Dumnonia
The Kingdom of Dumnonia[]
Dumnonia is a British kingdom in the south of Britain. It is a rich and large state, covering a great swathe of good farmland and coastline. It borders Kernow to the west, Gwent to the north and the Saxons of Lloegyr to the west. It also boasts three client kingdoms:
The Belgic lands
Dumnonia is the primary setting throughout the Warlord Chronicles and features a number of settlements:
Durnovaria
Dunum
Caer Cadarn
Lindinis
Dun Caric
Ynys Wydryn
Aquae Sulis
Mynydd Badon
Corinium
Caer Ambra
Sorviodunum
Venta
Dumnonia is a major player in the geopolitics of the story and is the crucial link that allows unrestricted travel between the British kingdoms - preventing a split between the Severn sea.
" ' ‘The Saxons must not reach the Severn Sea!’ he shouted that creed, which had been at the very heart of his ambitions all these years. So long as the Saxons were hemmed in by Britons then there was a chance that they could one day be driven back into the German Sea, but if they once reached our western coast then they would have divided Dumnonia from Gwent and the Britons of the south from the Britons of the north. " Uther Pendragon on the Sais, The Winter King, Page 76.
It is noted in the story that Dumnonia's vast farmlands help sustain its neighbours and that it boasts many settlements of Roman origin. In fact, the roman influence on Dumnonia is arguably the strongest of any kingdom besides Gwent.
" ' ‘The men of Gwent,’ Uther went on, ‘are our greatest warriors,’ and here he nodded in tribute to Agricola, ‘but it is no secret that Gwent lives on Dumnonian bread. " Uther Pendragon on Dumnonian food, The Winter King, Page 76.
" Sansum’s monks had been evicted now, chased by vengeful spearmen from the great Roman halls so that the big palace stood empty. " Exclalibur, Page 16.
Dumnonia is painted as a divided society, with Christians and pagans living together in an uneasy detente. This erupts in violence in the second book, resulting in a Christian Dumnonia by the end of the series.
" He ruled Dumnonia by virtue of Owain’s death and Bedwin’s support, but as the years of war ground on there were many who wished him gone. Gorfyddyd had his supporters in Dumnonia and, God forgive me, too many Christians were praying for Arthur’s defeat. And that was why he fought, because he knew he was too weak not to fight. Arthur had to provide victory or lose everything, and in the end he did win, but only after coming within a blade’s edge of disaster. " The Winter King, Page 464.
" They were going, and Mordred’s men, those that survived, were fleeing down the beach to escape the advance of Meurig’s troops. Dumnonia would fall, a weak King would rule and the Saxons would return, but we would live. " Excalibur, Page 487.