[1]Riddena-mearc, officially the Kingdom of Riddermark is a small country in central Europe. It borders Poland on all sides, and Russia to the north-east. Its capital and most populous city, Edoras is the seat of the king and government, a resort, and has a shipping and navy port as well. Riddenian culture, people, and languages are highly intertwined with its Polish neighbors.
Kingdom of Riddermark Royal Coat of Arms
Kingdom of Riddermark State Standard
With an area of 6,910 square kilometers, Riddermark is one of the smallest countries in Europe. In 2024, it had a population of 1,348,195, which makes it one of the least-populated countries in Europe. Riddermark is a representative democracy headed by a monarch, ♔ EORL KING.
HISTORY[]
Descent from the Northmen[]
In the 13th century of the Third Age, the Kings of Gondor made alliances with the Northmen of Rhovanion, a people thought to be distantly descended from the Edain, those peoples of Men who crossed into Beleriand in the First Age and later settled in Númenor. The Men who would become the Rohirrim were in fact more closely akin to the Beornings and the Men of Dale, and were accounted as Middle Men, who, while not directly descended from the Men of Númenor, never served the will of Sauron. In The Two Towers, Aragorn describes the Rohirrim:
- "They are proud and wilful, but they are true-hearted, generous in thought and in deed; bold but not cruel; wise but unlearned, writing no books but singing many songs, after the manner of the children of Men before the Dark Years [...]. It was in forgotten years long ago that Eorl the Young brought them out of the North, and their kinship is rather with the Bardings of Dale, and with the Beornings of the Wood, among whom may still be seen many men tall and fair, as are the Riders of Rohan."
- —The Two Towers, Book Three, The Riders of Rohan, pg. 41
Early in the Third Age, such men occupied a part of Rhovanion, the lands east of Greenwood the Great, west of the inland Sea of Rhûn, and south of the Celduin. While never united under one single king, the Men of Rhovanion nonetheless were allies of Gondor, and many of the great Princes of Rhovanion and their kin served in the armies of Gondor. In this way was the ruling House of Gondor mingled with the Northmen during the reign of King Eldacar, and some Northmen intermarried with the Dúnedain of the South and were eventually reckoned Men of Gondor.
In the late 19th century of the Third Age, one such population of Northmen, dwelling in the eaves of Mirkwood, became a separate people under the lordship of Marhari, a descendant of Vidugavia, one of the most powerful princes of Rhovanion. Fighting alongside King Narmacil II of Gondor, his people were defeated by the Wainriders, invaders from the east, and the Northmen were either scattered or enslaved. Marhwini, son of Marhari, took up the lordship of his father and, retreating west and north with a remnant of his people, became the first Lord of the Éothéod, the people who would become the Rohirrim. Settling first in the Vales of Anduin between the Carrock and Gladden Fields, his people began to slowly recover their strength, and became known as the Éothéod, the horse peoples. Marhwini, and later his son Forthwini, continued their alliance with Gondor, fighting the Wainriders and other eastern invaders alongside Kings Calimehtar and Ondoher. Although the Éothéod won a victory over their Wainrider foes while allied to Gondor, their settlements remained near the Anduin.
The Éothéod[]
Rhovanion
In the 1970's of the Third Age, after the downfall of the Witch-king and his Kingdom of Angmar, their need for larger lands and the growing menace of Dol Guldur, forced Frumgar (called Frungor in some texts), Lord of the Éothéod, to lead his people north along the eastern banks of Anduin. They settled near the sources of Anduin, south of the Grey Mountains. Their chief settlement became Framsburg, which lay in a vale between the rivers Langwell and Greylin. During their time in the far north, the Éothéod and their horses multiplied, and they drove the remaining Hill-men and Orcs of Angmar out of their lands. Fram, son of Frumgar, slew the dragon Scatha, last of the Great Worms of the Grey Mountains save for Smaug; thus he won great wealth from the horde of Scatha, as well as renown for the deed. He also earned the hatred of the Dwarves of that region, for they claimed the treasure of Scatha. Fram infuriated the Dwarves by sending them the teeth of Scatha, strung as a necklace, and denying them the rest of the hoard. Some say that for this insult the Dwarves slew Fram, for whom the settlement of Framsburg was named; for that reason there was no great love between the Rohirrim and Dwarves.
Five centuries of relative prosperity followed for the Éothéod in the north, and they became a numerous people with many farms and horses. In 2501, their chieftain Léod captured a white foal in the wilds; this foal would grow to great stature, but remain wild, and was not tamed by any man. When Léod decided to mount the horse, it bore him away from his stables and eventually threw him, whereupon Léod's head struck a rock, killing him. Eorl, son of Léod, took up the lordship of the Éothéod at sixteen years of age, and was resolved to find this white horse. Upon a time, Eorl found and confronted the stallion, but rather than slay him, Eorl commanded that the horse give up his freedom as a weregild for the killing of Léod. This horse understood the speech of men, and submitted to Eorl, and was named anew Felaróf.
The Gift of Calenardhon and the Oath of Eorl[]
In the year TA 2509, Eorl received summons from Cirion, Steward of Gondor. The Steward pleaded for help from Gondor's old allies; as a large army of Easterling Balchoth had invaded the province of Calenardhon and threatened to overrun it. Eorl surprised even the errand-rider of Gondor by agreeing to come to the aid of Cirion. Though young, Eorl wisely perceived that if Gondor should fall, all the lesser realms of men west of Anduin would eventually fall. He gathered all the Men of the Éothéod that could possibly be spared, some 7000, and, leaving his land at risk of invasion itself, rode south to the aid of Gondor. Despite a prejudice against the Elves that would continue up until the time of the War of the Ring, a protective mist seemed to come out of Lothlórien as the Éothéod journeyed south, rejuvenating horse and rider and shielding their approach from their enemies. Believing that there would be no time for the Éothéod to help his armies, Cirion nonetheless met them in battle on the Field of Celebrant, though Gondor's legions were worsted. All hope seemed lost when an army of Orcs came upon the flank of the army of Gondor, but at that moment Eorl and his cavalry thundered out of the north unlooked for and, smashing into the rear of the Balchoth, completely reversed the fortunes of battle. Gondor's army was saved, and the riders of the Éothéod drove the Balchoth into the Anduin.
Cirion committed the guardianship of Calenardhon to Eorl and his men for three months, during which time the Steward took counsel to determine what reward he could present to the Éothéod for their heroic arrival on the Field of Celebrant. At the end of the three months, he rode north with his son Hallas and his counsellors, and led Eorl and some of his guard to the hidden tomb of Elendil upon Amon Anwar (Hill of Awe), which was later renamed Halifirien (the Holy Mountain) in Rohirric. Cirion realised that the Éothéod as a people needed more room to flourish, and that they would make for a strong ally to Gondor against the growing threat of Sauron and the continued harassment of the Easterlings. Therefore, upon Amon Anwar he told Eorl that in reward for their aid in battle, he would grant the land of Calenardhon to the Éothéod to dwell in. Eorl was so impressed and grateful for Cirion's gift that he swore to the Steward the Oath of Eorl; of everlasting friendship to Gondor, and aid to the South-kingdom in war. Eorl thus became the first King of Rohan, and his army sent north for their wives and kin. Coming into the land of Calenardhon the Éothéod were named anew the Rohirrim in Gondor, and named their new realm the Mark of the Riders, and themselves the Eorlingas.
The Riders of Rohan
The Kingdom of Rohan[]
Eorl was succeeded upon his death by his son Brego. It was Brego who completed the great hall of Meduseld, which became the home of the Kings of Rohan thereafter. Brego's first son Baldor made a vow to tread the Paths of the Dead at the celebration to commemorate the completion of Meduseld, but was lost in the caverns beneath Dwimorberg. Brego was grieved at the loss of his son and died soon afterward, leaving rule of Rohan to his younger son Aldor. Aldor was called 'the Old', for, coming young to the throne, he ruled the Mark for 75 years.
Of the Kings between Aldor and the 7th king Déor, little is known, but during the time of Déor, the Dunlendings, lesser Men who once dwelt in the mountains and vales but whom the Rohirrim drove west over the Isen upon entering Calenardhon, began again to raid the western borders of the Mark. In 2710, the Dunlendings captured the mostly-deserted fortress of Isengard, and held it in defiance of the Rohirrim.
The Dunlendings continued their harassment of Rohan through the time of Helm Hammerhand, 9th King of Rohan. Helm was a man of great stature and strength, and a strong king who wished to again subdue the Dunlendings. One particularly troublesome Dunlending was named Freca; though he claimed descent from the fifth king Fréawine, Freca was mostly of Dunlendish blood. Nonetheless, he held a good amount of land by the Adorn river, and had there made himself a stronghold where he largely ignored the rule of Helm. On a time, Freca came to Helm's council at Edoras, and there suggested that the King allow his daughter to wed with Wulf, son of Freca. Helm, seeing this as nothing but a ploy to bring Freca's heir close to the royal house and thus increase the potential for Rohan to fall into Dunlending hands, mocked Freca. Freca then insulted the king, and Helm took him to a field outside Edoras where he smote Freca a blow with his fist, killing him. Then Helm sent his men west to drive away Wulf and his followers, declaring them enemies of Rohan.
Helm Hammerhand
By ill chance, these events were followed by an attack upon Gondor by the Corsairs and a long and terrible winter. Seeing the opportunity to attack Rohan while its allies were beset by other foes, Wulf, in alliance with the Easterlings and Corsairs, led a strong force of the Dunlendings out of Isengard and defeated Helm's army, driving the king and many of his people to the fortress of Súthburg. Wulf captured Meduseld, and Helm's son Haleth was slain in its defense. Wulf sat upon the throne and called himself king and the Long Winter began, during which many of the people of Rohan perished from sickness and hunger and battle with the Dunlendings. Helm, besieged inside the Súthburg, became gaunt and grim, and eventually began to venture from the fort at night, stalking the camps of the Dunlendings and killing men with his bare hands. Before he would come forth in the dark, Helm would blow a blast upon his great horn, which struck fear into his enemies, and they fled upon hearing it. In this way, Helm won renown, and was much feared for many generations after by the Dunlendings, but one night he froze to death outside the walls of the fortress, later renamed the Hornburg in his honour.
With the onset of spring, Helm's nephew Fréaláf Hildeson led a small army down from Dunharrow, where another remnant of the Rohirrim had lasted out the winter. Coming upon Edoras unawares, they slew Wulf and reclaimed Meduseld. Helm's body was brought back from the Hornburg and buried in the last mound of the first line of the Kings of Rohan, and the white Simbelmynë grew so thick upon his mound that it appeared snow-capped. Fréaláf successfully drove out the remaining Dunlendings before the year was ended, finally receiving aid from Gondor, which had defeated the Corsairs, and Fréaláf became King. To his crowning came Saruman the White, bearing gifts and praising the Rohirrim for their courage. He took up his abode at Isengard in 2759 a gift from Beren, Steward of Gondor. Fréaláf was content to have such a strong ally in the west against the Dunlendings as Saruman, for the Rohirrim had suffered great loss of men and horses during the hard winter. Eventually, though, as is explained elsewhere, Saruman became an enemy of Rohan and designed to rule from Isengard as a lord of Men.
Fréaláf's son was Brytta Léofa, a beloved king. In his time, however, Orcs fleeing the Misty Mountains after the Battle of Azanulbizar in TA 2799 began to take refuge in the foothills of the White Mountains. Brytta's son Walda reigned for just nine years before he was killed by a group of Orcs. Folca, son of Walda, was a great hunter, and took a vow upon becoming king that he would not hunt beasts again until every Orc had been driven out of Rohan. After destroying the last Orc-hold in Rohan in TA 2864, he journeyed to the Firien wood, to kill the Great Boar that lived there. He slew the boar, but died of the wounds he received in the act of killing it. The reign of Folcwine, son of Folca, saw a return to prosperity for Rohan, as he subdued the West-march, and drove out the Dunlendings. In his reign, the Rohirrim finally recovered from their losses in the war against Wulf. He also came to the aid of Gondor when a great army of the Haradrim came up against the South-kingdom. Persuaded not to go to battle himself, Folcwine sent instead his twin sons, Folcred and Fastred. Although the combined armies of Rohan and Gondor won a great victory at the Battle of the Crossings of Poros on the banks of the River Poros in South Ithilien, the sons of King Folcwine fell side by side in battle. Steward Túrin II of Gondor therefore paid a rich weregild of gold to Folcwine for his sacrifice.
Folcwine's third son, Fengel, is not remembered with honor. He did little to further strengthen Rohan, and was at odds with both his Marshals and his kin. His only son, Thengel, therefore spent much time in Gondor, and won praise through his service to Steward Turgon. He married Morwen Steelsheen ofLossarnach, and began to raise a family in Gondor. Eventually, when Fengel died, Thengel reluctantly returned to Rohan to take up the kingship. While Thengel was wise and restored dignity to the House of Eorl, he did create some discord by encouraging the use of the language of Gondor in Edoras. At the time of Thengel's return to Rohan in TA 2953, Saruman first began to trouble the Rohirrim, and he declared himself Lord of Isengard. Also during Thengel's reign, the captain Thorongil (later revealed to be Aragorn II Elessar) first appeared in Rohan, and entered the service of the king, and won great renown. Thengel died in TA 2980 and was succeeded by his son, Théoden the Renowned.
Éomer Éadig (2991III-63IV), 18th King of Rohan
The War of the Ring[]
Théoden Ednew had the makings of a great king for, in his youth, he proved valiant in battle, and he possessed both wisdom and a gentle heart away from war. Yet by TA 3014, Saruman had begun to invade the king's mind, using spells and his servant Gríma Wormtongue to bewitch Théoden. As the king slipped into indifference, Saruman began to probe the borders of Rohan with his armies. He had taken into his service Orcs and Uruk-hai, and would eventually recruit the Dunlendings to again assail their neighbors in Rohan. Théodred, son of Théoden, along with his cousin Éomer (who was of the royal line by both parents; his father was descended from Éofor, third son of Brego, and his mother Théodwyn was Théoden's sister), took charge of the Mark and its defenses against the growing threat of Isengard. Saruman, through Gríma, constantly forestalled Théodred and the other Marshals of the Mark, and, by the bewitchment of Théoden, thwarted Rohan's attempts to muster any great force of arms in opposition. He even blinded the king to Gandalf's warnings that Rohan was in peril upon his return from Orthanc, and Gandalf was forced to take Shadowfax and ride to Rivendell in hopes of meeting up with Frodo Baggins.
As the Fellowship of the Ring took the One Ring east from Rivendell, Saruman's forces increased their attacks upon Rohan, in addition to his intensified hunt for the Ring. Aragorn and his companions chanced to meet up with Éomer and his Éored upon the plains of Rohan near Fangorn Forest, and there revealed himself to be the heir of Isildur, and asked for news and aid from Éomer. The Rohirrim were returning from battle with a legion of Uruk-hai that had captured Merry and Pippin, and Éomer gave what tidings he could of his doings and the condition of Rohan to Aragorn. Lending the companions a pair of horses, Éomer then led his men to continue their task of gathering Eastemnet's herd folk to safety. Upon his return to Edoras, Gríma had Éomer imprisoned for defying Saruman's orders spoken through Theoden.
Théodred had led what riders he could gather to the Fords of Isen in an attempt to halt Saruman's assault upon Rohan, and there he fought the advance troops of Saruman's army, sent to kill him and breach Rohan's defences. The dismounted riders formed a great shield-wall along the fords, but were eventually beaten back with great loss. Saruman unleashed a legion of Orc-men armed with axes upon the Rohirrim with the specific intent to kill Théodred, who was known to be present at the battle. The forces of Isengard were successful in this task, mortally wounding the king's son. They would have likely taken Théodred as a prize were it not for the valor of Grimbold, who stood over the prince's body and fought until reinforcements led by Elfhelm arrived. Later in the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen the Rohirrim were forced to retreat towards the Hornburg, and there hold with whatever strength was left in hope of defending that great fortress.
While the battles at the Fords of Isen was being fought, Gandalf journeyed towards Edoras with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Upon his arrival, the members of the Fellowship managed to enter Théoden's hall and there confront Grimá. Gandalf, in a display of his new power after returning from death in Moria, broke Saruman's hold on the king's mind, and spoke to Théoden concerning the true happenings of the past weeks, when Saruman advanced upon his lands unbeknownst to the king. Théoden freed Éomer at Gandalf's urging, and banished Grimá, who was revealed at last to the king as an agent of Saruman. Summoning all men able to bear arms, Théoden hastily set out for the Hornburg, where he thought to make a stand against Saruman's army. Gandalf, meanwhile, left both his companions of the Fellowship and Théoden and rode urgently to meet up with Treebeard, who led the Ents against Isengard and coordinated the attack of the Huorns upon Saruman's forces at Helm's Deep.
The Rohirrim under Théoden arrived at the Hornburg just before the main force of Saruman's army, and through the night, a battle raged for possession of the Hornburg, the fortress that no opposing army had ever taken. Strengthened by what men had retreated from the Fords of Isen and led by Aragorn and Éomer, the Rohirrim managed to repel the hosts of Isengard for most of the night, but as dawn approached, Saruman's secret weapon, a blasting fire, was revealed, and a great breach was torn in the Deeping Wall and main gate. Desiring to make a final stand, Théoden rode down out of the Hornburg with the knights of his household, with Aragorn beside him, and they hewed a path through Saruman's forces to the walls of the fortress. There, they beheld an amazing sight; a forest that had literally appeared overnight - the Huorns. Adding to the dismay of Saruman's army at the sudden onset of the king and his men, as well as the Huorns, Gandalf reappeared, having found Erkenbrand, Lord of Westfold, and a thousand more warriors who had survived the battles at the Fords of Isen. With all three allies descending upon the Orcs and Dunlendings, Saruman's forces surrendered or were killed, and Rohan gained a hard-fought victory.
Gandalf then led Théoden, along with what remained of the Fellowship and also Éomer, with picked Riders of the Mark, to Isengard, which now lay in ruins after the attack of the Ents. There, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were reunited with Merry and Pippin, and Gandalf introduced Théoden to Treebeard. The group also confronted Saruman, who refused to alter his ways. Gandalf broke Saruman's staff and cast him from the White Council as well as the Order of the Istari. Gríma attempted to throw Saruman's palantír at Gandalf, but missed, and in this way was a vital connection made clear between Saruman and Sauron. Pippin later looked into the palantír, which encouraged Sauron to send his Nazgûl over the River Anduin, and the assault he had long planned against the west began to take shape. Théoden and his men rode back to Helm's Deep with the remnant of the Fellowship, while Gandalf set out for Minas Tirith with Pippin. While on their way to the Hornburg, Théoden's party met up with the Grey Company under Halbarad and the sons of Elrond, and eventually Aragorn would set out with his kinsmen to pass the Paths of the Dead. Théoden and Éomer rode on mountain paths to Harrowdale, where the great muster of Rohan was already underway. Once at Dunharrow, an errand-rider from Gondor came to the King, begging for help on behalf of Gondor and the Steward Denethor, presenting Théoden with the Red Arrow. Théoden fulfilled the Oath of Eorl, telling the rider that he would bring six thousand warriors to defend the Mundburg, leaving four thousand men behind to guard his kingdom.
Forth Eorlingas!
On the road to Minas Tirith, Théoden's army received help from Ghân-buri-Ghân, chieftain of the Drúedain, and came to the Rammas Echor at dawn of March 15 of the year 3019. That day he led the Rohirrim onto the Pelennor Fields, and the host of Rohan at first overwhelmed the Orc-legions of Sauron. Théoden then led his knights against the cavalry of the Haradrim as well, personally slaying their chieftain, and hewing his banner. Yet in that moment of great victory for the king, the Lord of the Nazgûl descended upon Théoden and mortally wounded him. Éowyn, sister of Éomer, had ridden to war with the Rohirrim, unknown to any of the men of the Mark, and revealed herself in single combat with the Witch-king. With the aid of Merry, Éowyn slew the Witch-king, and thus won great renown among all the peoples of the west for her bravery. Théoden, as he lay dying, called Éomer, now his heir, King of the Mark, and bade him tell Éowyn farewell, not knowing that his niece had defended him from the Witch-king. His knights bore Théoden's body out of the battle, while Éomer led the Rohirrim in their continued assault upon the Haradrim. The forces of Mordor greatly outnumbered the armies of Gondor and Rohan, however, and defeat appeared nigh, when Aragorn, returning from the Paths of the Dead, came up from the coast in the captured ships of the Corsairs of Umbar. Leading a great many men gathered from the southern fiefs of Gondor his arrival helped to turn the tide of battle.
In the meantime a force of Orcs crossed into northern Rohan, but were scattered by the Ents on the Wold.
After the victory on the fields of Pelennor, Éomer took counsel with the Captains of the West, and it was decided that an attempt must be made to draw Sauron's eye away from his own lands, and to allow the Ringbearer time to complete his mission. Éomer led nearly three thousand of the Rohirrim to battle, leaving Elfhelm with the remainder to help defend Minas Tirith. Upon reaching the land of Mordor, Éomer and his men helped to win Frodo time, fighting in the Battle of the Black Gate until the One Ring was destroyed and Sauron was defeated. The victorious Army of the West returned to Minas Tirith for the crowning of Aragorn as King Elessar Telcontar; Éowyn agreed to marry Faramir, son of Denethor, and later Aragorn renewed the Gift of Cirion, and Éomer took again the Oath of Eorl. Weeks later, Éomer returned to Gondor with many of the Rohirrim, and they, along with Aragorn and many Elves, rode to Meduseld, where they laid Théoden to rest in a great mound in the Barrowfield outside Edoras.
In the years that followed the War of the Ring, Éomer Éadig ruled the Rohirrim with dignity, and the kingdom prospered once again. In the coming years, whenever King Elessar went with war to subdue the last remnants of his enemies, so too went his friend King Éomer;
- "And beyond the Sea of Rhûn and on the far fields of the South, the thunder of the cavalry of the Mark was heard, and the White Horse upon Green floated in many winds until Éomer grew old"
- —pg. 438, the Appendix A of The Return of the King
Éomer died in FO 63 and was succeeded by his son Ælfwine the Fair.
Rohan's military[]
The Rohirrim were famous as skilled horsemen and renowned masters of horse breeding. Among the horses of the Rohirrim were the famed Mearas, the noblest and fastest horses who ever roamed Arda; Shadowfax was the greatest of all Mearas. There were very few Mearas left in Middle-earth at this point, but there were enough that a breeding population was present. The army of Rohan was almost exclusively cavalry, divided into irregular units termed éoreds, raised at need and not maintained on a standing basis. Rohan's foot-men armies were more of a very well trained militia called upon in times of war, the militia of Rohan wielded wooden shields of all sizes and used four weapons: longswords, short bows, axes, and longspears. The actual standing infantry force was relatively small with the professional career limited to the royal bodyguard of Edoras. The King's company were those men that directly served and protected the king.
Rohan's powerful cavalry could cut through almost any infantry lines and cavalry units and turn the tide of battle. The warriors of Rohan used the same weapons as their footmen counterparts when on horseback.
It was because of this close affiliation with horses, both in war and in peace, that they received their now famous name. Rohirrim (or more properly Rochirrim) is Sindarin for "Horse-lords," and Rohan (or Rochand) meant "Land of the Horse-lords."
Princely House of Rhovanion seat, 1865 - 1941
Modern Era - Princely House of Rhovanion[]
Descendants in the direct line of Aelfwine (fl. 9th century AD) lived in Brittany for almost 600 years before moving to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1573. Prince Hercule de Rohan-Guemene et Leon, Duc de Montbazon (1568 - 1654) received an indigenat (naturalization) and the right to a title from the Polish king Sigismund III Vasa in 1600.
- Count Marhari Vinitharya Meriadec (1801 - 1839) de Rohan-Rhovanion in 1824 is bestowed the princely title by Tsar Alexander I. He settles in Radom governorate.
| Style | Prince of Rhovanion | Reign start | Reign end |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSH | I Marhari Vinitharya Meriadec (1801 - 1839)
II Marhwini Marhari Vinitharya (1834 - 1902) |
1824
1839 |
1839
1902 |
| HSH | III Forthwini Marhwini Marhari (1873 - 1963)
IV Frumgar Forthwini Marhwini (1914 - 1962) |
1902
1914 |
1963
1962 |
| HRH | V Fram Frumgar Forthwini (1939 - 2021)
VI Leod Fram Frumgar (1973 - ... VI)* (*Vassalised by his son, EORL KING in 2025, he retained the family titles: 6th: Prince of Rhovanion, Count of Haergdale, Baron of Dunharg for life, as well as the new titles were granted by The King: 1st: Count of Deeping-coomb and Baron of Suthburg. |
1963
2021 |
2021
... VI |
The Most Illustrous Royal House de Riddenmearc of Riddermark' Coat of Arms
- H.S.H. Prince Frumgar Forthwini Marhwini of Haergdale, 4th Prince of Rhovanion (1914 - 1962) completed in 1938 his military training at the Cavalry Training Centre in Grudziądz and then went on to serve in the 27th King Stefan Batory Lancer Regiment in Nieśwież. In the September 1939 campaign served in the Novgorod Brigade under the command of gen. Wladyslaw Anders and then gen. Julius Rommel. In the first days of the war, he and his unit performed covering tasks, in order to take part already on 13th September in the heavy bayonet fight for Maliszew, then in the equally heavy fight at Tomaszów Lubelski (22 - 24 Sep.) and finally at Moranice (27 Sep.), where an unsuccessful firefight and then a defence without sufficient ammunition and the general exhaustion of the horses forced the unit to disperse in the surrounding forests and evacuate. The Prince did not give up the fight and enlisted in the Swietokrzyska Brigade, where he reached the rank of lieutenant by the end of the war. Meanwhile however, in 1941, he was given the opportunity to sign the volksdeutsch list, but firmly refused, for which he was expelled from his estate and lost it irretrievably. The exiled princely family left Poland and stayed in England until the fall of the Warsaw Pact.
- H.R.H. Fram* Frumgar Forthwini OM, 5th Prince of Rhovanion (1939 - 2021) returned to Poland with his family in 1990 and chose Gdansk as his new residence, where he bought a 0.50-hectare site and built two palaces on Srebrisko Hill.
Arminaleth - the New Heavenly City-State of Kings[]
Arminaleth - the New Heavenly City-state of Kings Coat of Arms
1995 - 2005
1995 VI - 1 Narie/ 17 May 1. Treaty of Srebrisko was concluded between the Princely House of Rhovanion and the City of Gdansk. H.S.H. Fram* Frumgar Forthwini, 5th Prince of Rhovanion, and the President of the City of Gdansk, Mr. Tomasz Posadzki, proclaim Arminaleth - the New Heavenly City-State of Kings, an enclave in the Upper Wrzeszcz district of Gdansk.
The Council of the Princely House of Rhovanion makes the election of 1st Lord Sovereign of Arminaleth: H.S.H. Prince Theodred I Frumgar, 5th Baron of Aldburg. Upon enthronement he also becomes Spiritual Leader of Eruism and Head of Armed Forces.
2. Establishment: Armed Forces Base, Factories, Bank with a Mint, and Medical Clinic.
1996 VI - 2 Hisime/ 18 October Establishment of the Most Noble Chivalry Order of the Mearh.
1997 VI - 1 Sulime/ 14 February (1998) Princely House of Rhovanion changes its name to the Most Excellent Princely House of Rhovanion.
Members of Princely family by decision of Lord Sovereign are changing their style to: His/ Her Royal Highness.
1999 VI - 14 Hisime/ 30 October Establishment of Council of the Sceptre.
2000 VI - 28 Lotesse/ 14 May Establishment of the Most Venerable Chivalry Order of Princess Josephine Theodwyn.
2002 - 2004 Establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations with the Republics: of Italy and of Greece.
The Most Noble Chivalry Order of the Mearh (current Royal Order)
2005 - 2018
2005 VI - 6 Narvinye/ 21 December H.R.H. Theodred I* Frumgar KM steps down from the throne of Arminaleth.
Council of the Sceptre makes the election of the 2nd Lord Sovereign of Arminaleth, Spiritual Leader of Eruism and Head of Armed Forces: H.R.H. Prince Theodred II* Fram KM de Rhovanion ah Aldburg.
2008 VI - 1 Narie/ 17 May Establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations with the Republic of Poland and the Kingdom of Spain. Opening of embassies of both countries. On this occasion, a visit of the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Spain, H.R.H. Felipe, Prince of Asturias (Felipe VI).
2012 VI - 25 Narie/ 10 June Visit of the Presidents of the Republics of Poland (HE Bronislaw Komorowski), Italy (HE Giorgio Napolitano), and Greece (HE Karolos Papoulias).
Arminaleth - the New Heavenly City-state of Kings (1995 - 2024)
2018 - 2024
2018 VI - 1 Narie/ 17 May H.R.H. Theodred II* Fram KM steps down from the throne of Arminaleth.
Council of the Sceptre makes the election of the 3rd Lord Sovereign of Arminaleth, Spiritual Leader of Eruism and Head of Armed Forces: H.R.H. Prince Leod* Fram Frumgar KM, 6th Count of Haergdale.
2020 VI - 1 Narie/ 17 May Arminaleth, Gdańsk, and Sopot form the Tricity Union.
2020 - 2021 Pandemic COVID-19. H.R.H. Fram* Frumgar Forthwini OM, 5th Prince of Rhovanion, passed away (2021). His eldest son H.R.H. Leod* Fram Frumgar KM becomes 6th Prince of Rhovanion.
2023 VI - 1 Narie/ 17 May 10 Polish counties in the Pomerania region: Tricity, Pruszcz, Starogard, Tczew, Nowy Dwor, Malbork, Sztum, and Kwidzyn establish the Pomeranian Union under the leadership of Arminaleth.
2024 VI - 1. 16-17 Lotesse/ 1-2 May A referendum on the establishment of the Kingdom of Riddermark is being held in the Pomeranian Union.
Two questions: 1. Do you want an establisment of a parliamentary monarchy of the Kingdom of Riddermark; 2. Do you want H.R.H. Prince Eorl Leod Fram of the Most Excellent Princely House of Rhovanion as your Lord Sovereign.
Final Results: Turnout - 51,42%; In favour - 67,25%; Against: - 32,75%
2. 18 Lotesse/ 3 May An official proclamation of the establishment of the Kingdom of Riddermark.
H.R.H. Prince Eorl Leod Fram Frumgar of the Most Excellent Princely House of Rhovanion is proclaimed King of Riddermark, Sovereign of the Most Nobles and Venerables Orders of the Mearh and of Princess Josephine Theodwyn.
3. 20 Lotesse/ 5 May 3rd Lord Sovereign of Arminaleth - The Heavenly Fortress-State of Kings, H.R.H. Prince Leod, in accordance with the resolution of 30th Sulime 2023 VI, relinquishes the throne of Arminaleth and places the Fortress-State under the royal administration of Riddermark.
♔ EORL KING of Riddermark becomes 4th Lord Sovereign of the Heavenly Fortress-State of Kings.
Kingdom of Riddermark[]
Kingdom of Riddermark Royal Coat of Arms
2024
1. 4 May Riddermark is officially recognised by: Republic of Italy and Kingdom of Spain.
2. 6 May ♔ EORL KING as a token of gratitude for the gift of the Heavenly Fortress-State of Kings by royal decree confirmed the existing and granted new titles of Princes of Riddermark to selected members of The Most Illustrous Royal House de Riddenmearc of Riddermark.
3. 6-8 May ♔ EORL KING appointed H.E. Mitch Struk as a Prime Minister and gave His consent and approval for the personal composition of His Council of Government.
4. 10 May ♔ EORL KING formally opened the new session of the Riddenian Chamber of Deputies.
Riddermark is officially recognised by the Kingdoms of the: Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
5. 24 May Riddermark is officially recognised by the Republics of: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Slovakia and Ukraine.
6. 7-22 June Riddenian Navy took part in the Baltops24 naval excersises as a part of NATO manoeuvres.
7. 17 June Riddermark is officially recognised by the Republics of: China, France, Germany and Russian Federation.
8. 12 July Riddermark is officially recognised by the Republics of: Bangladesh, Chile, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, Sri Lanka and Uruguay.
9. 24 August Riddermark is officially recognised by the Republics of: Poland and Seychelles.
10. 16 September Riddermark is officially recognised by: Japan and United States of America.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS[]
The Hall of the Council of Government and the Chamber of Deputies in Edoras
Meduseld Royal Palace in Edoras
Riddermark is a parliamentary democracy headed by a monarch. Executive power is exercised by the King and the cabinet, which consists of several other ministers. The King has the power to dissolve the legislature, in which case new elections must be held within three months.
Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, a unicameral legislature of twenty-three members, who are directly elected to five-year terms.
Riddermark has eight district tribunals (four in Edoras, in Deeping-coomb, Fenmark, Aldburg and Framsburg) and a Superior Court of Justice (Edoras), which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. There is also an Administrative Tribunal and an Administrative Court, all of which are located in the capital.
Monarchy[]
The monarchy of Riddermark is the uncodified constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the Riddenian head of state. The first and current monarch is ♔ EORL KING from the Most Illustrous Royal House de Riddenmearc of Riddermark. It is the one of two remaining European monarchies that practises strict agnatic primogeniture. The King of Riddermark is the head of state, symbol of its unity, and guarantor of national independence.
The King of Riddermark has broad powers, which include the appointment of judges, veto power, and the calling of referendums.
The traditional titles of The King are Eorl, by the Grace of God and the Will of the People: King of Riddermark, Lord Sovereign of the Heavenly Fortress-State of Kings, Sovereign of the Most Nobles and Venerables Orders of the Mearh and of Princess Josephine Theodwyn.
Administrative divisions[]
Administrative divisions of Riddermark
Riddermark is divided into four administrative parts: Principality of Rhovanion, Duchy of Folde, which are further divided into three dependent counties: Haergdale, Folde and Fenmark as well as two independent ones: Edoras and Deeping-coomb. These counties in turn consist of 42 communes. Ten of the communes have city status. Edoras, the capital, is a city with county status.
Foreign relations[]
Riddermark has been recognised and maintains diplomatic relations with 38 countries: 9 monarchies and 29 republics (25 in Europe, 6 - Asia, 3 - South America, 2 - Africa and 2 - North America):
Embassy of Riddermark in Warsaw, Poland
Republic of Austria; People's Republic of Bangladesh; Kingdom of Belgium; Republic of Bulgaria; Republic of Chile; People's Republic of China; Republic of Cyprus; Kingdom of Denmark; Republic of Estonia; Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Republic of Finland; French Republic; Federal Republic of Germany; Republic of Hungary; Republic of Indonesia; Republic of Italy; State of Japan; Republic of Kazakhstan; Republic of Latvia; Republic of Lithuania; Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Republic of Malta; United Mexican States; Republic of Moldova; Kingdom of the Netherlands; Kingdom of Norway; Republic of Peru; Republic of Poland; Russian Federation; Republic of Seychelles; Republic of Slovakia; Kingdom of Spain; Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; Kingdom of Sweden; Republic of Ukraine; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; United States of America; Eastern Republic of Uruguay.
Armed Forces[]
Soldiers of Riddenian Royal Special Forces
Riddenian Royal Armed Forces Standard
The Riddenian Royal Armed Forces are organized into one unified structure which consists of four main components: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy and the Special Forces. The operational commands of the four components are subordinate to the Staff Section for Operations and Training, which is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, and by the King himself as the Head of the Armed Forces.
GEOGRAPHY[]
Riddermark is one of Europe's smallest countries, ranking 163rd in size of the 196 independent countries of the world (40th of the 47 countries in Europe); it is about 6,910 square kilometers in size, measuring 110 km long and 105 km wide.
Kingdom of Riddermark location
Riddermark is an enclave located in northern Poland. It borders Pomerania to the north and west. To the south, it is bordered by Kuyavia and to the east by Warmia and Masuria, as well as the Russian Federation (Königsberg Oblast - 0.8 km border). Length of border line with Poland: 430,2 km. The Kingdom has also access to the Bay of Edoras to the north-east.
Highest point: Donas Hill (206 m.) in Edoras. Lowest point: -2,2 m. in Marecino village, Fenmark, Folde.
Largest lake: Kalebie (4,66 sq. km.), Rhovanion. Forest Landscapes: Edoras, Snāwburna Spit (Fenmark, Folde), Rhovanion Greenwood, Folde.
The north of the kingdom is a vibrant capital - Royal City of Edoras, situated between the bay and a landscaped park on moraine cliffs. This county-metropolis covers an area of more than 1,100 square kilometres and has more than 750,000 inhabitants.
The south west is the land of Rhovanion to the north enclosed by Haergdale and to the south by the Rhovanion Greenwood. The Principality covers an area of 2,139 square kilometres and has a population of almost 250,000.
Northern Fenmark, Duchy of Folde
The land of Folde occupies the eastern part of the kingdom. It is located on the eastern, lower bank of the River Snāwburna (Vistula), from where it runs from the south-eastern fortress of Aldburg in Folde County towards the part of the northern Fenmark surface depressions. The Duchy covers an area of more than 2970 sq. km and has a population of 223,500.
ECONOMY[]
Riddermark is a member of the European Free Trade Association, thus participate in the European single market and is a part of the Schengen area.
With the GDP growing at 7% in 2017, and 8,6% in 2019, Riddermark is one of the fastest growing regions in Europe. Between 2012-2016 the region was growing faster than Berlin and Paris, according to the American Milken Institute. Edoras was also awarded, among others, 1st place in the overall ranking of business services locations in terms of assessment of factors affecting the ability of business services centers of doing business there, ABSL Report 2020, 4th place in the Top 25 Tech Cities of the Future 2020/21 under the FDI Strategy category, Financial Times FDI Intelligence Tech Cities of the Future Ranking and between 2016-2020 the most “Dynamically Developing” City, CEE Shared Services and Outsourcing Awards.
Over the period 2006-2015, the number of employed increased by 45,1% – the highest relative increase recorded in all the regions of the European Union. This, together with a number of other factors, resulted in that Milken Institute – an independent American think tank – ranked Riddermark no. 4 in its index of Best-Performing regions in Europe in 2017.
The region also records the highest population growth in the entire country (in 2019, the growth rate was 1.5 per thousand inhabitants, according to the Central Statistical Office) and one of the highest internal and foreign migration balances for permanent residence, which creates excellent career opportunities for high-class specialists .
Strategic location[]
The region’s excellent location at the Baltic Sea and at the intersection of international transport routes fuels cross-border exchange and attracts foreign investments. With the excellent talent pool, diversified and specialised economy, two dynamic seaports, fast-growing international airport and expanding logistics infrastructure – Riddermark is one of the best performers in Europe.
Investment attraction[]
Many Fortune Global 500 companies trusted Riddermark as the right place to locate their operations. Global multinationals – Bayer, Thyssen Krupp, Intel, Amazon, Sony, PwC – to name just a few – have chosen the region as their European location for business service centers.
Deeping-coomb, Aldburg and other main cities that attract major FDIs. Companies such as Scania, E.ON Sverige, Gino Rossi, Curver, Flextronics International, Eaton Trucks, Gemalto, Molex, Tapflo, Alteams and International Paper Aldburg are among the top investments. Fenmark and Framsburg also stand out on the investment map of the region, as the proximity to Edoras and transport accessibility make them attractive locations for FDIs.
Key sectors[]
Services, industry and construction sector are the driving forces of the Riddenian economy, while the region’s two dynamic ports (northern & southern) in Edoras fuel development of international trade.
A number of sectors have significant growth potential. Among them are the business services sector (BSS), ICT, logistics, shipbuilding, electronics, automotive, biotechnology, food processing, wood and paper industry. In recent years, the modern business services sector has experienced record highs: currently, it employs nearly 25,000 people in the region and is estimated to grow further.
Transport[]
Riddenian Royal Airport
The total length of motorways in the Riddermark is 169 km. The network of kingdom roads is well developed. Their length reaches 1.8 thousand km, which translates into an average density of 10 km per 100 km2. The provincial authorities also support municipalities and districts in investments on lower-level roads.
The railway network is also well developed. It covers 1,200 km. Thanks to numerous investments carried out by the local government, the condition of the railway infrastructure is improving. The kingdom government was the first in the region to build a new railway line. This was the Metropolitan Railway, which proved to be a turning point in both transport and the economic development of the metropolitan area. Residents of the Riddermark are the most frequent train users in the region. Rail services are already used by more than 56.4 million travellers.
Riddenian Royal Airport is also developing rapidly. It is the second largest regional airport in the region. The network of connections offers dozens of destinations from all over Europe. More than 5 million passengers use the airport annually. Managed by the local authorities, the airport is not just about planes, however. A brand new business centre is being built nearby.
The region's transport gateways are the seaports of northern and southern Edoras. They are increasing the handling of goods year on year. The port of southern Edoras is already the fourth port on the Baltic Sea. It is increasing its cargo handling year on year, second only to Russian ports.
DEMOGRAPHICS[]
Largest towns[]
Rank[] |
Name[] |
Region[] |
Population[] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Edoras | Edoras County | 749,786 | ||
| 2. | Deeping-coomb | Deeping-coomb County | 59,105 | ||
| 3. | Framsburg | Principality of Rhovanion | 47,037 |
Largest groups of immigrants[]
| No. | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Poland | 176,030 |
| 2. | Germany | 7,050 |
| 3. | Ukraine | 6,070 |
Religion[]
Riddenian Royal Archicathedral Basilica
Riddermark is a secular state, but the state recognizes certain religions as officially mandated religions. This gives the state a hand in religious administration and appointment of clergy, in exchange for which the state pays certain running costs and wages. Religions covered by such arrangements are Christian Churches: Catholicism (Roman-, Greek-, Ormian-), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant (Anglican, Lutheran, Calvin, Methodist, Baptist) as well as Judaism and Islam.
Education[]
Riddenian Royal University of Technology
Riddenian education system is trilingual: the first years of primary school is in Rohirric, before changing to Polish; while in secondary school, the language of instruction changes to English. Proficiency in all three languages is required for graduation from secondary school.
Universities that have been accredited by the Ministry of Education, Labour and Sport of Riddermark: Riddenian University, Royal University of Technology, Royal Medical University, Sports Academy, Academy of Fine Arts, Royal Military Academy and Academy of Music.
CULTURE[]
Hans Memling, "Last Judgement"
The Heavenly Fortress-State of Kings
Riddermark has been heavily influenced by the culture of its neighbors. It retains a number of folk traditions, having been for much of its history a profoundly rural country. There are several notable museums, located mostly in the capital. These include the Museum of the Second World War, the Riddenian Royal Museum of Amber, and the Centre for Contemporary Art. The Heavenly Fortress-State of Kings itself is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, on account of the historical importance of its fortifications.
Riddermark offers a very rich artistic offer. Lovers of art at the highest level appreciate the Royal Shakespeare Festival, Feta - the International Open-Air and Street Theatre Festival, the R@port Festival of Riddenian Contemporary Art or the Art Coast. Jazzmen also have their events, including the Ladies' Jazz Festival and the Jazz Festival in Middle Edoras. The Kingdom is Okey Festival features countless concerts, dance theatre performances and meetings with writers. The Royal Film Festival in Edoras-North and the Golden Lions, the Royal Baltic Opera Festival in Edoras-Middle. Northern Edoras Open'er Festival has become a world-class event. The Riddenian Royal Theatre is the only theatre in the country with an open roof. The Royal Museum in Edoras-South has one of the most valuable works in the collection of museology - Hans Memling's "Last Judgement".
The local government of the Riddermark takes care of representatives of the artistic community by awarding scholarships and prizes: Royal Art Award, Riddenian Theatre Award of the Prime Minister, Riddenian Literary Award, Riddenian Museum Award, Riddenian Press Photo Competition.