Dundoria

The Kingdom of Dundoria

Early Dundoria
The Kingdom of Dundoria has been inhabited for over 5000 years and is considered the centre of Aradisium. Around Year 1 the lands were inhabited by a large number of tribes who were often at war. It was Ansoria Noladien who united the lands in the Ansoria War (Year 47 - 78, in a 30 year war where Noladien was successful in conquering and uniting the tribes of Dundoria. Ansoria was proclaimed the first King of the Dundorias.

King Ansoria struggled to control the peace between the Dundorian tribes and he was slain in Year 83, by his brother Kalmar Noladien, who became the second King of the Dundorias. King Kalmar was to become known as a ruthless leader and during his 10 year reign, thousands of Dundorians were slain, in a bid to control the warring tribes.

King Kalmar died a natural death in the Year 111 and the throne passed to his eldest son, Heradyn. King Heradyn's 18 year reign was to become a grand period in the founding of Dundoria. He founded the first capital, Kaldoria and established farming on a large scale. His greatest achievement was in establishing peace between the Dundorian tribes by the founding of the Council of Dundoria, in which the 20 most powerful tribal leaders were invited to hold regular counsels with the King. Heradyn divided Dundoria between the twenty great tribes, thus confirming there allegiance.

The Twenty Great Tribes of Dundoria

 * House Noladein
 * House Hassburn
 * House Rydawn
 * House Illnoir
 * House Danica
 * House Willderfawn
 * House Fyden
 * House Orrimor
 * House Ballion
 * House Farnio
 * House Kaimun
 * House Sadstone
 * House Forsica
 * House Marcovia
 * House Elysarina
 * House Stevia
 * House Jaydor
 * House Robeldyn
 * House Moydirk
 * House Lunwick

Founding of Religion
The first religion to become established in Dundoria, was Valisism. From the early days, people's faith was dominated by the worshiping of the sun, the moon, the earth and the sea. The Cult of Valisia began to spread during the reign of King Heradyn, with temples being built to honour the gods.

End of the Noladein Dynasty
King Heradyn died a natural death in 111 and the crown passed to his only son, 12 year old Coraldun. King Coraldun had little interest in maintaining and improving the Kingdom and after only a year in power, he fell ill and died. Three contenders to the Crown came forward, Danalmere Noladein, uncle of Coraldun, Mandavor of House Lunwick and Handon of House Rydawn. It was Handon of House Rydawn that prevailed, after receiving backing from 13 of the 20 great tribes. Handon became the first King of the Rydawn dynasty.

King Handon's first act, was to move the capital to the coastal town of Tasloria. Handon was a follower of Valisism and ordered hundreds of temples to be built across Dundoria, the largest being the Grand Valisian Temple in Tasloria.

During Handon's reign the Kingdom saw an increase in attacks from Salcrusian raiders and to counter this, Handon had mud and wooden palisades constructed around major towns and cities. Handon's reign is remembered as a solid and sturdy period in Dundorian history. Upon his death the crown passed to his son Harrodian.

King Harrodian, much like his father, was able leader of the Kingdom. He introduced a nationawide Royal Tax, which although was at first unpopular, he spent the money fairly, with the peasants prospering during the reign of Harrodian.

Harrodian's eldest son and heir to the crown was Prince Aradun. Aradun, whilst Prince, was placed in charge of the Dundorian army and he obtain a reputation as a ruthless, barbaric leader, unlike his father who was a kind and generous King. When Harrodian fell ill, he announced that his second son Valenia, would be his heir. Prince Aradun was furious and fled the capital, pillaging towns and villages.

When Valenia became King, Aradun's attacks across the country intensified leading to the Dundorian Civil War. After a 7 year war, King Valenia was defeated by his older brother and upon being captured was executed along with his wife, Malalyn of House Elysarina and their four young children. Malalyn's father, Lord Tharos, along with Lord Symyr of House Forsica, Lord Haegon of House Marcovia and Lord Bryda of House Ballion declared war on King Aradun, which became a continuation of the Dundorian Civil War.



Lord Tharos announced the independence of his house from the Dundorian Crown, creating the Kingdom of Elysarina, which he was proclaimed the first King. The Houses of Marcovia, Forsica and Ballion followed suit, with Ballion and Forsica becoming part of Elysarina and Lord Haegon of House Marcovia creating the Kingdom of Marcovia. The Dundorian Civil War, finally ended, when King Aradun was assassinated by his cousin, Bulmor, who took the crown for himself. King Tharos of Elysarina and King Bulmor of Dundoria agreed to end the Dundorian Civil War in the Year 192.

King Bulmor went on to be a competent King and the realm prospered during his 19 year reign. It was towards the end of his reign that the Northmen War erupted. The barbarian Northmen tribes rallied together and over ran the Orrimor province. Lord Kareigh of House Orrimor called for help and received support from House Lunwick and House Moydirk. After a four year campaign the Northmen tribes were subdued and a an uneasy peace was established.

The Decline of Dundoria
King Bulmor died in the year 211 with four daughters and a bastard son, Prince Dragorn, who had been named his heir. Upon his death a number of noble's refused to accept Dragorn as the legitimate heir. Lord Garon of House Sadstone came forward as a popular figure for the crown of Dundoria. He had married Bulmor's eldest daughter, Salgor and his claim was viewed by many to be the strongest. Arndor of House Willderfawn, claimed that as Bulmor's eldest cousin, his claim was stronger than that of a bastard son and a daughters husband. With months of political arguing between supporters of the claimants, none of the three were able to gain enough outright support.

Prince Dragorn was eventually pronounced King of Dundoria towards the end of the year 211. Dragorn had garnered the support of House Noladein, Hassburn and Jaydor, three of the richest and most influential noble houses. Lord Garon of Sadstone refused to accept Dragorn as the rightful heir and with the backing of of House Kaimun, Farnio, Stevia and Moydirk, declared war on Dragorn.

Arndor of Willderfawn pronounced himself King of Eastern Dundoria and was supported by House Danica, Illnoir, Fyden, Lunwick and Robeldyn. Lord Kareigh of Orrimor refused to join any of the three claimaints and was in no fir state to wage a war after the costly war with the Northmen tribes.

King Dragorn of Southern Dundoria led his army into battle with King Garon of Northern Dundoria at the Battle of Pinewood, starting the War of the Three Crowns. Dragorn's army routed the Northern Dundorian's and headed north to reclaim there northern territories. However, Dragorn was forced to head south to supress an invasion by Salcrusian raiders, giving the Northern Dundorian's time to regroup.

With Dragorn fighting a war on two fronts, against the Northern Dundorian's and Salcrusian raiders, he signed a treaty with King Arndor of Eastern Dundoria, whereby they recognised one another's claim. This gave King Arndor the opportunity to focus his attention to his border with the Kingdom of Saronia.

By the year 215 war was raging across Dundoria. The Duchy of Orrimor had collapsed against the Northmen barbarians who had taken advantage of the lack of any support for the Duke of Orrimor. The Eastern Dundorian's were struggling to hold back the Saronian's whilst the Northern and Southern Dundorian's had come to a stalemate.

Lord Theor of House Woolburn, the highest surviving noblemen in Orrimor began gathering support in Loureness, Caledonia and Alberta and returned to Orrimor in the year 218 with a large Caledonian, Albertan and Loureness army. Woolburn swept aside the Northmen tribes and recovered the lands of Orrimor.