Difference between revisions of "Westerlands"

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[[File:The Westerlands.png|350px|thumb|The Westerlands with the major strongholds]]
 
[[File:The Westerlands.png|350px|thumb|The Westerlands with the major strongholds]]
  
The '''Westerlands''' is a region in the west of the continent of [[Westeros]]. It is ruled by [[House Lannister]]. Before the [[War of Conquest|Targaryen conquest]], it was known as the [[Kingdom of the Rock]]. The customary surname of [[bastardy|bastards]] born in the Westerlands is Hill.
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The '''Westerlands''' is a region in the west of the continent of [[Westeros]]. It is ruled from [[Casterly Rock]] by [[House Lannister]]. Before the [[War of Conquest|Targaryen conquest]], it was known as the [[Kingdom of the Rock]]. The customary surname of [[bastardy|bastards]] born in the Westerlands is Hill.
  
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
A large part of the Westerlands consists of hills and mountains. Its lands extend as far west as the the hills of the Westerlands, between the [[House Lefford|Golden Tooth]] and [[House Piper|Pinkmaiden]], south up to the [[Goldroad]], bordering on [[the Reach]], east up to the [[Sunset Sea]], and north up to the [[Ironman's Bay]].    <!-- ??  The border runs a few leagues south of the line [[Silverhill]], [[Cornfield]], [[Crakehall]] to the Western sea. -->
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A large part of the Westerlands consists of hills and mountains. Its lands extend as far west as the the hills of the Westerlands, between the [[Golden Tooth]] and [[Pinkmaiden Castle]], south to the [[Goldroad]], bordering on [[the Reach]], east to the [[Sunset Sea]], and north to [[Ironman's Bay]].    <!-- ??  The border runs a few leagues south of the line [[Silverhill]], [[Cornfield]], [[Crakehall]] to the Western sea. -->
  
 
==Accessibility and natural defenses==  
 
==Accessibility and natural defenses==  
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==Economy==
 
==Economy==
The Westerlands are not the largest, most populous, or most fertile part of the realm, but they are the richest. Full of hills and crags, the land is dotted with mines from which pour gold and silver in astonishing quantities. There are goldmines at the [[Casterly Rock]], the [[Golden Tooth]], [[Castamere]], [[Nunn's Deep]], and the [[Pendric Hills]]. Nothing is said of the number of people working in the mines or in other industries. There is some fishery in Lannisport and on [[Fair Isle]].
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The Westerlands are not the largest, most populous, or most fertile part of the realm, but they are the richest. Full of hills and crags, the land is dotted with mines from which pour gold and silver in astonishing quantities. There are gold mines at [[Casterly Rock]], the [[Golden Tooth]], [[Castamere]], [[Nunn's Deep]], and the [[Pendric Hills]]. Nothing is said of the number of people working in the mines or in other industries. There is some fishery in Lannisport and on [[Fair Isle]].
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Before the Andals===
 
===Before the Andals===
Nothing is known of the time before the coming of the [[First Men]]. Like the rest of Westeros, the [[children of the forest]] probably lived in the Westerlands and fought with the First Men when they came. After the [[Pact]] at the [[Isle of Faces]], the children only kept the forests; they might have lived near Crakehall.
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Little is known of the time before the coming of the [[First Men]]. Like the rest of Westeros, the [[children of the forest]] probably lived in the Westerlands and fought with the First Men when they came. After the [[Pact]] at the [[Isle of Faces]], the children only kept the forests; they might have lived near Crakehall.
  
 
During the [[Age of Heroes]], the legendary hero and [[w:trickster|trickster]] [[Lann the Clever]] acquired [[Casterly Rock]] in some manner from [[House Casterly]]. According to legend he is the ancestor of the Lannisters.
 
During the [[Age of Heroes]], the legendary hero and [[w:trickster|trickster]] [[Lann the Clever]] acquired [[Casterly Rock]] in some manner from [[House Casterly]]. According to legend he is the ancestor of the Lannisters.
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==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
During the [[War of the Five Kings]], Westerland armies devastate the Riverlands.
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During the [[War of the Five Kings]], Westerland armies devastate the Riverlands.{{ref|AGOT|43}}{{ref|AGOT|55}}{{ref|AGOT|71}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
In retaliation and to draw Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] from [[Harrenhal]], King [[Robb Stark]] leads forces from the [[North]] and the Riverlands in an invasion of the Westerlands. They pillage the eastern area of the Westerlands, capturing [[Ashemark]], [[the Crag]], the gold mines at [[Castamere]], [[Nunn's Deep]] and the [[Pendric Hills]]. Other areas of the Westerlands remain relatively unscathed.
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In retaliation{{ref|ACOK|39}} and to draw Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] from [[Harrenhal]],{{ref|ACOK|7}} King [[Robb Stark]] leads forces from the [[North]] and [[House Frey]] in an invasion of the Westerlands.{{ref|ACOK|14}} They pillage the eastern area of the Westerlands, capturing [[Ashemark]], [[the Crag]], the gold mines at [[Castamere]], [[Nunn's Deep]] and the [[Pendric Hills]].{{ref|ACOK|35}}{{ref|ACOK|39}} Other areas of the Westerlands remain relatively unscathed.
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===''A Storm of Swords''===
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[[Tywin Lannister]], the liege lord of the Westerlands, is murdered by his son, [[Tyrion Lannister]].{{ref|ASOS|77}}
  
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
When King [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron]] and Lord Captain [[Victarion Greyjoy]] set out to attack mainland Westeros, the Westerlands notably escapes their wrath, as the [[Iron Fleet]] sails past and attacks the [[Battle of the Shield Islands|Shield Islands]] and [[the Reach]] instead.
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Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], the Lady of Casterly Rock, succeeds Tywin as the liege lord of the Westerlands.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}}
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 +
When King [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron]] and Lord Captain [[Victarion Greyjoy]] set out to attack mainland Westeros, the Westerlands escapes their wrath, as the [[Iron Fleet]] sails past and attacks the [[Battle of the Shield Islands|Shield Islands]] and [[the Reach]] instead.{{ref|AFFC|29}}
  
 
==References and Sources==
 
==References and Sources==

Revision as of 19:32, 2 December 2013

The Westerlands with the major strongholds

The Westerlands is a region in the west of the continent of Westeros. It is ruled from Casterly Rock by House Lannister. Before the Targaryen conquest, it was known as the Kingdom of the Rock. The customary surname of bastards born in the Westerlands is Hill.

Geography

A large part of the Westerlands consists of hills and mountains. Its lands extend as far west as the the hills of the Westerlands, between the Golden Tooth and Pinkmaiden Castle, south to the Goldroad, bordering on the Reach, east to the Sunset Sea, and north to Ironman's Bay.

Accessibility and natural defenses

Because of the hills and mountains, the Westerlands' eastward border with the Riverlands is very defensible. The main pass through the mountains is guarded by the Golden Tooth, a castle which which controls access to the river road. From the south, the main entrance is the Ocean Road. It is more accessible than the Red Fork, but the forest at Crakehall gives the westermen a good defense line. However, the Westerlands are vulnerable to attack from the Sunset Sea as the coast is quite flat and can be easily invaded.

Notable locations

  • Lannisport, a port city which is one of the major ports of the Seven Kingdoms and is the largest city in the Westerlands.
  • Casterly Rock, the seat House Lannister, a fortress carved out of a massive hill of solid rock.
  • The Golden Tooth, the seat of House Lefford, which guards the main pass from the Westerlands into the Riverlands.

Economy

The Westerlands are not the largest, most populous, or most fertile part of the realm, but they are the richest. Full of hills and crags, the land is dotted with mines from which pour gold and silver in astonishing quantities. There are gold mines at Casterly Rock, the Golden Tooth, Castamere, Nunn's Deep, and the Pendric Hills. Nothing is said of the number of people working in the mines or in other industries. There is some fishery in Lannisport and on Fair Isle.

History

Before the Andals

Little is known of the time before the coming of the First Men. Like the rest of Westeros, the children of the forest probably lived in the Westerlands and fought with the First Men when they came. After the Pact at the Isle of Faces, the children only kept the forests; they might have lived near Crakehall.

During the Age of Heroes, the legendary hero and trickster Lann the Clever acquired Casterly Rock in some manner from House Casterly. According to legend he is the ancestor of the Lannisters.

Kingdom of the Rock

Some 6,000 years ago, the Andals invaded Westeros. They fought with the First Men and the children. All regions south of the Neck were conquered by them. As the Andals forged their kingdoms, the Westerlands became known as the Kingdom of the Rock, with the Kings of the Rock presumably taking Casterly Rock as their seat.

Little is known about the history of the Kingdom of the Rock, although it warred against the other kingdoms in Westeros. Ser Eustace of House Osgrey mentions that a famous relative of his defeated an attack by the Kingdom of the Rock by killing a Lannister king, Lancel V. Given their difficulty in defending the coastline, the westermen most likely also fought with the ironborn.

Targaryen Era

After the invasion of Aegon Targaryen, King Loren Lannister mustered his armies to fight the invaders. Allied with King Mern of the Reach, they assembled an enormous host, remembered as the Host of the Two Kings. However, they were no match for Targaryen dragons. King Loren escaped the so-called Field of Fire and submitted to Aegon. His primacy in the Westerlands was confirmed by the Targaryens. Since this time the Westerlands have been part of the Seven Kingdoms controlled by the Iron Throne.

During the Blackfyre Rebellion, some Westerland houses kept a foot in both camps. It is mentioned that some nobles supported Daemon Blackfyre, but no Westerland supporters of Daeron II are mentioned. It is unknown if this means the Westerlands only supported Daemon Blackfyre.

During the Great Spring Sickness the coast of the Westerlands suffered under the attacks of raiders of Dagon Greyjoy.

Tytos Lannister

During the reign of Tytos Lannister, Lannister rule was purely nominal. Tytos was held in low esteem and was largely ignored by his vassals. House Tarbeck and House Reyne eventually revolted against his rule. Tytos's son, Tywin, led the campaign to put the rebellion down. Houses Tarbeck and Reyne were extinguished; their respective seats at Tarbeck Hall and Castamere were razed. Since this time no house dares oppose House Lannister in the Westerlands. Because of this unity, the Westerlands are a force to be reckoned with. Tywin's own prestige was so great and his capabilities so well demonstrated that he became Hand of the King for King Aerys II Targaryen.

Robert's Rebellion

After the apparent abduction of Lyanna Stark, fiancé of Lord Robert Baratheon, by Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and the execution of her father and brother by King Aerys II, a rebellion of House Stark, House Arryn, House Baratheon, and House Tully began.

Before this time, Tywin had resigned as Hand, and for the better part of the War of the Usurper the Westerlands remained neutral. After the Battle of the Trident, however, Tywin chose the side of the rebels. The Westerland army sacked King's Landing, and killed the Targaryen heirs to prove their support. After the crowning of the main rebel, Robert Baratheon, he was married to Cersei Lannister to bind the Lannisters to his cause.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

During the War of the Five Kings, Westerland armies devastate the Riverlands.[1][2][3]

A Clash of Kings

In retaliation[4] and to draw Lord Tywin Lannister from Harrenhal,[5] King Robb Stark leads forces from the North and House Frey in an invasion of the Westerlands.[6] They pillage the eastern area of the Westerlands, capturing Ashemark, the Crag, the gold mines at Castamere, Nunn's Deep and the Pendric Hills.[7][4] Other areas of the Westerlands remain relatively unscathed.

A Storm of Swords

Tywin Lannister, the liege lord of the Westerlands, is murdered by his son, Tyrion Lannister.[8]

A Feast for Crows

Queen Cersei Lannister, the Lady of Casterly Rock, succeeds Tywin as the liege lord of the Westerlands.[9]

When King Euron and Lord Captain Victarion Greyjoy set out to attack mainland Westeros, the Westerlands escapes their wrath, as the Iron Fleet sails past and attacks the Shield Islands and the Reach instead.[10]

References and Sources