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Zand dynasty

The Zand dynasty was an Iranian dynasty, founded by Karim Khan Zand ((r. undefined – undefined)1751–1779) that initially ruled southern and central Iran in the 18th century. It later quickly came to expand to include much of the rest of contemporary Iran (except for the provinces of Balochistan and Khorasan) as well as parts of Iraq. The lands of present-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were controlled by khanates which were de jure part of the Zand realm, but the region was de facto autonomous. The island of Bahrain was also held for the Zands by the autonomous Al-Mazkur sheikhdom of Bushire.

The reign of its most important ruler, Karim Khan, was marked by prosperity and peace. With its capital at Shiraz, arts and architecture flourished under Karim Khan's reign, with some themes in architecture being revived from the nearby sites of the Achaemenid (550–330 BC) and Sasanian (224–651 AD) era's of pre-Islamic Iran. The tombs of the medieval Persian poets Hafez and Saadi Shirazi were also renovated by Karim Khan. Distinctive Zand art which was produced at the behest of the Zand rulers became the foundation of later Qajar arts and crafts. Following the death of Karim Khan, Zand Iran went into decline due to internal disputes amongst members of the Zand dynasty. Its final ruler, Lotf Ali Khan Zand ((r. undefined – undefined)1789–1794), was eventually executed by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar ((r. undefined – undefined)1789–1797) in 1794.

As noted by The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, "Karim Khan Zand holds an enduring reputation as the most humane Iranian ruler of the Islamic era". When following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 the names of the past rulers of Iran became a taboo, the citizens of Shiraz refused to rename the Karim Khan Zand and Lotf Ali Khan Zand streets, the two main streets of Shiraz.

Karim Khan Zand
The dynasty was founded by Karim Khan Zand, chief of the Zand tribe, which is a tribe of Laks,  a branch of Lurs who may have been originally Kurdish. Nader Shah moved the Zand tribe from their home in the Zagros mountains to the eastern steppes of Khorasan. After Nader's death, the Zand tribe, under the guidance of Karim Khan, went back to their original land. After Adil Shah was made king Karim Khan and his soldiers defected from the army and along with Ali Morad Khan Bakhtiari and Abolfath Khan Haft Lang, two other local chiefs, became a major contender but was challenged by several adversaries. Abolfath Khan was the Vizier, Karim Khan became the army chief commander and Ali Morad Khan became the regent. Karim Khan declared Shiraz his capital, and in 1778 Tehran became the second capital. He gained control of central and southern parts of Iran. In order to add legitimacy to his claim, Karim Khan placed the infant Shah Ismail III, the grandson of the last Safavid king, on the throne in 1757. Ismail was a figurehead king and real power was vested in Karim Khan. Karim Khan chose to be the military commander and Alimardan Khan was the civil administrator. Soon enough Karim Khan managed to eliminate his partner as well as the puppet king and in 1760, founded his own dynasty. He refused to accept the title of the king and instead named himself Vakilol Ro'aya (Advocate of the People).

By 1760, Karim Khan had defeated all his rivals and controlled all of Iran except Khorasan, in the northeast, which was ruled by Shah Rukh. His foreign campaigns against Azad Khan in Azerbaijan and against the Ottomans in Mesopotamia brought Azerbaijan and the province of Basra into his control. But he never stopped his campaigns against his arch-enemy, Mohammad Hassan Khan Qajar, the chief of the Qoyunlu Qajars. The latter was finally defeated by Karim Khan and his sons, Agha Mohammad Khan and Hossein Qoli Khan Qajar, were brought to Shiraz as hostages.

Karim Khan's monuments in Shiraz include the famous Arg of Karim Khan, Vakil Bazaar, and several mosques and gardens. He is also responsible for building of a palace in the town of Tehran, the future capital of the Qajar dynasty.

Decline and fall
Karim Khan's death in 1779 left his territory vulnerable to threats from his enemies. His son and successor Abu al-Fath was an incompetent ruler who was heavily influenced by his half uncle (and Karim Khan's commander), Zaki Khan. Other rulers such as Ali Morad and Jafar Khan also failed to follow the policies of Karim Khan and soon enough, the country was under attack from all sides.

The biggest enemies of the Zands, the Qajar chiefs, led by the former hostage, Agha Mohammad Khan, were advancing fast against the declining kingdom. Finally, in 1789, Lotf Ali Khan, a grand-nephew of Karim Khan, declared himself the new king. His reign (until 1794) was spent mostly in war with the Qajar khan. He was finally captured and brutally killed in the fortress of Bam, putting an effective end to the Zand Dynasty.

Politically, it is also important that the Zands, especially Karim Khan, chose to call themselves Vakilol Ro'aya (Advocate of the People) instead of kings. Other than the obvious propaganda value of the title, it can be a reflection of the popular demands of the time, expecting rulers with popular leanings instead of absolute monarchs who were totally detached from the population, like the earlier Safavids.

Foreign policy
In foreign policy, Karim Khan attempted to revive the Safavid era trade by allowing the British to establish a trading post in the port of Bushehr. This opened the hands of the British East India Company in Iran and increased their influence in the country. The taxation system was reorganized in a way that taxes were levied fairly. The judicial system was fair and generally humane. Capital punishment was rarely implemented.

Art
The Zand era was a time of relative peace and economic growth for the country. Many territories that were once captured by the Ottomans in the late Safavid era were retaken, and Iran was once again a coherent and prosperous country. From 1765 onwards Karim Khan promoted art and architecture at his capital Shiraz. After Iranian painting reached its height at the end of the 17th century, a special school of painting took shape during the Zand era in the 17th and 18th centuries. Painting thrived under Karim Khan, and notable paintings from this era include Muhammad Karim Khan Zand and the Ottoman Ambassador which was created c. 1775. The most important painter of the Zand era was Mohammad Sadiq. The art of this era is remarkable and, despite the short length of the dynasty, a distinct Zand art had the time to emerge. Many Qajar artistic traits were copied from the Zand examples and Zand art became the foundation of Qajar arts and crafts. Following Karim Khan's death, the Zand dynasty became embroiled in disputes over succession and other intrigues, which put a halt to further significant patronage of the arts.

Architecture
Karim Khan's first architectural considerations were focussed on defense and he therefore rebuilt the city walls of Shiraz in 1767. He decorated Shiraz with new buildings including the Arg of Karim Khan, the Vakil Bazaar and the Kulah-e Farangi and grouped these around a public square (maidan in Persian). Zand-era architecture is notable in Iranian history for "its revetments in carved marble and overglaze-painted tiles with flowers, animals and people". The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture notes that some themes employed by Zand architecture were knowingly revived from the nearby ancient Achaemenid and Sasanian sites, such as Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam.

Cultural patronage
According to the Italian scholar Alessandro Bausani: "The eighteenth century, which in Europe (and partly also in India, for example) was a ferment of renewal, is the darkest and most sterile period in Persian literature and culture." Scholars of Persian literature have also made a similar conclusion. John Perry commented on these statements: "While regrettably true of literature, this view is somewhat too sweeping to be fair to the fine and applied arts." Like Nader Shah, Karim Khan was uninterested in poetry panegyric and had no more than a passing tolerance for history. He supported the court artisans and artists, albeit in an indifferent manner.

The numerous artists active during Karim Khan's time who were born in or educated in Isfahan, many of whom carry the surname "Esfahani," can be considered as representations of the lengthy political and cultural traditions of the Safavid court; they account for at least seventeen of the twenty-seven identified by Abu'l-Hasan Mostawfi Ghaffari. In the 1750s, some people—including the poet Hazin Lahiji—had immigrated to India. Others, like Vafa of Qom, departed for India under Nader Shah's rule but later came back to Iran under Karim Khan. During the interim period, a large number of people, primarily in the central region of Isfahan, Qom, and Kashan, remained in Iran. These people included Moshtaq, Azar Bigdeli, Hatef Esfahani, and Rafiq. Shiraz largely took up Isfahan's role as the patronage hub.

Seven calligraphers, including Mohammad Hashem Zargar, and least as many poets, including Azar Bigdeli, and the doctor Mirza Mohammad Nasir left Isfahan to settle in Shiraz. One of the factors behind Isfahan's loss as the literary center of Iran is reported by Abd al-Razzaq Beg Donboli. The city's poets, including Azar Bigdeli, were actively supported by the governor Mirza Abd ol-Vahhab Musavi. However, after the latters death in 1759/60, the governorship of Isfahan was given to the tyrannical figure Hajji Agha Mohammad Ranani. In 1763/64, disgruntled poets and other prominent individuals sent a delegation to Karim Khan in which they attempted to have Hajji Agha replaced. After their efforts were unsuccessful, some of them relocated to Shiraz.

Imperial ideology
The distinguishing quality of Karim Khan's leadership came from his refusal to exercise royal authority independent of nominal Safavid sovereignty. However, his decision to continue serving as vakil al-dowleh ("deputy of the state") marked a subtle change from his previous role as the regent of a prince distantly related to the Safavid dynasty and of no importance. Moreover, he appears to have tacitly changed his authority from Safavid kingship to that of representing the people by using the title of Vakil ol-Ra'aya ("deputy of the people"). The subtle change reflected Karim Khan's standing among his subjects, particularly the urban people. He also drew on Iranian monarchy traditions that were directly related to the Fars province in order to distance himself from the distressing events of recent times.

Karim Khan attempted to recreate the territorial Iran of the Safavid era, just like Nader Shah and Agha Mohammad Khan. A common reference for consecutive rulers was Nader Shah's mention of Iran's established borders during the Safavid dynasty. Karim Khan made use of the same justification for similar land dispute resolutions.

Court and administration
When compared to the complex structure of hierarchy and ceremony that distinguished the Safavid court, Karim Khan's household in Shiraz was smaller, simpler, and more focused on real administrative and military requirements than on the lavish display of the Safavid shah. The Zand nobility was a remnant of the Safavid nobility and was later almost entirely absorbed into the Qajar nobility. As with previous dynasties, the official language and court literature was in Persian, and the majority of the chancellors, ministers, and bureaucrats were well-educated and talented Persian speakers.

The central government was under the complete control of Karim Khan. Historical documents do contain occasional references to the established Safavid court offices and protocols under the Zands, but nothing suggests that the chief minister (etemad ol-dowleh, sadr-e azam) and resident court amirs (the qurchi-bashi, qollar-aghasi, eshik-aqasi-bashi, and tofangchi-aghasi) formed the "close council of state" as they did in the late Safavid era. Under Karim Khan, no government official attained significant importance. Instead, he gave his kinsmen and trusted tribal leaders the responsibility for military campaigns and governance. Local administrators, who were all directly accountable to him, were given charge of the provinces. When a Zand prince was given a title, it was more like a honorific rather than an official position in the government.

The vazir-e divan was Karim Khan's direct subordinate in the bureaucracy. The first to occupy that office under him was Mirza Aqil Esfahani, who was executed in 1763 and succeeded by Mirza Mohammad Ja'far Esfahani. The office of mostowfi ol-mamalek was almost equally important and was held by Mirza Mohammad Borujerdi and Mirza Mohammad Hossein Farahani in succession. Karim Khan treated the people holding these senior administrative and senior fiscal positions as nothing more than secretarial assistants, treating them more like friends than colleagues.

Religious policy
Karim Khan might have been anticipated to seek the ulama's approval for his unusual position as the head of an nominally neo-Safavid (but in reality kingless) monarchy. However, he refused to comply with this. By minting coins under the name of the hidden imam, erecting mosques and shrines, and probably participating in Friday prayers—though this is not mentioned—Karim Khan supported the Shia beliefs in a traditional manner. Abu'l-Hasan Qazvini, who was one the more religious historians, claims that Karim Khan never prayed throughout his entire life. The government-appointed shaykh ol-eslam was the most important religious figure in Shiraz. His responsibilities seemed to be more constrained than those of his Safavid predecessors, and the title molla-bashi (chief theologian) created by Soltan Hoseyn was not retained.

Religious officers typically selected by the crown got degrees and set payments from Karim Khan, such as the guardian of the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine at Ray in 1765 and the supervisor of religious activities at Qazvin. However, the lesser akhunds, theologians, Alavid seyyeds, and dervishes who anticipated living off of government pensions were let down. They were reportedly seen as parasites by Karim Khan, who claimed that by controlling pricing, they could live happily with what they had just like others. Presentations of the passion play, which reenacted the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, gained popularity from Karim Khan's reign onward, possibly as a result of the more tolerant religious climate.

Both Karim Khan in 1764 and Ali-Morad Khan in 1781 issued farmans (royal edicts) that ensured freedom of residence, worship, and trade to Christian missionary groups in Iran, including the Carmelites, Benedictines, Jesuits, Capuchins, Augustinians, and others. The only requirement was that they behaved in a manner that did not anger the Shia and its supporters.

Population
Roughly between the 1730s and the 1780s, hundreds of literate and renowned Iranians escaped to India due to the devastating circumstances. Many of them, including Abol-Hasan Golestaneh, expressed regret. The latter was a hostage in Karim Khan's entourage during the struggle for supremacy in western Iran, but in 1756 he managed to escape to the Shia shrine city of Najaf and subsequently to India, where he reunited with his family. Three of his uncles had served Nader Shah, but two of them fell out of favor and fled to India. His Mojmel al-tavarikh, a comprehensive history of the early Zand period, was written there in Murshidabad in 1782. Native Jews, Armenians, and other Christians, who were frequent targets of extortion and persecution, also migrated in very large numbers. Between 1742 and 1758, refugees settled in Mughal India, Bengal, Ottoman Iraq and Yemen, giving rise to a new generation of Iranians and Armenians. Baghdad and the adjacent shrine towns were home to an estimated 100,000 Iranian refugees, and Basra was claimed to be two-thirds occupied by refugees.

While European and Iranian emigrants eagerly scanned the horizon for signs that "Persia would soon be reunited under one chief, which would undoubtedly lead to the reestablishment of trade, so long interrupted," rumors of Karim Khan's victories and of his fair rule started to spread in the mid-1750s, which convinced many refugees to come back. By 1760, every day refugees were returning to Iran. Thousands of them from all social classes arrived along the now-secure caravan routes.

The population of Isfahan had decreased to perhaps 20,000 by 1750 from what may have been between 250,000 to 500,000 during the Safavid era. It increased to an estimated 40,000–50,000 by 1772. Even though Shiraz appeared to be "demolished and destroyed... altogether depopulated and empty of Christians" in 1756, refugees from Isfahan, especially Armenians from the suburb of New Julfa, were already making their way there every day. According to John R. Perry; "There are no contemporary estimates of the population of Shiraz under the Vakil, but it seems reasonable to assume that between 1759 and 1779 it grew at a much faster rate than Isfahan, reaching roughly the same population as the latter, though within a much more compact urban area."

Shiraz lost around half of its population following its sack by Agha Mohammad Khan, numbering 20,000. Other cities in central Iran, like Qom, reportedly experienced a revival under Karim Khan's rule after suffering under the Afghans, Afsharids and the Zand-Qajar conflicts.

The Armenians and Jews
Many of the Armenians of New Julfa and Peria who had fled Iran, returned to the country by settling in Shiraz, which welcomed their return. The Armenian population in Shiraz, whose quarter was located in the western corner by the Kazerun Gate, was primarily engaged in viticulture and wine trade. They also had their own mayor, and the government promoted their settlement by granting them villages around the capital. Mkrtic Vardapet, the Armenian prelate, divided his time between New Julfa and Shiraz every year for six months. Shiraz became the largest Jewish hub in Iran as a result of the return of many Jews, whose population may have decreased by about 20,000 between 1747 and 1779. They paid a special tax in exchange for being given their own section of land west of the bazaar. Although they seemed to be struggling financially in 1765, they were not the target of any persecution until after Karim Khan's death in 1779.

Coinage
Various anonymous or semi-anonymous currencies were struck by Karim Khan and his successors, but the abbasi of 4.6 gram and the rupee of 11.5 gram seemed to be the most common. Isfahan, Kashan, Yazd, Shiraz, Tabriz, Qazvin, Rasht, Mazandaran, and the court mint were the main coin mints under Karim Khan. There was no monetary unity in Iran even though Karim Khan was acknowledged as the overlord of the majority of the country after 1763, as many regions remained independent or semi-autonomous. This was especially true for the semi-autonomous local khans that controlled the Caspian and Caucasian regions, as well as Khorasan, which was ruled by the Durranids and Afsharids.

A number of these khanates, including Ganja, Shirvan, Shaki, Derbent, and Karabakh, produced their own coins, first in the name of Nader Shah and then in the name of Karim Khan. A large portion of their coinage was completely nameless by the end of the 18th-century. While a few uncommon issues of Derbent contain a vague reference to one of their khans, none of the khans ever put their names on their coins, due to lacking the legitimacy of an sovereign monarch and any claims to independence. These northern Iranian coins were made entirely of silver and copper.

Legacy
As noted by The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, "Karim Khan Zand holds an enduring reputation as the most humane Iranian ruler of the Islamic era". Karim Khan is the subject of many stories about his "kindness, generosity and justice". The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World  adds that he is described as "a model ruler who never took the title of Shah". The Zand entity of Karim Khan was at peace and the roads within the realm were reportedly free of bandits. Karim Khan rebuilt Shiraz, his capital, and decorated it with new buildings including the Arg of Karim Khan, the Vakil Bazaar and the Kulah-e Farangi. He also restored the tombs of the medieval Persian poets Hafez and Saadi Shirazi. Until this day, the inhabitants of Shiraz honor Karim Khan. When following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 the names of the past rulers of Iran became a taboo, the citizens of Shiraz refused to rename the Karim Khan Zand Street and Lotf-Ali Khan Zand Street, the two main streets of Shiraz.

Rulers/kings

 * Karim Khan Zand, 1751–1779 کریم خان زند
 * Mohammad Ali Khan Zand, 1779 محمدعلی خان زند
 * Abol-Fath Khan Zand, 1779 ابوالفتح خان زند
 * Sadeq Khan Zand, 1779–1782 صادق خان زند
 * Ali-Morad Khan Zand, 1782–1785 علیمراد خان زند
 * Jafar Khan, 1785–1789 جعفر خان زند
 * Sayed Morad Khan, 1789 سيد مراد خان زند
 * Lotf Ali Khan, 1789–1794 لطفعلی خان زند

Other notable members

 * Zaki Khan Zand
 * Rustam Khan Zand

title: Zand dynasty


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Category:EC 1.14.13

Oxidoreductases Acting on paired donors, with incorporation or reduction of With NADH or NADPH as one donor, and incorporation of one atom

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Category:EC 1.14.13


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Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/October 19

Isn't this entry a bit military centric? Gentgeen 10:46, 3 Oct 2004 (UTC)
 * Is it better now ? Terrorism and the stockmarket are war-like, but not really military....  BTW, thanks for putting in the date for the Battle of Zama. -- PFHLai 13:50, 2004 Oct 8 (UTC)

American Revolution
The page now says:

 * 1781: After losing the Battle of Yorktown, British forces led by Lord Charles Cornwallis officially surrendered, ending the American Revolutionary War.

There are two errors here. First, Cornwallis didn't surrender after losing the battle; he lost the battle (really a siege) when he surrendered. More importantly, his surrender didn't end the war, which sputtered on for a bit afterwards. The entry should read:

 * 1781: The siege of Yorktown ended after British commander Lord Cornwallis surrendered to a Franco-American force led by George Washington, paving the way for the end of the American Revolutionary War.

--Kevin Myers | (complaint dept.) 17:39, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

Scipio Africanus
(thread copied from WP:ERRORS, where it was unresolved)

He earned his nickname Africanus after he defeated Hannibal, so it is not correct that Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.12.163.218 (talk) 07:16, 19 October 2009 (UTC)
 * By the same token you could say that the battle of Waterloo (and many other battles) never took place. Ericoides (talk) 16:38, 19 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Uh, Wellington wasn't named after Waterloo (obviously). I agree with the IP, the Africanus part of Scipio's name should not be in the entry since he hadn't acquired it yet. Modest Genius talk 17:20, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

(end of comments copied from WP:ERRORS)

2012 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 04:59, 18 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Omitted: John Jay; First Battle of Ypres; Battle of Chamdo; Black Monday (1987); Margaret Hassan
 * Included: Battle of Zama (6th appearance, last in 2010); Battle of Cedar Creek (first appearance); Planck's law (first appearance); Streptomycin (8th appearance, last in 2010); Operation Nimble Archer (first appearance)

2013 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 05:21, 18 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Omitted: Battle of Zama; Battle of Cedar Creek; Planck's law; Operation Nimble Archer
 * Included: Ferdinand II of Aragon/Isabella I of Castile (both: 8th appearance, last in 2010; rescued from Ineligible); Siege of Yorktown (6th appearance, last in 2010); Polytechnic University of the Philippines (first appearance); Samora Machel (3rd appearance, last in 2010; rescued from Ineligible)
 * Repeats: Streptomycin (2nd consecutive appearance, 9 total; 70th anniversary)

2014 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 06:17, 18 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Omitted: Ferdinand II of Aragon/Isabella I of Castile; Siege of Yorktown; Polytechnic University of the Philippines; Streptomycin; Samora Machel
 * Included: John Jay (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 225th anniversary); Battle of Cedar Creek (2nd appearance, last in 2012; 150th anniversary); First Battle of Ypres (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 100th anniversary); Guildford Four and Maguire Seven (first appearance; 25th anniversary); Margaret Hassan (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 10th anniversary)

2015 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 08:08, 17 October 2015 (UTC)
 * Deleted: Polytechnic University of the Philippines (moved to April 1)
 * Omitted: John Jay; Battle of Cedar Creek; First Battle of Ypres; Guildford Four and Maguire Seven; Margaret Hassan
 * Included: Battle of Zama (7th appearance, last in 2012); Ferdinand II of Aragon/Isabella I of Castile (both: 9th appearance, last in 2013); Siege of Yorktown (7th appearance, last in 2013); MS Sinfra (first appearance); Hurricane Wilma (first appearance; 10th anniversary)

2016 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 07:01, 18 October 2016 (UTC)
 * Moved to Ineligible: John Jay (maintenance)
 * Omitted: Battle of Zama; Siege of Yorktown; MS Sinfra; Hurricane Wilma
 * Included: Battle of Cedar Creek (3rd appearance, last in 2014); Planck's law (2nd appearance, last in 2012); Streptomycin (10th appearance, last in 2013); Samora Machel (4th appearance, last in 2013)
 * Repeats: Ferdinand II of Aragon/Isabella I of Castile (both: 2nd consecutive appearance, 10 total)

2017 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 15:56, 19 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Moved to Ineligible: Battle of Zama (maintenance); Guildford Four and Maguire Seven (maintenance); Margaret Hassan (maintenance)
 * New articles (ineligible): Blockbuster LLC (maintenance)
 * Omitted: Ferdinand II of Aragon/Isabella I of Castile (both: ineligible—maintenance); Battle of Cedar Creek; Planck's law (ineligible—maintenance); Streptomycin; Samora Machel (ineligible—maintenance)
 * Included: Siege of Yorktown (8th appearance, last in 2015); First Battle of Ypres (3rd appearance, last in 2014); Guatemalan Revolution (first appearance); Black Monday (1987) (6th appearance, last in 2011; 30th anniversary); Hurricane Wilma (2nd appearance, last in 2015); John Juvenal Ancina (first appearance); Salimuzzaman Siddiqui (first appearance); Eleanor Norcross (first appearance)

2018 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 16:49, 19 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Moved to Ineligible: Battle of Chamdo (maintenance)
 * Omitted: Siege of Yorktown; First Battle of Ypres; Guatemalan Revolution; Black Monday (1987); John Juvenal Ancina; Salimuzzaman Siddiqui; Eleanor Norcross
 * Included: San Felipe incident (1596) (first appearance); Battle of Cedar Creek (4th appearance, last in 2016); Streptomycin (11th appearance, last in 2016; 75th anniversary); 1988–94 British broadcasting voice restrictions (2nd appearance, last in 2016; moved from September 16); Annie Smith Peck (first appearance); Demetrios Christodoulou (first appearance); Ali Treki (first appearance)
 * Repeats: Hurricane Wilma (2nd consecutive appearance, 3 total)

2019 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 17:03, 21 October 2019 (UTC)
 * New articles (ineligible): Fred Keenor (TFA for 2019); Yoko Shimomura (maintenance)
 * Omitted: Battle of Cedar Creek; Streptomycin; 1988–94 British broadcasting voice restrictions; Hurricane Wilma; Annie Smith Peck; Demetrios Christodoulou; Ali Treki
 * Included: Siege of Yorktown (9th appearance, last in 2017); Guatemalan Revolution (2nd appearance, last in 2017; 75th anniversary); 1965 Burundian coup d'état attempt (first appearance); Operation Nimble Archer (2nd appearance, last in 2012); George Abbot (bishop) (first appearance); Peter Aduja (first appearance); Edna St. Vincent Millay (first appearance)
 * Repeats: San Felipe incident (1596) (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

2020 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 19:06, 20 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Fred Keenor
 * New articles (ineligible): V. Gordon Childe (TFA for 2020)
 * New articles (unused): Benjamin Franklin/Kite experiment
 * Omitted: Siege of Yorktown; Guatemalan Revolution; 1965 Burundian coup d'état attempt; Operation Nimble Archer; John Juvenal Ancina (ineligible—maintenance); Edna St. Vincent Millay
 * Included: First Battle of Ypres (4th appearance, last in 2017); Siege of Plei Me (first appearance); ʻOumuamua (first appearance); Yusuf I of Granada (first appearance); Yoko Shimomura (first appearance; rescued from Ineligible)
 * Repeats: San Felipe incident (1596) (3rd consecutive appearance, 3 total); Peter Aduja (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total; 100th birthday)

2021 notes
— howcheng  {chat} 07:37, 20 October 2021 (UTC)
 * New articles (ineligible): Jacobus Arminius (maintenance)
 * New articles (unused): Entry of James VI into Edinburgh; John Rolph (politician)
 * Rescued from Ineligible (unused): V. Gordon Childe
 * Omitted: First Battle of Ypres; Siege of Plei Me; ʻOumuamua; Yusuf I of Granada; Peter Aduja; Yoko Shimomura
 * Included: Benjamin Franklin/Kite experiment (Franklin: 3rd appearance, last in 2006, previously appeared on June 15; Experiment: first appearance); MS Sinfra (2nd appearance, last in 2015); History of the Eurovision Song Contest (first appearance); Black Monday (1987) (7th appearance, last in 2017); Salimuzzaman Siddiqui (2nd appearance, last in 2017); Demetrios Christodoulou (2nd appearance, last in 2018; 70th birthday); Ali Treki (2nd appearance, last in 2018)
 * Repeats: San Felipe incident (1596) (4th consecutive appearance, 4 total; 425th anniversary)


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Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, abbreviated NADP or, in older notation, TPN (triphosphopyridine nucleotide), is a cofactor used in anabolic reactions, such as the Calvin cycle and lipid and nucleic acid syntheses, which require NADPH as a reducing agent ('hydrogen source'). NADPH is the reduced form, whereas NADP is the oxidized form. NADP is used by all forms of cellular life.

NADP differs from NAD by the presence of an additional phosphate group on the 2' position of the ribose ring that carries the adenine moiety. This extra phosphate is added by NAD+ kinase and removed by NADP+ phosphatase.

NADP
In general, NADP+ is synthesized before NADPH is. Such a reaction usually starts with NAD+ from either the de-novo or the salvage pathway, with NAD+ kinase adding the extra phosphate group. ADP-ribosyl cyclase allows for synthesis from nicotinamide in the salvage pathway, and NADP+ phosphatase can convert NADPH back to NADH to maintain a balance. Some forms of the NAD+ kinase, notably the one in mitochondria, can also accept NADH to turn it directly into NADPH. The prokaryotic pathway is less well understood, but with all the similar proteins the process should work in a similar way.

NADPH
NADPH is produced from NADP+. The major source of NADPH in animals and other non-photosynthetic organisms is the pentose phosphate pathway, by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in the first step. The pentose phosphate pathway also produces pentose, another important part of NAD(P)H, from glucose. Some bacteria also use G6PDH for the Entner–Doudoroff pathway, but NADPH production remains the same.

Ferredoxin–NADP reductase, present in all domains of life, is a major source of NADPH in photosynthetic organisms including plants and cyanobacteria. It appears in the last step of the electron chain of the light reactions of photosynthesis. It is used as reducing power for the biosynthetic reactions in the Calvin cycle to assimilate carbon dioxide and help turn the carbon dioxide into glucose. It has functions in accepting electrons in other non-photosynthetic pathways as well: it is needed in the reduction of nitrate into ammonia for plant assimilation in nitrogen cycle and in the production of oils.

There are several other lesser-known mechanisms of generating NADPH, all of which depend on the presence of mitochondria in eukaryotes. The key enzymes in these carbon-metabolism-related processes are NADP-linked isoforms of malic enzyme, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and glutamate dehydrogenase. In these reactions, NADP+ acts like NAD+ in other enzymes as an oxidizing agent. The isocitrate dehydrogenase mechanism appears to be the major source of NADPH in fat and possibly also liver cells. These processes are also found in bacteria. Bacteria can also use a NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase for the same purpose. Like the pentose phosphate pathway, these pathways are related to parts of glycolysis. Another carbon metabolism-related pathway involved in the generation of NADPH is the mitochondrial folate cycle, which uses principally serine as a source of one-carbon units to sustain nucleotide synthesis and redox homeostasis in mitochondria. Mitochondrial folate cycle has been recently suggested as the principal contributor to NADPH generation in mitochondria of cancer cells.

NADPH can also be generated through pathways unrelated to carbon metabolism. The ferredoxin reductase is such an example. Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase transfers the hydrogen between NAD(P)H and NAD(P)+, and is found in eukaryotic mitochondria and many bacteria. There are versions that depend on a proton gradient to work and ones that do not. Some anaerobic organisms use NADP+-linked hydrogenase, ripping a hydride from hydrogen gas to produce a proton and NADPH.

Like NADH, NADPH is fluorescent. NADPH in aqueous solution excited at the nicotinamide absorbance of ~335 nm (near UV) has a fluorescence emission which peaks at 445-460 nm (violet to blue). NADP has no appreciable fluorescence.

Function
NADPH provides the reducing agents, usually hydrogen atoms, for biosynthetic reactions and the oxidation-reduction involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), allowing the regeneration of glutathione (GSH). NADPH is also used for anabolic pathways, such as cholesterol synthesis, steroid synthesis, ascorbic acid synthesis, xylitol synthesis, cytosolic fatty acid synthesis and microsomal fatty acid chain elongation.

The NADPH system is also responsible for generating free radicals in immune cells by NADPH oxidase. These radicals are used to destroy pathogens in a process termed the respiratory burst. It is the source of reducing equivalents for cytochrome P450 hydroxylation of aromatic compounds, steroids, alcohols, and drugs.

Stability
NADH and NADPH are very stable in basic solutions, but NAD+ and NADP+ are degraded in basic solutions into a fluorescent product that can be used conveniently for quantitation. Conversely, NADPH and NADH are degraded by acidic solutions while NAD+/NADP+ are fairly stable to acid.

Enzymes that use NADP(H) as a coenzyme

 * Adrenodoxin reductase: This enzyme is present ubiquitously in most organisms. It transfers two electrons from NADPH to FAD. In vertebrates, it serves as the first enzyme in the chain of mitochondrial P450 systems that synthesize steroid hormones.

Enzymes that use NADP(H) as a substrate
In 2018 and 2019, the first two reports of enzymes that catalyze the removal of the 2' phosphate of NADP(H) in eukaryotes emerged. First the cytoplasmic protein MESH1, then the mitochondrial protein nocturnin were reported. Of note, the structures and NADPH binding of MESH1 (5VXA) and nocturnin (6NF0) are not related.


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Abecedarian

Abecedarians were a 16th-century German sect of Anabaptists who rejected all human learning. Questions have been raised as to the historical accuracy of the name and sect, though the term was applied broadly to the Zwickau Prophets.

Rejection of education
According to the original Catholic Encyclopedia, the Abecedarians were a 16th-century German sect of Anabaptists who affected an absolute disdain for all human knowledge, contending that God would enlighten his elect from within themselves, giving them knowledge of necessary truths by visions and ecstasies, with which human learning would interfere.

They rejected every other means of instruction, and claimed that to be saved one must even be ignorant of the first letters of the alphabet; whence their name, A-B-C-darians. They also considered the study of theology as a species of idolatry, and regarded learned men who did any preaching as falsifiers of God's word.

Nicholas Storch led this sect, preaching that the teaching of the Holy Spirit was all that was necessary. Andreas Karlstadt adopted these views, abandoned his title of doctor and became a street porter, going so far as to burn his doctor's gown, according to one source.

Storch (also spelled Stork), a follower of Luther, "maintained that each individual among the faithful was equally qualified to penetrate the sense of the inspired writings, as the best divines ; that God himself was our immediate instructor, and that study took off our attention to the divine inspirations. Hence he inferred, that the only method to prevent distractions would be, absolutely not to learn to read." Bell also claims that the sect was considerable for some time in Germany.

John Blunt claimed that "Abecedarian theory, in a more moderate form, has had much influence on some modern sects, especially the more ignorant sects of Methodists."

Doubts of accuracy
Early Anabaptists were viewed disdainfully by their adversaries as a radical peasant movement. Thus some consider the extant descriptions to be an elitist caricature of either a particular Anabaptist group or Anabaptists as a whole. Most more recent reference works have ceased to mention the group at all. No equivalent entry was present in the New Catholic Encyclopedia. No historical references later than the early 20th century mention these claims.

Cultural references
In The Adventures of Tintin graphic novel The Calculus Affair, Captain Haddock uses the word "Abecedarian" as an epithet. Los Angeles post-punk band Abecedarians named themselves after the sect. They released three albums between 1986 and 1988. Don DeLillo references Abecedarians in his novel The Names.

title: Abecedarian


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Robert Hardy (disambiguation)

Robert Hardy (1925–2017) was an English actor.

Robert Hardy may also refer to:

 * Robert Hardy (American football) (born 1956), American football player
 * Robert Hardy (bassist) (born 1980), member of Glasgow-based band Franz Ferdinand
 * Robert Hardy (bishop) (1936-2021), Anglican bishop
 * Robert Gathorne-Hardy (1902–1973), bibliographer, botanist and writer on plants
 * Rob Hardy (born 1971), American film director

title: Robert Hardy (disambiguation)


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Mecha Press

Mecha Press is a North American anime and manga magazine that was published by IANVS Publications in the early 1990s.

The magazine was released on a roughly bimonthly schedule, with 5 to 6 issues per year. Each issue usually focused on one particular anime or manga, dedicating up to one third of its page content on related synopsis, character and mecha presentations.

The magazine
Mecha Press was originally started as a sister magazine to Protoculture Addicts, the oldest anime and manga magazine in North America. Its name derives from its main focus, mecha, although the content also covered characters, stories, toys, games and scale models. The publisher of Mecha Press was Ianus Publications.

The first issue, a red duo-tone test called issue #0, was published in 1991. Issue #1 officially launched the magazine the next year. Issues #1 through 6 had an oversized format similar to a tabloid newspaper. From issue #7 and onward, the magazine was shrunk to a more standard size, but gained a color section.

When the design team, Dream Pod 9, started focusing exclusively on games, the magazine was cancelled with issue #17. It appeared in March–April 1995. The remaining unpublished content was then merged into Protoculture Addicts magazine. Archive issues are available as PDF e-books from the publisher.

Detailed content
Starting with #2, each issue has one main topic and several derivative ones. The following abbreviations are used in the listing to save space: Basics of Mecha Modeling - BoMM; Battletech - Btech; Engineering Outlook - EO; Heavy Gear - HG; Heavy Gear Fighter - HGF; Jovian Chronicles - JC; Mobile Suit - MS; Mekton II - MkII; Questions & Answers - Q&A.

 * MECHA PRESS #0: prototype issue, duo-tone, oversized. MS Gundam, Introduction to Mecha Gaming, EO: Space Flight, Votoms and Gunbuster Overview, Patlabor Models Review and more. Primarily a collector's item.
 * MECHA PRESS #1: Reprint of prototype issue w/color cover and large format (9.25" x 12").
 * MECHA PRESS #2, Patlabor: MkII Alternate Construction Rules (pre-MTS), Introduction to Mecha!, EO: Actuator Systems, Gundam F-91 Models Review, Madox-01 Review and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #3, Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket: MkII Alternate Construction Rules (pre-MTS), The Game of the Gods (Mecha!), Solaris VII (Btech), Votoms Overview Part II, Heavy Metal L-Gaim Models Review and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #4, Bubblegum Crisis: Gundam 0080 Synopsis Part II, Mekton 3D Rules, Mecha! Optional Construction Rules, Optional Autocannon/Missile Rules (Btech), Dominion Overview, Scopedog Model Conversion and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #5, Gundam F-91: Gundam 0080 Synopsis part III, EO: Structural Materials, MkII Alternate Construction Rules (pre-MTS), The No-Space Weapon (Mecha! scenario), Mecha! Models Review, Introduction to Garage Kits and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #6, Five Star Stories: Mamoru Nagano's Previous Works, Framed! (MkII scenario), Mecha! Optional Construction Rules part II, Modeling Bits'n Tricks, How to Build the XM-06 Daghis-Iris and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #7, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again: History of the Valkyrie Fighter, Modeling Color Section, Mekton Miniatures Review, Battletech Japanese Edition Overview, The Mecha Invasion Campaign, Combat! Preview and more. First issue of new format (8.125" x 10.5").
 * MECHA PRESS #8, Gundam 0083: Modeling Color Section, GP-02A Color Poster, History of the Gundam, Victory Gundam Preview, Mekton: Closer to Japanimation, Official Mecha! Armor Rules and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #9, Spaceship Special: Captain Harlock, Space Cruiser Yamato, MS Gundam, Gundam 0083 Synopsis Part II, Modeling Color Section, RGM-79N Color Poster, Starship Games Overview, Combat! Technology Briefing and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #10, Aura Battler Dunbine: Detailing Neck Units, Gundam 0083 Synopsis part III, Miniatures Review, Korean Models Kits, Jovian Chronicles Preview, Battletech Shield Rules, Mobile Suit Mekton, Mecha! 2nd Edition Playtest Rules and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #11, Combat Armor Dougram: Madcat Model Overview, Gundam 0083 Synopsis Part IV, Rebel Assault Review, Miniatures Review, Moonlight Mechanix Scenario (MkII), Mobile Suit Mekton Part II, Nashan's Arena (Btech) and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #12, Gundam 0083: Gundam 0083 Synopsis Part V, Miniatures Review, Modeling Spaceships, Heavy Gear Preview, Mecha in Ogre, Mecha Shop 101 (TFOS), Victory Stables (Btech) and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #13, Armored Trooper Votoms: Madcat Model Overview Part II, Votoms Synopsis, V Gundam Models Review, B0MM Part 1: Introduction, OHMU Review, Silhouette Preview, Cyberwalkers for Ogre, Jovian Chronicles Uniforms, Hover-Tank 'Mechs (Btech) and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #14, House Special (Jovian Chronicles, Heavy Gear, Moonlight Mechanix): Zeorymer Overview, Detonator Orgun Overview, Votoms Synopsis Part II, HGF "Mishaps" Card Insert, HGF Questions & Answers, V Gundam Models Review Part II, BoMM Part 2: Tools, Miniatures Review, EO: Cockpit Systems, Battletech Short Story and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #15, Victory Gundam: Building Btech's Hollander in 1/72 scale, Jovian Chronicles Miniatures Review, Votoms Synopsis Part III, HGF: Continuous Play, HGF: Mastering Combos, Speed Racer Models Review, BoMM Part 3: Paints, Marauder 2107 Review, The Secret Organization Campaign, Super Deformed Jovian Chronicles, Revised Play Sequence for Mecha!, Lithium-Fusion Engines (Btech) and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #16, Patlabor the Movie II: Building the "Guinness" C1/Zeta Gundam, Changing Omnimechs Configurations on Miniatures, Votoms Synopsis Part IV, HGF: "Fortune" Card Insert, HGF: Improved Fighting, Bubblegum Crisis Miniatures Review, Btech Novels Review, BoMM Part 4: Pre-Assembly, BoMM Part 5: Glues, Dirtside II Review, HG: Duelling Scale, Ultra Mekton (Giant Monster in MkII), Mecha! Battle Scenario, Btech 'Mech Rifles and more.
 * MECHA PRESS #17, Battletech the Animation: Galaxy Fraulein, Comic Book Review, Building the Victory Gundam, Votoms Synopsis Part V, HGF: Q&A II, Legion of Steel Miniatures Review, BoMM Part 6: Assembly, Full Thrust Review, HG: Bio of a Rover, The Mecha Rescue Campaign, Btech Special Shield Rules and more.

title: Mecha Press


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NO synthase

NO synthase may refer to:

 * Nitric oxide synthase
 * Nitric-oxide synthase (NAD(P)H-dependent)

title: NO synthase


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Zand

Zand may refer to:

 * Zend, a class of exegetical commentaries on Zoroastrian scripture
 * Zand District, an administrative subdivision of Iran
 * Zand Boulevard, in Shiraz, Iran
 * Z And, a variable star
 * Zand Bank, a digital bank in United Arab Emirates

As a tribal/clan and dynastic name

 * Zand tribe, a former Lak tribe of western Iran, a member of which founded the Zand dynasty
 * Zand dynasty (1773-1794), a dynasty that ruled southern and central Iran
 * Karim Khan Zand (r. 1751-1779), founder of the Zand dynasty

As a surname

 * Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi (born 1961), Iranian writer, film producer and human rights activist
 * Kayvon Zand, musician and NYC nightlife personality
 * Lazlo Zand, fictional character from Robotech
 * Nathalie Zand (1883–1942), Polish Jewish neurologist
 * Nosson Zand (born 1981), Boston rapper
 * Shlomo Zand (born 1946), more commonly spelled Shlomo Sand, Israeli professor
 * Stephen Joseph Zand (1898–1963), engineer

title: Zand


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Rory Culkin

Rory Hugh Culkin (born July 21, 1989) is an American actor known for his roles in Scream 4, Lords of Chaos, You Can Count on Me, Columbus, and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. He is the youngest brother of actors Macaulay and Kieran Culkin.

Early life
Rory Hugh Culkin was born July 21, 1989, in New York City, the youngest of seven children born to Christopher Cornelius "Kit" Culkin, a former Broadway stage actor, and Patricia Brentrup, a native of North Dakota who met Kit in 1974 while working as a road traffic controller in Sundance, Wyoming. Culkin's siblings include Shane (b. 1976), Dakota (1979–2008), Macaulay (b. 1980), Kieran (b. 1982), Quinn (b. 1984), and Christian (b. 1987). He also had a paternal half-sister, Jennifer (b. 1970), who died in 2000. Culkin's paternal aunt is actress Bonnie Bedelia.

Career
Culkin began acting by playing alongside his elder brothers, among them Macaulay and Kieran, often as the younger versions of their characters. He first appeared in a photograph as a baby in The Good Son (1993), then as Young Richie in Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994) (Richie being played by his brother Macaulay) and in 2002, played 10-year-old Igby in Igby Goes Down (17-year-old Igby was played by his older brother Kieran).

Culkin's breakthrough role was in You Can Count on Me (2000), opposite Laura Linney, a role for which he received much praise and a Young Artist Award. Since then, Culkin has appeared in numerous films, including Signs (2002), in which he starred alongside Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix and Electrick Children, in which he starred alongside Julia Garner.

As a teenager, Rory started moving into more independent films. He took a leading role in Mean Creek (2004), a film about a group of teenagers that plan revenge on a bully. The entire youth cast won an Independent Spirit Award for this film. He appeared in other independent films, such as The Chumscrubber (2005), Down in the Valley (2005), and Hick (2011).

Since his Young Artist Award win for You Can Count on Me, Culkin has received three more nominations. He had a guest role in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Manic", and in the episode "Azoth the Avenger Is a Friend of Mine" of The Twilight Zone alongside Patrick Warburton. In May 2010, Culkin was cast for the slasher film Scream 4, which was released on April 15, 2011. Culkin was cast as Euronymous in the biographical film Lords of Chaos (2018) which tells the story about the events of the Norwegian black metal scene and the band Mayhem.

In 2014, Culkin starred as the titular character in Gabriel. Culkin was commended by critics,  and was subsequently nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor.

In 2016, he appeared in the horror movies Welcome to Willits and Jack Goes Home.

In 2023, Culkin guest-appeared in Amazon Prime Video series Swarm.

Personal life
In April 2018, Culkin married cinematographer Sarah Scrivener in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their wedding was officiated by Paul Heyman on the eve of WrestleMania 34. Rory and Sarah met on the fourth instalment of the Scream 4 in 2009. After working together on Scream 4, the duo collaborated again in 2019 on the Showtime series City on a Hill, and in 2022, Scrivener and Culkin worked together again on a music video that Scrivener directed, produced and filmed for musician Quinn Murphy. In 2023, cinematographer Kate Arizmendi confirmed her relationship with Culkin in an Instagram post.

title: Rory Culkin


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Epeli Qaraninamu Nailatikau

Ratu Dr. Epeli Qaraninamu Nailatikau (born 1942) is a Fiji a medical doctor and former political leader, who served in the Senate from 2004 to 2006. He was nominated on 24 September 2004 by the Fiji Labour Party, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of former Senator Joeli Kalou. Under the Constitution of Fiji, the Leader of the Opposition nominates 8 of the 32 Senators. The eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition were required to reflect the political composition of the House of Representatives. As the Labour Party was the principal opposition, it got to choose most or all of the eight opposition Senators.

Medical career
Nailatikau had wide experience locally and internationally as a medical doctor. Once the chief medical officer to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, he later played an important role after the Fiji coup of 2000, as head of the trauma team providing counseling for the parliamentarians (and their families) who had been kidnapped and held hostage in the insurrection. He also established his own medical clinic, the Siloah People's Clinic, in Tavua.

Views on the chiefly system, religion
Nailatikau spoke out in early March 2006 against what he said was the failure of chiefs to set examples of good leadership, transparency, and vision for the following generations. "We must be role models and practice what we say. Right now there is a lack of authority at the village level," he said. Instead of leading the people, some chiefs were using their positions for personal enrichment, he alleged at the Peace and Stability Development Analysis Awareness Forum, which was organized by the United Nations Development Program. He declared that traditional influence in a modern government was out of place. On a separate issue, he said that traditional objections to interracial marriages were an obstacle to peace and stability in Fiji.

Nailatikau continued his attack on the chiefly system with a Parliamentary speech on 10 March. Fijian culture and traditions needed to be brought up to date with the modern world, he said, and chiefs should be chosen democratically and for fixed terms, the Fiji Times quoted him as saying. According to the Fiji Sun, he also called for politics and religion to be clearly separated, though with the latter morally underpinning the former.

Personal life
Nailatikau is married to Latu, a schoolteacher.

title: Epeli Qaraninamu Nailatikau


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The Dreamers (novel series)

The Dreamers is the title of a fantasy book series by American writer David Eddings and his wife Leigh Eddings. The story revolves around four beings known as The Elder Gods residing in the land of Dhrall: Dahlaine of the North, Veltan of the South, Zelana of the West and Aracia of the East. They must recruit the help of outlanders to destroy the fiendish Vlagh and prevent its attempt at world conquest. The Elder Gods are not permitted to use their powers to kill, but the young Dreamers can use their dreams to predict and affect the future.

The series includes four titles:
 * 1) The Elder Gods (2003)
 * 2) The Treasured One (2004)
 * 3) Crystal Gorge (2005)
 * 4) The Younger Gods (2006)

The Elder Gods
The first volume of the series, The Elder Gods, is about the invasion of the unsuspecting Zelana's Domain by the hordes of the Vlagh inhabiting the Wasteland center of the Land of Dhrall.

The Elder Gods are each given an infant told to be a Dreamer and are supposed to save the world and defeat the Vlagh. When Eleria, Zelana's child, has the first dream, the Elder Gods go out in search of mercenaries to hire with gold (found useless and common in the land of Dhrall).

Zelana takes to the west of Dhrall to the land of Maag where she forces a storm to bring the ship and crew of Sorgan Hook-Beak to her domain. Hook-Beak is shown that she will pay a large quantity of gold to hire an army from Maag and fight a war. He takes the native archers Longbow and Red-Beard as well as Zelana with her child Eleria to Maag in search of more crews. They find much success but when the Vlagh sends an agent out to convince a crew to destroy Sorgan Hook-Beak and steal the gold, they are stopped thanks to a vision of Eleria. The night they came to attack, Longbow and the small Maag smith of Hook-Beak's crew, Rabbit, destroy the enemy fleet and the Vlagh agent responsible. A tight friendship is made by Rabbit and Longbow.

Meanwhile, in the Trogite Empire, south of Dhrall, Veltan has managed to hire a retired army general, Narasan, and his companions Padan, Gunda, Keselo and Jalkan.

The two armies meet in the western domain in surprise due to their extreme dislike for one another but Hook-Beak and Narasan become friends quickly as they plan to stop the foreseen attack in the Ravine above the Dhrall village of Lattash, the home of Red-Beard. Yaltar, the Dreamer of Veltan, foresees that the Vlagh would attack there and that there would be much killing on both sides. As the armies of Maag and the Trogite Empire build their barricades and planned their assault after the warm ocean air, created by Eleria, melts the snow where the Vlagh's servants are waiting, thus creating flooding and winning most of the war then. While Eleria dreams up the flood, Rabbit and Kesselo are informed about the true nature of the gods, and what they really are, and told to keep it a secret from the other outlanders.

Sure enough, Eleria's dream brings forth an extremely warm wind and many servants die in the flood. The native archers dip the arrows in the venom of the dead servants washed down to Lattash to ensure their victory, but the venom was also used with spears and wooden stakes. The remaining creatures of the Vlagh in the ravine met their ends with their own poison.

After the Vlagh's first wave of minions were obliterated, the outlander armies moved north to the top of the ravine and built a fort to prevent the continuous coming of the servants. However, as the fort was finished and the domain of Zelana was seemingly impregnable, the Vlagh's servants revealed their clever trick. They were using creatures to climb the mountain to the fort as decoys so that the bulk of their army would walk through tunnels in the mountain to end up far down in the ravine. The Vlagh had successfully trapped the outlanders as the earth began to shake. Veltan came and warned the outlanders to reach safe ground as Yaltan was having a dream that was about to unleash a behemoth. The outlanders evacuated as two volcanoes of massive power eradicated the Vlagh's creatures by filling up the tunnels and burrows with molten rock. The war had been won by the outlanders.

Zelana was afraid of the capabilities of the Dreams and fled but when she returned, Lattash had to be moved due to the twin volcanoes and the chief of the people of Lattash passed on his title to Red-Beard as the natives and outlanders pondered the next location of the Vlagh's attack.

The Treasured One
Narasan and Sorgan move their armies to the Domain of Veltan, where they meet Veltan's friend, Omago. Before their arrival, Veltan had given Omago a knife, and Omago figured out how to turn the knife into a spear, a weapon that was common in the outside world, but unknown to the peaceful people of Veltan's domain. Veltan shows the outlanders his house, which they are shocked to discover is made from one stone. They examine a miniature model of the Domain, and begin to make plans. Omago's wife, Ara, enters, announcing supper is ready, and Jalkan, known for his violent and corrupt nature, suggests she take up prostitution, and Omago hits him. Jalkan attempts to retaliate, but Keselo stops him, and Narasan fires him, ordering Padan to chain him up and throw him in the brig of his flagship, the Victory.

Jalkan escapes and returns to The Trogite Empire, where he reconnects with his former friend and partner-in-crime, Adnari Estarg. Adnari maintains a position of power within the corrupt Amarite church, and is interested in the tales Jalkin brings of abundant gold in the land of Dhrall. The church puts together a large expedition intent on plundering Veltan's domain and selling its peaceful citizens into slavery. However, shortly after they arrive on Dhrall, a supernatural being (later revealed to be Omago's wife, Ara) bewitches the Amarite force into believing that the Wasteland of the Vlagh is covered in gold dust. The church's soldiers, forced into a supernatural frenzy, rush towards the Wasteland, leaving their camp unguarded and freeing the natives whom they have enslaved.

Meanwhile, the combined Armies of Narasan, Sorgan, and Red-Beard, along with a group of farmers-turned-soldiers led by Omago face off against the minions of the Vlagh, who have evolved into three new forms. Bat-insect hybrids serve as scouts for the Vlagh, while large snake-men and giant spiders with shells like turtles comprise its combat force. Although they initially appear formidable, these creatures are revealed to be slow and stupid, and are easily held back by the defenders.

Longbow has a dream in which a mysterious woman (again, later revealed to be Ara) encourages him to pull the defending armies back, thereby allowing the Amarite church's expedition to advance towards the Wasteland. Still believing they will find gold, the church army engages the minions of the Vlagh. While they are fighting, one of the dreamers redirects the course of a river, causing it to drown both invading forces.

Crystal Gorge
The Crystal Gorge is another book by David and Leigh Eddings. Like the Treasured one, it is divided into sections which give background information on a particular character, and summarizes the story from the first book to the present from the character's point of view. After the battle in Veltan's domain, the important characters meet at Veltan's home to discuss their next moves. They agree to separate their forces until one of the children gives them an indication to where the servants of the Vlagh are going to mount their third invasion. Narasan and his Trogite soldiers go to Aracia's domain (who knowing that her domain is defenseless tries to convince Dahlaine that the servants of the Vlagh are going to attack her domain next.) In the end they split up their forces, and the Maags go north to Dahlaine's Domain. Rabbit, Longbow, Red-beard and Keselo go with them. Ekial and Veltan go to the land of the Malavi to hire Malavi horse warriors, and then with a little tampering from Veltan get the warriors to Dahlaine's country. They discover that the servants of the Vlagh are stirring up trouble in the numerous clans of Dahlaine's nations. Lillabeth has her dream, which the other Dreamers know about and tell Zelana that Aracia is trying to keep Lillabeth quiet. Zelana goes to intimidate her sister and learn of the dream. The defenders get rid of the insane Atazkan chief and find the source of the plague which is not a plague - it is actually the poison of the servants of the Vlagh. Afterwards, the defenders fortify Crystal Gorge, with the help of the Malavi, the Trogites, and the Maags, the defenders fight back the minions of the Vlagh. Finally, a tornado of fire sweeps through crystal gorge, created by the Dreamers, destroying the servants of the Vlagh.

The Younger Gods
The end of the 25 eons has arrived. The Elder Gods are getting sleepier and sleepier by the second, but are forced to stay awake and alert as Alcevan, a servant of The Vlagh, convinces Aracia to kill Lillabeth, saying that The 'Wicked Enalla' is trying to usurp Aracia's throne. And by killing Lillabeth, Enalla will be prevented from ever taking Aracia's place again. Aracia, in her insanity, tries to kill Lillabeth, but in her madness forgets the most fundamental law that defines the gods of Dhrall: they may not kill. Aracia thus ceases to exist.

Meanwhile, Longbow, Omago and others journey to the Wasteland. Omago uses his newly remembered powers to block the Vlagh from the Overmind and order all the bugs out their nest. The Vlagh comes out, as Aracia's copy, and watches as her bug-servants eat the other bugs til there are no more and the Vlagh is all alone. The Vlagh screams out loud, (Omago comments that "It will probably continue on forever") and Longbow is delighted as he had seen the Vlagh suffer, and says that Misty-Water is now avenged. Screaming in the same cave but a different cavern is the servant who convinced Aracia to attempt to kill Lillabeth. And they shall scream for eternity.

Because of Aracia's disappearance, Eleria is convinced to be Aracia's replacement, since Balacenia and her can no longer merge, as Zelana's hands-off approach to parenting and Eleria's subsequent time being raised by dolphins means they are now too different. Eleria requests that Ara resurrect Longbow's love Misty-Water, who was killed by the Vlagh years before. Ara agrees, and both the Elder and Younger Gods attend the wedding.

The story ends with Zelana and Eleria going to sleep, with Balacenia promising to awaken them when she is ready to sleep again in another 25,000 year.

title: The Dreamers (novel series)