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what is a marcher lord? In medieval times a marcher lord was a knight who was given lands on the borders of the kingdom. These knights were charged with patrolling and defending these wildlands, the marches, and thus protecting the heartland. Marcher lords were both the first line of defense and the secure bastions from which civilization could expand. Marcher lords defended the boundaries of England on the border with Wales in the west and Scotland in the north. The most famous marcher lord in Western civilization was William Marshall, who maintained the march against Wales and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta. That's his coat of arms in the left margin. The best marcher lords were characterized by fierce independence, unwavering loyalty, and a certain defiance. Not everyone had the courage to stand alone in the breach, to leave the well-tended lawns of the kingdom and live the cold and solitary life that a marcher lord must live. The concept of the marcher lord was present in other European nations and periods of history, as well. The marcher lord was the direct descendent of the Roman margrave. The modern Denmark (the Danish marches) bears this terminology, and the national anthem of Azerbaijan is called "The March of Azerbaijan." We also see the marcher lord in literature. In Lord of the Rings our favorite ruler of Rohan, Theoden King, was Lord of the Mark (march). The horse lords of Rohan ruled over the Ridder-Mark, or "rider march." They held the ancient boundaries. marcher lord press continues the tradition Just as the historical marcher lords guarded the borders of the heartland and served as the basis from which civilization could expand, so Marcher Lord Press hopes to do the same. Christian speculative fiction is, both in a literary and a figurative sense, way out on the boundaries. It's a keep on the borderlands, the last fortified stronghold on the edge of the wildlands. The last spot on the map. We're exploring terra incognita with our stories and our publishing approach. Marcher Lord is also hoping for the day when the "civilization" of publishing has reached and passed us. We wish to hold the frontier so well and so long that finally Christian speculative fiction will no longer be considered something strange way out on the fringes, but a part of the heartland of Christian publishing. Our logo perfectly captures the spirit of the marcher lord, and of Marcher Lord Press. There is courage and strength and the defiance to say this is where we plant our flag. If you want to attack the heartland, you've got to come through me first.

also see...  The fascinating article on Marcher Lords here. The Wikipedia article on William Marshall. Photos of Caerphilly Castle, built by the Welsh marcher lord Gilbert de Clare. The bio page for our own marcher lord.

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