Urland was an ancient kingdom that existed in the late Third Age.
Origins
Long before the Kingdom of Urland was founded, the Isle of Cynara was home to a Vaas ethnic group called the "Cynarans." The Cynarans were well-known for two attributes; their great seafaring skills and their war-like nature.
For centuries, Cynaran raiding parties sailed both the Sea of Vaas and the Iron Sea, attacking coastal settlements on both Westvale Island and the Eastvale. Because of these raids, the Cynarans were greatly feared. The mere sight of one of their long-ships usually sent locals fleeing in terror.
Luckily for the people of Westvale and Eastvale, the Cynaran tribes were deeply divided, and fought with each other constantly over both territory and plunder.
That all changed around the year 830/3, with the appearance of an ambitious young warlord named Endacil Redmond. Unlike other Cynaran tribal leaders, Endacil was not content to conduct raids to steal what he called “trinkets and women.”
Over a period of fifteen years, Endacil conducted a series of military campaigns and eventually conquered all of the other Cynaran tribes, and united them under a single banner.
In the year 846/3, Endacil founded a new Kingdom called “Urland,” and was crowned its first King. The new King chose the Cynaran seaport of Karstad as his capital.
King Endacil was ambitious and dreamed of expanding Cynaran control over the entire region. Using the strength of the newly-united tribes, he soon began a series of military conquests.
Fleets of hundreds of vessels, filled with well-armed Cynaran warriors, soon began landing on both Eastvale and Westvale, crushing any who opposed them.
By the time of his death in the year 879/3, King Endacil had greatly expanded Urland. The Kingdom controlled the Isle of Cynara, much of the Eastvale, and Westvale Island.
Endacil's descendants continued to rule the kingdom for centuries.
Peak Expansion
By the time King Endacil died, the Kingdom of Urland had become a great nation. In fact, Urland's holdings were so vast, that its rulers could not govern effectively.
This was especially true on Westvale Island, which geographically, was forty-times the size of the Isle of Cynara.
To solve this problem, the Cynarans divided Westvale Island into several "Thaindoms," each ruled by a powerful feudal lord known as a “Thain."
The six largest Thaindoms were each centered around a specific city; there were:
- The Thaindom of Vharia; its capital was the city of Herronford
In the year 1137/3, Narmacil Redmond, completed a massive fortress on Westvale Island to consolidate his power there. Its completion was considered the peak of Cynaran power.
Soon after, the Iskari began expanding north and east across Westvale Island, triggering the "Forty-Years War."
For nearly forty years, Narmacil and his Cynarans waged a long and unsuccessful war against the Iskari invaders, until his death at the Battle of Swanford in 1171/3.
After that defeat, the remaining Redmonds bent the knee, and became forever known as "Kings Without a Crown."
After the Battle of Swanford, the kingdom of Urland was completely conquered by the Cyrenäe noble family and was absorbed into the new, Iskari-ruled kingdom of Iskandar.
When he captured the the Cynaran capital of Akros, King Ilnavel renamed it "Cyrenica," a name it still carries today.
Centuries later, the royal line of the Redmond family died out, and the Duchy of Cynara came to be led led the noble family of Strongfist.
The Forty-Years War
This Cynaran expansion came to an abrupt end in the year 1137/3, when Ilnavel Cyrenäe and his 40,000 Iskari sailed from Ikharos and landed at Wyn Falas.
For the next four decades, King Narmacil and his Cynarans warred against the Iskari "invaders." The tide turned against Narmacil in 1170/3, when the Saar decided to grant King Ilnavel one of the seven Elanthir swords.
With the massive magical power of that weapon behind him, Ilnavel easily defeated all his enemies.
King Narmacil was soundly defeated at the Battle of Swanford in 1171/3, where he was slain and his remaining subjects forced to bend the knee.
Legacy of Urland
With that defeat, the realm of Urland came to an end. The Isle of Cynara was annexed and became part of the new Kingdom of Iskandar, the Cynaran capital of Karstad was re-named Cyrenica, and Narmacil's citadel; Erôn-Khorlöth was abandoned.
Narmacil's great southern fortress of Castle Redmond still stands today, but is now held by the Iskari.
Members of the Redmond family continued to rule the Isle of Cynara as Iskari vassals for the next three centuries, until the last Redmonds died out, and were replaced by another noble family; the House of Strongfist.
