Belkondíl

Belkondíl (olg. 'land by the rivers') is both a region in the southwestern corner of the Elondorian mainland on both banks of the rivers Cëlac and Brethan and the name of an ancient Olgish kingdom of vaguely the same dimensions. It is the homeland to the Olgish and Western Soskish cultures and was the core province of the Lécaronian Empire and initially its economic, cultural, and spiritual centre before its decline in favour of the Seligonian provinces. It borders both the Timesthe to the east and south and Runion to the west, leading to a split between the lusher and warmer meadows and woodland on the Timesthian side and the barren heath and moorland on the harsher Runion coast, one of the most sparsely populated regions in all of Elondor.

Etymology and Names

The name Belkondíl in this form seems to have originated as an adjective denoting relation to Belkontár, which itself derives from Proto-Ortûlékian *bêl-kond-tar 'land by the rivers', appealing to the region's location around the rivers Cëlac and Brethan. Later, the adjectival form became more prominent in use and eventually replaced the original label, a development commonly seen in Olgish place names. The old form Belkontár is still preserved in HArb. 'Elkontar', in Aribelian Myth the name of the First White City and capital of Almen, the legendary country of Aribelian origin south of the Ilathw. According to the (much younger) Lonsorigi, the Ortûlékian form of the name has been in use since the very beginning of its settlement; it is, however, not attested in writing until the 11^th century B.E.B. and presumably has its origins in the tumultous conflicts of the time preceding the foundation of Lon Avoch, initially vaguely denoting the area of Olgish dominion, sometimes including but usually explicitly separate from the Soskish sphere of influence. The first use of the term in its later context is found in the Claims of Enethin.

The most common epithet for Belkondíl might be the Country of Dark-Green Meadows (MOlg. Iranatimuritar), in reference to its mossy fields and moors and often in contrast with the Country of Light-Green Meadows (MOlg. Iranolikuritar), which is usually applied to Seligon, especially the fertile plains around the River Eargliss. In Iilish, the country is called Bealamas 'Land of the Burning Hills'. The Old Besokian term, as evidenced on the Nishunâc World Map, was Tûnûshetor 'Great Marsh', hence Proto-Soskish Tûnustu and Môrethic Dûnutu.

Geography

Map of Belkondíl

Traditionally, Belkondíl is considered to include all of the southwestern corner of Elondor, west of the Besokan and the Gulf of Seligon and south of the Reknayan Mountains and the River Ilathw. It is surrounded by sea on three sides, the Timesthe (including the Gulf of Seligon) in the east and southeast and the Runion in the west and southwest.

History of the Definition

For the first centuries of its use, the term's definitions was vague and variable. It most commonly referred to the strip of land between Cëlac and Brethan south of Lágon, in the time of Olgish clan wars roughly equivalent to the Olgish sphere of influence, purposefully excluding the Genes in the Ilathw plains, the Sosks and Auls in Oakshire, the Edhennín, and Morineb, and the Noldorinians in the later Brethanian lands. The first full definition of the extent of Belkondíl is given more than a thousand years later in the Claims of Enethin to the land rightfully subject to the Crown of Ortûlék. According to this claim, Belkondíl contains all area between the Ilathw and Besokan Rivers, including the islands of Corbin and the Mairn. This definition was retained in all sources following Enethins time, including the Lonsorigi in their portrayal of early history.

Climate and Vegetation

The climate of Seligon is determined both by its relatively flat relief and by its location in between two oceans. The shallow hills of the west provide little protection from the westerlies, leaving most of Belkondíls west coast exposed to Runion's harsh climate. Vegetation in this part is particularly sparse, with heath and moorland stretching over miles without as much as a small forest. Rain is frequent all year round, with moderate summers and mild winters. This area is among the most sparsely populated in all of Elondor and extends eastward roughly to the Brethan valley and south until Tár-Noldorin and the western shores of the White Sea, including most of Tarébras, Atrissar, Orinion, Noldorin, and the Mairn.

The lands east of the Brethan, and especially east of the Cëlac, are influenced by the considerably milder climate of the Timesthe.