Difference between revisions of "White Harbor"

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King [[Jon Stark]] founded the [[Wolf's Den]],{{ref|ADWD|29}} a castle at the mouth of the [[White Knife]], after he drove out sea raiders who were using the harbor as a base for raids inland.{{Ref|aGoT|66}} For centuries the castle was held by various [[House Stark|Starks]] and offshoot branches, such as the [[House Greystark|Greystarks]]. Other families who were lords of the Wolf's Den in the past included the [[House Flint|Flints]], [[House Locke|Lockes]], [[House Slate|Slates]], [[House Long|Longs]], [[House Holt|Holts]], and [[House Ashwood|Ashwoods]], all tasked by [[Winterfell]] to defend the White Knife.{{ref|ADWD|29}} A thousand years before the [[War of Conquest]] the land was given to the Manderlys, an exiled house from the [[Mander]] River in [[the Reach]], for loyal service to the [[Kings in the North]]. The Manderlys developed the city of White Harbor atop their new land near the Wolf's Den.{{ref|ADWD|19}} The ancient castle is now used as a prison, as the Manderlys reside at the [[New Castle]] and receive visitors in the [[Merman's Court]].{{ref|ADWD|19}}
 
King [[Jon Stark]] founded the [[Wolf's Den]],{{ref|ADWD|29}} a castle at the mouth of the [[White Knife]], after he drove out sea raiders who were using the harbor as a base for raids inland.{{Ref|aGoT|66}} For centuries the castle was held by various [[House Stark|Starks]] and offshoot branches, such as the [[House Greystark|Greystarks]]. Other families who were lords of the Wolf's Den in the past included the [[House Flint|Flints]], [[House Locke|Lockes]], [[House Slate|Slates]], [[House Long|Longs]], [[House Holt|Holts]], and [[House Ashwood|Ashwoods]], all tasked by [[Winterfell]] to defend the White Knife.{{ref|ADWD|29}} A thousand years before the [[War of Conquest]] the land was given to the Manderlys, an exiled house from the [[Mander]] River in [[the Reach]], for loyal service to the [[Kings in the North]]. The Manderlys developed the city of White Harbor atop their new land near the Wolf's Den.{{ref|ADWD|19}} The ancient castle is now used as a prison, as the Manderlys reside at the [[New Castle]] and receive visitors in the [[Merman's Court]].{{ref|ADWD|19}}
  
During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] traveled to White Harbor and Winterfell and convinced the North to join [[the blacks]]. Lord Manderly sent his sons, [[Medrick Manderly|Medrick]] and [[Torrhen Manderly|Torrhen]], to support [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]].<ref>''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref>
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During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] traveled to White Harbor and Winterfell and convinced the North to join [[the blacks]]. Lord Manderly sent his sons, [[Medrick Manderly|Medrick]] and [[Torrhen Manderly|Torrhen]], to support [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]].{{ref|TPATQ}}
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White Harbor has not seen [[wildlings]] in centuries and has never been attacked by the [[ironborn]].{{ref|ADWD|19}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==

Revision as of 17:10, 30 July 2014

White Harbor
Port City
White Harbor by cabepfir.jpg
Location the North, Westeros
Government House Manderly, Feudal Lord
Religion Faith of the Seven, old gods
Named for Being the harbor at the mouth of the White Knife River
Notable places New Castle, Wolf's Den, Sept of Snow
White Harbor is located in The North
White Harbor
The North and the location of White Harbor

White Harbor is a harbor city in the North which contains the New Castle, the seat of House Manderly. Located south of Winterfell, it is the largest settlement north of the Neck, but the smallest among the five major cities of Westeros. White Harbor is the North's primary trade port. Its location on the mouth of the White Knife provides opportunities for trade further north.[1]

Due to its location White Harbor has more contact with the south and there are more knights and followers of the Faith of the Seven in White Harbor than anywhere else in the North. There are some followers of the old gods, but most follow the Faith.[2] The city has access to good fishing grounds and is also the home of many silversmiths.

City

The city is located on the eastern shore of the White Knife. It is clean and well-ordered, with wide straight cobbled streets that made it easy to walk around. The houses were built of whitewashed stone, with steeply pitched roofs of dark grey slate.

Outskirts

  • Seal Rock is a massive stone dominating the approaches to the Outer Harbor. It is crowned with a ringfort of weathered stones of the First Men that stood desolate and abandoned for centuries. However, the Manderlys fortify it with crossbowmen, scorpions, and spitfires. The stone looms fifty feet above the waters, grey-green in color. Seals often rest on it.[2]
  • The Harbor is divided into the Inner and Outer Harbors. The Outer Harbor is larger and can hold a score of ships. The Inner Harbor offers better anchorage and shelter by the City Wall on one side and the looming mass of the Wolf's Den on another, and a mile-long, thirty foot wall, with towers every hundred yards, located on the jetty that separates it from the Outer Harbor. [2]
  • The Wolf's Den is an ancient fortress that now serves as a prison. It is located by the water, outside of the city walls. There is a godswood within its walls.[2]
  • Fish Market, located between the Outer Harbor and the Seal Gate.

Inside the walls

The city is protected by thick walls. The Seal Gate opens into the harbor.

  • Fishfoot Yard, a cobbled square with a fountain at its center, located just outside the Seal Gate. There is an alley leading to a brothel.[2]
  • Old Mint, located in Fishfoot Yard.[2]
  • Lazy Eel, a winesink renowned for offering the oldest whores and vilest wine in White Harbor, along with meat pies full of lard and gristle that are inedible on their best days and poisonous on their worst.[2]
  • Castle Stair is a street with steps. It is a broad white stone way that leads up from the Wolf’s Den by the water to the New Castle on its hill. Marble mermaids light the way, bowls of burning whale oil cradled in their arms. From the top there is a view down to both harbors.
  • The Sept of Snow is a large sept with a domed roof surmounted by tall statues of the Seven.[2]

New Castle

  • The New Castle is the seat of House Manderly. It is located on a hill inside the city wall, a broad white stone way of Castle Stair leads to its gates from the Wolf's Den below. There is a secret passage beneath the Castle Stair connecting it to the Wolf's Den.
  • Merman's Court is the great hall of the New Castle where Lord Manderly holds court and feasts. Its walls, floor and ceiling are made of wooden planks notched cunningly together and decorated with all the creatures of the sea.[2]

History

The First Men constructed an ancient ringfort atop Seal Rock at the entrance to the harbor.[2]

King Jon Stark founded the Wolf's Den,[3] a castle at the mouth of the White Knife, after he drove out sea raiders who were using the harbor as a base for raids inland.[4] For centuries the castle was held by various Starks and offshoot branches, such as the Greystarks. Other families who were lords of the Wolf's Den in the past included the Flints, Lockes, Slates, Longs, Holts, and Ashwoods, all tasked by Winterfell to defend the White Knife.[3] A thousand years before the War of Conquest the land was given to the Manderlys, an exiled house from the Mander River in the Reach, for loyal service to the Kings in the North. The Manderlys developed the city of White Harbor atop their new land near the Wolf's Den.[5] The ancient castle is now used as a prison, as the Manderlys reside at the New Castle and receive visitors in the Merman's Court.[5]

During the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon traveled to White Harbor and Winterfell and convinced the North to join the blacks. Lord Manderly sent his sons, Medrick and Torrhen, to support Rhaenyra Targaryen.[6]

White Harbor has not seen wildlings in centuries and has never been attacked by the ironborn.[5]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Catelyn Stark hires the Storm Dancer to take her and Ser Rodrik Cassel to King's Landing from White Harbor. Lord Eddard Stark instructs Catelyn to have Lord Wyman Manderly repair and strengthen the defenses of White Harbor and insure they are well-manned.[7] Lady Catelyn returns to the North from the Vale of Arryn with Rodrik and her uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, arriving at White Harbor. She and her uncle leave White Harbor with Ser Wylis Manderly and his levies of nearly 1,500 men to meet her son Robb at Moat Cailin. Lord Wyman stays behind to see to White Harbor's defenses and to raise a navy.

A Clash of Kings

Ser Davos Seaworth is sent by Stannis Baratheon with a chest of letters to spread word of Joffrey Baratheon's illegitimacy. His route is to sail to White Harbor and other harbors along the narrow sea.[8]

A Storm of Swords

Maester Aemon of the Night's Watch sends a raven to White Harbor in a plea for help to defend Castle Black from wildlings.

A Feast for Crows

It is reported to Queen Cersei that Davos Seaworth has been executed in White Harbor and that his head and hand grace the walls of White Harbor.

A Dance with Dragons

Davos Seaworth notes the large navy when he arrives in White Harbor, with the inner harbor filled with twenty-three war galleys.[2] Davos has returned to White Harbor to treat with Wyman on behalf of Stannis Baratheon. He is preceded, however, by envoys of House Frey. Rhaegar, Jared and Symond Frey have come with the remains of Ser Wendel Manderly, who died at the Red Wedding. Davos notices that the Old Mint is now being used to shelter refugees.[2]

Davos appears before the Merman's Court to present the case for the Manderlys to support Stannis. To save his living son and heir, Ser Wylis Manderly, who is a captive at Harrenhal, Lord Manderly has Davos dragged to prison as a traitor, in the presence of the Freys.[5]

Manderly has Davos imprisoned in the Wolf's Den, but has a different prisoner in the cell executed. The prisoner is beheaded, his head dipped in tar. The fingers of one of his hands are also cut off to resemble Davos. The head and hands are then put up on spikes on the walls of White Harbor to give the Lannisters and Freys reason to believe in House Manderly's loyalty to the Iron Throne.

Once Wyman has sent a false report to the Iron Throne and has Wylis returned, the Lord of White Harbor has Robett Glover free Davos and bring him through a secret passage to the New Castle. He tells the Onion Knight that he will swear his allegiance to Stannis Baratheon if Davos retrieves Rickon Stark. Via Wex Pyke, Wyman has discovered the boy is alive, but needs a smuggler to retrieve him from Skagos.[3]

Quotes

White Harbor is to King's Landing as my brother Tyrion is to Ser Gregor Clegane.[9]

- Jaime Lannister to Brienne of Tarth


Cities were like women, he insisted; each one had its own unique scent. Oldtown was as flowery as a perfumed dowager. Lannisport was a milkmaid, fresh and earthy, with woodsmoke in her hair. King's Landing reeked like some unwashed whore. But White Harbor's scent was sharp and salty, and a little fishy too. "She smells the way a mermaid ought to smell," Roro said. "She smells of the sea."[2]

- thoughts of Davos Seaworth

Chapters that take place at White Harbor

References and Notes