Difference between revisions of "Reach"

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Revision as of 20:39, 27 March 2015

The Reach with the major strongholds

The Reach is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms on the continent of Westeros. It was formerly a sovereign nation ruled by the Kings of the Reach before the War of Conquest.

The Reach is ruled from the castle of Highgarden by House Tyrell. It is the second-largest of the kingdoms behind the North and is considered the most fertile and heavily-populated part of Westeros. Bastards born in the Reach are given the surname Flowers.

The Reach is considered the home of chivalry in Westeros. It is the place where knighthood is looked upon with the greatest reverence and esteemed the most. It is also the place where the rules to tournaments are the most stringent and managed.[1]

Geography

The Reach is the most fertile part of Westeros and has numerous and well-populated villages and towns. The Sunset Sea is found to the west, while the hills of the westerlands are to the northwest and the Blackwater Rush of the riverlands is to the north. The Reach borders the crownlands to the northeast, while to the east and southeast are the stormlands and their Dornish Marches. South of the Reach are the Red Mountains of Dorne and the Summer Sea. The Roseroad links Oldtown with King's Landing by way of Highgarden, while the Ocean Road links Highgarden with Lannisport.[2]

The Reach is watered by the immense river Mander and its tributaries, including the Blueburn and the Cockleswhent. The Reach proper is centered around the Mander.[3] Oldtown is located at the mouth of the Honeywine. The region also includes several islands, including the Shield Islands near the mouth of the Mander and the Arbor south of the Whispering Sound and the Redwyne Straits.

Notable locations

A large Tyrell ranging party rides across the Reach in a wide formation – by Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games

People and Economy

The Reach is the second wealthiest region in the Seven Kingdoms behind the westerlands, but it is the most fertile region. Among the products it produces are melons, fireplums, peaches, apples, and grapes. The Arbor is said to make the finest of wines, from dry fruity reds to a rich golden vintage. Woodharps made in Oldtown are highly sought after.

Before the War of Conquest, the golden coins of the Reach were known as hands. They still exist in some number, with each hand coin roughly half the value of a dragon coin.[4]

According to a semi-canon source from 2005,[5] the Reach could raise an army of between eighty and one hundred thousand soldiers. The Reach's navy consists of two hundred ships, including those of the Redwynes, the Shield Islands, and coastal lords.

History

The beginnings of the Reach can be traced back to Garth Greenhand, the legendary King of the Reach who lived in the Age of Heroes. The royal line of House Gardener of Highgarden claimed descent from Garth as do many current houses in the region.[6][7] What is now the Ravenry of the Citadel is said to have been a pirate stronghold during the Age of Heroes.[8]

The Reach is the home of mythical warriors and knights such as Serwyn of the Mirror Shield, Davos the Dragonslayer, Roland of the Horn and the Knight Without Armor.[9]

The Reach is the heart of the chivalric tradition in the Seven Kingdoms, the place where knighthood is most universally esteemed. Tourneys here have the most elaborate and varied rules, and are the most likely to be held for knights only.

Dornishmen have warred against the Reach for thousands of years; rivalries include the feud between House Oakheart and House Dayne.[10] The Kings of the Reach also warred with the Storm Kings of House Durrandon, gradually conquering land from the western stormlands. However, King Garse VII Gardener was slain by King Argilac Durrandon in the Battle of Summerfield.[11] The Dornish Marches, the lands just north of the Red Mountains of Dorne, have long been disputed. The lords of Highgarden count Defender of the Marches amongst their titles,[12] although the marcher lords now owe allegiance to House Baratheon of the stormlands.

During the War of Conquest, King Mern IX Gardener led the army of the Reach against the invading House Targaryen, but he was killed at the Field of Fire and his line was ended. House Tyrell, the stewards of the Gardeners, surrendered Highgarden to Aegon the Conqueror. They were rewarded with both the castle and the position of overlords of the Reach. The High Septon and Lord Banfred Hightower did not oppose Aegon when he approached Oldtown, increasing the new king's legitimacy.[13] Rather than being independent, the Reach was part of the Seven Kingdoms ruled by the Iron Throne.

During the Dance of the Dragons, the Reach was split between the greens and the blacks, with the Hightowers providing much of the support for the greens (along with the Redwynes), but with the Rowans, Tarlys, Costaynes, Mullendores, and Grimms supporting the blacks. The Battle on the Honeywine and the First and Second Battles of Tumbleton were fought in the Reach.

In the First Blackfyre Rebellion, several of Daemon I Blackfyre's greatest supporters were men of the Reach, including Ser Quentyn Ball and Lord Gormon Peake, while others supported Daeron II Targaryen.

Robert's Rebellion saw the Reach provide much of the pro-Targaryen strength. Lord Randyll Tarly led the van of Lord Mace Tyrell to victory against Lord Robert Baratheon in the Battle of Ashford. After Ashford, Mace led the unsuccessful Siege of Storm's End.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

After King Robert Baratheon's death, most lords of the Reach join the Tyrells in declaring for Renly Baratheon. Some join Stannis Baratheon after Renly's murder, but most are idle for a time before marching with Tywin Lannister to defeat Stannis in the Battle of the Blackwater.

A Storm of Swords

The lords of the Reach provide much of the Iron Throne's manpower, under the uneasy alliance between Houses Lannister and Tyrell.

A Feast for Crows

The Reach itself remains untouched by the war until the Battle of the Shield Islands, which marks the beginning of King Euron Greyjoy's campaigns in the south. Since then Oldtown and the Arbor have been threatened by ironborn raiders.

Quotes

In Highgarden there are fields of golden roses that stretch away as far as the eye can see. The fruits are so ripe they explode in your mouth-melons, peaches, fireplums, you’ve never tasted such sweetness.[14]

- Robert Baratheon to Eddard Stark

Houses

Ambrose.png House Ambrose.
House Appleton.png House Appleton of Appleton.
House Ashford.PNG House Ashford of Ashford.
Ball.png House Ball.
House Beesbury.png House Beesbury of Honeyholt.
House Blackbar.PNG House Blackbar of Bandallon.
Bridges.png House Bridges.
House Bulwer.PNG House Bulwer of Blackcrown.
Bushy.PNG House Bushy.
House Caswell.png House Caswell of Bitterbridge.
Chester.png House Chester of Greenshield.
Cockshaw.png House Cockshaw.
Arms unknown House Conklyn.
Cordwayner.png House Cordwayner of Hammerhal.
House Costayne.PNG House Costayne of the Three Towers.
House Crane.PNG House Crane of Red Lake.
House Cuy.PNG House Cuy of Sunhouse.
Dunn.png House Dunn.
Arms unknown House Durwell.
House Florent.PNG House Florent of Brightwater Keep.
Footly.png House Footly of Tumbleton.
House Fossoway red.png House Fossoway of Cider Hall.
House Fossoway green.png House Fossoway of New Barrel.
House Gardner.PNG House Gardener of Highgarden.
Graceford.png House Graceford of Holyhall.
Graves.PNG House Graves.
Grimm.png House Grimm of Greyshield.
House Hastwyck.PNG House Hastwyck.
Hewett.png House Hewett of Oakenshield.
House Hightower.png House Hightower of the Hightower.
Hunt.png House Hunt.
Hutcheson.png House Hutcheson.
Inchfield.PNG House Inchfield.
Kidwell.png House Kidwell.
Leygood.png House Leygood.
House Lowther.PNG House Lowther.
Lyberr.png House Lyberr.
House Manderly.PNG House Manderly of Dunstonbury.
Meadows.png House Meadows of Grassy Vale.
House Merryweather.PNG House Merryweather of Longtable.
Middlebury.png House Middlebury.
Mullendore.png House Mullendore of Uplands.
House Norcross.PNG House Norcross.
Norridge.png House Norridge.
House Oakheart.png House Oakheart of Old Oak.
House Oldflowers.PNG House Oldflowers.
Orme.png House Orme.
Arms unknown House Osgrey of Leafy Lake.
House Osgrey.PNG House Osgrey of Standfast.
House Peake.PNG House Peake of Starpike.
Pommingham.png House Pommingham.
Redding.png House Redding.
House Redwyne2.png House Redwyne of the Arbor.
Rhysling.png House Rhysling.
House Risley.PNG House Risley.
House Rowan.PNG House Rowan of Goldengrove.
Roxton.png House Roxton of the Ring.
House Serry.PNG House Serry of Southshield.
Shermer.png House Shermer of Smithyton.
Sloane.png House Sloane.
Arms unknown House Stackhouse.
Tarly.png House Tarly of Horn Hill.
House Tyrell.PNG House Tyrell of Highgarden.
Garlan Tyrell COA.png House Tyrell of Brightwater Keep.
House Uffering.PNG House Uffering.
House Varner.PNG House Varner.
House Vyrwel.PNG House Vyrwel of Darkdell.
House Webber.PNG House Webber of Coldmoat.
House Westbrook.PNG House Westbrook.
Willum.png House Willum.
House Wythers.PNG House Wythers.
Yelshire.png House Yelshire.

References and Notes