Westmarch

Westmarch is a toponym used to denote a western frontier region of a realm, derived from the term march, meaning a borderland or frontier, with west indicating the western location. In various works of fantasy and gaming, Westmarch appears as a setting or locale, often framed as a contested or sparsely settled border zone.

Historically, marches were border districts in medieval and early modern states, established to defend and expand a realm’s frontiers. They were typically governed with military and administrative authority by officials such as margraves or marquis, reflecting the dual aims of defense and settlement. A western march would function as the western edge of a kingdom or empire, combining fortifications, garrisoned towns, and frontier governance.

In contemporary popular culture, Westmarch is used as a fictional setting in fantasy literature and role-playing games. The best-known modern reference is The West Marches, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign framework created by Ben Robbins. This campaign is characterized by a shared, open-world frontier that accommodates multiple groups and irregular play schedules, emphasizing player-driven exploration, factional conflicts, and evolving storylines within a common borderland.

Geographically and culturally, a Westmarch in fiction typically features fortified towns, watchtowers, rugged terrain, and a mix of settlers, mercenaries, and raiders. Political authority can range from centralized rule to contest between neighboring realms or local factions, often highlighting themes of exploration, frontier justice, and frontier diplomacy.

See also: march (frontier), borderland, frontier (fiction), The West Marches.