Difference between revisions of "Westerlands"

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[[File:Sarah Morris The WesterlandsII.png|The westerlands. © FFG|thumb|350px|right]]
 
[[File:Sarah Morris The WesterlandsII.png|The westerlands. © FFG|thumb|350px|right]]
  
The westerlands lies along the coast of the [[Sunset Sea]], with [[Ironman's Bay]] and the [[Iron Islands]] to the north.<ref>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'', [[A Dance with Dragons-Map of the South|Map of the South]]</ref> Settlements on the western coast include [[Banefort]], [[the Crag]], [[Faircastle]] on [[Fair Isle]], [[Kayce]], [[Feastfires]], [[Casterly Rock]] with [[Lannisport]], and [[Crakehall]]. Hills and mountain ranges are spread throughout the westerlands, with inland castles near the Rock including [[Ashemark]] and [[Sarsfield]].{{ref|TLOIAF}}
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The westerlands lie along the coast of the [[Sunset Sea]], with [[Ironman's Bay]] and the [[Iron Islands]] to the north.<ref>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'', [[A Dance with Dragons-Map of the South|Map of the South]]</ref> A salient of the northeastern westerlands extends near the ruins of [[Oldstones]] and the [[Blue Fork]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Westerlands}} Castles on the northwestern coast include [[Banefort]] and the [[Crag]]. [[Faircastle]] is located on [[Fair Isle]], while [[Feastfires]] and the market town of [[Kayce]] are found on a peninsula jutting into the sea.{{ref|TLOIAF}}
  
The headwaters of the [[Tumblestone]] and the [[Red Fork]] flow east into the [[riverlands]]. The main pass through the eastern mountains is guarded by the [[Golden Tooth]], a castle which controls access to the [[river road]] leading to [[Riverrun]]. Further south is the [[Goldroad]], which runs east to [[King's Landing]]. [[Deep Den]] watches the Goldroad, with [[Hornvale]] to the north and [[Silverhill]] to the south.{{ref|TLOIAF}}
+
Also along the coast is [[Casterly Rock]], the seat of [[House Lannister]], a fortress carved out of a massive hill of solid rock. Near the Rock is [[Lannisport]], a port and one of the largest cities of [[Westeros]].{{ref|TLOIAF}} Three days ride from the Rock is the village of [[Oxcross]].{{ref|ACOK|32}} Hills and mountain ranges are spread throughout the westerlands, with inland castles near the Rock including [[Ashemark]] and [[Sarsfield]],{{ref|TLOIAF}} as well as the ruins of [[Castamere]] and [[Tarbeck Hall]].
  
The southern westerlands, which borders the [[Reach]], contains more flatland than the rest of the country and includes [[Cornfield]] and the forest by Crakehall. The [[Ocean Road]] leads south from the Rock past Crakehall to [[Old Oak]] and [[Highgarden]] in the Reach.{{ref|TLOIAF}}
+
The headwaters of the [[Tumblestone]] and the [[Red Fork]] begin in the westerlands and flow east into the [[riverlands]]. The main pass through the eastern mountains is guarded by the [[Golden Tooth]], a castle which controls access to the [[river road]] leading to [[Riverrun]]. Further south is the [[Goldroad]], which runs east to [[King's Landing]]. [[Deep Den]] watches this road, with [[Hornvale]] to the north and [[Silverhill]] to the south.{{ref|TLOIAF}}
  
Because of the numerous hills and mountains, the westerlands' eastward border with the riverlands is easily defensible. However, the westerlands is potentially vulnerable to attack from the Sunset Sea or the south as the coast is quite flat and can be more easily invaded.
+
The southern westerlands contain more flatland than the rest of the country and includes [[Cornfield]] and the forest by [[Crakehall|Crakehall Castle]]. The [[Ocean Road]] leads south from the Rock past Crakehall to [[Old Oak]] and [[Highgarden]] in the [[Reach]].{{ref|TLOIAF}} Also located in the westerlands are [[Greenfield]] and [[Wyndhall]].
 
 
==Notable locations==
 
* [[Lannisport]], a port city which is one of the major ports of the Seven Kingdoms and is the largest city in the westerlands, ruled by [[House Lannister]].
 
* [[Casterly Rock]], the seat of [[House Lannister]], a fortress carved out of a massive hill of solid rock.
 
* The [[Golden Tooth]], the seat of [[House Lefford]], which guards the main pass from the westerlands into the riverlands.
 
* [[Kayce]], the seat of [[House Kenning of Kayce]], a market town on a peninsula west of Casterly Rock.
 
* [[Oxcross]], a village north-east of Casterly Rock.
 
  
 
==People and Economy==
 
==People and Economy==
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===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
Since Robb marries [[Jeyne Westerling]], the Freys at the Crag leave Robb's service.{{ref|ASOS|14}} After the Blackwater, Robb abandons the captured castles in the westerlands and returns to Riverrun.{{ref|ASOS|19}} Robb claims to Ser [[Edmure Tully]] that he and Ser [[Brynden Tully]] had planned to ambush Tywin on the [[Goldroad]] or trap him in the west, but was prevented from doing so by Edmure's defeat of Tywin in the Battle of the Fords.{{ref|ASOS|14}}
+
Since Robb marries [[Jeyne Westerling]], the Freys at the Crag leave Robb's service.{{ref|ASOS|14}} After the Blackwater, Robb abandons the captured castles in the westerlands and returns to Riverrun.{{ref|ASOS|19}} Robb claims to Ser [[Edmure Tully]] that he and Ser [[Brynden Tully]] had planned to ambush Tywin on the [[Goldroad]] or trap him in the west, but were prevented from doing so by Edmure's defeat of Tywin in the Battle of the Fords.{{ref|ASOS|14}}
  
 
Ser [[Daven Lannister]] reforms the remnants of his father Stafford's host at [[Lannisport]],{{ref|ASOS|19}} and they join Ser [[Forley Prester]] at the [[Golden Tooth]].{{ref|ASOS|60}}
 
Ser [[Daven Lannister]] reforms the remnants of his father Stafford's host at [[Lannisport]],{{ref|ASOS|19}} and they join Ser [[Forley Prester]] at the [[Golden Tooth]].{{ref|ASOS|60}}
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===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], the Lady of [[Casterly Rock]], succeeds Tywin as the liege lord of the westerlands.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} The lords of the west lead a procession of hundreds of soldiers which accompanies Tywin's corpse on its return to the Rock from [[King's Landing]].{{ref|AFFC|16}}
+
Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], the Lady of [[Casterly Rock]], succeeds Tywin as the liege lord of the westerlands.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} The lords of the west lead a procession of hundreds of soldiers which accompanies Tywin's corpse on its return to the Rock from [[King's Landing]]. Two thousand westermen participate in the [[siege of Dragonstone]].{{ref|AFFC|16}}
  
 
When King [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron]] and Lord Captain [[Victarion Greyjoy]] set out to attack mainland Westeros after Balon's death, the westerlands escapes their wrath, as the Iron Fleet sails past and attacks the [[taking of the Shields|Shield Islands]] and the [[Reach]] instead.{{ref|AFFC|29}}
 
When King [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron]] and Lord Captain [[Victarion Greyjoy]] set out to attack mainland Westeros after Balon's death, the westerlands escapes their wrath, as the Iron Fleet sails past and attacks the [[taking of the Shields|Shield Islands]] and the [[Reach]] instead.{{ref|AFFC|29}}

Revision as of 20:33, 20 February 2017

The westerlands with the major strongholds

The westerlands[1] is a region in the west of the continent of Westeros.Before the Targaryen conquest, it was known as the Kingdom of the Rock. People from the westerlands are known as westermen.[2][3] The customary surname of bastards of noble origin born in the westerlands is Hill.

The westerlands is ruled from Casterly Rock by House Lannister. Notable bannermen have included Banefort, Brax, Broom, Clegane, Crakehall, Farman, Lefford, Lydden, Marbrand, Payne, Prester, Reyne, Serrett, Swyft, Tarbeck, and Westerling.[4][5]

Geography

The westerlands. © FFG

The westerlands lie along the coast of the Sunset Sea, with Ironman's Bay and the Iron Islands to the north.[6] A salient of the northeastern westerlands extends near the ruins of Oldstones and the Blue Fork.[7] Castles on the northwestern coast include Banefort and the Crag. Faircastle is located on Fair Isle, while Feastfires and the market town of Kayce are found on a peninsula jutting into the sea.[8]

Also along the coast is Casterly Rock, the seat of House Lannister, a fortress carved out of a massive hill of solid rock. Near the Rock is Lannisport, a port and one of the largest cities of Westeros.[8] Three days ride from the Rock is the village of Oxcross.[9] Hills and mountain ranges are spread throughout the westerlands, with inland castles near the Rock including Ashemark and Sarsfield,[8] as well as the ruins of Castamere and Tarbeck Hall.

The headwaters of the Tumblestone and the Red Fork begin in the westerlands and flow east into the riverlands. The main pass through the eastern mountains is guarded by the Golden Tooth, a castle which controls access to the river road leading to Riverrun. Further south is the Goldroad, which runs east to King's Landing. Deep Den watches this road, with Hornvale to the north and Silverhill to the south.[8]

The southern westerlands contain more flatland than the rest of the country and includes Cornfield and the forest by Crakehall Castle. The Ocean Road leads south from the Rock past Crakehall to Old Oak and Highgarden in the Reach.[8] Also located in the westerlands are Greenfield and Wyndhall.

People and Economy

Western Fiefdoms - Illustrated by Andrew Hall. © Fantasy Flight Games.

The westerlands are not the largest, most populous, or most fertile part of the realm, but they are the richest. Full of hills and crags, the land is dotted with mines from which pour gold and silver in astonishing quantities. There are gold mines at Casterly Rock, the Golden Tooth, Castamere, Nunn's Deep, and the Pendric Hills. According to semi-canon sources, there are settlements which become ghost towns once nearby mines stop producing ore.[10] Besides farming, there is also some fishery in Lannisport and on Fair Isle.

Military strength

A semi-canon source from 2005 estimates the military strength of the westerlands to be fifty thousand men strong, though this count includes even green boys, and depletes most castles of any protection.[11] During Aegon's Conquest, King Loren I Lannister marched a host of twenty-two thousand from the westerlands to battle.[12] The westerlands contributed eleven thousand soldiers, one thousand of the knights, the others masters-at-arms, during the War of the Ninepenny Kings.[13]

According to a semi-canon source, in 261 AC House Reyne was able to field eight thousand men, while Houses Westerling, Banefort, Plumm, and Stackspear together were able to field at least sixty-five hundred men together.[14]

In 283 AC, Lord Tywin Lannister commanded twelve thousand Lannister men during the Sack of King's Landing.[15]

House Lannister can also field a fleet. The Lannister fleet at Lannisport consists of twenty or thirty cogs, carracks, galleys, and dromonds, while lesser lords have two or three ships for patrolling. [16] A semi-canon sources from 2005 estimates the total naval power of the westerlands to be “probably closer to fifty or sixty large ships”.[11] Though the Lannister fleet has been burned as recently as 289 AC,[17] the ships who have been lost have been rebuild.[16]

History

Before the Andals

Little is known of the time before the coming of the First Men. Like the rest of Westeros, the children of the forest and giants lived in the westerlands and fought with the First Men when they came. After the Pact at the Isle of Faces, the children only kept the forests.[7]

First Men lords, some of whom were petty kings, included the Baneforts, Brooms, Crakehalls, Farmans, Footes, Greenfields, Hawthornes, Morelands, Plumms, Reynes, Westerlings, and Yews.[7]

During the Age of Heroes, the legendary hero and trickster Lann the Clever acquired Casterly Rock in some manner from House Casterly. According to legend he is the ancestor of the Lannisters, who became the Kings of the Rock with Casterly Rock as their seat.[7]

Kingdom of the Rock

The Lannister Kings of the Rock gradually conquered or acquired neighboring territory, including the lands of the Reynes and the Baneforts. They initially resisted the Andal invasion, but later Lannister kings allowed the Andals to marry into the westermen nobility. New houses formed by the intermarriages included Houses Brax, Drox, Jast, Kyndall, Lefford, Marbrand, Parren, Sarsfield, and Serrett. In contrast to most kings of First Men origin, the support of the Andals allowed the Kings of the Rock to expand their power. When King Gerold III Lannister died without male issue, a council crowned his daughter's husband, Ser Joffrey Lydden, who became the first Andal King of the Rock, Joffrey Lannister.[7]

With Andal support the Lannisters extended their rule to the Golden Tooth and Fair Isle and engaged in border wars with the Kings of the Trident and Kings of the Reach.[7] Some of the eastern hills of what is now the westerlands were historically ruled by Kings of the Rivers and the Hills, such as the Mudds and the Teagues.[18]

Ser Eustace Osgrey mentioned that a famous relative of his defeated an attack by the Kingdom of the Rock by killing a Lannister king, Lancel V. The westermen also fought with the ironborn of the Iron Islands.[19]

Targaryen Era

Loren I Lannister, King of the Rock, mustered his armies to fight Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, during Aegon's Conquest. Allied with Mern IX Gardener, King of the Reach, they assembled the enormous Host of the Two Kings. However, they were no match for Targaryen dragons. King Loren escaped the so-called Field of Fire and submitted to Aegon. His primacy in the westerlands as Warden of the West was confirmed by the Targaryens. Since this time the westerlands have been part of the Seven Kingdoms controlled by the Iron Throne.

During the First Blackfyre Rebellion, House Tarbeck kept a foot in both camps, trying to support Daeron II Targaryen and his rival, Daemon I Blackfyre.[19] Ser Quentyn Ball killed Lord Lefford and forced Lord Damon Lannister into retreat.[13]

During the Great Spring Sickness the coast of the westerlands suffered under the attacks of raiders of Dagon Greyjoy.[19][20]

Tytos Lannister

Tywin Lannister - Brittmartin@

During the rule of Lord Tytos Lannister, the power of House Lannister was nominal. Tytos was held in low esteem and was largely ignored by his vassals. House Tarbeck and House Reyne eventually revolted against his rule. Tytos's son, Tywin, led the campaign against the Reyne-Tarbeck revolt. Houses Tarbeck and Reyne were extinguished; their respective seats at Tarbeck Hall and Castamere were razed. Since this time no house dares oppose House Lannister in the westerlands. Because of this unity, the westerlands are a force to be reckoned with. Tywin's own prestige was so great and his capabilities so well demonstrated that he became Hand of the King for King Aerys II Targaryen, although he later resigned from the position.

Robert's Rebellion

After the apparent abduction of Lyanna Stark, who was betrothed to Lord Robert Baratheon, by Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and the execution of her father and brother by King Aerys II, a rebellion of House Stark, House Arryn, House Baratheon, and House Tully against House Targaryen began.

For the better part of the War of the Usurper the westerlands remained neutral. After the Battle of the Trident and the death of Rhaeger, however, Tywin chose the side of the rebels. The westermen army sacked King's Landing, and killed the Targaryen heirs to prove their support. After being crowned king, Robert Baratheon married Cersei Lannister to bind the Lannisters to his cause.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

After the abduction of Tyrion Lannister by Catelyn Tully, Lord Tywin Lannister sends Ser Gregor Clegane to raid the riverlands and then retreat back to the westerlands.[21] After the death of King Robert I Baratheon, Lord Tywin Lannister and Ser Jaime Lannister lead armies of twenty thousand[22] and fourteen or fifteen thousand strong,[23] respectively, into the riverlands.[24]

Jaime crushes the rivermen in a battle in the hills below the Golden Tooth and a battle under the walls of Riverrun, but he is eventually captured at the battle in the Whispering Wood and his army is dispersed in the Battle of the Camps. Tywin sends hundreds of cavalry, including Gregor and Ser Amory Lorch, to set the riverlands ablaze.[25] In response to the actions of the westermen and King Joffrey I Baratheon, the rivermen proclaim Robb Stark to be king at Riverrun.[26]

A Clash of Kings

Lannister soldiers in King's Landing - FFG@

With Tywin secure at Harrenhal, Ser Stafford Lannister begins raising a new host of some thousands in the westerlands.[27] Having sent Theon Greyjoy to negotiate with Lord Balon Greyjoy and Catelyn Stark to negotiate with Renly Baratheon, Robb leads forces from the north and House Frey in an invasion of the west.[28] Robb hopes that Balon's Iron Fleet will join him in attacking the westerlands,[29] while Renly deals with Tywin.[27]

After bypassing the Golden Tooth, Robb wins a crushing victory over Stafford's inexperienced host in the Battle of Oxcross. They then pillage the eastern and northern areas of the westerlands, capturing Ashemark, the Crag, and the gold mines at Castamere, Nunn's Deep and the Pendric Hills.[30][31][32] Balon's ironborn refuse to attack the west, however, instead attacking the largely-defenseless north.[33]

Tywin is stopped at the Red Fork during the Battle of the Fords,[34] after which he and the Tyrells defeat Stannis Baratheon in the Battle of the Blackwater.[35]

A Storm of Swords

Since Robb marries Jeyne Westerling, the Freys at the Crag leave Robb's service.[36] After the Blackwater, Robb abandons the captured castles in the westerlands and returns to Riverrun.[37] Robb claims to Ser Edmure Tully that he and Ser Brynden Tully had planned to ambush Tywin on the Goldroad or trap him in the west, but were prevented from doing so by Edmure's defeat of Tywin in the Battle of the Fords.[36]

Ser Daven Lannister reforms the remnants of his father Stafford's host at Lannisport,[37] and they join Ser Forley Prester at the Golden Tooth.[38]

Lord Tywin is murdered by his son, Tyrion Lannister, in the Tower of the Hand.[39]

A Feast for Crows

Queen Cersei Lannister, the Lady of Casterly Rock, succeeds Tywin as the liege lord of the westerlands.[40] The lords of the west lead a procession of hundreds of soldiers which accompanies Tywin's corpse on its return to the Rock from King's Landing. Two thousand westermen participate in the siege of Dragonstone.[41]

When King Euron and Lord Captain Victarion Greyjoy set out to attack mainland Westeros after Balon's death, the westerlands escapes their wrath, as the Iron Fleet sails past and attacks the Shield Islands and the Reach instead.[42]

Jaime joins Daven, the new Warden of the West, and other westermen at the siege of Riverrun.[43] Forley commands the escort of Edmure and Jeyne as they travel from Riverrun to the west.[44]

Houses

Algood.png House Algood.
Banefort.png House Banefort of Banefort.
Bettley.png House Bettley.
House Brax.PNG House Brax of Hornvale.
House Broom.png House Broom.
Arms unknown House Casterly of Casterly Rock.
House Clegane.png House Clegane of Clegane's Keep.
Arms unknown House Clifton.
House Crakehall.PNG House Crakehall of Crakehall.
House Doggett.PNG House Doggett.
Drox.png House Drox.
House Estren.PNG House Estren of Wyndhall.
Falwell.png House Falwell.
Farman.png House Farman of Faircastle.
Ferren.png House Ferren.
House Foote.PNG House Foote.
House Garner.PNG House Garner.
House Greenfield.svg House Greenfield of Greenfield.
Hamell.PNG House Hamell.
Hawthorne.jpg House Hawthorne.
Hetherspoon.PNG House Hetherspoon.
House Jast.PNG House Jast.
House Kenning of Kayce.svg House Kenning of Kayce.
House Lannister.svg House Lannister of Casterly Rock.
Arms unknown House Lannister of Lannisport.
Arms unknown House Lannett.
Arms unknown House Lanny.
Arms unknown House Lantell.
House Lefford.svg House Lefford of the Golden Tooth.
House Lorch.png House Lorch.
House Lydden.PNG House Lydden of Deep Den.
Marbrand.png House Marbrand of Ashemark.
House Moreland.svg House Moreland.
House Myatt.PNG House Myatt.
House Parren.PNG House Parren.
House Payne.svg House Payne.
House Peckledon.PNG House Peckledon.
House Plumm.svg House Plumm.
House Prester.PNG House Prester of Feastfires.
House Reyne.PNG House Reyne of Castamere.
House Ruttiger.svg House Ruttiger.
House Sarsfield.PNG House Sarsfield of Sarsfield.
Arms unknown House Sarwyck of Riverspring.
House Serrett.PNG House Serrett of Silverhill.
House Spicer.PNG House Spicer of Castamere.
House Stackspear.PNG House Stackspear.
House Swyft.PNG House Swyft of Cornfield.
House Tarbeck.svg House Tarbeck of Tarbeck Hall.
House Turnberry.svg House Turnberry.
House Vikary.PNG House Vikary.
House Westerling.PNG House Westerling of the Crag.
Arms unknown House Westford.
Yarwyck.png House Yarwyck.
Yew.PNG House Yew.

References and Sources

  1. A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
  2. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 26, Arya VI.
  3. The Princess and the Queen.
  4. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  6. A Dance with Dragons, Map of the South
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The Lands of Ice and Fire.
  9. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
  10. A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones: d20-based Open Gaming RPG.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  13. 13.0 13.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  14. "The World of Ice and Fire", The Westerlands, unabridged version
  15. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
  16. 16.0 16.1 So Spake Martin: The Lannister Fleet (September 26, 1999)
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 The Sworn Sword.
  20. The Mystery Knight.
  21. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
  22. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
  23. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 63, Catelyn X.
  24. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 55, Catelyn VIII.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
  26. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  27. 27.0 27.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  28. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 14, Arya IV.
  29. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  30. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 35, Bran V.
  31. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
  32. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
  33. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 37, Theon III.
  34. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
  35. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 62, Sansa VII.
  36. 36.0 36.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
  37. 37.0 37.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  38. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  39. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 77, Tyrion XI.
  40. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  41. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  42. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  43. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
  44. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.