Note to King Lear, 1.1.2: 'Albany' and 'Cornwall'

    The duchies of Albany and Cornwall were both on the far borders of Britain. At the time that King Lear was first performed, King James (James 6 of Scotland, James 1 of England) was also the Duke of Albany, and Albany was the region of Scotland north of the Firth of Froth (which is just north of the 56th parallel on the map below). Cornwall was and still is the southwestern corner of the island.
    So it seems to me that King Lear intends to give the center of his kingdom [the most populated, productive, and desirable part] to his youngest and most beloved daughter, Cordelia.