Principality of Ulek
| Principality of Ulek | |
|---|---|
 The arms of the Principality of Ulek, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000). | |
| Government | |
| Ruler: | Prince Olinstaad Corond |
| Government: | Independent feudal monarchy with hereditary rulership |
| Demographics | |
| Capital: | Gryrax |
| Major towns: | Havenhill, Gryrax, Thunderstrike, Eastpass |
| Population: | 538,400 |
| Races: | Humans, dwarves, halflings, elves, gnomes, half-elves, others |
| Languages: | Common, Dwarvish, Keolandish, Halfling, Gnomish |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Ulaa, dwarven pantheon, Saint Cuthbert, Lydia, Phyton, Fharlanghn, Osprem, Ehlonna, Olidammara, Norebo |
| Allies: | County of Ulek, Duchy of Ulek |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Coinage: | high crown (pp), forge (gp), anvil (ep), hammer (sp), common (cp) |
The Principality of Ulek is a political state of the Flanaess, and one of the three Ulek States along with the County of Ulek and the Duchy of Ulek.
History
In 292 CY The Principality of Ulek, along with the other Ulek States signed a treaty of union with Kingdom of Keoland making them part of the Empire. This treaty was in effect in the Principality until 461, when the Principality withdrew. In 295, the Prince had aided the Keolandish army in its conquoring of the Pomarj and had been granted rulership over the barons who were put in charge of the area. When the Principality withdrew from Keoland, this meant that the Baronies of the Pomarj no longer had a voice in the Council of Nicole Dra. Upset by this, the Pomarj declared its independence in 463 CY.
During the Hateful Wars, the Pomarj was taken over by orcs, and the Principality and the other Ulek states were forced to fight while Keoland refused to get involved.
Being so close to the Pomarj, they lost territory during the Greyhawk Wars, though some of it has been partially regained, mostly the lands east of the Jewel River. The area remains heavily contested.[citation needed]
Geography
The Principality of Ulek is in the southwestern Flanaess, and is considered part of the Sheldomar Valley. It is bordered by the County of Ulek along the Old River to the northwest, by the Sheldomar River to the west, by the Azure Sea to the south, and the Jewel River to the east and northeast. East of the foothills of the Lortmils and along the banks of the Jewel are "disputed lands" where the Ulek forces vie against the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj.
The southern tail of the Lortmil Mountains creates foothills which spread the entire north-south length of the Principality all the way south to Gryrax on the Azure Sea. This makes the eastern and western Principality quite different from each other.
People
Population
The population of the Principality of Ulek totaled 538,400 persons in 591 CY, over half of whom are humans of mainly Suel and Oeridian stock. Dwarves make up the next largest group (around 30% of the total population), with hill dwarves outnumbering mountain dwarves by approximately 2-to-1. Halflings are also present in significant numbers (10%), while the remainder of the population is a mix of elves, gnomes, half-elves, and others.
The most populous towns (in 591 CY) are Havenhill (pop. 32,100), Gryrax (pop. 27,300), Thunderstrike (pop. 17,400), and Eastpass (pop. 15,500). Smaller villages in the Principality include Thrunch.
Religion
The most popular deities among the Principality of Ulek's citizens are Ulaa, the dwarven pantheon, Saint Cuthbert, Lydia, Phyton, Fharlanghn, Osprem, Ehlonna, Olidammara, and Norebo. The village of Thrunch features a temple of Celestian nearby.
Languages
The most widely-spoken languages in the Principality of Ulek include Common, Dwarvish, Keolandish, Halfling, and Gnomish.
Government
The Principality of Ulek is an independent feudal monarchy with hereditary rulership and is by His Serene Highness, Prince Olinstaad Corond of Ulek, Lord of the Peaks of Haven. All royal and noble houses in the realm are dwarven. The royal family (House Corond) owns the city of Gryrax, the national capital.
The country is divided into 12 provinces. The easternmost five provinces were taken by the Pomarj leading up to the Battle for Prinzfeld in 585 CY and were still contested in in 591 CY.
Heraldry
Originally, on the back cover of the World of Greyhawk folio (1980), the heraldry of Ulek had a four-quartered design (at right).
Above (in the infobox) are shown the arms of the Principality of Ulek, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000). Lore is unclear why this changed.
The original coat of arms is blazoned thus: Quarterly; first, purpure a base dancetty or; second and third, argent a battle-axe gules; fourth, the last a diamond argent.
Economy
Resources
Currency
The Principality of Ulek's standard coinage consists of the platinum high crown (pp), gold forge (gp), electrum anvil (ep), silver hammer (sp), and copper common (cp).
Transportation
Military
In Living Greyhawk
 | This section contains content from the Living Greyhawk organized-play campaign. |
The twelve provinces mentioned in the LGG are given names, as well as additional minor detail.
After long years of war, the Deerfeld and Prinzfeld provinces were freed from occupation. After "The Reclamation", only three provinces were still actively disputed in 597 CY, having been reconquered from the Orcish empire. After those were subsequently liberated, the Prince began an invasion of the Pomarj in an act of retribution later that same year. Ulek forces stormed the territory across the Jewel River along the nation's entire eastern border, from Thrunch all the way to Azure Sea.
The Disputed Provinces
The last of the regions still being fought for by the principality (in mid-597 CY), before their final liberation and the invasion of the Pomarj which followed it:
- Gomel— The nothernmost province along the Jewel River
- Grindin— The Southernmost province along the Jewel River
- Ne-Ogard— Sandwiched between Gomel and Grindin along the Jewel River
Undisputed Provinces
- Ironhelm—One of the northern provinces, between the Province of Prinzfeld and the Province of Northwick, entirely within the Lortmil Mountains.
- Prinzfeld—The province which forms the northeastern border with the Suss forest and the Orcish Empire to the east. The seat of Prinzfeld is the city of Rittersmarche; also contains the city of Trunch.
- Northwick—The Northwesternmost province, forming most of the border with the County of Ulek.
- Earthenmore—Sandwiched between Northwick and Nrodya, with this southwestern province forms part of the border with Keoland.
- Nrodya— A small province in the southwestern corner of the country, just south of Earthenmore, on the border with Keoland, and the coast of the Azure Sea.
- Voldrun— A central province East of Earhtenmore and South of Northwick, bisected by the Adirole River.
- Adirole— One of the largest provinces, covering more than half the coast of the Azure Sea, and the entire peninsula that flanks the Bay of Adirole. Also contains the Capital, Gryrax.
- Corond— A central province containing the city of Havenhill, one of the largest cities in the country, and the family home of the current Prince, Olinstaad Corond
- Province of Deerfeld— Just to the East of Corond, and containing a tiny piece of the coast of the Azure Sea. According to unofficial fandom sources, the ruler of the province is advised by the Court Wizard known as Kristoph.
Gallery
Maps
-
art by Darlene (1980). -
art by Rob Lazzaretti (2005). -
art by Anna Meyer (2022) -
Animation of the "Reclamation" and "Invasion" of the Pomarj, maps by Living Greyhawk regional Triad
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince's Road (Principality of Ulek) | Infrastructure | Street or road, | WGQ1 Patriots of Ulek | 5, 8, 15 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Artifact of Evil | 7, 20, 29, 30, 37, 52 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff | 68 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 2 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 3, 29, 56 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 18 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | City of Hawks | 359 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #052 | 18, 19, 22 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #055 | 18 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #057 | 13 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #068 | 67 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #167 | 11, 13 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #191 | 67, 68 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #263 | 46 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #306 | 95 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #315 | 53, 54 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 97, 98, 102 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Dungeon magazine #073 | 59 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 4, 7, 10, 12, 15, 19-22, 24, 29, 34, 40-42, 47, 56, 57, 64, 76, 86, 89, 92 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 8-11, 54, 57, 59, 63, 64, 77, 82 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | From the Ashes: References Card | #10 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | From the Ashes: References Card | #2 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Greyhawk Adventures | 10, 91 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders | 16, 17 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 6, 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Ivid the Undying | 156, 157 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 9, 10, 15, 16, 39, 40, 45, 49, 59, 62, 63, 65, 66, 72, 87, 88, 96, 107, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 129, 143, 145, 152, 153, 159, IBC |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 3, 13 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 4, 8, 12, 13, 14, 31, 32 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 31 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 4, 31 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 3, 31 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 31 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 5, 10, 13, 25, 26, 38 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | PHBR2 - The Complete Thief's Handbook | 83 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 39, 43, 66, 87, 88, 99, 100, 106, 119-123 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Sea of Death | 393 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | Saga of Old City | 82, 148 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | The Adventure Begins | 4, 6, 16, 18, 19, 32, 33, 35, 36, 45, 59, 69, 73, 86, 110, 119 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | The Scarlet Brotherhood | 7 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | WG11 Puppets | IC |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | WG6 Isle of the Ape | 22 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 49, 90 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | IC, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 24, 25 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | WGQ1 Patriots of Ulek | 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 28, 29, 31 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | WGR4 The Marklands | 6, 9, 19, 59, 61, 63 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 4 |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 21, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34, 38, 39, 41, 53-55, 58, 67, IBC |
| Ulek, Principality of | Kingdom | (576 pop: 30000), (591 pop: 538400), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 11, 17, 31, 32 |