Region

Current Regions

Regions are large geographic areas within kingdoms which are not unified under principality status. Regions exist as reporting conveniences to kingdom officers.

Current (July 2025) Kingdom Law states:

Article VI.B Other Branches and Divisions of the Kingdom

5) Other Divisions of the Kingdom:

b) Regions

(1) Are a group of geographically contiguous branches, which are grouped together for ease of Kingdom administration.

(2) May be defined for an office by its Kingdom officer as needed.

(3) Are not official branches in their own right.

(4) May not have champions; sponsor events; or maintain separate funds or bank accounts

The An Tir Website shows branches divided into three regions: Inlands, Rivers, and Western.

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However, they do have a history…

History of the first Regions

First Creation and names of Regions

Regions were created to assist with the management of the kingdom, as it was, and still is, a rather large geographic area.

June 1985 - Fist listing of Regions in the Crier. Regions listed were Southwest Oregon, Eastern WA/Northern ID, and Alberta, with regional seneschals listed for each.

Jan 1986 - Regions listed were Summits (SW Oregon), Eastern WA/Northern ID, and Alberta, with regional seneschals listed for each.

Jan 1989 - Regions listed included Avacal (Alberta), Eastern WA/Northern ID, Summits (SW Oregon). Mid 1989 listed seneeschals, and some regions had newsletters.

Jan 1999 - Regions listed included Inlands (Northern ID, Northeastern OR & Eastern WA), Northern (Western BC and Northwestern WA), Rivers (Northerwestern OR and Southwestern WA), and Western (Western WA). Summits and Avacal had become principalities by this time.

Issues with the Regions

In January of 2000, Davin and Groa published as part of their missive in the Crier, some clarifications on regional status. They quoited kingdom Law at the time, Article VII(D)(2) which stated "Regions are a group of geographically contiguous branches which are grouped together for ease of Kingdom Administration. They are not official branches in their own right.". In general, they cautioned that regional officers are powers are granted by the crown for administrative reporting, and regional officers were not to consider themselves to have rank or authority over Shires, Branches, or Baronies. Regional events existed, but the regional officers were cautioned to not exert pressure of the regions groups to participate or contribute, and such participation or contribution was to be entirely voluntary. Likewise, regional champions were cautioned that while their titles were well-won, they should not imply any privilege beyond respect and recognition for having won such a tourney, and that they should be in fealty to the crown (either directly, or via swearing to the region or one of it's Baronies).

They further went on to clarify that Principalities forming are from a "grassroots" movement, and while regional officers might ease the transition of such a movement, a region does not imply anything about Principality status (or intent to achieve it).

First Regions "High Water Mark"

By April 2002, the Crier listed regions and Principalities thusly:

• Principality of the Summits (Southwestern, OR) - branches included Barony of Adiantum (Eugene, OR), Shire of Briaroak (Roseburg, OR), incipient Shire of Cavesgate (Cave Junction, OR), Shire of Corvaria (Ben, Jefferson, Deschutes & Crook Counties, OR), Shire of Glyn Dwfn (Medford, Ashland, Jackson County, OR), incipient Shire of Myrtle Holt (Grants Pass, OR), Canton of Nordholt (of Adiantum) (Linn County, OR), Shire of Southmarch (Klamath Falls, Klamath & Lake Counties, OR).

• Principality of Avacal (Eastern BC, AB & SK) - branches included Shire of Bitter End (Red Deer, AB), Barony of Borealis (Edmonton to Cold Lake, AB), Shire of Cold Keep (Prince George, BC), Canton of Harrows Cross (of Montengarde) (Strathmore & environs), Shire of Loch Door (E Kootenays, BC), Barony of Montengarde (Calgary, AB), Barony of Myrgan Wood (Saskatoon, SK), Shire of Sigelhundas (Regina, SK), Canton of Stonewolf (of Borealis) (Cold Lake, AB), Shire of Valley Wold (Moose Jaw, SK), Canton of Venaquilon (of Borealis) (Edmonton, AB), incipient Canton of Vingaard (of Borealis) (Grand Prairie, AB), Shire of Windwyrm (Lethbridge, AB)

• Crown Principality of the North (Western BC & Northwestern WA) - branches included shire of Appledore (Kelowna and Okanagan Valley, BC), incipient Shire of Cai Mor (Kitmat and Terrace, BC), incipient Shire of Coil Mhor (100 Mile House, BC), Shire of Cragmere (Cambell River, BC), Port of Crickstow-On-Sea (CFB Esquimalt, BC), Shire of Dredgate (Omak, WA), Shire of Eisenmarche (Coquitlem & Pitt Meadows, BC), Shire of False Isle (Powell River, BC), Shire of Frozen Mountain (W. Kootenays, BC), Shire of Harbwood (Nanaimo, BC), Shore of Krakafjord (Vernon, BC), Canton of Lionsdale (of Lions Gate) (Abbotsford & Chilliwack, BC), Barony of Lions Gate (Vancouver, BC), incipient shire of Mforet/Danscombe (Kelowna through Penticton, BC), Shire of Ramsgaard (Kamloops, BC), Shire of Ravensweir (Quesnel & Williams Lake, BC), Barony of Seagirt (Victoria, BC), Shire of Shittimwoode (Bellingham-Whatcom County, WA), College of St. Giles (University of Victoria, BC), Shire of Tir Bannog (Smithers, BC)

• Inlands Region (Northern ID, Northeastern OR & Eastern WA) - branches included Canton of Akornebir (of Wastekeep) (Walla Walla, WA), Shire of Ambergard (Grant County, WA), incipient Shire of Azure Keep (Umatilla County, OR), incipient College of Cranehaven (Chelan County, WA), College of Lions March (Pullman, WA & Moscow, ID), Shire of Pendale (Sandpoint, Bonner & Boundary County, ID), incipient Canton of Silverhart (of Wealdsmere) (Kootenai County, ID), Shire of Vulcanfeldt (Yakima - Yakima County, WA), Barony of Wastekeep (Tri-Cities, WA), Barony of Wealdsmere (Spokane - Spokane County, WA), Shire of Windwic (Klickitat County, WA)

• Rivers Region (Northwestern OR & Southwestern WA) - branches included Shire of Coeur Du Val (Corvallis, Benton County, OR), Shire of Dragon's Mist (Washington County, OR), incipient shire of Dun an Calahd (Lincoln County, OR), shire of Fire Mountain Keep (Lewis County, WA), incipient shire of Heron's Reach (Clatsop County, OR), shire of Mountain Edge (Yamhill County, OR), shire of River's Bend (Kelso & Longview - Cowlitz County, WA), Barony of Stromgard (Vancouver, WA), Barony of Terra Pomaria (Marion and Polk Counties, OR), Barony of Three Mountains (Clackamas & Multnomah Counties, OR)

• Western Region (Western WA) - branches included incipient Stronghold of An Gegrasdan Oir (of Blatha an Oir) (Ft Lewis, WA), Barony of Aquaterra (Snohomish County, WA), Canton of Bearwood (of Aquaterra) (E Snohomish County, WA), Barony of Blatha an Oir (Tacoma - Pierce County, WA), Barony of Dragon's Laire (Kitsap and N Mason Counties, WA), Shire of Druim Doineann (Port Angeles - Clallam & Jefferson Counties, WA), Barony of Glymm Mere (Olympia, Tumwater & Lacey, WA), Barony of Madrone (King County, WA), Shire of Midhaven (Skagit, San Juan & N Island Counties, WA), Canton of Port de l'Eau (of Madrone) (East King County, WA), College of St. Bunstable (of Madrone) (University of Washington, WA), College of Whittanhaven (The Evergreen State College - Olympia, WA), Shire of Wyewood (S King County, WA)

Regions listed as regional officers:

• Seneschal (and deputy)
• Chronicler
• Minister of Arts & Sciences
• Chatelaine
• Dean of Pages
• Constable
• Exchequer
• Chirurgeon
• Marshal (and Archery Deputy)
• Rapier Marshal

First Regions dissolved

In May 2002, the Crier had an announcement from the Kingdom Seneschal, that regions were being dissolved, and that regional officers should receive instructions from their kingdom superiors about how to proceed. The crier stopped listing branches by region in this same issue.

According to many remembrances, the regions were "acting too much like Principalities". There were issues with these supposedly administrative groupings becoming too attached to their activities (regions put on regional level events, had many officers, newsletters, and had championships)