Dragonstone
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Dragonstone is a castle on an volcanic island at the mouth of Blackwater Bay. It was the original seat of House Targaryen in Westeros and later passed to House Baratheon after Robert's Rebellion.
[edit] Features
Dragonstone was built using advanced, Valyrian techniques of masonry that were lost in the Doom, causing it to look unique among all the castles in Westeros. Its walls are carved into the shapes of dragons, and thousands of gargoyles carved into various shapes serve as crenellations along the three curtain walls. The main keep is called the Stone Drum because powerful winds cause it to make a booming sound during storms. At the top of the keep is a study that includes a large physical map of Westeros on the floor. At the precise location of Dragonstone is a raised seat that allows the sitter to view the entire map. Aegon I had this map room made before the War of Conquest.
The island of Dragonstone was created by the Dragonmount, an active volcano. Beneath the mountain are rich deposits of dragonglass. In addition to the castle, there is also a smal fishing village on the island. A short distance off the coast is the island of Driftmark, which now contains House Velaryon, another Valyrian house.
[edit] History
When House Targaryen took possession of the island of Dragonstone, they built the castle of Dragonstone to become the westernmost outpost of the Freehold of Valyria. For centuries, the Targaryens ruled the island quietly. After the Doom, Aegon the Conqueror plotted his conquest of Westeros from the castle. Once the Targaryens created King's Landing as the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, Dragonstone became the seat of the heir apparent, who was styled Prince of Dragonstone.
During Robert's Rebellion, the castle became the last haven of the remaining Targaryens. Rhaella and Viserys were evacuated there before King's Landing fell to the rebels. Rhaella gave birth to Daenerys there during a terrific storm and died shortly afterwards. As rebel forces prepared to lay siege to Dragonstone, the last scions of House Targaryen fled the castle for Braavos.
After the war, the castle passed to Stannis Baratheon. Stannis resented the castle because its lands were far poorer than those of Storm's End, which he felt was his due as heir of House Baratheon. He considered the castle to be a insult, though Robert could have simply been continuing the Targaryen tradition of placing the heir to the throne at Dragonstone.
During the War of the Five Kings, the poor lands of Dragonstone gave Stannis few supporters for his claim to the throne. After his defeat at the Battle of the Blackwater, he returned there to plot his next move. After he left to help the Night's Watch, forces loyal to King Tommen Baratheon laid siege to the castle. Cersei Lannister manipulated Loras Tyrell into forcing a quick end to the siege. He reportedly did so, turning what could have been a peaceful surrender into a bloodbath and becoming grievously wounded in the process.
