Eleven Kingdoms (fictional)

Eleven Kingdoms
Map created by Grey Ghost Press for a role-playing game
Deryni novels location
Created by	Katherine Kurtz
Genre	Historical fantasy
Type	Fantasy world
Notable locations	Gwynedd, Torenth
Notable characters	Kelson Haldane, Camber MacRorie

The Eleven Kingdoms is a fictional collection of nations that serve as the primary setting of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz. Although the exact number of sovereign kingdoms varies through the literary history of the novels, the term remains in use throughout the series.

The Kingdom of Bremagne is located at the western tip of the southern half of the continent that is home to the Eleven Kingdoms. It is founded in the mid-sixth century, when the Count of Magne succeeds in conquering the neighboring states. The Bremagni Church rises to prominence over the next century, eventually dominating the ecclesiastical landscape of the Eleven Kingdoms, but its influence is ultimately broken when Count Augarin Haldane establishes the Kingdom of Gwynedd in an effort to secure the independence of his local clergy. Despite a rebellion in the ninth century, Bremagne remains a largely peaceful realm, rarely engaging in any international conflicts with its neighbors and reaping the prosperous bounty of its rich fields and mild climate.

Nestled between the lands of Howicce, Meara, and Gwynedd, The Connait consists of a collection of sovereign states with no single ruling authority between them. Throughout the centuries, the various states of The Connait have fought many battles and wars over the exact boundaries of their lands, resulting in many generations of highly trained warriors that are often hired as mercenaries by other lands. The independent lands of The Connait include: the Principality of Pardiac, the Principality of Arbroath, the Grand Duchy of Calam, the Duchy of Llangan, the Duchy of Cyby, the Duchy of Gaël, the Bishopric of Tyburn, the Free Republic of Fenwick, numerous counties and baronies, and several abbeys. There is a reference in KKB to a "Council of Princes", which indicates that the various states of the Connait may have formed some sort of federation.

The United Kingdoms of Howicce and Llannedd are located at the southwestern tip of the Eleven Kingdoms. Llannedd lies south of The Connait and west of Gwynedd, while Howicce occupies the land between Llannedd and the Atalantic Ocean. After more than four centuries as independent kingdoms, King Colman I of Howicce marries Queen Gwenaël of Llannedd in the eleventh century, and their son eventually inherits both crowns. Despite having a single monarch, each realm remains a sovereign nation with its own government and peerage, united only by the monarch who sits upon both thrones. However, the differing laws of succession in each kingdom leave open the possibility that the two lands may eventually become separate. Howicce's crown may only descend in the male line; Llannedd permits succession in the female line.