Known for its textiles, Tartaust was a city of weavers, spinners, tailors, rugmakers, and dyers. Tapestries adorned the interior walls of every structure, while fine carpets covered the floors, and cushions of every size and color perch on furnishings and filled odd corners. The city’s inhabitants commonly wore tabards so ornate with fringe, elaborate knots, and intricate embroidery as to resemble artistic hangings more than garments. Of all the cities ruled by the Tarb of Tûl Îsra, the citizens of Tartaust enjoyed the most freedom. This ws due to their distance from the capital. Tartaust stood atop a high cliff, overlooking the lands to the north, at the juncture of the Cénna and Sîresha Rivers. The city was highly defensible. The old city lay to the north and was by mid 17th century T.A. in ruins.
History[]
The original city was built where the gorge below the Skâra Riscál rapids openex onto the plains north of the Tûr Betark. At its founding Tartaust was the second city of importance in Cénnacatt; it has since risen to be the capital of the province. The foundations of the old city were laid in S.A. 723. Similar to the residents of its neighboring cities, the citizens of Tartaust were proud and showed an expansionist philosophy. Tartaust was often at war. The city maintained its independence until S.A. 1382 when all of old Cénnacatt came under the rule of the later city of Baud Selen. The subjugation lasted until S.A. 1929, when the army of The Fifth of the Nazgûl conquered the province. Old Tartaust and its sister city, Cénnacatt, located further upstream along the western branch of the Sîresha River, were reduced to rubble. Early in the Third Age, nomads moved back onto the plain of Cénnacatt and reestablished some of the cities. In T.A. 124, Tartaust was rebuilt atop the cliffs above the old city. This site was chosen because of its superior defensible position. Since that time the city had flourished. Following T.A. 1632, it was ruled in name by the Tarb at Tûl Îsra, although the populace paid little heed to his laws. The distance from the Sîranean capital made it very difficult for the local Balazain to maintain true order. The citizens of Tartaust were waiting for Tû Îsra to show any weakness. At the first oppportunity, the city fathers planned to strike for independence and free Cénnacatt from the tyrannous rule.
Economy[]
The local economy was based on the textile trade. The finest fabrics and products made of fabric in all of the Sîrayn a were produced in Tartaust. Spinners, weavers, tapestry makers, cloth makers, and purveyors of finished textile goods brought substantial income into the city. Cloth and clothing made in Tartaust was sold throughout Greater Harad. Tartaust imported most other finished goods. Few metal-workers, weaponsmiths, brewers, or tanners lived within the city. Foodstuffs had also to be imported.
Attractions[]
Although stone was the primary building material due to the proximity of the mountains and their quarries, the architecture of Tartaust was anything but monumental. Cut to brick-size, the stone formed intricate cornices and textured patterns on building walls. Residences were narrow structures, frequently three or even four stories high, and exterior stairs were common. The inhabitants, although primarily of Haradron blood, showed some strains of the ancient Númenórean conquerors and their servants from the west. Many of the nomads that had rebuilt Tartaust had not been from the eastern tribes, but were more closely related to the inhabitants of An-Balkûmagân and Bôzisha-Dâr. The principal attraction of the city was the textile works. Tapestries, carpets, fine linens, and cloth could be purchased in the many bazaars.
References[]
- MERP:Greater Harad