Upper Teufel (up-per TOY-fl)
The archduchy of Upper Teufel is a non-electoral province of the Empire and the second largest Reikland Estate, and one of the most important. It is a significant centre of trade, handling merchant trains and barges from across the Empire, as well as facilitating commerce with several Dwarfen holds, Bretonnia, and the Wasteland. It is also the home to one of the Reikland's most powerful noble families: House von Walfen. The archduchy is centred around the Teufel, Ober, and Tranig rivers, and is the most fertile farming region in Reikland.
Although the sizeable fief is ostensibly ruled by Archduke Victor II, he only does so at the behest of Grand Prince Karl-Franz I, who, because of a decree from Magnus the Pious over two hundred years earlier, inherited the titles when he became prince of Altdorf.
CONTENTS
History
Early Times
House Walfen has ruled the Suden Vorbergland, the fertile lands between the Reikwald and the Grey Mountains, for centuries. When the Empire collapsed during the Age of Wars over a thousand years ago, House Walfen took the opportunity to rule the land as self-proclaimed kings. They even managed to secure the support of the Cult of Sigmar in this, and acted with full autonomy from the Electorate Emperor.
The Rise of Magnus the Pious
When Magnus the Pious won the Great War Against Chaos and was installed as emperor, he chose to reform the Empire back to Sigmar's original model of elector counts ruling grand provinces with supporting nobles swearing oaths of fealty. He demanded all noble houses fall in line with his plans, be they currently posing as emperors, kings, princes, dukes, or anything else.
The Walfens, unrivalled kings of their domains for longer than any remembered, had no desire to swear fealty to any newly appointed Elector Count of Reikland, and demanded their lands be recognised as an independent sovereign state, much as Magnus planned for his beloved Nuln.
Magnus did not agree.
What followed was a tense period of fraught diplomacy where it seemed likely the von Walfens would not only defy the newly crowned emperor, but may even foment civil war and make an attempt to bring down Magnus's rule before it had even begun. However, the Cult of Sigmar, once long-time supporters of the stability brought by the Walfen family, now supported Magnus, as many of its members believed the new emperor may actually be Sigmar Reborn. The cult preached endlessly of the victorious new emperor and his plans to rebuilt the Sigmar's Holy Empire, and the people of the Suden Vorbergland paid heed. Soon, the entire province was up-in-arms: some protesting, some laying blockades, some refusing to work, some going farther. Eventually, after three years of disputes, uprisings, and significant difficulties, the Walfens were forced to Nuln to capitulate to Magnus the Pious's demands.
However, Magnus was apparently displeased with this slow response, and chose to make an example of House Walfen. When the Walfens finally kneeled before their new emperor and Elector Count, Magnus, in a shock pronouncement, sentenced their patriarch to death for treason, and stripped his descendants of more than half their lands and titles, all of which he claimed for himself. This done, he forced the remaining Walfens to swear loyalty to him directly as the newly installed grand prince of Reikland, then sent them back to their significantly reduced territories, taking the new Walfen heir as a hostage to ensure compliance.
Thus were the lands of Suden Vorbergland split. Half to be ruled by Magnus's most trusted allies, and the other half, the newly named Archduchy of Upper Teufel, ruled by the remaining Walfens in Magnus's name.
Present Day
Over two hundred years later, and the Walfens are still vassels of the grand prince of Reikland. Relations with the current grand prince, Karl-Franz I, are calm, primarily because the Walfens are loyal and effective rulers who bring in significant taxes to the grand prince's coffers.
Nevertheless, House Walfen still claim the provinces of Dunkelberg, Falken, Böhrn, and Hopfberg are theirs by right, and the more belligerent members of their powerful family still seek to reclaim them.
Geography
Upper Teufel is a mixture of fertile valleys and uplands nestling at the foot of the Grey Mountains to the south-east of Reikland, and mountainous gorges that lead into the Grey Lady pass to Bretonnia. Hopfberg, Böhrn, and Wallenstein lie to its north, Stirgau and Walfen sit to its east, Dunkelberg and Falken are to the south, and the Dwarfen Kingdom of Karak Angaraz and the unruled territory of Frugelhorn rise to its south and west. To the east, the land is dominated by the heavily farmed fertile plains in the shallow valley of the Ober. Heading west from there leads to the Goblin-plagued Blizfelsen Hills that rise in the north and continue in ridges southwards towards the imposing Grey Mountains in the south-west. Over the Blitzfelsen hills, two more fertile valleys spread around the Tranig and Teufel rivers, and both are spotted with farmsteads, hamlets, and villages. To the east, the archduchy includes territory that follows the Teufel to its source deep in the heights of the Greenskin-infested Grey Mountains, where imposing castles guard over the Grey Lady Pass. To the north and east, the Reikwald forest looms, though it has mostly been cleared in the Ober valley to make way for more farms and pastures.
The highest mountain in Upper Teufel is Mount Frugelhorn that marks the border to the south-east with Karak Angaraz. It soars some 15,312 feet upwards. The lowest point is in the lower reaches of the Ober valley near the duchy of Wallenstein at some 377 feet above sea level.
Investment
The archduke of Upper Teufel is financing a concerted effort to bring more trade through his lands. Recently, canals directly linking Upper Teufel to Nuln, Altdorf, and Carroburg were completed, significantly reducing the delivery times to and from those great cities. Further, many smaller canals have also been built to help ferry goods, ore, and food to central, distributing market towns, improving trade.
So successful has this been that the canals have already paid for themselves due to the increased volume of trade and taxes. With those extra funds, the archduke is now concentrating on overland investment, promoting a new network of quality roads, wardens, and coaching inns throughout Upper Teufel, all supported by fast postal services and stage coaches, and protected by a heavier Road and River Warden presence.
The ambitious archduke is also clearing significant areas of the Reikwald to increase his farmlands and pastures, though has found this difficult due to resistance from the many creatures already calling the forest home.
Fiefs
The Archduchy of Upper Teufel includes four Reikland Estates that are divided into many smaller fiefs.| Estate | Type | Population | Ruler | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falkenhayn | Duchy | 31000 | Heinrich IV | Falkenhayn |
| Haalstein | Duchy | 5500 | TBC | TBC |
| Stimmeswald | Duchy | 6000 | TBC | TBC |
| Ubersreik | Duchy | 40000 | Herald Nacht | NA |
Upper Teufel
Capital
NoneLargest city
StimmigenRuler
Archduke Viktor II on behalf of Grand Prince Karl-Franz ISeat
Walfenschloss in the Duchy of WallensteinPopulation
c. 70,000 soulsBreakdown
93% Humans3.8% Dwarfs
2% Halflings
0.1% Elves
0.1% Ogres
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