Marcher

In English history, Marcher refers to the borderlands, or marches, between England and Wales. The lordships in this area were distinct in several ways: they were geographically compact, and they usually had special privileges which separated them from the usual English governmental structures.

By extension, the term is also applied to the similar lordships within Wales.

Important marcher lordships include:

• Brecon
• Chester
• Chirk
• Glamorgan
• Gloucester
• Gower
• Hereford
• Pembroke
• Wigmore

The Earldom of March was comprised of several of these.

Prominent marcher aristocratic families include:

• Bohun
• Braose
• Clare
• Mortimer