The Crownlands

Aelric (I)

Founded: 0-1 A.M (Founded at the moment of Edward's Manifestation)

Founder: Edward Elric & Julia Crichton

Seat: Elheim

Overview: Most senior line of Aelric and Yulia, it is from this lineage that all other princely houses are either directly or indirectly descended from. Taking this a step further, every noble house or person in Westeros who can manifest Aelkemie and call upon the Erd could be said to be descended from Aelric, and likely many more who can't. For thousands of years, this family has ruled the continent of Westeros with the help of its junior branches. While their direct influence has waned in the past, their position as the preeminent family of Westeros has never been directly opposed.

Yulian (XI)

Founded: 1467 A.M

Founder: Yulian the Just

Seat: Chormont

Overview: 11th most senior house of the Aethlings. Their establishment was likely for the sole administrative benefit of the Aelrics who were finding it increasingly difficult to manage the increasing population of the Crownlands. While young compared to their more senior cousin Houses, this house has for centuries largely monopolized the position of Chief Minister of the Left, giving them a disproportional amount of influence on the greater state apparatus. Often seen as the de-facto heads of the more liberal "Yulian" faction. Those that form a party around this faction are called "Yulemen."

Manas (VI)

Founded: 3rd Century A.M

Founder: Manas der Dunkheit (the Darkling or Dark child)

Seat: Dimrath

Overview: 6th most senior house of the Aethlings. This House is amongst the oldest Princely families and is infamous for their ability to move and harden the very shadows that are cast on the earth, a form of Aelkemie that lends to their deadly reputation. Sometimes referred to as the Dunblüd. They of all Aethling houses hold the Dunrechtor "Dark right," which allows them the ability to administer the Kings' Justice even unto other Princes of the Blood.

Gwyndol (III)

Founded: 1st Century A.M

Founder: Gwyndol Lichtmacher (Light-Maker)

Seat: Glühenberg

Overview: Founded in the waning years of Aelric's life by his great-grandson Gwyndol. This branch of the family has held the hereditary position of Chief Minister of the Right for as long as there has been written record in Westeros. As their position would suggest, they are considered the right hands of the Royal family, a position few would dare to challenge, but not one that has ever gone unchallenged. Considered the de-facto heads of the conservative "Gwyndol" faction. Those that form a party around this faction are often touted as Gwints or Gwents, or more derisively as Gwinnys.

The Great Vale

Alm (IV)

Founded: 1st Century A.M

Founder: Saint Alm "The Seraphin"

Seat: Almuth

Overview: 4th most senior house in the Aethling hierarchy, this house was founded by Saint Alm who achieved the miracle of flight and commanded the four winds to bring the heathen Mountain Clans to heel and convert them to the Sevenfold religion. Thus, setting the stage for the conversion and integration of the Great Vale into Westeros. Legendary for their beauty, the head of this branch of royals holds the title Grand Seraph and guards Himewoke the Sky Temple, the third holiest place in Sevenfold religion, if the most mysterious and unreachable.

Caelum (XII)

Founded: 1594 A.M

Founder: Caelum Kovenweber (Cave-weaver)

Seat: Preihaven "the Undercity"

Overview: 12th in seniority, this House was founded in the midst of the Warsung by Caelum third son of King Aurus, and a daughter of the then Prince of Alm, Prince Emric II, during the second great Valerian incursion into the Vale, which is remembered there still as the "Drachenpresse." Caelum led many scattered Valemen into the safety of a cave at the base of a mountain that would later bear his name, first weaving the stone walls and foundations into a small hamlet, the town which his people would christen "Freidal Hafen," which in ancient Andolosi translates roughly to "Peaceful Haven". His son and descendants would continue to expand the foundations of this new princely seat until it was more commonly known as, "the Undercity."

The Westlands

Elucifer (V)

Founded: 2nd Century A.M

Founder: Elucifer Eberflamme (Ever-flame)

Seat: Burnholme

Overview: 5th in seniority, known as The Crimson Kings or The House of Salamanders, the House of Elusifer is infamous for two things. First is their red hair, which they will go to great lengths to maintain in their princely branch. Second; their tempers, which has given them a reputation for butting heads with their cousins, even senior Royal Aelrics, sometimes to the point of violence, and always to the woe of those around them. Their ability to manipulate explosive flame has made them legendary even in Valeria for their war potential.

Aurmos (XVIIII)

Founded: 2554 A.M

Founder: Aurmos Hartfisk (Hard-fist)

Seat: Bellrock

Overview: 19th in seniority, and amongst the youngest of the Princely houses. This house was founded by Prince Aurmos, a younger brother of King Alfon XI "The Duressed." Aurmos was infamous in Elheim for his vagabond nature and penchant for martial pursuits. A stalwart and beloved companion to his brother, his recklessness was often regarded as more a burden than a blessing. Still, his duel with Princess Elfrith II Elusifer or "Pyresong" is legendary, and ultimately solved the greatest of his brother's problems without bloodshed, for which he was honored in the Westlands with his own house. Today the House of Aurmos largely retain their martial traditions, hosting and sometimes even participating in the Burngold Tournfest, a month-long Tournament-festival held once every seven years where everyone from Princes (under strict condition) to Squires can compete for fame and glory.

The Riverlands

Aelinor (II)

Founded: 1st Century A.M

Founder: Saint Aelinor, Our Lady of the Holy Peace

Seat: Golbaum

Overview: Second eldest of the Aethling houses, this house was founded by Princess Aelinor, whom legend tells us was the most beloved of Holy Aelric's grandchildren. The legendary lengths she went through to save her brother-husband Aurin "the Elder," from death culminated with the High heart Pact which foresaw the beginnings of a lasting truce between the Southern Children (of the forest) and the recently established Andals. Upon her death her son Aurin "the Younger," buried her with his father and planted a Weirwood sapling at their grave. The sapling grew to maturity on "the seventh hour of the seventh day, and all those man or child knew the blood of Aelinor was the blood of Aelric, and were delivered of their pain, lifted from their hatred." As word of the Miracle spread and the tree's healing powers were purported, the city that grew around it became a hub for pilgrims both of the Old and Sevenfold faiths, with members of House Aelinor serving as the city's Priest-Princes. The religo-royal role of this branch of the Aelrics has resulted in the term Archprince or Archprincess when referring to this dynasty's head.

Joxter (XVI)

Founded: 2260 A.M

Founder: Joque Longfisher

Seat: Snuffton

Overview: As the Riverlords have always had the reputation of being nigh ungovernable, imposing better central administration has always been a goal of the Kings and Queens of Westeros, if not always a priority. This has, however, always been more easily said than done. In bygone days, River Dukes had the tendency to unite behind the House of Aelinor knowing there would be little to no repercussions from their Archprinces (who loathed violence) once the threat of central control had drifted. To mitigate this problem, Queen Elmina III elevated her 4th child Prince Joque to his own princely house with the help of a coalition consisting of no less than half of the Riverland Nobility, each of whom expected at least 1 daughter to marry the new Lorded Prince. Stories of the exhausted Joque failing to please his two dozen wives and avoiding his horde of children in favor of a quiet evening fishing are the subject of lighthearted ballads and humorous parables throughout the Riverlands.

Aelfin (XX)

Founded: 2646 A.M

Founder: Ael Katzpaw (Cat's Paw)

Seat: Kolm

Overview: To explain the role the Aelfins serve in Westeros is both simple and overly complex. The Riverlands lies at the heart of interkingdom trade, and the lords therein have always been especially protective of their independence. Historically, often using their Princes to shield themselves from the Crown's attempts to centralize regional authority, and almost always done under the veil of submission. While many would prefer to simplify this historical issue to lackadaisical Princes, or some sort of cultural belligerence on the part of the River folk, the problem is multifaceted and deserves its own in-depth study. What the Aelfins brought to the Riverlands was a measure of stability and organization through their skilled manipulation of the Riverland's Stadtholders (City holders) and lower nobility, which became a powerbase from which to force authority unto overmighty dukes. Still, for all their wealth and power, they carry the burden of being among the youngest of the Aethling houses, a position that grants them less influence within the greater family than their power would suggest.

I had originally meant to put every region's Princely Houses, but was a few houses short of each and didn't think I'd finish by tonight. Still, I promised an update, so hopefully, I'll have part 2 finished by Sunday. There are 21 houses in total with each overview giving a snippet of information on each. Regionals are deserving of their own informationals, but hopefully, each family gives you an idea of how the regions developed around them.

Note:

Aelfin (XX) -Seniority, i.e The 20th Aethling house.

Founded: 2646 A.M -You may notice that some of the newer families have specific dates as opposed to [3rd Century A.D], which is used with the oldest families. There is a reason for this.

Comment and review. As always, constructive criticism is always welcome.