Wall
The Wall is a massive wall of ice that stretches across the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms, separating it from the wild lands beyond. It extends from the Frostfangs mountain range in the west to the Bay of Seals in the east.
History
The Wall was reputedly created over 8,000 years prior to the present setting by Brandon the Builder after the Long Night to defend the realms of man from the wildlings and Others. Approximately 300 miles in length and 700 feet in height, the Wall is protected by the Night's Watch and according to some, ancient spells and sorcery.[1] Supposedly, Brandon the Builder had placed his foundations along the heights wherever possible.[2] Several mentions in the text suggest that the Wall was much smaller at the time, having been built upon by the Night's Watch builders, who quarried huge blocks of ice from frozen lakes in the haunted forest and dragged them south to the Wall higher, raising it over the centuries to its present size. However, the severely reduced Night's Watch at the present time is limited to maintenance duty. A total of nineteen fortresses have been built along the Wall though only three, The Shadow Tower, Castle Black and Eastwatch-by-the-sea are occupied at the time of the books.
Description
The Wall stretches for 300 miles and is approximately 700 feet tall, It is made of solid ice and stone, and can be seen for miles in the distance which seems grey or blue depending on weather. The top is wide enough for a dozen mounted knights to ride abreast and is thicker at the base.[3] According to myth, There are old spells woven into it, to strengthen it and keep creatures of a magical nature from passing it, such as the Others. [2][4]
The Wall is straight from Castle Black to Eastwatch-by-the-sea, but runs like a snake between Castle Black and the Shadow Tower.[2]
The Wall has no gates anywhere, simply a few tunnels cut through it that are barred at several points by heavy iron bars secured by massive chains that must be unlocked.[5] They sealed with ice and stone wherever castles have been abandoned or in times of danger. [6]
Easter egg: According to George R. R. Martin the inspiration for the wall came from Hadrian's Wall.
Defenses
The Night's Watch permits the forest to come no closer than half a mile to the Wall. However Over the decades, the places where abandoned Castles stand, the forest has crept back.[7] The top of the wall is studded with catapults and cranes.[3] The galleys of Eastwatch patrol the Bay of Seals in part to catch smugglers who bypass the wall through the sea and trade weapons to the wildlings[8] and to the west the mountains and deep river Gorge, make the terrain impassable for all but small groups of raiders.[9]
Castles
The Night's Watch raised nineteen castles to guarded the hundred leagues of the Wall, however they had never manned more than seventeen at one time. Over the last three hundred years, as the manpower of the Watch has dropped, most of these castles have been abandoned, "the ghost castles" as some have come to call them.[6] During the event of A Game of Thrones only three castles remain in use,[7] thou recently Jon Snow the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch plans to man to man them all again.
List of Castles from West to East:
| Name | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Westwatch | Abandoned | |
| Shadow Tower | Manned by the Watch | |
| Sentinel Stand | Abandoned | |
| Greyguard | Abandoned around 100 AC re-garrisoned in 301 AC |
It's mostly collapsed. It was re-garrisoned by thirty men of the Night's Watch under the command of steward from the Shadow Tower. |
| Stonedoor | Abandoned re-claimed in 301 AC |
It was recently given to Wildlings lead by Soren Sheildbreaker, to settle and garrison. |
| Hoarfrost Hill | Abandoned | |
| Icemark | Abandoned re-garrisoned in 301 AC |
re-garrisoned with thirty men twenty from the Night's Watch and ten of Stannis' men. With Bedwyck in command. |
| Nightfort | Abandoned around 100 AC re-garrisoned in 301 AC |
Largest castle on the wall. It was recently manned by Stannis Baratheon Man. It would take a long time to make it fit for habitation again. |
| Deep Lake | Abandoned re-garrisoned in 301 AC |
re-garrisons with Wildlings under the command of of a member of the Night's Watch. |
| Queensgate | Abandoned re-claimed in 301 AC |
It was recently given to Wildlings lead by Morna White Mask to settle and garrison. |
| Castle Black | Manned by the Watch | |
| Oakenshield | Abandoned re-claimed in 301 AC |
It was recently given to the Wildling Tormund as seat of his power. |
| Woodswatch | Abandoned | |
| Sable Hall | Abandoned re-garrisoned in 301 AC |
re-garrisoned with Wildlings under the command of of a member of the Night's Watch. |
| Rimegate | Abandoned | |
| Long Barrow | Abandoned re-garrisoned in 301 AC |
re-garrisoned with Wildling Spearwives under the command of Iron Emmett. |
| Torches | Abandoned | |
| Greenguard | Was Abandoned re-claimed in 301 AC |
It was recently given to Wildlings of the Devyn Sealskinner's clan to settle and garrison. re-garrisons Greenguard with |
| Eastwatch | Manned by the Watch | Easternmost Castle. |
See Also
References and Notes
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 56, Bran IV.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 30, Jon IV.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
- ↑ SSM: The wall (September 09, 2000)
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 41, Jon V.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 21, Tyrion III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ SSM circumventing the Wall
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