Provinces of Ostland

The provinces of Ostland are comprised of the fiefdoms held by the Elder and landed Lesser Nobles of the Kingdom. All provinces held by the Elder Nobility have never been a fiefdom of another noble, while the situation with the Lesser Nobility is a slightly more complex issue. Landed Lesser Nobles are, for the most part, fiefs of the Elder Nobility with some exceptions as there are independent provinces held by the Lesser Nobles without affiliation to a larger fiefdom. This is especially true with "Free Cities", which are effectively city-states centered around a Burgravate - a recognized Nobly-held castle. Other exceptions exist but are less common.