Difference between revisions of "Riverlands"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
m (War of the Five Kings)
m
Line 47: Line 47:
  
 
{{Regions }}
 
{{Regions }}
 +
[[fr:Conflans]]

Revision as of 11:35, 14 August 2009

The Riverlands is the central region of Westeros. It consists of the fertile areas between the forks of the Trident. Because of its central position in Westeros the Riverlands have seen a lot of fighting. During the war's ruling families have come and gone and the borders of the Riverlands have changed. After the Conquest Aegon I appointed House Tully as overlord of the Riverlands. Since that time the Riverlands have been more stable.


Geography

The border between The North and the Riverlands is the swamp area of the Neck. To the north-east the Riverlands have access to the "Bite" bay although the area does not seem to have a port. Then mountains further to the east belong to the Vale. The mouth of the Trident lies at Saltpans and is part of the Riverlands. To the south of Maidenpool and Gods's Eye begins the area which directly ruled by the sovereign. From some way south of God's Eye the border runs south-west to the mountains with Stoney Sept belonging to the Riverlands. The mountains separate the Riverlands from the Westerlands. Then the border goes north until it reaches the Ironman's Bay.

Towns

The Riverlands does not contain any major cities but there are some towns: Fairmarket, Lord Harroway's Town, Saltpans, Maidenpool and Stoney Sept.

Rivers

The Riverlands haven gotten there name because of the number of rivers which are present. The Green Fork and the Red Fork run form the North to the Southwest. A short distance of Lord Harroway's Town they come together to form the Trident. The Red Fork runs from its source in the western mountains to Riverrun where it combines with the Tumblestone. Then it runs to the east and combines with the Trident before it running into see at Saltpans. In the south the Blackwater River runs through a part of the Riverlands.

Other places

Noteworthy places in the Riverlands are the old ruins at Oldstones where in ancient times a Riverland dynasty used to have its castle. God's Eye and the Island of Faces is another important place.


Accessibility and natural defences

It seems that the Riverlands only has easily defensible borders in the North (the Neck). Although there are mountains in the east and the west the mountains themselves seem to belong to the Vale and the Westerlands respectively. In the west the heavily fortified castle Goldentooth guards the entrance to the Riverlands but belongs it self to the Westerlands.

Economy

In the books the Riverlands are specifically mentioned as fertile. The agriculture flourishes and there are some fisheries along the rivers. The rivers are also used for trading and the transport of goods.

History

Before the Andals

Before the Andals came the Children of the forest lived in the Riverlands. When the First Men came the two people fought until a peace was made at the Isle of Faces. The land was divided: the Children would hold the forests and the First Man everything else. The First Man founded the first dynasty of the Riverlands.

Andals

Like everywhere else the new invading Andals fought against the First Man and held a specially hatred for the Children. The Andal King Erreg the Kingslayer tried to burn the sacred grove at High Heart. When the Children tried to stop him they were massacred. The ruling King of the Riverlands at the time of the Andal invasion was Tristifer IV of [[House Mudd]. He is said to have won 99 out of his 100 battles against the Andals. In the last battle he was killed. His son and successor was not as successful as his father and the Kingdom fell.
For a long time the Riverlands were the Kingdom of native Andal dynasties. The last native king was killed by Stormland invaders. This must have been about -360 AL. The Stormkings in turn were defeated by the Harwyn Hardhand. Harwyn's grandson build a great castle Harrenhal as his capitol. The building of the castle took forty years and a huge amount of resources and money. The same day the castle was finished Aegon I invaded Westeros at Kingslanding.


Targaryen era

Aegon had already defeated the Stormking and won the Field of Fire when he attacked Haren. Harren was very unpopular within the Riverlands and as Aegon approached a number of lord rebelled among Edmyn Tully against him Harren thought if he refused battle Aegon would have to siege the castle but Aegon let his dragons attack. The heat produced by the dragons was so great that the castle burned and melted. In the fire Harren and his children died. After his victory Aegon raised Edmyn Tully as lord paramount of the Riverlands as a sub kingdom below the sovereignty of the Targaryens.

Robert's Rebellion

After Robert rebellion started Hoster Tully took the side of the rebel's. He was already connected with them through the engagement of his daughter Catelyn with Brandon Stark who was executed by Aerys II. He had his daughter married to Brandon's younger brother Eddard and his younger daughter, Lysa, with Jon Arryn. A number of his vassals remained loyal to the Targaryen's: Darry, Ryger, and Goodbrook.

War of the Five Kings

The Riverlands were hard hit during the war. It started with raiders under command of Gregor Clegane. When a party under command of Beric Dondarrion went to the Riverlands to find and kill the attackers they were ambushed by them. Then the attackers resumed their killing and plundering. A second phase set in as Jaime Lannister defeated a Riverland army under command of [[Edmure Tully] and besieged Riverrun. Because Riverrun was surrounded by the Tumblestone and the Red Fork Jaime Lannister had to set up three camps to make an effective siege. A Northern army under Robb Stark moved near undetected and was able to defeat the different camps in turn liberating Edmure Tully and taking Jaime Lannister prisoner. Another Lannister army was still in the Riverlands, south of the Red Fork and was able to kill and plunder at will. Some castles were conquered (Harrenhal) others were sacked (Darry). In revenge the army of Robb Stark invaded the Westerlands.
After the Red Wedding the Riverland lord surrendered. Most were welcomed again in the King's peace. But the Tully’s were disposed of Riverrun and the over lordship of the Riverlands. Even thought the war had ended outlaw bands and broken man still roam the Riverlands. Some officially fighting in the name of king Robert bust most killing at will.