Lordaeron (Kingdom)

## Lordaeron (Extended Lore)

This article is an expansion/clarification
on the Wowpedia Page going into more detailed History of the nation.

Many Arathorian nobles immigrated to
Lordaeron to start new lives and expand their wealth and power. Most successful
was the house of Menethil which successfully was crowned as the royal family of
the new Kingdom.

The seven nations were humble and friendly
to one another at onset, but as the decades past, tensions rose and wars began.

At this time Lordaeron only owned the region of Tirisfal and parts of Silverpine, with the remainder being contested or uninhabited. To protect their newly acquired lands, the Kingdom constructed the first major stronghold of the nation, on the strategically valueable Fenris Isle.

### The War of Four

With the south secure, the Kingdom spread
northward unopposed as the rivals of Gilneas, Alterac and Stromgarde all warred
in the South for Land and resources.

Alterac was quickly growing as a major
power, claiming Hillsbrad and moving on Gilneas. In an effort to save
themselves, Gilneas allied with Stromgarde and the two nations pushed Alterac
far up into the mountains. Lordaeron however was quick to take advantage of the
situation, leading a campaign south, Lordaeron battled Gilneas and Stromgarde for
control of Hillsbrad.

Alterac however had no intention to lose
it’s holdings, and made a return, only to be soundly defeated once more.
Leaving the remaining three Kingdoms to battle for dominance in the south.

The war would eventually end, but the bitterness
of the conflict left long term political scars.

### The Bandit War

Lordaeron was now a huge power in the
region, occupying vast lands. Control of these lands however proved to become
fairly difficult. Legends tell that the King grew extremely greedy, hoarding
the Nation’s wealth for himself, and leaving little to the people or to fund
the defences of the nation.

This sowed poverty throughout the nation,
as taxes rose to appease the greedy King. The people grew restless and angry,
rising up in revolts and founding bandit clans to retake their wealth and
lands. These Clans grew into miniature Kingdoms, with small armies and
holdings. The King was overthrown and the land divided in a state of Civil War.

It is in this hour one man is said to have
stood against the chaos. Commander Anicus Terimidias who lead the men of the
Kingdom’s oldest military station, Fenris Keep, refused to join the Bandit
Clans. Without Anicus’s support, no clan had full control of the southern
border. Anicus rallied loyal supporters from across the kingdom, keen on
restoring the nation.

Coming into possession of a mighty blade,
dubbed Archstrike, Anicus lead a campaign North, retaking the Kingdom by
annihilating each Bandit Clan one by one. The Civil War was extensive and ran
for many years.

During this time the kingdoms of Alterac
and Gilneas also marched North in attempts to claim land from the divided and
weakened Kingdom.

However, Anicus was able to fight on two
fronts, decimating the invading forces, before finishing off the last of the
Bandit groups.

Anicus then restored the House of Menethil
to the Throne of Lordaeron and the Kingdom was restored. To commemorate the
victory, Lordaeron’s official symbol was modified to include Archstrike, along
with three prongs, to symbolize the three core values that would now define the
nation. Honour, Faith and Unity.

### Reign of the Knights

Anicus then founded the Order of Fenris
dedicated to preventing Civil War, and protecting the nation. It would not be
funded by the King, but rather be sustainably funded through Fenris Isle’s own
trade wealth on the Lake Lordamere.

Similar Orders of Knights would be founded
in neighboring lands with similar goals, noteably the Brotherhood of the Horse.
Knights became the most effective means of protecting the land, and so for many
centuries, the Kingdom prospered under their protection.

### The Second War, Reign of the Paladins

When the Second War erupted and the Order
of the Silver Hand founded, the Knights of Fenris lost their respect and
popularity. The sacrifices of the Bandit War would be forgotten, as would the
legendary status of the sword Archstrike.

## Millitary

Lordaeron’s military was separated into
several batallions stationed at several Keeps throughout the Kingdom’s
holdings.

### Noteable Battalions:

2nd Battalion – Redbridge - Alterac Annex
battalion, called ‘Stiffs’ and ‘Leather Lovers’ due to the Cold

3rd , 4th and 5th Battalion
– Mardenholde Keep (Hearthglen), Dubbed ‘Wheat Boys’ as they protected mostly farms.

6th and 7th Battalion - Durnholde Keep, Dubbed 'Elves' for their vast forests. When Durnholde became an Internment Camp, their nicknames changed to be 'Jailors'.

8th and 9th Battalion
– Fenris Keep. Dubbed 'Lake Larrys' , 'Lordaeron's Wings' (Left/Right Wing)

10th, 12th and 14th
Battalion – Tyr’s Hand, Dubbed ‘Tyr’s Fist’ or ‘Bellies'

13thBattalion - Cinderhome Heep, Watched the border with Quel'Thalas. Dubbed 'The Elfguard'.

Lordaeron’s military was mainly unused
before the Third and Second Wars. They were only summoned to protect Lordaeron
from large threats, such as invading Murloc, Gnoll and Troll tribes.

Most of Lordaeron was usually protected by
The Regional Defence. The Regional Defence operated more like a Police Force,
manning Guard Towers and Garrisons within cities and Towns as well as
patrolling major roads.

Commanders in the Regional Defence were not
commanders of the Millitary, but a Millitary Commander could command the
Regional Defence. Lords of the nation’s keeps and holdings were of the highest
rank and could command the forces in their holding.

### Noteable Lords / Commanders

House Terimidias – Fenris Keep, Fenris
Isle, The Dawning Isles, Silverpine (Lordaeron)

House Fordring – Hearthglen, Western
Lordaeron

House Barov – Caer Darrow, Brill,
Southshore, Tarren Mill, Andorhal

House Carlyle - Durnholde Keep (Before it was an Internment Camp)

Lieutenant General Aedelas Blackmoore –
Hillsbrad Foothills, Durnholde Keep (Internment Camp)

House Garithos – Cinderhome Keep, Northdale,
Blackwood Village

General Abbendis – Tyr’s Hand

### Symbolism

Lordaeron is symbolized by the colours
White and Blue. It’s national symbol is the symbol of the curved L with the
sword down the middle and three prongs. Lordaeron’s military and regional
defence bare a white and blue tabard with the symbol of the two headed eagle on
it.

#### Origins

Lordaeron’s colours, white and blue,
originate from the days of Lordaeron’s founding. At the time, Lordaeron was in
a state of winter, which covered Lordaeron in a white sheen with frozen blue rivers.
The Nobles at the time also wanted to express their wealth and power, as the
blue dye the Lordaeronians used was rather rare and expensive at the time, and
against a clean white backing made the Kingdom’s banner appear wealthy and
clean.

The Symbol of Lordaeron literally started
off as a blue L on a white backround. As the first settlers grew fond of the
native eagles, they soon adjusted the L, curving it at the top like the eagle’s
claws. The new symbol however was too expensive to sew into Tabards, so the
military leaders at the time, opted for just a plain eagle design, which went
through many adjustments over time until its final variant.

After the Bandit Wars, the symbol of
Lordaeron was modified to include the sword Archstrike, and three prongs added
to solidify the Kingdom’s new core values of Honor, Faith and Unity.

Over time however the meaning of the
symbolism was forgotten.