The Struggle for Narnia

The Silver Chair

The Lady of the Green Kirtle’s secret invasion plan turns Rilian’s captivity into a conflict over Narnia’s sovereignty and rightful succession.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Kingdom Without an Heir A Kingdom Without an Heir from "The Silver Chair". Succession at Risk Royal vulnerability Caspian X has no known heir besides Rilian.

A Kingdom Without an Heir from "The Silver Chair". Succession at Risk Royal vulnerability Caspian X has no known heir besides Rilian.

Succession at Risk Royal vulnerability Caspian X has no known heir besides Rilian. The prince’s disappearance will leave the kingdom exposed to uncertainty about its future. A target worth capturing Rilian’s identity and inheritance give the witch a means to claim political legitimacy. His private captivity is therefore connected to a public threat.

A Prince Ensnared A Prince Ensnared from "The Silver Chair". Infiltration Through Enchantment The heir removed The Lady of the Green Kirtle draws Rilian away from Narnia and keeps him underground.

A Prince Ensnared from "The Silver Chair". Infiltration Through Enchantment The heir removed The Lady of the Green Kirtle draws Rilian away from Narnia and keeps him underground.

Infiltration Through Enchantment The heir removed The Lady of the Green Kirtle draws Rilian away from Narnia and keeps him underground. His disappearance prevents the kingdom from knowing whether its future king is alive. A covert campaign The witch uses enchantment rather than open invasion at first. Control of one person becomes the foundation for a larger political scheme.

The Planned Breakout The Planned Breakout from "The Silver Chair". An Army Beneath the Fields Invasion prepared The Queen of Underland’s gnomes dig toward the surface to create a route into Narnia.

The Planned Breakout from "The Silver Chair". An Army Beneath the Fields Invasion prepared The Queen of Underland’s gnomes dig toward the surface to create a route into Narnia.

An Army Beneath the Fields Invasion prepared The Queen of Underland’s gnomes dig toward the surface to create a route into Narnia. Rilian is to lead the force as a supposed king. Conquest disguised as restoration The witch expects him to attack a country without knowing it is his own. The plan would combine military surprise with a stolen royal name.

The Heir Refuses The Heir Refuses from "The Silver Chair". Allegiance Reclaimed The plan exposed Rilian learns that the witch intends to use him to conquer an innocent kingdom.

The Heir Refuses from "The Silver Chair". Allegiance Reclaimed The plan exposed Rilian learns that the witch intends to use him to conquer an innocent kingdom.

Allegiance Reclaimed The plan exposed Rilian learns that the witch intends to use him to conquer an innocent kingdom. He rejects the proposed crown and marriage as instruments of tyranny. Narnia defended from within His refusal denies the witch her false royal figurehead. The political conflict becomes an open moral choice for the rightful heir.

The Invasion Ends The Invasion Ends from "The Silver Chair". The Threat Collapses The underground court breaks The witch dies, and the magic supporting Underland begins to fail.

The Invasion Ends from "The Silver Chair". The Threat Collapses The underground court breaks The witch dies, and the magic supporting Underland begins to fail.

The Threat Collapses The underground court breaks The witch dies, and the magic supporting Underland begins to fail. Flooding and upheaval destroy the force intended to emerge into Narnia. Succession restored Rilian returns to Cair Paravel and later rules after Caspian X’s death. Narnia avoids invasion and regains its lawful heir.

Before Rilian’s disappearance

After the green woman appears in the northern woods

During Rilian’s captivity in Underland

After the travelers free Rilian

After the witch’s death