Tisroc

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In C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, a Tisroc is a ruler of Calormen. His position is most like that of a Pharaoh or Sultan, in that he is an absolute monarch, and is believed to be descended from the Calormen god Tash. Whenever a Calormen citizen speaks of the Tisroc, he adds "may he live for ever," and it is considered blasphemy not to say this. For example, in The Horse and His Boy, Aravis says, "Now this Ahoshta is of base birth, though in these latter years he has won the favor of the Tisroc (may he live for ever) by flattery and evil counsels..." Enemies of the Tisroc take pleasure in not saying this, however, especially while in his domain. Bree, the talking horse, says, "Why should I say 'may he live for ever'? I don't want him to live forever, and I know he won't whether I say it or not."

Lewis made up a name for the ruler and nobility of Calormen while still referring to the Tisroc's son Rabadash as a prince. Since elsewhere the sons of Tisrocs are styled Tarkaan (lord), the title "Prince" would appear to be reserved for the heir apparent. A female counterpart for the Tisroc is never mentioned. It is implied that the Tisroc has many wives.

Other titles for nobility of Calormen are Tarkaan and Tarkheena. A Tarkaan is supposed to be related to the Tisroc and seem to have authority over provinces in Calormen. Tarkheenas are either wives or daughters of Tarkaans.

The practice of saying "may he live forever" after the Tisroc's name is borrowed from Edith Nesbit's description of Babylonian customs in her time-travel story The Story of the Amulet. It possibly stems from the Aramaic formula "King, live forever" (malkâ, lʕâlmîn heyî) found in the Biblical book of Daniel.

The word Tisroc may owe something to Nisroch, the name given in the Bible to a deity of Assyria.

[edit] Known Tisrocs

Ardeeb Tisroc (late 800s to c.900?- early to mid 900s?) born 800s
Ilsombreh Tisroc (c.900s) born late 800s?
Name Unknown (likely Rabadash's grandfather) (mid to late 900s- c.1000) born early 900s
"The Tisroc" (Rabadash's father) (c.1000- c.1030?) born c. 940s to 960s
Rabadash the Ridiculous rule uncertain (after c.1030?) born c.990- c.995

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The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

Books:	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe • Prince Caspian • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader • The Silver Chair • The Horse and His Boy • The Magician's Nephew • The Last Battle
Inhabitants:	Peter • Susan • Edmund • Lucy • Eustace • Jill • Digory • Polly • Caspian • Aslan • Shasta • Aravis • White Witch • Puddleglum • All characters • All creatures
Places:	Narnia • Archenland • Cair Paravel • Calormen • Charn • Lone Islands • Telmar • Wood between the Worlds • All places
Other:	BBC miniseries • Disney films • First Battle of Beruna • Dawn Treader • Deplorable Word • Popular culture • Narnian timeline