Westeros
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Westeros is one of the three continents described in George R. R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. It is loosely based on medieval Britain.
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Geography
World
There are three continents. The story takes place mainly on the western continent, called Westeros. The unnamed eastern continent is home to many ancient civilizations, as well as to many clans of nomadic people. Eastern civilizations known to the Westerosi include Ghis and Valyria. The free cities of Braavos, Lys, and Tyrosh are cities of Valyrian origin and situated close to Westeros; the Valyria-descended Targaryens united and ruled Westeros for three centuries.
Of the southern continent all that is known that it is inhabited by dark-skinned people and is roughly equivalent to Africa, "jungly, plague-ridden and largely unexplored". It is called Sothoryos<ref>User mail #202. Verbatim citation by GRRM.</ref>.
It has been suggested that the inhabited part of Westeros is roughly equivalent in area to South America. However, there is a large amount of land to the far north that is unmapped, due to the extremely cold temperatures and hostile inhabitants. Westeros is separated from the unnamed eastern continent by the Narrow Sea.
The north of Westeros is less densely populated than the south. There are five cities on the continent; in order of size, they are Oldtown, King's Landing, Lannisport, Gulltown, and White Harbor.
Geographical Parts of Westeros
Westeros is divided into areas, each ruled by a different house, and has different geographical attributes. Each part was one of the Seven Kingdoms, ruled by its own king (except for the Riverlands, who after the death of one of its previous kings, fell under the control of the Ironmen at the time of Aegon's conquest).
The North
The North is the area north of The Neck, and has been ruled by House Stark from Winterfell, first as Kings of the North and later under Aegon, for thousands of years. Most of its residents still follow the Old Gods, but some, mainly around the area of White Harbor, have taken the faith of the Seven. Its northern border is The Wall, guarded by the Night's Watch. Notable familes include the Boltons, the Karstarks, the Mormonts and the Umbers. In the North, bastards are given the surname Snow.
The Neck
The Neck is small triangle of swampland immediately south of the North, and sworn to Winterfell. Home to House Reed, it is a natural border for the north, protecting it from invasion, and inhabited by the marsh-dwelling crannogmen.
The Iron Islands
The Iron Islands are a group of seven islands in Ironman's Bay, including Pyke, Great Wyk, Old Wyk, and Harlaw, lying off the western coast of the continent The inhabitants of these harsh isles are known as Ironmen in the rest of Westeros, 'The Ironborn' amongst themselves. They are governed by House Greyjoy from Pyke, chosen to rule the Ironmen after Black Harren's line was extinguished during the Conquest. Prior to the arrival of Aegon the Conqueror, the Ironmen ruled over the riverlands and much of the coast of Westeros. The Ironmen are men of the sea, and their naval supremacy was once unmatched. The Seven of the Andals find small favor with the Ironborn, as their allegiance is given to their ancestral Drowned God.
The Riverlands
The Riverlands are the fertile areas between the forks of the Trident. They are the domain of House Tully of Riverrun. The Tullys were never kings of the Riverlands, but were heads of the rebel riverlords who left Harren the Black in favour of Aegon the Conqueror. In the Riverlands, bastards are given the surname Rivers.
The Vale of Arryn
The Vale is the area surrounded almost completely by the Mountains of the Moon. The Vale is under the rulership of House Arryn, one of the oldest lines of Andal nobility and, before Aegon's conquest Kings of Mountain and Vale. Their seat, the Eyrie, is a castle high in the mountains, small but unassailable. Notable Houses of this region include Hunter, Corbray, Redfort, and Royce. In the Vale, bastards are given the surname Stone.
The Westlands
The Westlands are the lands to the west of the Riverlands and north of the Reach. They are ruled by House Lannister from Casterly Rock, formerly Kings of the Rock. People of this region are often called 'Westermen'. Lannisport, lying hard by Casterly Rock, is the chief town of the region and one of the great ports and cities of Westeros. Bastards in the Westlands are given the surname Hill.
The Reach
The Reach is the fertile ground ruled by House Tyrell from Highgarden. The Tyrells were stewards to House Gardener, the Kings of the Reach before Aegon's conquest. After the last Gardener King was killed on the Field of Fire, the Tyrells surrendered Highgarden to Aegon and were rewarded with both the castle and the position of overlords of the Reach. One of the largest cities in Westeros, Oldtown, and home of the Maester's Citadel, is in the Reach. Bastards of the Reach are given the surname Flowers.
The Stormlands
The Stormlands are the areas between King's Landing and the Sea of Dorne. In the east they are bordered by Shipbreaker's Bay. Before Aegon's conquest they were ruled by the Storm Kings, and afterwards by House Baratheon, bastard relatives to the Targaryens. Bastards of this region are given the surname Storm.
Dorne
Dorne is the land to the south of the continent. High mountains separate Dorne from the nearby Reach, and the Dornish Marches are notorious for the intercine warfare between Dornishmen and the Marcher Lords of the Reach. It is ruled by the Dornish Princes of House Martell from Sunspear. Dorne differs from the other kingdoms in that its population has much Rhoynish blood, resulting from the historical migration led by the warrior-queen Nymeria. Also, Dorne is the only one of the seven kingdoms to contain significant areas of desert terrain. Dorne was the last land to be added to Aegon's kingdom - it was brought into the realm via marriage and not conquest, and the members of the ruling House Martell still style themselves "Prince" and "Princess", a result of the strong Rhoynish influence. The current Prince of Dorne is Doran Martell. Bastards in Dorne are given the surname Sand.
Seasons
Westeros is at the mercy of erratic seasons that may last for many years, but whose duration is unpredictable. At the beginning of A Song of Ice and Fire the continent has enjoyed a decade-long summer, and many fear that an equally long and harsh winter will follow. It is unclear to which degree the eastern continent is subject to the same conditions. George R. R. Martin explicitly and more than once stated that the explanation of the Planet's climate will be revealed at the end of the series, so he can not disclose any further details on the issue before that point. He also stated that the explanation will be magical in nature and will not involve any sci-fi elements.Template:Fact.
- 208 AL - Spring
- 209 AL – Great Spring Sickness
- 211 AL - Summer
- 254 AL – Winter
- 281 AL – the Year of the False Spring
- 288–298 AL – the long summer
Biology and Anthropology
Sentient species
- Humans
- Giants of subhuman intelligence.
- Children of the Forest are frequently mentioned, possibly extinct, and have left no political or cultural heritage.
- Others only appear in the night and when it is cold (at least, according to historical accounts in Night Watch library). The conditions of the north of Westeros appear to suit their needs. Others can resurrect and control the dead; some humans can do this as well. They appear to have superior abilities in combat, but their number and origin is unknown. A remark by Martin caused some additional speculations on their place in the larger cosmologyTemplate:Fact.
Animals
Other species inhabiting the planet include species very similar to members of the Pleistocene megafauna of Earth.
- Direwolf - larger and stronger than ordinary wolf (this is not necessarily true on Earth), they also exhibit magical abilities. A group of direwolves plays an important role in the story.
- Aurochs - large ancestor of the bull; allegedly was used as a mount by invincible Clarence Crabb.
- Mammoth - inhabitant of far north. Occasionally used there as a domestic animal.
Dragons
There are also Dragons, who play an important role in the story. Only three are presently known to exist. They breathe extremely hot fire (only the fires beneath the earth and the summer sun are hotter than it, according to pyromancers). Dragons have no gender differentiation.
History
The rough timeline here is given in relation to Aegon's Landing, using negative numbers for events before Aegon's Landing.
- Dawn Age (before -12,000)
- In the Dawn Age, Westeros is inhabited by the fairy-like Children of the Forest, and possibly by Giants in the far North.
- ca. -12,000
- About 12,000 years ago, the First Men come to Westeros from the Eastern Continent, via a land bridge then connecting the two land masses. The First Men introduce bronze, leather shields, and horses. After initial fights, which include the destruction of the land bridge, they reconcile with the Children.
- The Long Night, ca. -8000
- At the time of a terrible winter that seems to last for a generation a demonic race called the Others invade from the north and nearly destroy all men in Westeros. The Others are finally defeated at the Battle of the Dawn by the men of the Night's Watch. Perhaps this is the time when the Wall is built, a giant fortification in the north of the continent protecting the continent from the menaces of the north.
- ca. -6,000
- Another tribe of men, the Andals, invade Westeros with steel weapons and a new religion, the Seven. They fight both the First Men and the Children of the Forest, finally extinguishing the latter everywhere south of the Wall. After centuries of fighting, the Andals establish six kingdoms in the south, while the north remains in the hands of the First Men.
- ca. -700
- The Rhoynar, led by Queen Nymeria, land in Dorne, the southern part of Westeros, and mix with the Dornish. The Rhoynar bring no greater political turmoil, though the southernmost kingdoms are heavily influenced by their customs, including equal primogeniture.
- 1
- Two centuries after the Doom of Valyria, Aegon of the House Targaryen, an ancient Valyrian family, invades, subdues, and unites Westeros.
- 284
- Robert Baratheon starts a rebellion against the "Mad King" Aerys II Targaryen. and with the help of other houses defeats the Targaryen army and crowns himself king.
- 297
- The events of A Song of Ice and Fire begin.
Specific places
The Citadel
The Citadel is the place the order of maesters call home, where they forge their chains with years of study. The Citadel is located in the Reach, in Oldtown, the oldest city in Westeros.
King's Landing
King's Landing is the capital of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, and the seat of the Iron Throne, held (at the onset of A Game of Thrones) by House Baratheon.
King's Landing is surrounded by a wall, manned by a city watch known as the Gold Cloaks, led (as of the beginning of the series) by Janos Slynt. The city has seven gates:
- Dragon Gate
- Gate of the Gods
- Iron Gate
- King's Gate
- Lion Gate
- River Gate (Mud Gate)
- Old Gate
The interior of the city is dominated by three hills, named after the Targaryen conquerors:
- Aegon's High Hill
- Rhaenys's Hill
- Visenya's Hill
Other significant places within the city include:
- The Blackwater Rush, the river to the south
- Chataya's, a brothel
- Flea Bottom
- The Great Sept of Baelor
- The Red Keep
Harrenhal
Located on the northern shore of God's Eye, a lake in the central part of Westeros, Harrenhal was built by Harren the Black from the Iron Islands. Harren's grandfather, Hardhand, had gained the Riverlands in conquest, defeating Arrec the Storm King.
Harren built the castle to be the greatest in the world: made out of black stone, it was built out of proportion, which, since it was situated on the relatively flat plains, made for an awe inspiring sight. The castle towers were massive and numerous, the great hall larger than most any in Westeros; all of it was built to impress.
Harren had scarcely finished his work when Aegon the Conqueror came with an army. Hearing of the Reach King's army burnt to dust by massive dragons on the field, he hid behind his walls--only to have them be attacked by the dragons, whose fires were so hot they cracked and melted the stone. Harren and his sons did not survive, and his kingdom capitulated.
After three hundred years of relative disuse, the castle has been occupied by numerous houses. At the start of the War of the Five Kings, the owner was House Whent. When the castle was taken by Tywin Lannister, it was first awarded to Janos Slynt. Tyrion Lannister revoked the award and sent Slynt to the Wall. Harrenhal was given to Petyr Baelish instead, though he has never set foot in the castle. After several months of Lannister occupation, Roose Bolton conspired with the Brave Companions (a mercenary company in Lord Tywin's service) to take the castle, after which he occupied it in the name of Robb Stark.
The castle's towers have long since lost their original names, now they are known as the Tower of Dread, The Widow's Tower, The Wailing Tower (so named for the blowing of wind through cracks in its wall, making a ghostly wail--some of the superstitious believe it to be haunted by ghosts), The Tower of Ghosts, The Kingspyre Tower (where Harren died with his sons; the largest of the towers). Harrenhal has been rumored to be cursed, with many of its masters coming to bad ends.
Winterfell
Winterfell (possibly related to German for "winter pelt") is the name given to both the ancient castle where the Starks live, and the surrounding town. Winterfell possesses a godswood of three square miles, with an ancient weirwood tree marking its center. It is also surrounded by a moat. As such a large castle, it also has several abandoned towers and sections, where few are known to go. The castle has deep catacombs where the bodies of Starks are buried, with statues to mark the crypts of the former lords of Winterfell and the old Kings of the North.
At the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Lord Eddard Stark was the Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North. Robb Stark, his oldest son, was the heir to Winterfell. Maester Luwin was a trusted counsellor, healer and tutor. Ser Rodrik Cassel was the master-at-arms, Jory Cassel was the captain of the guard.
Winterfell has been attacked, captured, and burned, and now is an abandoned ruin, though its godswood still stands.
Places on the Eastern Continent
Narrow Sea
The Narrow Sea separates Westeros and the eastern continent. It is the main trade route between Westeros and the rest of the world.
Asshai borders the Jade Sea rather than the Narrow Sea but trading ships can pass between the two seas via the straits at Qarth.
Valyria
Valyria is a dead nation that was located on a peninsula of the Eastern Continent, and is the ancestral home of the House Targaryen. Valyria was destroyed when some as-yet undescribed "doom" was visited upon it several hundred years prior to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire. It is described as "demon-haunted." What is left of Valyria has been fragmented into numerous smaller islands is surrounded by the forbidding Smoking Sea.
Valyria is also known for their blades of exceptional quality, specifically for the "Valyrian steel" the blades are made from. The secret to the forging of such steel was apparently lost when Valyria "fell." As such, blades made from such steel are highly treasured and extremely rare. Many of these blades are the heirlooms of noble houses in Westeros. Ice, the greatsword of House Stark, is one such blade.
Qarth
A vastly rich city in the far east, home to warlocks and merchant princes. The Quartheen are a tall and pale people, called the Milk Men by the Dothraki for this paleness. Quarth is governed by the Pureborn, who command the Civic Guard and the fleet that defend the city. There are three principal merchant groups that battle for dominance of Quarth, amongst themselves and against the Pureborn. They are known as the Thirteen, the Ancient Guild of Spicers, and the Tourmaline Brotherhood. Quarth is most famous for its Warlocks who are feared and respected througout the East. The Warlocks of Quarth are led by the Undying Ones, who reside in the House of the Undying, or the Palace of Dust. The Warlocks drink a hallucinogenic drink known as "shade of the evening" which turns their lips blue. Quarth is also known for a guild of assasins known as the Sorrowful Men, who whisper "I am so sorry" just before they kill their victim.
Free cities
The nine free cities are located between Westeros and the remains of Valyria. The nine Free Cities are Lys, Myr, Pentos, Braavos, Lorath, Norvos, Qohor, Volantis, and Tyrosh. Of these all but Norvos and Qohor are located along coasts or upon islands in the Narrow Sea.
Notes and links
Notes
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