Kingdom of Aulderix

The Kingdom of Aulderix was a West Valarr Kingdom in Tyrrus, that lasted from the 12th century to the 17th, then again briefly during the Hundred Kingdoms period in 18.26 to 18.80. Though the kingdom's territory fluctuated over their time, at their peak they claimed ownership over all the lands of the Valarr Counties. The kingdom was named after the island of Aulderix, home to a major early Valarr fortress. In modern day, this island, and the city that now rests upon it, are known as Alderick.
During its time, the Kingdom was known as a highly insular, isolated, strife-filled land, late to adopt the technologies and languages of the rest of Tyrrus. However, its constant conflicts meant it often had a large population of battle-hardened warriors, who were often hired as mercenaries by other kingdoms, lending it a reputation as a land of warriors.
The most common symbol associated with the kingdom is a double-headed axe, which remains the symbol of the Valarr Counties to this day.
==== History ====
After the fall of Lanver and the collapse of the First Valarr Kingdom in the 12th century, the former king, Ellach I, fled to the fortress of Aulderix, and began plans to rebuild his kingdom. Despite his best efforts, the wealthy cities of Erradan and Varawyn had both denied his claims over them and declared their sovereign independence. Instead, Ellach and his descendents spent the next few centuries trying to gain, and hold, control over the western regions and the isles of the Stormcliffs, frequently in conflict with dissident clan leaders, inside and outside the kingdom.
During the 14th century, a dispute between clan leaders led to a blood civil war, ending in the complete eradication of Aulderix's original royal dynasty, the heirs of Eradall I, replaced by Clan Axster, who declared themselves as the true royalty of the region. Clan Axster were much more competent rulers, though somewhat tyrannical. Through coercion and forced conquest, they managed to unite all the West Valarr. They also built closer relations with their neighbours, offering the use of their battle-hardened warriors as mercenaries, most famously the elite Skolmorgen warrior corps, which would become a staple of the Erdannian army for the next few centuries.
Despite this military success, the rulers of Aulderix would never reach the same levels of power and prestige as their neighbours in Erradan and Varawyn.
In the 17th Century, the Great Sturvandian Empire of Whytehold spread across the south under the leadership of Kadrich the Conquerer, conquering the great cities of Erradan and Varawyn and turning them into vassal nations. Under the direction of the Empire and bolstered by Whytehold knights, Varawyn conquered the lands of Aulderix and disbanded the kingdom.
However, this was not the end. After the collapse of the Sturvandian Empire, the nobles of Aulderix seized the opportunity to revive their kingdom. Unfortunately for them this only lasted about 50 years. Internal pressure from a group of wealthy Burgesses, who were mostly puppets of Erradan, forced the king, Ellach IV, to divulge more and more power to the merchant class, until eventually they managed to vote the king out of power and replace him with a parliament of oligarchs. The kingdom was reformed into the Valarr Union, which later become a vassal of the Erdannian Empire.