Torenthi Fiefdoms
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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, the Kingdom of Torenth is a feudal monarchy similar to the kingdoms of medieval Europe. Much of Torenth is divided up into a collection of duchies, counties, 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 Torenthi 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.
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.
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[edit] Duchies of Torenth
[edit] Arjenol
The Duchy of Arjenol is located along the eastern border of Torenth. It was founded as sovereign principality by Lord Braïdik in 645, whose descendants ruled the land for the next century and a half. In 801, after a series of raids against Torenthi settlers, Prince Kálmán Furstán of Torenth marched into Arjenol at the head of an army, slew Prince Svarnik, and burned the capital city of Arzh. Arjenol remained under Torenthi dominion for the next two years, but regained in sovereignty in 803 under Prince Hernik. Arjenol remained an independent land for much of the ninth century, until King Nimur I Furstán of Torenth defeated Prince Thrasarik and conquered the land in 896. Nimur placed one of the prince's distant relatives, Prince Zdanik, upon the throne of Arjenol and forced him to swear fealty to the Crown of Torenth. However, Zdanik himself attempted a rebellion twenty years later, forcing Nimur to once again march into Arjenol. Nimur ruthlessly crushed the rebellion, and subjected Zdanik to a several brutal forms of torture after his capture. Only Zdanik's youngest daughter, the one-year-old Princess Braïda, was permitted to live, but Nimur married her to his youngest son, Prince Torval, and created him the first Duke of Arjenol on October 25, 916. Torval's descendants held the title for over two centuries, until, in 1128, Duke Mahael II Furstán d'Arjenol attempted to seize the throne of Torenth by murdering his nephew, King Liam-Lajos II. After Mahael's execution, King Liam-Lajos bestowed the Duchy of Arjenol upon his loyal uncle, Mátyás Furstán d'Arjenol.
[edit] Arkadia
The Duchy of Arkadia is located in central Torenth, north of the capital city of Beldour along the southern bank of the Beldour River. It was created by Count Kassian of Vorarl in 600 and bestowed upon his son and heir, Prince Aldred. Originally formed as a county, it became a duchy under Prince Pál in 882. Although the title has always remained within the royal family, it has passed through several branches of the House of Furstán through the centuries. The title is currently held by Duke Vidar Furstán d'Arkadia, who inherited it in 1111.
[edit] Jándrich
The Duchy of Jándrich is located in northern Torenth, bordered to the north by the Northern Sea and the Norselands, to the south by the Duchy of Arkadia, and to the west by the Duchy of Tolán. It was once a sovereign principality dating back to the late sixth century, but it was partially conquered by King Aldred I Furstán in 698. Subsequent rulers of Jándrich paid tribute to the Kings of Torenth, but the land was plagued by a decade of civil war in the early eighth century. In 917, King Arion I Furstán married the daughter and sole heir of Prince Ygor I, Princess Pavela. Upon Ygor's death in 929, Jándrich officially became part of the Kingdom of Torenth as the new Duchy of Jándrich, which Arion bestowed upon his second son, Prince Sigard. Sigard's descendants have held the title without interruption for two centuries. The title is currently held by Duke Erdödy Furstán-Jándrich, who inherited it in 1114.
[edit] Lorsöl
The Duchy of Lorsöl is located in southeastern Torenth, bordered to the north by the Duchy of Arjenol and to the northwest by the Duchy of Marluk. Originally founded as a sovereign realm in the seventh century, it became part of Torenth in 892, when King Nimur I Furstán conquered the land and Graf Eckehardt III surrendered his independence to the Torenthi king. Although Eckehardt was formally created Count of Lorsöl following his surrender, a series of royal governors actually administered the land for many years. The House of Haberlin eventually became extinct in 1039, at which point King Arkady II Furstán appointed his younger brother Prince Andruin Duke of Lorsöl. The title passed to his great-nephew, Prince Torval, in 1066, but it reverted to the Crown upon Torval's death in 1119. In 1120, King Wencit Furstán bestowed the title of Duke of Lorsöl upon his youngest nephew, Prince Ronal Rurik Furstán d'Arjenol.
[edit] Marluk
The Duchy of Marluk is located in southern Torenth, nestled in the Mormarluky Mountains along the southern bank of the Beldour River. The royal lands of Beldour lie to the north, the Duchy of Lorsöl stretches along its eastern border, and the lands of Tralia occupy its southern and western borders. It was first created by King Arion I Furstán on December 6, 934, and bestowed upon his second son, Prince Ysarn. Ysarn's descendants held the title for almost two centuries, and it eventually passed to Prince Hogan Gwernach upon his marriage to Lady Larissa de Marluk in 1093. The title passed to Hogan's daughter, Charissa, in 1105, but it reverted back to the crown upon Charissa's death in 1120.
[edit] Östmarcke
The Grand Duchy of Östmarcke is located in central Torenth, bordered to the east by the Duchy d'Arjenol. It was first created as a county by King Lajos I Furstán in 813 for his son, Prince Tamás, but the title passed to the prince's nephew three years later. Upon the extinction of that line in 925, King Arion I Furstán regranted the title to his brother, Prince Torval, as a Grand Duchy. Torval's descendants have held the title for over two centuries. It is currently held by Grand Duke Václáv Furstán von Östmarcke, who inherited it in 1106.
[edit] Sasovna
The Duchy of Sasovna (formerly known as Westmarcke) is located along the eastern flank of the Rheljan Mountains in western Torenth. The County of Kulnán and the Duchy of Truvorsk lie to the north, the neighboring Kingdom of Gwynedd lies to the west, and the County of Medras lies to the south. The title of Count of Westmarke was created by King Kálmán II Furstán in 815 and bestowed upon his grandson, Prince Konrád. The title passed through several branches of the royal family over the next two centuries, but the succession has remained unbroken since the title's inception. In 922, King Arion I Furstán elevated Count Konrád III to the title of Duke of Westmarke, but the title was later renamed Duke of Sasovna by King Kyprian II Furstán in 986 when it granted to the husband of Konrád's great-granddaughter. The title is currently held by Duke Zakhar III Furstán-Sasovna, who inherited it in 1125.
[edit] Tolán
The Duchy of Tolán, sometimes referred to as Tolán-by-the-Sea, is the second-largest fiefdom in the Kingdom of Torenth, surpassed only by the Duchy of Arjenol. The Northern Sea forms the duchy's northern border, the Duchy of Jándrich lies to the east, and the Rheljan Mountains to the west separate it from the Gwyneddan Earldoms of Eastmarch and Marley. Tolán was an independent land dating back to the mid-fifth century, but it was annexed by Torenth after King Aldred I Furstán defeated and killed Herzog Zvonimir von Tolán at the Battle of Elderon on August 30, 677. Aldred's eldest son, Prince Imre, was created the first Count of Tolán, a title he later passed to his brother when he succeeded to the throne of Torenth in 701. The title reverted to the crown in 888, after the death of Nikon's last direct descendant, Count Imre II Furstán-Tolán. In 927, King Arion I Furstán included Tolán in the dowry of his sister, Princess Charis, when she married Prince Marek I Furstán-Festil, the second Festillic Pretender. Over the next two centuries, all of the Festillic Pretenders bore the title of Duke or Duchess of Tolán. The title reverted back to the crown upon the death of Princess Charissa in 1120, at which point the Festillic claim to the throne of Gwynedd was also inherited by King Wencit of Torenth. After Wencit's death the following year, the title passed to his sister, Princess Morag Furstán d'Arjenol. Following her death in 1128, the lands of Tolán were inherited by her eldest surviving son, King Liam-Lajos II Furstán d'Arjenol.
[edit] Truvorsk
The Duchy of Truvorsk is located in western Torenth along the northern shore of the Beldour River, bordered to the south by the Duchy of Arkadia and to the west by the County of Gwernach. The last sovereign ruler of the land, Herzog Bruno von Neumarck, acknowledged the supremacy of King Aldred I Furstán, but was nevertheless overthrown when Aldred's son, King Imre I Furstán, conquered the land in 701. Imre created his son Porphyry Count of Truvorsk shortly thereafter, and the title was passed through several branches of the royal family over the following two centuries. In 918, King Arion I Furstán created his younger brother, Prince Miklós, the first Duke of Truvorsk, and the title remained a duchy since that time. It was inherited by Hogan Gwernach, the Festillic Pretender, in 1078, but it did not pass to his daughter after his death. Instead, the Duchy of Truvorsk passed to his uncle, whose son, Duke Káspár Furstán-Truvorsk, inherited it 1122.
[edit] Counties of Torenth
[edit] Brustarkia
The County of Brustarkia is located in the northwestern part of the Duchy of Arjenol in eastern Torenth. In 1128, Count Teymuraz Furstán attempted to murder his nephew, Liam-Lajos II Furstán d'Arjenol, during his formal investiture as King of Torenth, but he and his co-conspirators failed and the king survived. Although Liam-Lajos initially spared his life, Teymuraz escaped from custody and fled into hiding. He was attainted shortly thereafter by the king, and the lands of Brustarkia were awarded to Duke Mátyás d'Arjenol.
[edit] Czalsky
The County of Czalsky is located in northeastern Torenth, north of the Duchy of Arjenol and east of the Duchy of Jándrich. The area was annexed by King Arion I in 956, who then combined several local lordships into the single title of Count of Czalsky. In 1128, Count László plotted to murder young King Liam-Lajos II Furstán d'Arjenol, but was slain shortly before he could participate in the plot. The title is currently held by László's brother, Count Bertil Furstán-Süzdal-Czalsky.
[edit] Fathane
The County of Fathane is located in southwestern Torenth, bordered to the south by the lands of the Hort of Orsal and to the west by the Gwyneddan Duchy of Corwyn. It was created by King Mátyás Furstán and bestowed upon his second surviving son, Prince Imre Elgar Furstán, when the young prince gained his legal majority on May 4, 779. Prince Imre died without a male heir in 795, but his only surviving daughter, Countess Tayce, would later become the mother of the first Duke of Corwyn. After Imre's death, the title passed to his nephew, Prince Festil Furstán, who held the title until his successful invasion of Gwynedd in 822. Festil became King of Gwynedd, and he bestowed the County of Fathane upon his third son, Prince Rufim. Rufim's descendants have held the title without interruption for over two centuries, and the Counts of Fathane remain the only existing direct male line descended from King Festil I Furstán. The title is currently held by Count Rufim IV Furstán-Festil-Fathane, who inherited it in 1111.
[edit] Gwernach
The County of Gwernach is located along the western Torenthi border with the Gwyneddan Earldom of Eastmarch, nestled in the valley of the northern Beldour River on the eastern flank of the Rheljan Mountains. It was first created by King Malachy II Furstán and bestowed upon Sir Kirion Andrássy in 984. After the Battle of Killingford in 1025, the title passed through three generations of female titleholders, until it was eventually inherited by the Festillic Pretender Prince Hogan in 1091. The title passed to Hogan's daughter, Princess Charissa upon Hogan's death in 1105, and she held the title until her own death in 1120. After Charissa's death, the title fell into abeyance, with several co-heiresses claiming rights to the title. Per the terms of an ancient treaty, administration of the County of Gwernach passed to King Kelson Haldane of Gwynedd until the legal succession is determined.
[edit] Komnénë
The County of Komnénë is located in the southwestern part of the Duchy of Arjenol in eastern Torenth. The son of Duke Mahael I d'Arjenol, Mátyás, was created Lord of Komnénë by King Wencit in 1115, and was later elevated to the rank of Count by King Liam Lajos II in 1125. After Mátyás became Duke d'Arjenol in 1128, he bestowed the County of Komnénë upon his second son, Kalinik.
[edit] Kulnán
The County of Kulnán (or Cullanan) is located in western Torenth along the eastern side of the Rheljan Mountains. It is bordered to the east by the Duchy of Truvorsk and to the west by the County of Gwernach. It was first created by King Imre I in 712 and bestowed upon Lord Siebert Makróry, whose descendants have held the title for over four centuries. The House of MacRorie in Gwynedd was a cadet branch of this noble family. The title is currently held by Count Róry II Makróry, who inherited it in 1104.
[edit] Medras
The County of Medras is located along the eastern side of the Coamer Mountains in western Torenth. It is bordered by the Duchy of Sasovna to the north, the Counties of Fathane and Sostra to the south, and the Gwyneddan Earldoms of Carcashale and Derry to the west. The title of Count (or Graf) of Medras dates back to the mid-seventh century, when it was held by Vigil von Furstán. Upon the death of his grandson in 695, the title reverted to the Crown and was bestowed by King Imre I Furstán upon his son, Prince Zsolt, in 702. The title reverted to the Crown again in 813, but King Kálmán II Furstán created his second son, Prince Festil Furstán, Margraf of Medras five years later. Festil held the title even after he became King of Gwynedd in 822, but King Lajos I claimed the title for Torenth upon Festil's death in 839 and immediately created his youngest son, Prince Endre, Count of Medras that same year. The title once again reverted to the crown after Endre's death in 869, and King Malachy I bestowed it upon his daughter, Princess Mérode, in 871, creating her Sovereign Countess of Medras. The county retained its sovereignty until 911, when Count Malachy was forced to surrender his independence to the Crown upon his succession. The title has remained within Count Malachy's direct line without interruption for almost two centuries. It is currently held by Count Zygmunt II Furstán-Medras, who inherited it in 1127.
[edit] Sostra
The County of Sostra is located in southwestern Torenth, bordered on the north by the County of Medras and on the west by the Gwyneddan Duchy of Corwyn. It was first created by King Furstán in 570 and bestowed upon his son, Prince Kázmér. Through the centuries, it has passed through several branches of the royal family, and it was briefly a duchy in the tenth century. In 1128, Count Branyng was killed while attempting to murder King Liam-Lajos II Furstán, and the title passed to his cousin, Yoánn Furstán-Sostra.
[edit] Sources
- Katherine Kurtz and Robert Reginald, Codex Derynianus, ISBN 0-89370-011-8
- Katherine Kurtz and Robert Reginald, Codex Derynianus (Second Edition), ISBN 1-887424-96-2
- Katherine Kurtz, King Kelson's Bride, ISBN 0-441-00732-5
