking over the political structure of Amadicia.


Recent events

Some forty years before the start of the series, the Children of the Light became engaged in a quasi-war against Illian that lasted nearly twenty years. These skirmishes were known to the Children as the Troubles, but are generally called the Whitecloak War by other nations. It ended in a stalemate, with no conclusive victory for either side.

Up until recently, the Children of the Light were led by Lord Captain Commander Pedron Niall. Niall was assassinated in the prologue of A Crown of Swords. Eamon Valda then became Lord Captain Commander. Later in the novel the Seanchan wrest Amadicia from the control of the Whitecloaks. Finally, during the prologue to Knife of Dreams, Eamon Valda was killed in a duel with Galad Damodred, who then became the Lord Captain Commander. There are about seven thousand well trained regular cavalry men and ten Lord Captains loyal to Galad. The Children were originally housed in Amador, capital of Amadicia, but they lost their base, the Fortress of the Light, to the Seanchan invasion, They are currently in northwestern Altara and moving north towards western Andor.

A few thousand Children, including Asunawa and the rest of the Hand of the Light, remain with the Seanchan.


Organization

The Children of the Light are led by the Lord Captain Commander who is elected by the Council of Anointed, the Lord Captain Commander has absolute control over the Children of the Light.