Earldoms of Gwynedd (Fictional)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, the Kingdom of Gwynedd is a feudal monarchy similar to the kingdoms of medieval Europe. Most of Gwynedd is divided up into a collection of duchies, earldoms, and baronies, each of which is ruled by a hereditary noble in exchange for swearing fealty to the Crown. While the nobles enjoy the prestige and income of being the ruling class of Gwyneddan society, they also must pay appropriate taxes for their lands, see to the defense of their borders, and enforce the laws of the kingdom. The feudal structure is hierarchal in nature, with noble also swearing loyalty to their immediate feudal superior.

For more detailed information on Gwyneddan society and history, see Gwynedd (Fictional).

Note: This listing is neither complete nor comprehensive. It is merely a list of those noble estates that have been specifically mentioned in the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz. The author retains the right to change any and all of this information in her future works.


Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Contents

[edit] Carcashale

The Earldom of Carcashale is located in the Lendour Mountains of northeastern Gwynedd. It lies south of the Earldom of Eastmarch, north of the Duchy of Corwyn, and west of the old capital of Valoret. It was formed from the remains of the old lands of Southmarch by King Festil I Furstán on June 8, 823, and then bestowed upon his friend and ally, Sir Valen Kanabos. The House of Kanabos was attainted by King Cinhil I Haldane following the Haldane Restoration of 904, but the king awarded the earldom to Baron Zachary Genlis the following year. The seat of Carcashale is located near Dolban. The title is currently held by Earl Thomas Genlis, who inherited it in 1101.


[edit] Carthane

Main article: Carthane

The Earldom of Carthane is a small estate located in southern Gwynedd. It is currently held by Earl Michael II Cluim Haldane.


[edit] Cloome

The Earldom of Cloome is located along the coast of the Atalantic Ocean at the southern tip of Meara. It was created by Prince Ithel of Meara in 972 and bestowed upon Ramsay mac Taine, whose descendants have held the title for over a century and a half. The title is currently held by Earl Macassar Ramsay, who inherited in 1122.


[edit] Culdi

The Earldom of Culdi lies in northeastern central Gwynedd, occupying the Culdi Highlands that stand between Gwynedd and Meara. It was created by King Festil I Furstán on July 22, 822, and granted to his friend and companion, Ballard MacRorie. The House of MacRorie held the title throughout the Festillic Interregnum, but the seventh Earl of Culdi, Camber MacRorie, played a central role in organizing and facilitating the success of the Haldane Restoration in 904. As a result, Camber was later canonized after his death, and the MacRories were one of the few noble Deryni families that were not attainted by King Cinhil I Haldane. However, that fate eventually befell them in 917, a precursor to the wave of anti-Deryni sentiment that would erupt through the kingdom later that year. The title was then granted to Baron Manfred MacInnis of Marlor, but it remained in MacInnis family for only three generations. Following the death of Queen Grania MacInnis, the widow of King Uthyr Haldane, in 982, the title reverted to the Crown and was bestowed upon Grania's son, Prince Jasher Haldane. The title descended indirectly to several different members of the royal family over the following century, and was twice held by Prince Richard Haldane (before and after the death of his son). In 1092, King Donal Blaine Haldane awarded the city of Culdi to Duke Alaric Morgan of Corwyn, despite the fact that the rest of Corwyn lies on the opposite side of the kingdom. The title is currently held by Richard's eldest daughter, Princess Richelle Haldane, who also holds the title of Countess of Kildaren through her husband, Earl Brecon Ramsay-Quinnell.


[edit] Danoc

The Earldom of Danoc lies along the northern bank of the Llanarfon River, which forms the natural border between Gwynedd and the Kingdom of Llannedd. The first Earl of Danoc, Baron Gillis Gillispie, was elevated to the rank of earl by King Malcolm Haldane on November 19, 1025, in recognition of Gillis' bravery and valor during the Battle of Killingford. The title is currently held by Earl Aubrey Gillispie, who inherited the title in 1097.


[edit] Derry

The Earldom of Derry lies along the western side of the Coamer Mountains in eastern Gwynedd, extending to the north of the Lendour Mountains. Castle Derry, the seat of the land, stands a short distance south of the fortress of Rengarth. The earldom was created by King Uthyr Haldane on July 4, 953, and bestowed upon Lord Flynn Fitz-Arthur-Quinnell, the second son of Duke Tambert I of Cassan, in recognition of his service to the Crown of Gwynedd. The earl's descendants later adopted the surname O'Flynn in his honor. In 1120, Earl Sean O'Flynn, the ninth Earl of Derry, was appointed to the Royal Council by King Kelson Haldane.


[edit] Eastmarch

The Earldom of Eastmarch is a long, narrow stretch of land that lies between the Rheljan Mountains and the plains of Iomaire. The Earldom of Marley lies to the north, and to south are Llyndruth Meadows and the city of Cardosa. The native tribes of the area successfully fended off the invasion of the Byzantyun Empire in the third century, but were eventually conquered by Knut, a tribal chief who proclaimed himself Margrave of The Marches in the sixth century.

When the last Margrave died in 592, his realm was divided into the Counties of Northmarch, Eastmarch, Southmarch, and Westmarch, each of which was given to one of his sons. Westmarch was absorbed by the other three counties in 630, after its ruler died without an heir, and Southmarch was conquered by King Festil I Furstán of Gwynedd in 823, who then used the area to create various earldoms and other estates. Northmarch (or Marley as it later became known) merged with Eastmarch in 715 when the Heiress of Eastmarch married the reigning Count of Eastmarch, but the eastern portions of Eastmarch were annexed by the Kingdom of Torenth forty years later.

In 905, Earl Sighere of Eastmarch invaded and conquered much of the neighboring Principality of Kheldour. However, he soon realized that he lacked the military strength to hold such a large region, so he sought the aid of King Cinhil I Haldane of Gwynedd. Sighere swore fealty to the King of Gwynedd, who then helped him complete his conquest. Kheldour was renamed Claibourne, and Sighere was created the first Duke of Claibourne. Eastmarch became an earldom under Sighere's second son, Hrorik II, and Marley another earldom under Sighere's third son, Sighere II. Hrorik's daughter later married Lord Corban Howell, and their direct descendants held the title for almost two centuries.

In 1105, the eleventh Earl of Eastmarch, Rorik III Howell, supported the attempt of Duke Hogan Gwernach of Marluk, the Festillic Pretender, to claim the throne of Gwynedd. King Brion Haldane invaded Eastmarch to put down the rebellion, but Rorik was deposed and executed by his cousin, Arban Howell, who then became Earl of Eastmarch. Fifteen years later, Arban's son, Ian Howell, aided the next Festillic Pretender, Duchess Charissa of Tolán, when she murdered King Brion and attempted to seize the throne from his heir, Prince Kelson Haldane. However, Charissa was defeated by Kelson, and Ian was killed by the King's Champion, Duke Alaric Morgan of Corwyn. Shortly thereafter, King Kelson awarded the Earldom of Eastmarch to Ian's brother-in-law, Lord Burchard de Varian.


[edit] Ebor

The Earldom of Ebor was located north of the old capital of Valoret, bordered to the east by the Lendour Mountains and to the west by the Purple March. It was created by King Festil III Furstán-Festil on December 5, 851. He bestowed the title upon his close companion Sir Rhygan MacDinan, the youngest son of the last Sovereign Prince of Kheldour, but Rhygan's descendants held the land for only three generations. In 917, Rhygan's grandson, Earl Gregory MacDinan, was attainted by the Regents of King Alroy Haldane as part of the wave of anti-Deryni sentiment that swept through the kingdom. Gregory moved his family to the lands of Trevalga in The Connait shortly thereafter, and the title officially fell into abeyance. The House of MacDinan held the title of Count of Trevalga for over two centuries before finally petitioning the Crown of Gwynedd for the restoration of their familial lands and titles. The request was granted by King Kelson Haldane on November 14, 1128, when he bestowed the title of Earl of Ebor upon Count Saron MacGregor of Trevalga and granted him lands in the Duchy of Travlum.


[edit] Fintan

The Earldom of Fintan was located in the defunct Duchy of Travlum in the southwestern portion of Gwynedd. The lands were first bestowed upon Sir Martial de Fintan by King Festil I Furstán on December 6, 825 to reward the support Martial have provided the king during the first three years of his reign. Originally formed as a barony, the estate was elevated to an earldom by King Cinhil I Haldane in 905. The title reverted back to the Crown after the death of Earl Pliny de Fintan at the Battle of Argoed in 983.


[edit] Jenas

The Earldom of Jenas is located at the edge of the Mughdorna Mountains at the western edge of Gwynedd. It was created by King Malcolm Haldane on November 9, 1025, and bestowed upon Sir Piran ap Coran. The title is currently held by Earl Roger de Piran, who inherited it in 1121.


[edit] Kierney

The Earldom of Kierney is located in northwestern Gwynedd, situated on the western shore of the Gulf of Kheldour. The Duchy of Cassan lies to the north, the Earldoms of Culdi and Transha to the south, and lands of Meara to the west. Once a part of the sovereign Principality of Cassan, it was conquered by King Festil I Furstán in 822 and bestowed upon Lord Iolo MacLean, one of the king's close companions. In 918, the title passed to the House of MacInnis upon the marriage of Countess Richeldis MacLean to Lord Iver MacInnis. After the death of Earl Richard MacInnis at the Battle of Killingford in 1025, the title passed through his daughter, Lady Glorian, to her son, Tairchell McLain. On January 9, 1076, Kierney became a secondary title of the Dukes of Cassan, often being vested in the duke's heir. The title eventually passed to Bishop Duncan McLain, who abdicated his secular titles to his son, Earl Dhugal MacArdry McLain in 1125.


[edit] Kildaren

The Earldom of Kierney is a Mearan estate that lies near the Duchy of Cassan near the northern border of Meara. It was first bestowed upon Lord Darin Kincaid in 856 by Prince Justin Quinnell, and the House of Kincaid held the title for over two and a half centuries. It was a secondary title of the Mearan Pretender Judhael III, but it passed to his cousin Ros after the Pretender's death in 1109, and Ros openly supported the Mearan rebellion of 1124. After the rebellion's failure, Ros was kept in confinement until his death in 1127. In 1128, King Kelson Haldane awarded the title to Brecon Ramsay-Quinnell upon his marriage to Kelson's cousin, Princess Richelle Haldane.


[edit] Lendour

The Earldom of Lendour is located in the mountains of the same name in eastern Gwynedd. The Earldom of Eastmarch lies to the north, the Earldom of Derry to the east, the Duchy of Corwyn to the south, and the Crown Duchy of Haldane to the west. The title was first created in 822 by King Festil I Furstán, who bestowed it upon his eldest son and heir, Prince Festil II Furstán-Festil. Upon his ascension to the throne in 839, Festil II created his own son and heir, Prince Festil III Furstán-Festil, Duke of Lendour. Shortly after Festil III succeeded his father in 855, he awarded the Earldom of Lendour to Lord Cynfyn ap Dauyd. Cynfyn's direct male line became extinct upon the death of Earl Ahern de Corwyn in 1090, at which point the title passed through his sister, Lady Alyce de Corwyn, and was inherited by her son, Alaric Morgan, upon his birth the following year. In 1125, Alaric bestowed the title upon his son and heir, Kelric Morgan.


[edit] Lindestark

The County of Lindestark lies in northernmost area of the Duchy of Claibourne, along the coast of the vast Atalantic Ocean. It was first created in 905 by Earl Sighere of Eastmarch, who bestowed it upon Sir Linden FitzOsberne as a reward for his valor in Sighere's conquest of the Principality of Kheldour. The ruler of Lindestark is the only member of the Gwyneddan peerage who holds the title of Count (instead of Earl), and he traditionally swears fealty to the Duke of Claibourne first before swearing to the King of Gwynedd. The title is currently held by Earl Greville Lindestark, who inherited it in 1119.


[edit] Marley

The Earldom of Marley is located along the northeastern extent of Gwynedd. The Northern Sea lies to the north, the Kingdom of Torenth to the east, the Earldom of Eastmarch to the south, and the Earldom of Rhendall to the west. Once known as Northmarch or Normarch Ley, it was once a sovereign state founded in 592. In 715, the Countess of Northmarch married the Count of Eastmarch, and the lands of Marley became joined with Eastmarch when their son inherited both titles in 744. Much of Marley was annexed by Torenth in 755, but the western lands were later recovered in 853. When Earl Sighere of Eastmarch swore fealty to King Cinhil I Haldane in 906 and became Duke of Claibourne, the lands of Marley were formed into an earldom and given to Sighere's youngest son, Sighere II. The title passed to his son, Lord Sean Coris, whose descendants have held the title without interruption for over two centuries. In 1121, Earl Bran Coris was slain for allying himself with King Wencit of Torenth and betraying King Kelson Haldane, but Kelson allowed Bran's son, Brendan Coris, to retain the title.


[edit] Pelagog

The Earldom of Pelagog is located on the western coast of the Duchy of Cassan in northwestern Gwynedd. It was first created by King Uthyr Haldane on January 6, 949, who bestowed the title upon Lord Glynway Heavysege in honor of his valor in the war of the previous year. Glynway's descendants have held the title without interruption for over a century and a half. The title is currently held by Earl Albree Heavysege, who inherited it in 1105.


[edit] Rhendall

The Earldom of Rhendall (or Rhenndall) is located in the mountain range of the same name in northwestern Gwynedd. Once known as the autonomous County of Rhorau, it was conquered by the joint forces of Eastmarch and Gwynedd in 906, at which point King Cinhil I Haldane created the title as a secondary title to the Duke of Claibourne, to be vested as a courtesy title in the current heir to the duchy. Upon the death of Duke Graham I MacEwan of Claibourne in 948, his will passed the title to his granddaughter, Gillian MacEwan, who married Sir Brion de Traherne in 957. Their descendants have retained the title without interruption for over a century and a half. The current titleholder, Earl Saer de Traherne, inherited the title in 1118, and was appointed to the Privy Council of King Kelson Haldane in 1122. Earl Saer's sister, Meraude, is the wife of Kelson's uncle, Prince Nigel Haldane.


[edit] Sheele

The Earldom of Sheele is located north of the old capital of Valoret in central Gwynedd. The manor house that serves as the seat of the earldom once belonged to Lord Rhys Thuryn and his wife, Lady Evaine MacRorie Thuryn, but Evaine abandoned it after her husband's death in 917. Shortly thereafter, the manor became the seat of the new earldom of the same name, which was created by King Alroy Haldane and bestowed upon Baron Rhun von Horthy. The title passed to his granddaughter, Agnes, in 948, and she married Sir Edward Calder, who later changed his legal surname to Calder of Sheele. Their descendants have retained the title without interruption for over a century and a half. The title is currently held by Earl Kenward, who inherited it in 1128.


[edit] Tarleton

The Earldom of Tarleton was located on the plain of Iomaire near the city of Carbury in northeastern Gwynedd. It was first created by King Festil I Furstán on July 22, 822, and awarded to his friend and comrade, Philippe Cinq-Lorrons. Philippe adopted the surname Sinclair, and his direct line held the title for over a century. It was attainted in 948, but the descendants of the House of Sinclair still retain the right to petition the Crown for the restoration of the title.


[edit] Transha

The Earldom of Transha is located in northwestern Gwynedd, bordered by the Gulf of Kheldour to the north, the Purple March to the east and south, Meara to the west, and the Earldom of Kierney to the northwest. The title was created on October 12, 926, by King Rhys Michael Haldane when he elevated Egan MacArdry, Chief and Laird of Clan MacArdry, to the peerage of Gwynedd. Egan's descendants have held the title without interruption for two centuries. The current titleholder, Duke Dhugal MacArdry McLain, inherited the title in 1123, and was appointed to the Privy Council of King Kelson Haldane in 1124.


[edit] Sources


[edit] See also

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../e/a/r/Earldoms_of_Gwynedd_%28Fictional%29_1e9b.html"