I thought I had seen all the maps of Narnia that there were to see, but I was wrong.
Let’s take a look at this incredible one, which was posted on Reddit by its creator, DeFlame. Click on it to see the full version in all its glory.
I emphasize this is NOT the Narnia that is in the books, but an alternate-world extrapolation of it visualized as a modern cartography. The creator adheres, basically, to the Baynes master map, but there are differences. Tashbaan is on the coast instead of an island in the middle of a river, and below it, there is a large, crooked inlet and a new island named Rubaan. Telmar receives a number of cities and its own sea. In addition to Archenland, there are number of other countries named Rhynda, Maghieno, Undrighen, and Lurodzi. Countries south of Calormen, which it may be at war with, are Tassatan and Azroc. Cair Paravel has moved northward and north of it there are number of new areas. On the larger version, the small symbol of a bull’s head indicates minotaur settlements, tents faun ones, and “ranges” centaur territories.
This map is interesting not just because of its imagination and beauty of detail, but in that many names read like Welsh, explained by the creator as linguistic drift. (The Seven Isles have become Csathen Alsta.) The level of detail also invites more questions. Like, what is the bit of water to the upper left of the map? Why is Calormen smaller than Narnia? This might be some far-future Narnia experiencing a hyper period of continental drift, one where the events of The Last Battle never happened.
The creator has also made a “purist” map for comparison.
It’s worth a closeup look as well (click to see larger) for its placement of Calormen’s cities and locations which are mentioned, but not depicted on any map.
The map of Calormen below was made for a role-playing exercise set in Narnia that didn’t get very far. It introduces the new cities of Agorbah, En-ezzir, and Arakshaam, as well as a location called “Willoughby” that is not explained in the map, and not on the site, either. The English name may indicate it’s a colony or trading post for Narnia.
This map differs from the Baynes one in that Tashbaan is set much closer to the sea, and Baynes’ spike-shaped peninsula north of it (a wonderful visual metaphor for Calormen’s threat to Narnia) has become a blunted hook.
The map below, also from Reddit, depicts what might have happened to Narnia-the-world if Rabadash had won the Battle of Anvard in The Horse and His Boy. The artist is Elven-King.
This is the creator’s explanation of it:
“Prince Rabadash of Calormene Empire was not a good man. From his youth possesed with ambition and lust for power as well as cruelty towards common people.
After being spurned by Queen Susan of Narnia, he vowed to take revenge against the north. To this end he devised a plan to attack Anvard – the capital of Archenland, by surprise. Despite efforts of prince Cor of Archenland who led the Narnian army to rescue the besieged castle, Rabadash’s plan succeded and Anvard had fallen. Rabadash had also slain King Lune of Archenland in personal combat upon the wall of Anvard. After the castle fell the army led by King Edmund and Queen Lucy had to retreat north to Narnia due to lack of supplies. Archenland, for the first time in history has fallen to the Calormene Empire. Not all was lost however as now king Cor still fought on in the mountains and forests of east Archenland.
For Narnia however it was just the beginning of troubles. Upon hearing the news of the defeat High King Peter had swiftly ended his war with giants and returned south. However he was ambushed in the mountains and nobody has heard anything of him since.
His death started the succession crisis in which both Susan and Edmund laid claim to the High Kingship. Turns out a lion doling out crowns is not a sound base for succesion law. Each of them had a different vision of Narnia. Edmund wanted to keep things as they were but Susan strove to modernize the country.
Susan’s base of support was located in the west, and she reigns from Beaversdam which was transformed into a thriving community, made out of beavers, dwarfs and centaurs.
Edmund had support of the talking animals of the Great Forest as well as some black dwarfs and giants.
As for Lucy, she was last seen dancing with the driads somewhere south of the Lantern Waste. No one heard of her since.
Soon after his victory at Anvard, Rabadash began to transport more and more troops across the Great Desert. In one year he attacked Narnia and took Cair Paravel. Thus began the darkest age in Narnian history since the defeat of the White Witch just 15 years earlier.
FREE ARCHENLAND – Led by King Cor is the last part of Archenland not occupied by Calormene invaders. Disilusioned with the Pevensies, king Cor now lays claim not only to the throne in Anvard but also, as a direct descendant of King Frank – to all of Narnia.
QUEEN SUSAN’S NARNIA – After fall of Cair Paravel, Susan was crowned High Queen by the centaurs of the west. Immediately she began far reaching reforms that were meant to transform Narnia into industrialised nation. In this endavour she had help of ever indutrious beavers and some of the dwarfs renowned for their craftsmanship. At the same time she forged an alliance with the King of Telmar who rebelled against the Calormenes.
KING EDMUND’S NARNIA – King Edmund also crowned himself after the fall of Cair Paravel. He wants to keep Narnia as it were. He conducts guerilla warfare against the Calormenes in the Great Forest. He is also building a Narnian fleet. He rules from the newly build port of Silverhaven.
REPUBLIC OF THE DWARFS – No kings, no queens we are free now! Humans are weak and incompetent now the collective of smiths will rule the dwarfs.
CALORMENE EMPIRE – Tisroc Rabadash rules his new empire from the seat in Tashbaan after his father died. His Empire burns at every border. Something has changed in Rabadash however, since he returned from the north. He has distant look in his eyes as though he was looking at something yards away. Some say that he thinks of peace and reforms.
ARAVIS’ REBELS – Aravis was captured by Rabadash after the fall of Anvard. Being daughter of Tarkaan her planned marriage with the Grand Vizier proceded without interruption. It did not go so bad as she first thought however because her husband lost his postion in the court soon after and had a seizure as a result. Now Aravis could use his seals and forge his signature and through this she formed a powerbase in western Calormen. Soon after she rebelled claiming the title of Tisrocaa and woving to free all the slaves in the empire.
KINGDOM OF TELMAR – In a different time, in a different world there as an island in the great ocean. The inhabitants erected grand heads to honor their ancestors. One day a group of pirates came upon the island. They began their new life there, married local women. The life on the island was harsh and the population starved. One day a gate opened to a different reality. Most of the population moved to the other world, searching for new home. Thus began the history of the Telmar.”
It’s an interesting stab at AU worldbuilding and a background in search of a story, or stories. Unlike the previous map, this one is based on the Baynes version, by the pattern of lakes at the bottom and the pointy part of Calormen that sticks out toward the Lone Islands.
An amateur but well crafted map showing how one fan has envisioned the land.
