A shipwright,[1] or shipbuilder, is a carpenter, artisan, or trade worker who builds and repairs ships and boats, which is called shipbuilding.
Culture
White Harbor is the home of many shipwrights and silversmiths.[2] The Arbor and its surrounding isles are an excellent center for shipbuilding.[3] Virtually every craft and trade is practiced in King's Landing, from metalsmithing and shipbuilding to alchemy.
The Arsenal is the center of shipbuilding for the Free City of Braavos.[4] The Arsenal's war galleys are all constructed with the same design, allowing shipbuilders to work on separate parts at the same time and thereby create a galley in a single day.[5]
Ash tree, pinewood, yew, and spruce can be used in shipbuilding.[6]
History
Antiquity
There were once extensive forests on both Great Wyk, Harlaw, and Orkmont, but they were exhausted by the ironborn of old for use in shipbuilding.[7]
After the first contact with people from beyond the seas, the princes of the Summer Isles began building large, strong ships that could cross long stretches of ocean and resist the fiercest storms, with Prince Malthar Xaq becoming the greatest of these shipbuilders. Koj has been the main center of shipbuilding in the Summer Isles since the time of Malthar Xaq thousands of years ago, with three-quarters of all swan ships being built there.[8]
Brandon the Shipwright was a King in the North who loved to sail, so he built up a mighty northern fleet[9] thousands of years before Aegon's Conquest.[10]
Targaryen Era
In 54 AC, Lady Elissa Farman sold three dragon eggs to a Sealord of Braavos and used the gold she received for the construction of her Sun Chaser, built by the Braavosi shipwrights.[11]
Marilda of Hull, the daughter of a shipwright at Hull, was frequently seen at the shipyards, often underfoot.[12]
The Sea Snake was a ship designed, built and captained by Lord Corlys Velaryon.[13]
Sigrin, a shipwright in Lordsport sworn to Balon Greyjoy, built Esgred, named after his mother, and Sea Bitch.[1]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Maester Luwin has Bran Stark tell Osha about statues of historic Starks in the crypt of Winterfell, including Brandon the Shipwright.[9]
A Clash of Kings
While at Winterfell for the harvest feast, Lord Wyman Manderly proposes to build a new warfleet of galleys for King Robb Stark, with Ser Rodrik Cassel saying he will inform Robb of the proposal, and later commanding Hother and Mors Umber to work with Wyman in building longships to combat wildlings.[14]
When Asha Greyjoy reunites with her unknowing brother, Theon Greyjoy, at Lordsport for the first time since Greyjoy's Rebellion, she passes herself off as Esgred, the daughter of Ambrode, a shipwright, and the wife of Sigrin, another shipwright.[1]
While leaving the crypts of Winterfell, Bran Stark sees the statues of several Kings in the North, including Brandon the Shipwright's.[15]
A Storm of Swords
Bran tells the story of Brandon the Shipwright to Hodor and Meera and Jojen Reed.[16]
A Feast for Crows
Acting as regent for King Tommen I Baratheon, Queen Cersei Lannister accepts the suggestion from Grand Admiral Aurane Waters to build ten new dromonds to reestablish King's Landing's sea power, after the severe losses from the Battle of the Blackwater. She then decided to seize the Iron Throne's payments to the Iron Bank of Braavos to finance their building.[17]
A Dance with Dragons
Asha Greyjoy hopes she can hold Sea Dragon Point and develop it into a kingdom of her own, thinking the pine trees would be useful for shipbuilding, but Tristifer Botley is skeptical of her plans.[18]
House Manderly has begun the construction of a new fleet,[14] which counts about forty-six ships by the first half of 300 AC.[19][20][N 1]
While visiting the crypts with Lady Barbrey Dustin, Theon Greyjoy recalls the names of some statues, such as Brandon the Shipwright's.[21]
Known shipwrights
- Ambrode
- Brandon the Shipwright, built a mighty northern fleet.[9]
- Corlys Velaryon, built Sea Snake[13]
- Sigrin, built Esgred and Sea Bitch.[1]
Quotes
I am a sailor, not a shipwright. I was sent to fetch Your Grace back to Pentos. Instead you brought us here and tore my Saduleon to pieces for some nails and scraps of wood. I will never see her like again.[6]
Notes
- ↑ Davos sees twenty-three ships in the harbor, which have been built without the Lannisters' knowledge (A Dance with Dragons, Davos II), but according to Lord Wyman, there are "as many more" hidden up the White Knife (A Dance with Dragons, Davos IV)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Arbor.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 6, Arya I.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Braavos.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 30, Daenerys V.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Summer Isles.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.