5101-Ivinia, The Viking Lands/kingdoms

KINGDOMS
There are 14 kingdoms in Ivinia today. Settlements within their borders pay tribute, directly or indirectly, to the pendragon or overking of that kingdom. Most of the land is wilderness, even within civilized borders. Colonial states elsewhere, including Orbaal and Harbaal, are effectively independent. The table below is a summary of the kingdoms of Ivinia as of 720 TR. The populations given are approximate; there is no official census. With rare exceptions, the clan seat is the location of the king’s household.

 * Includes about 8,400 in Altland (off map to the east). ''† The five kingdoms of Balisheim, Gelemaar, Gilbenmark, Lokemheim, and Seldenbaal are loosely united into the Great Kingdom of Seldenbaal. Clan Hargelsen of Lokemheim currently holds the pendragonship.''

The political System
The rules of statecraft lack definition in Ivinia, where virtually anyone who controls a keep, castle, or town may style himself a king. Most such lords, however, pay tribute to one of the great pendragons. Instead of a feudal network of obligations and subinfeudation, the Ivinian kingdoms are interconnected by a pyramidal structure of alliance and tribute. Ivinian kings may demand tribute but can make no legal claim to the lands of their vassal clans. Ivinian clans are considered to own their land, as opposed to being tenants as in feudal kingdoms.

A pendragon may take up arms to enforce his right to tribute but will probably receive little aid from his other tributary vassals. Under the Ivinian legal system, lords and vassals have such rights as their families can enforce. Nevertheless, the Ivinians respect their institutions and, for the most part, violence is kept within the law.

Within his district, the local lord is supreme; internal administration is generally a matter of indifference to an overlord who is interested only in the money, goods, and services that he is owed in tribute. The exception is Ibanvaal, which, consequently, has a relatively powerful royal house.



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