Westerlands

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The Westerlands is a region in the West of Westeros. It is ruled by House Lannister. Before the Conquest, it was a kingdom until the last Lannister king was defeated by Aegon Targaryen and surrendered his kingdom. Since that time, the Lannisters have held the Westerlands as vassals of the Targaryen, and later Baratheon, kings.

Geography

The Westerlands lie west of the Riverlands. The border is between Golden Tooth and Pinkmaiden north up to the Ironmans bay and south up to the Goldroad. At the Goldroad the Westerlands borders on the Reach. The border runs a few leagues south of the line Silverhill, Cornfield, Crakehall to the Western sea. Fair Island is part of the Westerlands, the Iron Islands in Ironmans bay are not.

A large part of the Westerlands consists of hills and mountains, especially around the border with the Riverlands. The customary surname of bastards is Hill, taken from the abundance of hills in the Westerlands.

Accessibility and natural defenses

Because of the hills and mountains, the only road from the Riverlands to the Westerlands is through the Red Fork with access controlled by the castle at Golden Tooth. From the south, the main entrance is the Sea Road. It is more accessible than the Red Fork, but the forest at Crakehall gives the Westermen a good defense line. The Westerlands are vulnerable for an attack from the sea as the coast is quite flat and can be easily invaded.

Lannisport

Lannisport is the largest city of the Westerlands. It is the third largest city in Westeros after King's Landing and Oldtown, but is much larger than next largest cities, White Harbor and Gulltown.

Economy

There are many goldmines in the Westerlands. Because of that, the Westerlands is considered the richest region of Westeros and the Lannister family the richest house. Nothing is said of the number of people working in the mines or in other industries. There is some fishery in Lannisport and on Fair Island.

History

Before the Andals

Nothing is known of the time before the coming of the First Men. Like the rest of Westeros, the Children of the forest probably 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. This means they might have lived near Crakehall.

During the Age of Heroes, the legendary hero and trickster Lann the Clever got hold of Casterly Rock. According to legend he is the ancestor of the Lannisters.

Kingdom of the Rock

Some 6000 years ago, the Andals invaded Westeros. They fought with the First Men and the Children. All regions south of the Neck were conquered by them. In the Westerlands, Andal adventurers founded the Kingdom of the Rock under Lannister kings. Not much is said in the books about the history of the Kingdom of the Rock. Without a doubt it warred against the other kingdoms in Westeros. Ser Eustace of House Osgrey mentions that a famous relative of his defeated an attack of the kingdom of the Rock by killing the Lannister King Lance IV.

Given their difficult to defend coastline, the Westermen most likely also fought with the Ironborn.

Targaryen era

After the invasion of Aegon Targaryen, King Lorn of the Rock allied with King Mern of the Reach. Together they assembled an enormous army which was defeated by the Targaryen dragons. King Lorn escaped the battle and submitted to Aegon. He was granted the primacy in the Westerlands as vassal of the Targaryen. Since this time the Westerlands have been part of the of the Seven Kingdoms.

During the Blackfyre Rebellion, some Westerland houses kept a foot in booth camps. It is mentioned that some nobles supported Daemon Blackfyre. There are no Westerland supporters of Daeron II mentioned. It is unknown if this means the Westerlands only supported Daemon Blackfyre.

During the Great Spring Sickness the coast of the Westerlands suffered under attacks of the Ironborn raiders of Dagon Greyjoy.

Recent history

During the reign of Tytos Lannister, Lannister rule was purely nominal. Tytos was held in very low esteem and was basically ignored by his vassals. The House Tarbeck and House Reyne eventually revolted against his rule. Tytos's son Tywin led the campaign to put the rebellion down. He did this so well that the rebel houses were completely extinguished. Since this time no House opposes 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 that he became Hand of the King for king Aerys II.

Robert's Rebellion

After the apparent abduction of Lyanna Stark, fiancé of Robert Baratheon by crown prince Rhaegar and the execution of her father and brother by Aerys, a rebellion of House Stark, House Arryn, House Baratheon, and House Tully began.

Before this time, Tywin had resigned as Hand, and, for the better part of the war, the Westerlands remained neutral. After the Battle of the Trident, Tywin chose the side of the rebels. The Westerland army attacked, sacked Kingslanding, and killed the Targaryen heirs to prove their support. After the crowning of the main rebel Robert Baratheon he married to Cercei Lannister to bind the Lannisters to his cause.

Some years later, Balon Greyjoy rebelled. His fleet under command of Victarion Greyjoy attacked Lannisport and burned the Lannister Fleet.

War of the Five Kings

During the War of the Five Kings, Westerland armies devastated the Riverlands. In revenge, a joint Riverlands-Northern army invaded the Westerlands. They pillaged the eastern area of the Westerland. Other areas of Westerland remained relatively unscathed.