[Endoperez]

There are few special provinces with special defenders. Usually it's just an Adept of Pyriphlegaton (Fire mage), few Abysian Infantriess and perhaps a Salamander or two, but few that guard unique items are usually tougher. The report will be pretty clear in those cases.

Here's a short list of some more common province types that are tougher to take, or have worse enemies:
Knights and Longbowmen, Elephants (with militia and slingers), Dark Vines (with some Bloodhenge Druids), Shark Knights, Amber Clan Tritons... and Devils. If you see Devils in an independent province, be afraid! Soul Contract the item gives one devil per turn. If an independent commander starts with it, the province will be FULL of Devils. Flying, trident-wielding, nasty Devils.
Because events can now afffect independent provinces, it's theoretically possibly for them to be affected by events. Independent attackers that would take control of your province join its original defenders. If Knights and/or Barbarians have joined forces with units that don't fit the theme, the provinces can be very hard to take. Also, beware Bogus the Troll. He attacks randomly, and he and his merry men have devastated many armies indeed.