Area: 1110 square miles

Willemsbrug (1186) lies at Northern side of the bridge connecting Bergdhoven with Krondahar.

Laagsondendorp (833) lies on the border with the County of High Sonden.

Grejs (784) developed around Linden, it’s the heart of flowers rearing.

Spoorvork (573) lies along the river, where the trail from Kopstar bifurcates North (Zijlvermeer) and West (Linden). The Aalsfestival (Eels Festival), in Yarthmont, attracts a lot people.

Noordrand (472) marks the Northwestern border of the Principality.

Zijlvermeer (399) lies at the Northeastern border of the Principality and is named after nearby lakes which abound of a variety of silvery fishes the locals call Zijlverforel.

Ethnic groups: Flaems (85%), Aalbanese (10%), others (5%, mainly Flaemish Shepherd-Lupin and Kaelics).

Languages: Flaemish (spoken by the majority of strangers, too).

Ruler: Prince Vanserie Vlaardoen, Viscount of Linden, Treasurer of the Council, Head of the Followers of the Fire (born 940, High Master of Fire Elementalism,) (OD&D: Mage 28^th, Al C) (AD&D: Wizard 18^th, Al CN).

49 in Linden, Personal Guard of the Prince, Knights of the Order of the Flaems (Hertogspaard).

A force consisting of 3 or 4% (60% levied) of local population is present in every major village, Vlammens Militia.

Trails: Both rivers are navigable. A toll is exacted from cargoes and passengers entering the Principality by river in Willemsbrug, Altendorf, and Zijlvermeer. There are four major bridges: Der Alte Brug connects Altendorf with Ständburg, Oostrand connects Kopstar with the Principality of Klantyre, Willemsbrug connects the town with the same name with the Principality of Krondahar and Sondenbrug connects Laagsondendorp (the village of Low Sonden) with Hoogsondenhert (the "Duchy" of High Sonden). All the bridges are heavily travelled and a toll is exacted from everyone entering the Principality on foot. Passage fee average those commonly paid in the Principalities.

Two good trails connect Willemsbrug with Kopstar and Altendorf. Fair trails connect major villages, Altendorf with Fort Nordling and Kopstar with Ostbruck.

Economics: Bergdhoven is a very rich, trade-oriented Principality, providing other Principalities with a great amount of typical products, originating from various sources: rivers (fish), cattle (cheese), and grain (ground flour). Bergdhovese cut gems and perfumes are renowned even outside Glantri. However, more industries are in the process of raising their production: the Ducal Shipyards in Kopstar, weavers are increasing in number as well, while financial services are in great expansion.

Food surplus is mainly exported to surrounding territories in deficit, Fort Nordling Free Territories, and Viscounty of Bergen; the rest goes South to the Capital. Cut gems, perfumes and alchemical substances are meant for the market of Glantri City and they are even exported outside Glantrian borders. Textile products are exported to the Principality of Aalban and to Glantri City, while riverboats go to Klantyre and the Capital. However, exports of these two industries aren't enough for them to be considered main products of Flaemish economy, yet.

The main economical partner of Bergdhoven is the Principality of Aalban, and a massive exchange of typical products takes place in Altendorf and Ständburg.

Bergdhoven imports lumbers and wool from the Principality of Klantyre, wool and Bergen Ardjes from the Viscounty of Bergen, wool, dye and textile finished products (for further export) from Fort Nordling FP, raw gems from the County of High Sonden.

The Ducal Shipyards are property of the Prince, and provides Bergdhovese Treasury with a substantial income. Another source of income is the Flaemish Library in Kopstar.

History: Actual Bergdhovese territory was originally split amongst two of the seven Flaemish Duchies: Aalban and Kopstar (subsequently renamed Veerbyn and Rjevens). Many centuries of war thinned out the Flaems who were gradually pushed North to where they dwell now. When Flaems entered the Republic of the Highlands actual Bergdhoven was split among the County of Kopstar, the Viscounty of Linden and the Barony of Altendorf (ruled by an Hattian Lord). After the Light of Rad declaration, Kopstar and part of the Barony of Altendorf (the two Princes wished the borders to go along Aalban river) were annexed to the newly formed Principality. Cohabitation between Hattians and Flaems was hard, especially at the start, since they were both resentful for past tensions. As tensions gradually eased down, occasionally arising again, relations with the later founded Kaelic Principality were fairly good (for Flaemish standards) but relations with the Ethengarian one were at least terrible. The hatred of Flaemish nobles was so high to prevent the building of the bridge connecting the two Principalities for almost a century. When Flaemish merchants Guilds started pressing for a less traditionalist politics (2^nd half of 920s), Prince Isaac VI punished them imposing an outrageously high toll on imports from the Principality of Klantyre, (later known as Isaac’s toll Affaire), causing Kaelic enmity and moreover a general unrest in the Principality. The Prince was murdered and the rebellion swiftly and harshly put down. The new Prince returned the previous lower toll, the Merchants Guilds realised time wasn’t right, yet, and nobody else dared to speak of this accident anymore. Since then, many weavers moved to Ostbruck and few to Klantyre. In order to assure a nearer production of wool, sheepherds has been encouraged in the territories North.

Notable sites: Watermolen (water mill) are a common sight along the rivers of Bergdhoven. An old Ducal decree forbids the use of windmills for their wicked relation with Air followers. Usually several families of farmers own a single mill, which is in turn run by a member of that community. Surplus is brought to the nearer market.

Gjeldhuijs (Guild House) are now another common sight in every Bergdhovese town. They had always enjoyed a great deal of protection from outsiders, but when they started to struggle to increase their influence in political (and economical) matters, they were declared illegal and practically controlled by members of the nobility. Those wishing a fair degree of independence moved from Bergdhoven.

Willemsbrug (or Fojsbrug, Bridge of Disgrace, for Flaemish purists) is the bridge connecting the Principality of Bergdhoven with the Principality of Krondahar. This massive stone bridge is named after the Prince, Willem IX, who finally approved his construction as Treasurer of the Council, and paid with his own life "his rash deed". It took thirty years to build, more than 3000 workers and the most renowned engineers and Caurenzan architects took part in its construction. It has a road 20’ wide, and twenty-one arches support it. There’s a wooden drawbridge to let ships in. The flow of the water is used to turn water wheels below the arches for grinding grain. From then on, the small hamlet of Zjedelvork (renamed Willemsbrug) has sharply increased until recently becoming the 3^rd town of Bergdhoven. The Flaemish side of the bridge is heavily guarded, and a deployment of Vanserie’s III Banner is always stationed here. Part of the tolls collected by Flaems goes directly to the Treasury of the Council to assure the bridge’s upkeep.

Coat of Arms: A rayonny fess, or (bottom) and gules with three argent flasks on top.

Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles.

January 2001, All rights reserved.