Tarth
Tarth, called the Sapphire Isle,[1] is an island ruled by House Tarth of Evenfall Hall. Considered part of the stormlands, Tarth is sworn to Storm's End.
Contents
Geography
Tarth is located in the narrow sea off the eastern coast of Westeros. It is separated from the mainland by the Straits of Tarth, and is situated northeast of Shipbreaker Bay.[2] Tarth is called the Sapphire Isle for the striking blue seas in which it sits.[1]
The island is said to be beautiful,[3] having lakes,[4] waterfalls,[4][5] soaring mountains,[4][5] high meadows,[5] and shadowed vales.[5] A spine of mountains with hidden valleys runs down the center of Tarth.[6] Evenfall Hall, seat of House Tarth, is found on the western coast of the isle.[2]
History
Older History
Maesters believe that the great island kingdom of Tarth joined the realm of the Storm Kings when King Durran the Fair married the daughter of the island's king, Edwyn Evenstar. The island rebelled three times during the reign of the Storm King Durwald the Fat, however.[7]
Tarth was the first region of House Durrandon's Kingdom of the Storm to be conquered during the coming of the Andals. The Durrandon Storm Kings and their First Men bannermen eventually intermarried with the Andals, however.[8] House Tarth, who rule the island from Evenfall Hall and were once kings, have Andal ancestry.[9]
Now in ruins, Morne on the eastern coast of Tarth was once the seat of petty kings who were conquered by Storm Kings. Maester Hubert believes the site was of Andal origin, not First Men. Nobles and smallfolk alike from Tarth claim descent from Ser Galladon of Morne.[9]
Marble from Tarth was used during the construction of the Eyrie in the Vale of Arryn.[10]
Some monarchs kept fleets along the western coast of Tarth, as its mountains shield against storms and make the Straits of Tarth more pacific than the narrow sea or Shipbreaker Bay.[9]
Targaryen Era
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During the reign of King Aenys I Targaryen, his daughter, Princess Rhaena, flew on Dreamfyre as far as Gulltown, Harrenhal, Runestone, and Tarth.[11]
In the aftermath of the Myrish Bloodbath of 91–92 AC, pirates from Myr took over the eastern coast of Tarth. Lord Corlys Velaryon joined his fleets with the soldiers of Lord Boremund Baratheon to retake the island. Prince Aemon Targaryen flew on Caraxes to the hidden mountain camp of Lord Cameron Tarth. A Myrish scout killed the prince with his crossbow, however. Prince Baelon Targaryen retaliated by burning the Myrish ships with Vhagar, while Cameron and Boremund slaughtered the thousands of Myrmen on land.[6][12]
In 133 AC during the Daughters' War, Ser Gedmund Peake's fleet stopped at Tarth while sailing for the Stepstones. Lord Alyn Velaryon led the Velaryon contingent south and defeated Braavosi ships in a sudden attack. Lord Unwin Peake was displeased, however, as Gedmund's soldiers were left behind at Tarth and Alyn was unable to capture Bloodstone.[13]
Long after the Dance of the Dragons, Luceon of Tarth composed "Farewell, My Brother", a song about the twin knights Arryk and Erryk Cargyll.[14]
Recent History
Renly Baratheon visited Tarth on a leisurely lord's progress when he came of age.[15]
Brienne of Tarth learned to row and sail before she learned how to ride a horse.[3] Ronnet Connington was betrothed to Brienne, but when he went to Tarth to meet her Ronnet insulted the homely girl and broke the betrothal.[16]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Lord Selwyn Tarth meets with Ser Davos Seaworth in a midnight grove, where Davos is informed House Tarth will not support Stannis Baratheon during the War of the Five Kings.[17]
A Storm of Swords
Catelyn Stark tasks Brienne of Tarth with bringing Ser Jaime Lannister from Riverrun to King's Landing. Jaime attempts to goad Brienne into action by insulting her island home, but Brienne ignores the jibes.[3]
Brienne and Jaime are captured by the Brave Companions near Maidenpool. To prevent Brienne from being raped, Jaime misleads the sellswords into believing that Tarth is known as the Sapphire Isle because of an abundance of gemstones. In actuality, the name comes from the color of its waters.[1] Vargo Hoat, the leader of the Brave Companions, rejects Selwyn's offer of three hundred golden dragons to ransom his daughter Brienne, as Vargo demands sapphires.[18]
A Feast for Crows
In Maidenpool, Lord Randyll Tarly threatens to have Brienne shipped back to Tarth, but Brienne reveals she is on the king's business by searching for Sansa Stark.[19] When Brienne returns to Maidenpool from Crackclaw Point, Randyll again unsuccessfully advises her to take ship back to Tarth.[5] The Elder Brother at the Quiet Isle similarly urges Brienne to return home.[20] Ser Hyle Hunt pragmatically offers to marry Brienne in order to claim Tarth.[21]
A Dance with Dragons
It is reported that sellswords have landed on Tarth and other islands in the narrow sea after the Golden Company begins their invasion.[22][23]
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
Smallfolk claim that Tarth has fallen to the Golden Company.[24]
Quotes
Tarth. A ghastly large rock in the narrow sea, as I recall.[3]
Jaime: Tell me, wench, are all the women on Tarth as homely as you? I pity the men, if so. Perhaps they do not know what real women look like, living on a dreary mountain in the sea.
Brienne: Tarth is beautiful. The Sapphire Isle, it's called. Be quiet, monster, unless you mean to make me gag you.[3]
I had told Lord Vargo there were no sapphires on Tarth, but he will not listen. He is convinced the Evenstar intends to cheat him.[18]
Behind the Scenes
In Welsh, "tarth" means "haze", "mist", or "fog".[25]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 21, Jaime III.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Lands of Ice and Fire, Westeros.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 25, Brienne V.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Durrandon.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: Andals in the Stormlands.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: The Men of the Stormlands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale: The Eyrie.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 31, Brienne VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 37, Brienne VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Epilogue.
- ↑ The Winds of Winter, Arianne I
- ↑ Wiktionary.org: "Tarth"