Northern Kingdoms

The Northern Kingdoms, also referred to as the Northern Realms and comprised most significantly of the Four Kingdoms, were a group of human states north of the Amell mountain range, the latter separating it from the Nilfgaardian Empire in the south. The Nilfgaardians commonly referred to their inhabitants as Nordlings within the Empire's core region and throughout the conquered provinces. Aside from humans, many dwarves, elves, gnomes, and halflings lived in the Northern Kingdoms as second-class citizens.
The Northern Kingdoms were invaded and partially conquered by the Nilfgaardian Empire during the Northern Wars. Amidst the Third Northern War, the only remaining sovereign monarch of the four major kingdoms was King Radovid V of Redania. As a result, the Northern Realms collectively became known as Radovid's Realms.
== History ==
=== Early history ===
Upon the First Landing and the arrival of humans on the Continent, the Northern Kingdoms were just large areas of uncolonized land inhabited by the Elder Races and others, such as vrans and werebbubbs, before the eastward expansion of the people later known as Nordlings, around five hundred years ago.
The Nordlings built at least twenty-four cities throughout the kingdoms on the sites of former elven settlements, such as Novigrad and Vizima, after the elves were pushed east by human expansion.
=== First Northern War ===
In , the First Northern War broke out when the Nilfgaardian Army, led by Field Marshal Menno Coehoorn, crossed the Amell, on the orders of Emperor Emhyr var Emreis, into the Northern Kingdoms.
Nilfgaard quickly took control of the Marnadal Stairs, slaughtered Cintra, and caused Queen Calanthe to commit suicide. Marching north into Sodden, they seized Upper Sodden in a brief battle. From there, the Nilfgaardians crossed the Yaruga into Lower Sodden. But it was in the Battle of Sodden Hill that the united army of Aedirn, Kaedwen, Redania and Temeria decisively defeated the Nilfgaardians. Consequently, at least 30,000 lives were lost, including thirteen northern mages, and the Nilfgaardian forces retreated south across the Yaruga.
== Locations ==
Kingdoms, vassal states and regions
* Aedirn
** Dol Blathanna
** Lormark
** Lower Aedirn
* Brokilon
* Cidaris
** Bremervoord
** Budibog's castellany
* Cintra
** Attre
* Hengfors League
** Barefield
** Caingorn
** Carnedd
** Creyden
** Crinfrid
** Hengfors (region)
** Malleore
** Sturefors (region)
* Kaedwen
** Hertch
** Vattweir
** Vespaden
* Kovir and Poviss
** Kovir
** Narok
** Poviss
** Talgar
** Velhad
* Lyria and Rivia
* Redania
** Arcsea
** Lands of the Order
** Novigrad
** Riverside
** Yamurlak
* Skellige
* Temeria
** Angren
** Brugge
** Ellander
** Garramone
** Mahakam
** Maribor
** Pontaria
** Riverdell
** Sodden
** Velen
** White Orchard
* Verden
Former kingdoms and regions
* Emblonia
* Kerack
* Lower Sodden
* Saskia's Free State
* Upper Sodden
== ==
=== Reward Tree entries ===
: Scroll 1: Temeria, Redania, Kaedwen, Aedirn, Kovir, Poviss... There are few who can keep track of the North's many kingdoms and duchies. No sooner had humans seized the land from dwarves and elves than shattered it into dozens of tiny pieces and continued the fight for control amongst each other.
: Scroll 2: Time and time again, come the thaw of spring, the leaders of the North resumed their petty wars. Temeria attempted to strip Sodden from Cintra. Aedirn and Kaedwen vied for control of the Pontar Valley. Yet, when the black-clad Nilfgaardian legions appeared from the south, they reckoned that, in the end, they stood more united than divided.
: Scroll 3: When the Nilfgaardian invasion began, most presumed the North would be obliterated in a matter of weeks. Yet, to their great surprise, the outnumbered and underequipped Nordlings managed to repel the Empire's legions.
: Scroll 4: Had the involvement of mages proved the deciding factor in the North's victory? Or was it the tactical genius of well-trained generals? Perhaps the contributions of Oxenfurt's brilliant inventors? Debates on the topic rage to this day. It seems not even a united victory can keep Nordlings from being at each other's throats for long...
: Chest 1: The Northern Realms are bordered by three mountain ranges to the north, east, and south – the Dragon, Blue, and Amell Mountains – and the Great Sea to the west. Yet, what lies beyond these? Nordlings themselves are not quite certain, and to be honest, it's not their most pressing concern. Preoccupied by local disputes, quarrels, and wars, they haven't the time to take interest in foreign lands. Alas, the Nilfgaardian invasion serves as proof that the rest of the world is not of the same mind.
: Chest 2: What links a town like Vizima, proud capital of Temeria, or Oxenfurt, a center of learning for all the North, with Aedd Gynvael, a provincial settlement at the end of the known world? Nothing, it would seem... After all, each of these places looks, sounds and even smells different. Their origins, however, are identical – all were founded atop ancient elven cities. The ruins sprawling beneath their streets bear witness to this fact. What caused elven civilization to collapse? Plague? Cataclysm? No... Their destruction was wrought by humans.
: Chest 3: Nordlings often feel conflicted about magic and those who practice it. On the one hand, mages served an undeniably crucial role in the North's defense against Nilfgaard. Yet on the other, their unabashed egotism and tendency to meddle in politics became an irritation to communities and sovereigns alike. The epitome of such arrogance was Philippa Eilhart who, rather than sit content as king's counsel, resolved to take on a leading role herself. This dream would not last, however... And in the end, the flames of pyres raged across the North.
== Maps ==
World map.jpg|Detailed map of the Northern Kingdoms
northernkingdoms_full.jpg|Detailed map of the Northern Kingdoms during the events of 
The Witcher 3 Map of North.png|Detailed map of the Northern Kingdoms during the events of 
== References ==
ar:الممالك الشمالية
cs:Severní království
de:Nördliche Königreiche
el:Βόρεια Βασίλεια
es:Reinos del Norte
fi:Pohjoiset Kuningaskunnat
fr:Royaumes du Nord
hu:Északi Királyságok
it:Regni Settentrionali
lt:Šiaurinės Karalystės
nl:Noordelijke koninkrijken
pl:Królestwa Północy
pt-br:Reinos do Norte
ru:Северные королевства
sk:Severné Kráľovstvá
sr:Северна Краљевства
uk:Північні Королівства
Category:Kingdoms
Category:Unions