Earldoms of Gwynedd (fictional) - Eastmarch

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. Originally ruled by as a single realm by a tribal chieftain, the land is divided up into four states at the end of the sixth century. Westmarch is later absorbed into the other three counties, Northmarch (or Marley as it is later known) merges with Eastmarch when their ruling families marry in the eighth century, and Southmarch is conquered by King Festil I Furstán of Gwynedd in the ninth century.

In 905, Earl Sighere of Eastmarch invades and conquers much of Kheldour, and he later seeks the aid of King Cinhil I Haldane of Gwynedd to finish the conquest. Sighere later swears fealty to Cinhil, and the lands of Kheldour become the new Gwyneddan Duchy of Claibourne. Eastmarch becomes an earldom within Claibourne, and Sighere's second son is created the new Earl of Eastmarch.

Sighere's descendants hold the title without interruption for two centuries, until Earl Rorik III Howell of Eastmarch decides to support the efforts of the Festillic Pretender Hogan Furstán-Festil to claim the throne of Gwynedd in 1105. King Brion Haldane invades Eastmarch to put down Rorik's rebellion, but Rorik is deposed and executed by his cousin, Arban Howell, who then becomes Earl of Eastmarch. Fifteen years later, Arban's son, Earl Ian Howell, joins with Hogan's daughter, Charissa Furstána-Festila, in another attempt to seize the throne of Gwynedd. However, Charissa is defeated by Brion's son, Prince Kelson Haldane, and Ian is slain by the King's Champion, Duke Alaric Morgan of Corwyn. Shortly thereafter, Kelson bestows the Earldom of Eastmarch upon Ian's brother-in-law, Lord Burchard de Varian.