Langaeyjar Fylk (The Kalmar Union)

Langaeyjar Fylk occupies the island of the same name which lies just offshore of the Leifian mainland. A thin channel, the Austorass, separates the Fylk from Margirhaedeyja whilst a broader body of water Djórflarflóy to the North separates it from Sudervik. The population is around 1,775,900 and the Fylkcapital is Skelflóbae.

History
Originally occupied by several Leifian native tribes the early Vinlanders found the island a perfect base for expansion. The islanders had long been exploited by tribes on the mainland so welcomed the armed Norse settlers. With the mainland soon brought under Norse control too the island was carved up into various feudal parcels and the native inhabitants would largely be absorbed by 1300. Aside from those parts under church control or part of the Royal Domain the rest would generally fall under the aegis of the Earls of Langaeyjar, though even this would be subject to constant division and reassembly.

Its earls enjoyed a generally peaceful and prosperous fiefdom, free from the constant probing attacks of neighbours. This left them able to largely pursue their own agendas, often descending into fierce rivalry with Margirhaedeyja and Sudervik, exemplified by the rule of Thorey I and the subsequent Álengsk Civil War.

In 1732 the incumbant earl was declared unfit for government and a clique of nobles would attempt to rule the island on behalf of the new earl, an infant. They attempted to line their own pockets first of course. Profits for livestock farming far outweighed that for crops and many tried to cash into this threwing a considerable number of indentured farmers off their land. This provoked riots in Langaeyjarsk towns as well as increasing grain and food prices in the rest of the country. The nobles proved unable to quell the unrest and called on the mainland to assist. Seizing the opportunity, the reformist Althing under Queen Herridr I (which effectively only controlled the Royal Domain) offered a small army to help quell the protests but under certain conditions, namely that the government of the earldom was turned over to a civilian body answerable to the Althing at St. Hafdiss and that the various counties sent a full complement of representatives to the long-ignored chamber. Any qualms the nobles had about this would be eased by the offer that all Royal Domain lands on the island would be handed to the new fylkthing to govern as well. Considering these were well-run and profitable lands it seemed a good trade. The Fylk of Langaeyjar with its elected fylkthing would come into existence on 1st September 1735. Further treaties with the independent cities and church land would follow over the next couple of decades until the entire island was united in 1768.

The small land 'clearances' which had already occured were ratified but further advances firmly halted. The various militia forces belonging to the earldom and independent cities were disbanded and a fully Álengsk army was created for the first time in centuries. The small flotilla belonging to the Earls was folded into the Royal Navy too. The process was slow but methodical and transparent. And ultimately it worked; other parts of Álengiamark, seeing how well the new arrangements were benefitting both parties, were soon clamouring to be turned into fylks.

Lacking significant mineral wealth the fylk has remained largely agricultural and the burgeoning city of Kristjanaborg to the immediate west has largely ditated its financial fortunes in the modern era. Langaeyjar was finally connected to Kristjanaborg, and thereby to the rest of the country by the Múkaustobrénn bridge in 1969. Many of the westernmost towns have effectively become suburbs of Kristjanaborg and a network of railways has now spread across the island.