London

London is the first, largest, and most famous city in Britain. As all lettered men of Britain know, Prince Aeneas, a survivor of the sack of Troy, founded the Roman tribe. His great-grandson Brutus led a sea-borne migration of Trojan exiles westward and eventually settled on this island. The natives called their land Albion, but the conquerors changed its name to Brutus-land, later corrupted to Britain.

History
Brutus built the city Troia Nova, or New Troy (later Trinovantes), as his capital. This occurred at the same time that the priest Eli was ruling in Judea and the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines — i.e., sometime between 1115 and 1075 BC.

A thousand years later, shortly before the coming of Julius Caesar, King Lud fortified the city and changed its name to Kaerlud, or Fort of Lud. A century later, the Romans conquered the land; its name was corrupted to Kaerlundein, and eventually London.

To the native Cymric city the Romans added their own typical urban buildings: a legionary camp, basilica, coliseum, baths, and temples. They also built the famous London Bridge, which is the only bridge that spans the navigable parts of the Thames River.

London Today
Two castles help to protect London. At the west end is the Castle Lud, built over the old site of Kaerlud.

At the eastern edge of the city is the White Tower, originally built by the Roman Emperor. The massive keep and castle serve as a royal residence and as refuge of last resort in times of war or uprising.

London is large and influential enough to be a political power in its own right. It is run by a city senate that determines internal affairs, such as judging its citizens in the city court rather than a king’s or nobleman’s court. The senate appoints leaders, called praetors, for specific tasks.

London rules over its surrounding countryside, the County of London, and also has its own permanent garrison, which also serves as night watch, police, and firemen. Although adequate for manning the walls, though, this standing army of footmen is inferior in the field.

Since London has no expansionist ambitions, its relatively small military force has usually proved sufficient.