Editing North

[[File:The North2.jpg|350px|thumb|Map (click to zoom)|link=Special:FilePath/The North2.jpg]]
[[File:The North and Kingsroad.jpg|thumb|350px|The lands surrounding [[Winterfell]] and the [[kingsroad]] in ''[[Game of Thrones]]]]

The '''north''',{{Ref|AGOT|1}}{{Ref|ADWD|20}}{{Ref|ADWD|26}} also called the '''North''',{{Refn|group="N"|Within the main ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels and the [[Dunk and Egg]] novellas, the north is consistently written in lower case. In the historical tomes ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' and ''[[Fire & Blood]]'', it is consistently written in upper case.}} is one of the constituent regions of [[Westeros]] and was a sovereign nation ruled by [[Kings in the North]] before [[Aegon's Conquest]]. The largest region of the [[Seven Kingdoms]],{{Ref|AGOT|4}} the dominion of [[House Stark]] extends from the border of the [[New Gift]], which is controlled by the [[Night's Watch]], to the southern edge of the [[Neck]] far to the south.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}}

The north has been ruled by the Starks for thousands of years from the castle known as [[Winterfell]]. The only city in the region is [[White Harbor]], while the most prominent northern towns are the [[winter town]] and [[Barrowton]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}} Notable bannermen of the region include [[House Bolton|Bolton]], [[House Cerwyn|Cerwyn]], [[House Dustin|Dustin]], [[House Flint|Flint]], [[House Glover|Glover]], [[House Hornwood|Hornwood]], [[House Karstark|Karstark]], [[House Manderly|Manderly]], [[House Mormont|Mormont]], [[House Reed|Reed]], [[House Ryswell|Ryswell]], [[House Tallhart|Tallhart]], and [[House Umber|Umber]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: The Kings of Winter}} [[Bastardy|Bastards]] of noble origin raised in the north are given the surname Snow.{{Ref|ACOK|16}}

==Geography==
:{{See also|:Category:Places in the North{{!}}Places in the North}}
[[File:Alyn Spiller Northland Keep.JPG|thumb|350px|Northland Keep by Alyn Spiller © Fantasy Flight Games]]

The north has a reputation for being stern, hard, and wild by [[southron]]s.{{ref|AGOT|14}}{{ref|ACOK|47}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has indicated that [[w:Scotland|Scotland]] is an inspiration for the region.<ref>''The Denver Post'': [http://www.denverpost.com/2012/05/31/game-of-thrones-author-george-r-r-martin-on-sex-violence-and-t-v/ “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin on sex, violence and T.V.], updated April 30, 2016</ref> While some say the vast north is nearly as large as the rest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] combined,{{Ref|AGOT|4}} in actuality it is roughly a third of the landmass controlled by the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}} The region is sparsely populated, with vast wilderness, rising moorlands, high plains, forests, pine-covered hills and snow-capped mountains, speckled with tiny villages and holdfasts. The cold north is much less fertile than provinces in southern Westeros. Its harsh climate is deadly in winter and occasionally it will snow even in summer.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}} The north has two major land barriers, the [[Wall]] to the north and the [[Neck]] to the south. The north is bound on each side by major seas, the [[Shivering Sea]] to the east and the [[Sunset Sea]] to the west.{{Ref|TLOIAF|Westeros}}

[[Winterfell]], the ancestral seat of [[House Stark]], is a large castle at the center of the north. Nearby is the [[winter town]]. The vast [[wolfswood]], the largest forest of the Seven Kingdoms, extends northwest to the [[Bay of Ice]] and [[Sea Dragon Point]]. [[Deepwood Motte]], the seat of [[House Glover]], lies in the western wolfswood. [[House Mormont]] rules [[Bear Island]] in the Bay of Ice. The [[northern mountains]] extend from the wolfswood to the Wall and are inhabited by [[northern mountain clans]].{{Ref|TLOIAF|Westeros}}

South of the wolfswood is hilly terrain with several large lakes. [[Torrhen's Square]], seat of [[House Tallhart]], is by the largest of these lakes. Farther west along the Sunset Sea is the [[Stony Shore]], which contains fishing villages. Southeast of the Stony Shore and north of [[Blazewater Bay]] is the [[Rills]], plains which are ruled by [[House Ryswell]]. East of the Rills and south of Winterfell are the [[barrowlands]], hilly plains dotted with the barrows of the [[First Men]]. [[House Dustin]] rules the large town of [[Barrowton]]. There are unnamed rivers which flow south from Barrowton and near Torrhen's Square into the [[Saltspear]], while another unnamed river divides the Stony Shore from the Rills.{{Ref|TLOIAF|Westeros}}

South of the barrowlands is the [[Neck]], an isthmus forming the border with the [[riverlands]] to the south. A vast swamp and the source of the [[Green Fork]], the Neck is home to the [[crannogmen]]; [[House Reed]] rules from the moving castle [[Greywater Watch]].{{Ref|ACOK|28}} The ruined castle of [[Moat Cailin]], on the [[causeway]] near the [[Fever River]], controls access to the north from the Neck. Here the [[King in the North|Kings in the North]] held off southron invasions.{{Ref|AGOT|55}}

A large peninsula is west of the Neck and south of the Saltspear and Blazewater Bay. [[Flint's Finger]], home of [[House Flint of Flint's Finger]], is on its north shore, and [[Cape Kraken]] and the [[Flint Cliffs]] are along its western and southern shores. South of the peninsula are [[Ironman's Bay]] and the [[Iron Islands]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Ironman's Bay}}

East of the barrowlands is the [[White Knife]], a major river of the north which has its source at [[Long Lake]] northeast of Winterfell. [[Castle Cerwyn]], the seat of [[House Cerwyn]], is near a tributary south of Winterfell. The White Knife runs south to [[White Harbor]], one of the major cities of the Seven Kingdoms and the main port of the north. Southeast of White Harbor is [[Oldcastle]], the seat of [[House Locke]], while farther east are [[Ramsgate]] and the [[Broken Branch]], which has its source in the [[Sheepshead Hills]] northeast of White Harbor. [[Widow's Watch]], the castle of [[House Flint of Widow's Watch]], is built on an isolated peninsula east of Ramsgate in the [[Shivering Sea]].{{Ref|TLOIAF|Westeros}} The [[Bite]] separates the southeastern North, much of which is influenced by [[House Manderly]] of White Harbor,{{Ref|ADWD|29}} from the [[Vale of Arryn]].

[[Hornwood]], the seat of [[House Hornwood]], is in the [[Hornwood (forest)|Hornwood forest]] north of White Harbor and south of the [[Dreadfort]], the seat of [[House Bolton]]. The Dreadfort lies near the [[Weeping Water]], which flows east to the Shivering Sea. Northeast of the Dreadfort are the forested lands of [[House Karstark]]. East of their castle, [[Karhold]], are the [[Grey Cliffs]].{{Ref|TLOIAF|Westeros}} In the [[Bay of Seals]] are several islands, including [[Skagos]] and uninhabited [[Skane]]. The largest, Skagos, is said to be inhabited by [[cannibalism|cannibals]] and [[unicorns]] and is only nominally controlled by the Starks of Winterfell.{{Ref|AFFC|15}}

North of Winterfell and the Dreadfort and northwest of Karhold are the lands of [[House Umber]], whose castle of [[Last Hearth]] is in a forest. The Umbers control the [[Lonely Hills]]{{Ref|ADWD|17}} and land along the Bay of Seals.{{Ref|ACOK|16}} Beginning near Last Hearth, the [[Last River]] flows southeast between Karhold and the Dreadfort.{{Ref|TLOIAF|Westeros}}

The [[Wall]] is a colossal fortification that protects the north from threats [[beyond the Wall]], such as [[wildlings]]. It is separated from the northern lands owing allegiance to Winterfell by the [[Gift]], which are lands of the [[Night's Watch]] north of the Umbers' lands.{{Ref|ASOS|40}}

Winterfell and Moat Cailin are along the [[kingsroad]], which connects [[Castle Black]] at the Wall with the riverlands to the south. There are farms, holdfasts, inns, and villages along the road.{{Ref|AGOT|13}}{{Ref|AGOT|70}}

The land of the north is not seen as valuable by many south of the [[Neck]].{{Ref|ASOS|19}}{{Ref|AFFC|19}}

==Seasons==
[[File:Thaldir Wolves of the North.jpg|thumb|350px|Wolves of the North by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The north has cool days and cold nights during summertime.{{ref|AGOT|27}}

Once [[autumn]] is declared by the [[Citadel]], the lords of the north store away a part of the grain they have harvested. How much is a matter of choice; between one fifth and one fourth seems prudent, however.{{Ref|ACOK|16}} Additionally food is smoked, salted, and otherwise preserved ahead of winter. Coastal communities depend on fish and inland ice fishing is common on the rivers and [[Long Lake]]. Poor harvests before winter will mean famine, however.<ref name=winter/>

The north is strongly affected during the long winters, with thousands of people killed and famine a common occurrence due to poor harvests before winter or the inability to raise crops during the longer winters that last for years on end. Some greater lords maintain greenhouses at their castles, such as the [[glass gardens]] of [[Winterfell]].<ref name=winter>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Effects_of_Winter/ The Effects of Winter], June 21, 2001</ref>

In winter, snows can fall forty feet deep.<ref name=TheonI>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]</ref> Rain falls cold and hard, and sometimes turns into ice that can send men running for cover and ruin crops.{{Ref|AGOT|28}} Even during summer, snowfalls are not unusual but tend to be brief and not particularly damaging to agriculture.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}

==People==
{{Main|Northmen}}
Most northmen are descended from the [[First Men]], although there have been centuries of intermarriage with the [[Andals]] who conquered south of the [[Neck]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Event_Horizon_Chat Event Horizon Chat], March 18, 1999</ref> The [[Old Tongue]] spoken by the First Men of antiquity has been replaced in the north by the [[Common Tongue]], with the earlier language now only spoken [[beyond the Wall]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}} Northern accents can be considered "frosted".{{Ref|AFFC|42}} 

Many northmen, including [[House Karstark|Karstarks]] and [[House Umber|Umbers]], are large in stature and have thick beards, long hair, and heavy cloaks of wool or fur.{{Ref|ASOS|20}}{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], for instance, [[Mushroom]] compared the host of Lord [[Cregan Stark]] to armored bears.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} Northern warriors can ride shaggy horses.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

[[File:Dimitri Bielak Northern Courser.JPG|thumb|350px|Northern Courser by Dimitri Bielak © Fantasy Flight Games]]

The constant cold and the iron grip of winter set apart the northerners from the people of the kingdoms south of the Neck. The north's terrain and climate do not easily yield the necessities of daily life. Northmen place less of an emphasis on courtly ritual and culture, and instead prefer hunting and brawling. Many northmen disapprove of [[tourney]]s and gambling.{{Ref|AGOT|28}} Northern competitions rarely feature jousting, preferring instead dangerous melees,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}} and northmen also make up their own rules for tourneys.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Tourney_Rules Tourney Rules], April 29, 1999</ref>

[[Guest right]] is treasured in the north.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}} Northmen have long memories, and a [[lord]] who does not seek his rightful vengeance threatens to have his own men turn on him.{{Ref|ASOS|20}} A northern custom is that when someone is condemned to death, he who passes that sentence should swing the sword.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}{{Ref|AGOT|1}}

Some northmen live in remote, distant areas where they act as little more than clans and tribes. These remote folk, such as the [[crannogmen]], the [[northern mountain clans]], and the [[Skagosi]], are still vassals of the [[House Stark|Starks]], however, and are allowed to maintain their own ways and traditions as long as they remain loyal to Winterfell. Some [[maesters]] believe the blood of [[Cape Kraken]]'s people is closer to that of [[ironborn]] than northmen.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: The Mountain Clans}}

Most of the north's people still follow the [[old gods]] and their [[heart tree]]s, and have little inclination for newer religions. There are only a few houses who follow the [[Faith of the Seven]],{{Ref|ADWD|15}} with [[House Manderly]] the most prominent.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} Due to its religious aspect, most northmen refuse to take holy orders and thus cannot become [[knight]]s, although some [[northern cavalry]] are knights who still follow the old gods instead of the Seven.{{Ref|ADWD|29}} Most knights of the north live in the region's southern lands, such as [[White Harbor]]<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Drowned_God_and_More The Drowned God and More], July 14, 1999</ref> and the [[barrowlands]].{{Ref|AGOT|53}} Heraldry in the north is simpler than that in southern Westeros, showing the lesser influence that chivalry has had there.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Shields_of_the_North Shields of the North], June 03, 2000</ref>

Northmen hold the [[Night's Watch]] in high regard,{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} and many lords send annual gifts to support the black brothers.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch}}

The [[first night]] was allowed in the north until Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] convinced King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] to abolish it.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} Some northern lords still discretely practice it, however.{{Ref|ADWD|32}}

During harsh winters, many farmers and younger northmen seek refuge in the [[winter town]] or at the castles of lords.{{Ref|AGOT|37}}{{Ref|ADWD|49}} To preserve resources for the younger generations, many older northmen leave their home to hunt during winter, with most not surviving until spring.{{Ref|ADWD|49}} Men who are old, childless, homeless, or younger sons also traditionally joined winter armies which marched for adventure and plunder with no expectation of survival.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

Northmen are often considered savage, wild, and fierce by [[southron]]s.{{Ref|FAB|Aegon's Conquest}}{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|ACOK|30}}{{Ref|ASOS|22}} Northmen are sometimes referred to as "[[wolves]]" by ironborn{{Ref|ACOK|56}} and southerners.{{Ref|AFFC|9}} Since most northmen pray before heart trees instead of following the Seven in [[sept]]s, some southrons consider them to be godless{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} or tree worshipers.{{Ref|ADWD|17}}

==Economy==
As the north is largely uncultivated, there are few roads of import there. Most of the inland trade passes by either the [[kingsroad]] or the rivers. Trade items from the north include wool,{{Ref|ACOK|17}}{{Ref|ADWD|15}} hides,{{Ref|ADWD|15}} and timber.{{Ref|ADWD|15}} [[White Harbor]], the main port town of the north,{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} contains silversmiths{{Ref|ASOS|73}} and the [[Old Mint]].{{Ref|ADWD|15}} Food can be shipped from the south through the [[narrow sea]] to the northern city.{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}

==Military strength==
[[File:T Jedruszek NorthernInfantry.jpg|thumb|350px|Northern Infantry by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The north's exact [[military strength]] has not yet been revealed. According to a semi-canon source from 2005, the north can perhaps raise forty-five thousand soldiers,{{Ref|RPG|guardiansorder}} although it takes a long time for armies to be gathered from such a large region.{{Ref|FAB|Aegon's Conquest}}<ref name=strength>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Strength_of_the_Regions Strength of the Regions], February 28, 2002</ref> According to [[George R.R. Martin]], the north's [[military strength]] is about equal to that of the [[Vale of Arryn]], and [[Dorne]].<ref name=strength/> During [[Aegon's Conquest]], King [[Torrhen Stark]] raised an army of thirty thousand men.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Nearly twenty thousand can be raised on short notice{{Ref|AGOT|55}} near the start of autumn,{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}} while thousands more might be raised from more distant houses, such as the [[northern mountain clans|mountain clans]], if more time is allowed.{{Ref|ADWD|17}}

A semi-canon source from 2005 places the infantry-to-cavalry ratio at four to one.{{Ref|RPG|guardiansorder}} House Manderly, of [[southron]] origins, is known to command the most heavy horse north of the [[Neck]].{{Ref|ADWD|29}} Mail is the most common armor found in the north.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Yet_More_Questions Yet More Questions], July 22, 2001</ref> As knighthood is associated with the [[Faith of the Seven]], and the majority of the northmen holds to the [[old gods]], knighthood is rare in the north.{{Ref|AGOT|53}}

The north has had no strength at sea since [[Brandon Stark (Burner)|Brandon the Burner]] set fire to the remaining fleet of his father, [[Brandon Stark (Shipwright)|Brandon the Shipwright]].{{Ref|ACOK|16}}

==History==
===Dawn Age===
During the [[Dawn Age]], [[Westeros]] was inhabited by [[children of the forest]] and by [[giants]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Dawn Age}} Maester [[Kennet (maester)|Kennet]] has found evidence that giants who lived in what is now the north buried their dead.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Dawn Age}}

The human peoples of the north are nearly all descended from the [[First Men]], who settled the land between eight thousand and twelve thousand years ago.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Coming of the First Men}} Little is known of that time, but cryptic [[runes]] carved in old stones and the [[barrow]]s of the First Men can still be found in the [[barrowlands]]. Ancient forts of the First Men are scattered throughout the north, including a ringfort atop Seal Rock near [[White Harbor]]{{Ref|ADWD|15}} and ruins in [[Sea Dragon Point]].{{Ref|ADWD|26}} The children of the forest also made [[weirwood]] circles.{{Ref|ADWD|26}}

===Kings of Winter===
[[File:Tiziano Baracchi banner of the north.jpg|thumb|350px|Banner for the North by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Games]]
About eight thousand years ago, the legendary [[Long Night]] occurred when the [[Others]] invaded from the [[Lands of Always Winter]]. The event defined and shaped the north, leading to the founding of the [[Wall]], the order of the [[Night's Watch]], the castle of [[Winterfell]], and the first [[Kings of Winter]] from [[House Stark]]. [[Brandon Stark (Breaker)|Brandon the Breaker]] is said to have allied with [[Joramun]], a [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]], to bring down the [[Night's King]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch}}

The Starks gradually defeated rival kings, such as the [[Barrow Kings]] to their south and the [[Red King]]s to their east.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: The Kings of Winter}} During the [[coming of the Andals]], the Kings of Winter stopped [[Andals]] at [[Moat Cailin]] and the eastern shores, the only kingdom in Westeros to do so.{{Ref|AGOT|66}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: The Kings of Winter}}

King [[Jon Stark]] founded the [[Wolf's Den]] at the mouth of the [[White Knife]] after driving out sea raiders.{{Ref|ADWD|29}} His son, [[Rickard Stark (king)|Rickard Stark]], conquered the [[Neck]] from the [[Marsh King]] and married his daughter.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} King [[Rodrik Stark]] is said to have won [[Bear Island]] from the [[ironborn]] in a wrestling match.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} Two thousand years ago the north warred with the [[Vale of Arryn]] after the [[Rape of the Three Sisters]], with the Arryns eventually gaining control of the islands in this [[War Across the Water]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Vale}}{{Ref|ADWD|9}}

Thousands of years before [[Aegon's Conquest]],{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} King [[Brandon Stark (Shipwright)|Brandon the Shipwright]] attempted to sail across the [[Sunset Sea]], but never returned back home. His son, also named [[Brandon Stark (Burner)|Brandon]], burned the northern shipyards in his grief.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} The north has since lacked strength at sea.{{Ref|ACOK|16}}

For many centuries the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] were bitter rivals of the Starks of [[Winterfell]]. The practice of flaying their enemies gave the Boltons a sinister reputation. It is said that a thousand years ago, the Boltons finally swore fealty to the Kings in the North and agreed to abandon their practice of flaying their enemies.{{Ref|ACOK|51}}

Around a thousand years ago, the [[House Manderly|Manderlys]] were driven from the river [[Mander]] by [[Perceon III Gardener]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: The Kings of Winter}} [[King of the Reach]], and fled to the north, where they were welcomed by the Starks of Winterfell as their own bannermen.{{Ref|TSS}} The Manderlys received the Wolf's Den and developed [[White Harbor]], one of the five cities of [[Westeros]] and the main northern port for commerce and naval transport. The Manderlys are the most prominent of the few northern noble houses to follow the [[Faith of the Seven]] instead of the [[old gods]].{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}

===Targaryen Era===
[[File:T Jedruszek WinterfelHonorGuard.jpg|thumb|350px|Winterfell Honor Guard by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The Starks led the north to war during [[Aegon's Conquest]]. After the [[Field of Fire]], however, King [[Torrhen Stark]] knelt to [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] rather than face his [[dragons]]. The north was included in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] and owed allegiance to the [[Iron Throne]] of [[House Targaryen]]. The Stark [[Kings in the North]] became the Lords of Winterfell and [[Warden of the North|Wardens of the North]]. Some northmen who refused to bend the knee fled into exile  in [[Essos]] and formed the [[Company of the Rose]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}}

Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] convinced her husband, King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], to grant the [[New Gift]] to the [[Night's Watch]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} despite the objections of Lord [[Ellard Stark]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North: The Lords of Winterfell}}

During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], the Starks supported the [[blacks]] against the [[greens]]. Lord [[Roderick Dustin]] led two thousand northern soldiers, known as the [[Winter Wolves]], during the war, while the Manderlys had knights from White Harbor also support the claim of [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}} Lord [[Cregan Stark]] led a great host of northmen to King's Landing, where he briefly ruled as [[Hand of the King]] for [[Aegon III Targaryen]] during the [[Hour of the Wolf]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}

Lord [[Dagon Greyjoy]] led the ironborn in raiding the north during the reign of King [[Aerys I Targaryen]]; Lord [[Beron Stark]] gathered swords to repel them.{{Ref|TMK}}

The people of the north must be vigilant against [[free folk|wildlings]] who manage to bypass the [[Wall]]. One [[King-beyond-the-Wall]], [[Raymun Redbeard]], was defeated by the Starks and [[House Umber|Umbers]] at [[battle at Long Lake|Long Lake]].{{Ref|ADWD|7}}

A century ago the [[Skagos]]i unsuccessfully rebelled against the Starks, costing the lives of Lord [[Barthogan Stark]] and hundreds of his supporters.{{Ref|AFFC|15}}

===Robert's Rebellion===
The northmen composed much of the rebel forces during [[Robert's Rebellion]], also known as the War of the Usurper. After King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] caused the deaths of Lord [[Rickard Stark]] and his heir, [[Brandon Stark]], their successor, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], led armies alongside Lord Robert Baratheon, who was crowned King [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert I]] at war's end.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Winerfell.jpg|thumb|500px|Lords of Winter by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
King [[Robert I Baratheon]] travels from [[King's Landing]] to [[Winterfell]] to offer the position of [[Hand of the King]] to his old friend, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], which the [[Warden of the North]] reluctantly accepts.{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|AGOT|6}}

When Eddard is later imprisoned in the [[Red Keep]] after the death of Robert, his heir, [[Robb Stark]], calls the northern banners to Winterfell and marches south to rescue Eddard{{Ref|AGOT|53}} with a strength of nearly twenty thousand{{Ref|AGOT|55}}{{Ref|ADWD|20}} close to the start of autumn.{{Ref|ACOK|prologue}} [[House Karstark]] contributes at least two thousand three hundred men, mostly infantry.{{Ref|AGOT|53}} [[House Manderly]] provides at least fifteen hundred,{{Ref|AGOT|55}} but it is not their full strength.{{Ref|ADWD|29}} [[House Dustin]] sends a minimal amount.{{Ref|ADWD|41}} Of the four thousand armored lances who come to Winterfell, only three or four hundred are [[knight]]s.{{Ref|AGOT|53}}

Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] refers to the north as "the winterlands" when speaking with [[Vale mountain clans]]men.{{ref|AGOT|56}} Robb is victorious over [[House Lannister]] forces in the [[battle in the Whispering Wood|Whispering Wood]]{{ref|AGOT|63}} and the [[Battle of the Camps]],{{ref|AGOT|69}} but Lord [[Roose Bolton]] is defeated by Tywin on the [[battle on the Green Fork|Green Fork]].{{ref|AGOT|62}} After hearing that King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] ordered the execution of Eddard, the assembled [[northmen|northern]] and [[rivermen|river lords]] in [[Riverrun]] reject the sovereignty of the [[Iron Throne]] and proclaim Robb to be [[King in the North]].{{Ref|AGOT|71}}

===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek King Robb's Host.png|thumb|King [[Robb Stark]]'s Host by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
With Robb campaigning south of the [[Neck]], his younger brother [[Bran Stark|Bran]] remains as the Stark in Winterfell. Bran hosts various bannermen at Winterfell's [[harvest feast]] in {{Date|299}}.{{Ref|ACOK|16}}{{Ref|ACOK|21}} Ser [[Rodrik Cassel]], the castellan of Winterfell, allows [[House Manderly]] to begin construction of a fleet with the aid of [[House Umber]].{{Ref|ACOK|16}}

[[Ramsay Snow]], the Bastard of [[Roose Bolton|Bolton]], abducts the widowed Lady [[Donella Hornwood]] and claims the lands of the [[House Hornwood|Hornwoods]]. After hearing that Ramsay starved Donella, the Manderlys skirmish with the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] in the [[Hornwood (forest)|Hornwood]].{{Ref|ACOK|28}}{{Ref|ACOK|35}}

The [[Iron Islands]] also declare their independence from the [[Iron Throne]] during the [[War of the Five Kings]].{{Ref|ACOK|24}} With most of the northern soldiers fighting alongside Robb in the south,{{Ref|ACOK|11}} [[Balon Greyjoy]], [[Lord of the Iron Islands]], claims the north and sends the [[ironborn]] to raid the [[harrying of the Stony Shore|Stony Shore]] and capture [[taking of Deepwood Motte|Deepwood Motte]], [[capture of Torrhen's Square|Torrhen's Square]], and [[fall of Moat Cailin|Moat Cailin]]. [[Theon Greyjoy]] captures [[Capture of Winterfell|Winterfell]],{{Ref|ACOK|46}} but Rodrik Cassel assembles near two thousand men to retake the castle from the ironborn. Rodrik's loyalists are betrayed by Ramsay Snow and six hundred Boltons from the [[Dreadfort]] in a [[battle at Winterfell]], however. The northern capital is then [[Sack of Winterfell|sacked]] by Ramsay and the Boltons.{{Ref|ACOK|66}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
Bran Stark flees with [[Hodor]], [[Meera Reed]], and [[Jojen Reed]] from Winterfell. They travel through the [[northern mountains]] and the [[Gift]] to the [[Nightfort]].{{Ref|ASOS|56}}

Balon Greyjoy, the self-declared [[King of the Isles and the North]], falls to his death at [[Pyke]].{{Ref|ASOS|45}}

Robb Stark, King in the North and [[King of the Trident]], intends to march north from the [[riverlands]] to expel the ironborn.{{Ref|ASOS|45}} However, he is [[Red Wedding|betrayed and murdered]] at the [[Twins]] by his bannermen, Lords [[Walder Frey]] and [[Roose Bolton]],{{Ref|ASOS|51}} who have their forces slaughter most of the northmen in the south.{{Ref|ASOS|52}} In return for his services to [[House Baratheon of King's Landing]], Roose is named the new [[Warden of the North]] for the Iron Throne.{{Ref|ASOS|72}}

King [[Stannis Baratheon]] sails from [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]] to the [[Wall]] to aid the [[Night's Watch]] in defeating the [[wildling]] army of [[Mance Rayder]], [[King-beyond-the-Wall]], in the [[battle beneath the Wall]].{{Ref|ASOS|73}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
While south of the Neck, Roose attempts to consolidate control over the north.{{Ref|AFFC|17}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[File:TB March on Winterfell.png|thumb|350px|[[Stannis Baratheon]]'s forces [[march on Winterfell]], by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Games]]
In {{Date|300}}, Lord [[Wyman Manderly]] has completed some forty-six warships.{{Ref|ADWD|15}}{{Ref|ADWD|29}}<ref group="N">Davos sees twenty-three ships in the harbor (''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'', [[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 16|Davos II]]), but according to Lord Wyman, there are "as many more" hidden up the White Knife (''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'', [[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 29|Davos IV]])</ref> Wyman secretly tasks [[Davos Seaworth]] with bringing [[Rickon Stark]] back from [[Skagos]].{{Ref|ADWD|29}}

The [[House Ryswell|Ryswells]] and [[House Dustin|Dustins]] defeat the [[ironborn]] at the [[Fever River]].{{Ref|ADWD|15}} [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]] uses [[Theon Greyjoy]] to resolve the [[siege of Moat Cailin]] and thereby allow Lord [[Roose Bolton]] to march north with his Frey allies.{{Ref|ADWD|20}}{{Ref|ADWD|37}} From the roughly twenty thousand northmen who marched south with [[Robb Stark]] at the start of war, only one in five returns north, most of them men from [[House Bolton]].{{Ref|ADWD|20}}

Roose has a tenuous grasp over the north, considering only the Ryswells and Dustins to be loyal allies because of marriage ties. The [[House Cerwyn|Cerwyns]], [[House Tallhart|Tallharts]], [[House Umber|Umbers]], and [[House Manderly|Manderlys]] are reluctant supporters or are outright plotting against Roose.{{Ref|ADWD|32}} Ramsay marries "[[Arya Stark]]", who is actually [[Jeyne Poole]], at [[Winterfell]] in order to claim the ancient capital of the north.{{Ref|ADWD|37}}

Rather than attacking the [[Dreadfort]], [[Stannis Baratheon]] is convinced by [[Jon Snow]], [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], to travel west from [[Castle Black]] to the [[northern mountains]]. The [[northern mountain clans|mountain clans]] field him three and a half thousand men,<ref group="N">Stannis Baratheon had come north with no more than fifteen hundred men ([[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 19|''A Dance with Dragons'', Davos III]]), and has five thousand men after the mountain clans join him ([[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 35|''A Dance with Dragons'', Jon VII]]).</ref> and Stannis [[fight by Deepwood Motte|liberates Deepwood Moote]] for the [[House Glover|Glovers]].{{Ref|ADWD|26}} The king marches through the [[wolfswood]] to take Winterfell from Roose. Stannis's [[march on Winterfell]] is slowed, however, by strong blizzards{{Ref|ADWD|62}} which also hamper Roose.{{Ref|ADWD|46}}

After receiving [[Bastard Letter|an inflammatory letter]] from Ramsay, Jon asks for volunteers from the [[free folk]] to help him march south toward Winterfell to confront the Bastard of Bolton. Jon is betrayed in the [[mutiny at Castle Black]], however.{{Ref|ADWD|69}}

===''The Winds of Winter''===
{{Warning/twow}}
At the [[crofters' village]], Stannis discovers that the [[House Karstark|Karstarks]] planned to betray him for Roose.<ref name=TheonI/>

==Houses==
{{Columns|2|{{plainlist|
*{{coa|Amber|m}} [[House Amber]]
*{{coa|Ashwood|m}} [[House Ashwood]]
*{{coa|Blackmyre|m}} [[House Blackmyre]]
*{{coa|Blackwood|m}} [[House Blackwood]] of the [[Wolfswood]]
*{{coa|Boggs North|m}} [[House Boggs (north)|House Boggs]]
*{{coa|Bole|m}} [[House Bole]]
*{{coa|Bolton|m}} [[House Bolton]] of the [[Dreadfort]]
*{{coa|Branch|m}} [[House Branch]]
*{{coa|Burley|m}} [[House Burley]]
*{{coa|Cassel|m}} [[House Cassel]]
*{{coa|Cerwyn|m}} [[House Cerwyn]] of [[Castle Cerwyn|Cerwyn]]
*{{coa|Condon|m}} [[House Condon]]
*{{coa|Cray|m}} [[House Cray]]
*{{coa|Crowl|m}} [[House Crowl]]
*{{coa|Dustin|m}} [[House Dustin]] of [[Barrowton]]
*{{coa|Fenn|m}} [[House Fenn]]
*{{coa|Fisher of the Stony Shore|m}} [[House Fisher of the Stony Shore|House Fisher]] of the [[Stony Shore]]
*{{coa|Flint of Breakstone Hill|m}} [[House Flint of Breakstone Hill|House Flint]] of [[Breakstone Hill]]
*{{coa|Flint of Flint's Finger|m}} [[House Flint of Flint's Finger|House Flint]] of [[Flint's Finger]]
*{{coa|Flint of the mountains|m}} [[House Flint of the mountains|House Flint]] of the [[northern mountains|mountains]]
*{{coa|Flint of Widow's Watch|m}} [[House Flint of Widow's Watch|House Flint]] of [[Widow's Watch]]
*{{coa|Forrester|m}} [[House Forrester]]
*{{coa|Frost|m}} [[House Frost]]
*{{coa|Glover|m}} [[House Glover]] of [[Deepwood Motte]]
*{{coa|Greengood|m}} [[House Greengood]]
*{{coa|Greenwood|m}} [[House Greenwood]]
*{{coa|Greystark|m}} [[House Greystark]] of the [[Wolf's Den]]
*{{coa|Harclay|m}} [[House Harclay]]
*{{coa|Holt North|m}} [[House Holt (north)|House Holt]]
*{{coa|Long|m}} [[House Long]]
*{{coa|Hornwood|m}} [[House Hornwood]] of [[Hornwood]]
*{{coa|Ironsmith|m}} [[House Ironsmith]]
*{{coa|Karstark|m}} [[House Karstark]] of [[Karhold]]
*{{coa|Knott|m}} [[House Knott]]
*{{coa|Lake North|m}} [[House Lake (north)|House Lake]]
*{{coa|Liddle|m}} [[House Liddle]]
*{{coa|Lightfoot|m}} [[House Lightfoot]]
*{{coa|Locke|m}} [[House Locke]] of [[Oldcastle]]
*{{coa|Magnar|m}} [[House Magnar]] of [[Kingshouse]]
*{{coa|Manderly|m}} [[House Manderly]] of [[White Harbor]]
*{{coa|Marsh|m}} [[House Marsh]]
*{{coa|Mollen|m}} [[House Mollen]]
*{{coa|Mormont|m}} [[House Mormont]] of [[Bear Island]]
*{{coa|Moss|m}} [[House Moss]]
*{{coa|Norrey|m}} [[House Norrey]]
*{{coa|Overton|m}} [[House Overton]]
*{{coa|Peat|m}} [[House Peat]]
*{{coa|Poole|m}} [[House Poole]]
*{{coa|Quagg|m}} [[House Quagg]]
*{{coa|Redbeard|m}} [[House Redbeard]] (at the [[Wall]])
*{{coa|Reed|m}} [[House Reed]] of [[Greywater Watch]]
*{{coa|Ryder|m}} [[House Ryder]] of the [[Rills]].
*{{coa|Ryswell|m}} [[House Ryswell]] of the [[Rills]]
*{{coa|Slate|m}} [[House Slate]] of [[Blackpool]]
*{{coa|Stane|m}} [[House Stane]] of [[Driftwood Hall]]
*{{coa|Stark|m}} [[House Stark]] of [[Winterfell]]
*{{coa|Stout|m}} [[House Stout]] of [[Goldgrass]]
*{{coa|Tallhart|m}} [[House Tallhart]] of [[Torrhen's Square]]
*{{coa|Thenn|m}} [[House Thenn]]
*{{coa|Towers North|m}} [[House Towers (north)|House Towers]]
*{{coa|Umber|m}} [[House Umber]] of the [[Last Hearth]]
*{{coa|Waterman|m}} [[House Waterman]]
*{{coa|Wells North|m}} [[House Wells (north)|House Wells]]
*{{coa|Whitehill|m}} [[House Whitehill]]
*{{coa|Woodfoot|m}} [[House Woodfoot]] of [[Bear Island]]
*{{coa|Woods|m}} [[House Woods]]
*{{coa|Woolfield|m}} [[House Woolfield]]
*{{coa|Wull|m}} [[House Wull]]
}}}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|The vast and frigid realm of the [[Kings of Winter]], the [[House Stark|Starks]] of [[Winterfell]], is generally considered the first and oldest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], in that it has endured, unconquered, for the longest. The vagaries of geography and history set the North apart from their [[southron]] neighbors.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The North}}|writings of [[Yandel]]}}

{{Quote|They say those [[northmen]] are a savage folk, and their woods are full of [[wolf|wolves]].{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Daemon II Blackfyre|John the Fiddler]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}

{{Quote|'''Robert''': Bogs and forests and fields, and scarcely a decent inn north of the [[Neck]]. I've never seen such a vast emptiness. Where are all your people?<br>'''Eddard''': Likely they were too shy to come out. [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|Kings]] are a rare sight in the north.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] and [[Eddard Stark]]}}

{{Quote|What is there north of the [[Neck]] that any sane man would want?{{Ref|ASOS|19}}|[[Mathis Rowan]] to [[Tywin Lannister]]}}

{{Quote|''The north is hard and cold, and has no mercy'', [[Eddard Stark|Ned]] had told her when she first came to [[Winterfell]] a thousand years ago.{{Ref|ASOS|20}}|thoughts of [[Catelyn Stark]]}}

{{Quote|The north remembers.{{Ref|ASOS|20}}|[[Robb Stark]] to [[Brynden Tully]]}}

{{Quote|Fat [[Wyman Manderly]], [[Hother Umber|Whoresbane Umber]], the men of [[House Hornwood]] and [[House Tallhart]], the [[House Locke|Lockes]] and [[House Flint|Flints]] and [[House Ryswell|Ryswells]], all of them were [[northmen]], sworn to [[House Stark]] for generations beyond count.{{ref|ADWD|46}}|thoughts of [[Theon Greyjoy]]}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{Regions}}
{{HousesNorth|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Region North|state=uncollapsed}}

<!-- Categories -->
[[Category:The North| ]]
[[Category:Places in Westeros]]

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[[es:El Norte]]
[[fa:شمال]]
[[fr:Nord]]
[[pt:Norte]]
[[ru:Север]]
[[zh:北境]]