The area/district/state is a Republican 'stronghold'.
The rebels retreated to their mountain 'stronghold'.
the last 'stronghold' of the endangered deer
(..) Queen Enid had died... but the rumor that she had given birth to a son... continued to plague King Aella. Although his castle became the stronghold of all England... Aella was unable to stop the Viking raids. Now let it be known... throughout the kingdom of Northumbria... (..)1958 The Vikings