What follows is a historical entry in the Annals of Östlaed originally written by Anwealda Mark Stefan in 508, concerning events in the Years 507 and 508. The creation of the realm of Östlaed was the pivotal moment for the Östron tribes of the Mercurian Empire. United in one realm, a true land to call their own culturally and politically.
Originally just one Farthing, the realm grew rapidly in the time before the election of the first Emperor - King Myron, of the Kingdom of Pyrencia (a close friend and ally of the Östron people at this time). New land that was added had no official designation other than the villages it contained. Thanes ruled these villages as the highest ranking non-nobles in those lands. Once a Farthing was fully established, it could be combined with other Farthings into a Shire. The three first Farthings of the realm of Östlaed became Acholmshire, consisting of Acholm, Merscafen, and Wiccaweald.
Other lands were added around the year 500: Gourdham, Fleoteig, and the Scitteeige. These areas were given Farthing designations, however, no Thanes are officially recognized there at this time. Gourdham is home to gourd farmers and cattle ranchers, however, this Östron tribe has yet to build a suitable village or town to assign a Thane to. Fleoteig is an island given to Östlaed by the Council of the Crowned and is home to a small group of Östron fishermen and raiders. The Scitteeige are home to a few villages of Östron raiding types, as well as some degenerates of a scary race in a horrible place nobody should ever visit. Gourdham is hoped to someday become the seat of a new Shire that would include an additional farthing further south of it, as well as the Scitteeige. Fleoteig will remain an independent Farthing from any Shire for the foreseeable future.
In the year 507, the Council of the Crowned of the Mercurian Empire made several official diplomatic trips to Östlaed to discuss the future of the realm with Eorl Mark Stefan. After a few such visits, the Council voted to recognize Eorl Mark Stefan as an Anwealda (Duke) and thus all the rights and responsibilities of that title. Immediately the Thanes of the realm called for expansion to include several unruly tribes of Östron people to the east - the Horse Tribes. At this same Thanesmoot, Anwealda Mark Stefan announced that several noble houses of Östlaed would be created, to rule over each Farthing, and be given the title of Eorl.
These horse tribes had long been a thorn in Anwealda Mark Stefan's side. They had robbed traders from Östlaed, and even on occasion raided the farmers on the edge of Acholm. Some had petitioned to be included in the realm previously, therefore, Anwealda Mark met the 5 Thanes of the horse plains east of Östlaed in peace to discuss terms in the year 508. It was agreed that these 5 villages would join the realm of Östlaed peacefully as the Farthings of Beorcfeld and Friþhengest, with Friþhengest possibly home to a larger village in the future to serve as the capital of a new Shire.
