Aldcliffe is the smallest city in East Moreland with a population of less than 200,000 and it is only a city by the fact that it was designated as one in the 12th Century by Royal Charter. It was however always a Holdfast by virtue of the fact that it was the site from where the historic march of peasants disenchanted with Borland rule began to head towards the conflict waging between what were to become the Morelanders and the Borlanders. This legion dressed originally in white peasant tunics ended up turning the tide of the Battle of Greenflowers and helped Robert become King. Legend states that by the end of battle their white tunics had been dyed red with the enemies blood. It was from this group King Robert selected the bodyguard for his coronation and this group began the tradition of Red Legion which today is the name given to East Moreland's most elite fighting unit. This historic connection has always made the Holdfast significant as whenever it has become vacant the monarch has often received offers of payment for the title as those holding it can claim to have the Red Legion HQ among their estates.
It is then perhaps little surprise that the original Duke of Aldcliffe in the time of East Moreland was Edwyn Warwick. He had been a Knight at the time time of the civil war that birthed East Moreland and had fought in several battles before losing his left hand and one eye. He was sent by Robert to protect the region around Aldcliffe to secure food stocks once the peasants massed ensured they had ample food stocks to carry before marching with them. He is said by chroniclers to have fought bravely during the battle and received deep wounds across his face which one prominent chronicle of the day said "Mirrored the deep lines of bravery worn by the God Jekar himself" It was then clear that Warwick would gain some great reward from his now King and the fertile fields of Aldcliffe were granted. The Duke took his charge extremely seriously and passed his own rules that every common man must practice the longbow, every common woman must know how to sew wounds while every noble woman must know how to use a light sword and every noble man must be able to tilt a lance. Temples even kept records of those who did not attend weekly practice. Aldcliffe therefore became a central hub for military prowess for the next 100 years further adding to the cities prestige as a militaristic hub.
The Warwick family kept the Duchy until 1263 when Francis Warwick died with only daughters. His eldest daughter Meredith was married to a well respected young Knight called Thomas Orien who therefore became the new Duke. The Orien family became well respected for encouraging knightly virtues by holding the largest jousting tournaments in the nation. For close to 200 years even the monarchs own tournaments are said to have paled in comparison. It was written that in 1347 a tournament took place lasting 30 days upon which 6000 deer and 2000 Wild Boar were consumed. The Orien family also began a tradition that continued throughout their stewardship where the 2nd sons became career soldiers at the court of the monarch while the eldest daughter became a Priestess. As such the family produced 12 commanders of Red Legion and 4 High Priestesses between 1263-1577. In 1577 the Orien family was headed by Thomas Orien who died with only a widowed childless sister to inherit the Duchy. At this point King Paul the Young had the 62 year old woman marry his friend Elroy Royston who was 19 years of age thus bringing the Orien claim to an end.
In 1580 Elroy Royston's much older wife died, some claim of poisoning, and the now 22 year old Elroy Royston remarried just two days later marrying a cousin of Paul the Young. The Royston family carried on the cities military traditions by constructing a large purpose built training field on the edges of the city, this location became Aldcliffe Barracks and is the site of the modern day HQ of Red Legion. The Royston family also maintained the tradition established by the Orien family of military service for 2nd sons and holy service for eldest daughters. They had less success than the Orien's however in claiming the highest status positions providing only 2 Red Legion Commanders and 1 High Priestess. One of the most notable honours given to the family while in possession of the Duchy was in 1777 Duke Peter Royston acted as the champion of King Sven the Grey during his coronation. Sadly it was just two years later that Duke Peter died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 with no children. This saw the Duchy pass to his younger sister Sarah.
Sarah Royston was just 13 years old when she became Duchess and almost immediately King Sven the Grey began receiving suitors for her hand in marriage. The King elected that she should marry William Hindmarch, a prominent naval officer at the time and the owner of several large iron mines around Silverhills purchased with bounties taken from pirates in the Illumic. Hindmarch was discovered, when documents were unearthed in an archive in Silverhills, to have sold two mines to King Sven the Grey for just EM£2 a day before the wedding was announced. This gave the Hindmarch family control of perhaps the most presitgious non royal held Holdfast. Upon his retirement from naval service in 1794 William Hindmarch retired to the city having set foot there for the first time since his wedding day. The Hindmarch's maintained control of the Duchy until 1904 when Richard Hindmarch passed away with no children.
The Duchy remained vaccant for six months until February 1905 as King John I was considering claiming the Duchy for himself however he determined instead that Brigadier Sullivan Bennett would be given the title and land. Brigadier Bennett was the current commander of Red Legion and was the 2nd son of a Lord of Spears thus was already blessed with noble connections. When granting the Duchy to the Brigadier King John I suggested that should the Duchy be vacated ever again the most recently retired commander of Red Legion should be given the title, something that has not been tested since. The Bennett family have retained the title ever since. The most recent holder of the lands is Annabeth Bennett who at the age of 24 inherited the title following her fathers death from a long battle with illness. At the time she worked in the Royal Stables having served in the military as a member of the Royal Household Cavalry.
Current Heir:- Duchess Annabeth Bennett is currently unmarried and childless. Her younger sister Holly currently stands to inherit the title.