Casterly Rock

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Casterly Rock
Fortress, Regional Capitol
Casterly rock by feliche.jpg
Casterly Rock by Feliche©.
Location the Westerlands, Westeros.
Government House Lannister, Feudal Lord
Religion Faith of the Seven
Founded Before the Age of Heroes.
Named for House Casterly
The Westerlands and the location of Casterly Rock
The Westerlands and the location of Casterly Rock
Casterly Rock

Casterly Rock, nicknamed the Rock, is a fortress and the seat of House Lannister. The capital of the Westerlands, it overlooks the harbor of Lannisport and the Sunset Sea. Nearby strongholds include Kayce and Feastfires to the west, Sarsfield to the north, and Cornfield and Clegane's Keep to the south.

Layout

See also: Images of Casterly Rock

The fortress is carved out of a great stone hill and its natural defenses are further enhanced with walls and other structures. It is tunneled through with halls and chambers, with a huge keep at its peak. Gold-producing mines are possibly still productive in the hill.[1]

Three key rooms within the Rock are the Golden Gallery, the Lion's Mouth and the Hall of Heroes, where the Lannisters and their close kin who have died valiantly are interred. From below the Rock thunder can be heard, where the sea comes in.[2] In the bowels of the Rock are rooms where caged lions were once kept[3], and cells for the worst prisoners.[4] There is a place called the Stone Garden within the castle;[5] it contains a weirwood a tenth the size of Raventree Hall's.[6]

The household of Casterly Rock includes Maester Creylen, Vylarr, Ser Benedict Broom, and Whitesmile Wat.[7]

History

Legend says that Casterly Rock is named for the family that ruled it in the Age of Heroes, the Casterlys, who no longer exist. The Lannisters trace their rule over it back to Lann the Clever, who tricked the Casterlys out of their castle and claimed it for his own.[8] Some claim that Lann still haunts the castle.[9] After Harrenhal, the Rock is most likely the second-largest castle in the realm.[10] It has never fallen.

The young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was once courted during a feast at Casterly Rock by the twins Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister.[11] During the Dance of the Dragons, Casterly Rock was left in disarray after the death of Lord Jason and the Battle by the Lakeshore.[12]

Aeron Greyjoy was captured after the Battle of Fair Isle, taken to Lannisport in chains, and spent the rest of the Greyjoy Rebellion imprisoned in Casterly Rock.[13]

When Tyrion Lannister became a man at sixteen, he was forbidden from taking a tour of the Free Cities as his uncles Gerion and Tygett had done. Instead Lord Tywin Lannister gave Tyrion charge of all the cisterns and drains at Casterly Rock.[9]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

After hearing of the capture of his son Tyrion Lannister by Lady Catelyn Tully, Lord Tywin Lannister raises two hosts at Casterly Rock, beginning a conflict which develops into the War of the Five Kings.

A Storm of Swords

Tyrion Lannister demands his birthright of the lordship of Casterly Rock from his father, Tywin, and is harshly rejected.

Tyrion asks his new wife Sansa Stark if she wants to visit the Rock, wanting to show her where he and Jaime Lannister grew up, but also desiring to keep her away from the abuses of his nephew Joffrey Baratheon. She remains impassive and Tyrion withdraws this offer.

Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, is killed in King's Landing by his son Tyrion.[14]

A Feast for Crows

Ser Damion Lannister, a distant cousin of the main branch, is named castellan by Queen Cersei Lannister,[15] the new Lady of Casterly Rock.[16]

The Hall of Heroes
© Fantasy Flight Games

Quotes

The Lannisters were an old family, tracing their descent back to Lann the Clever, a trickster from the Age of Heroes who was no doubt as legendary as Bran the Builder, though far more beloved of singers and taletellers. In the songs, Lann was the fellow who winkled the Casterlys out of Casterly Rock with no weapon but his wits, and stole gold from the sun to brighten his curly hair.[8]

- thoughts of Eddard Stark


They say there is naught but stone at the heart of Casterly Rock.[17]

Catelyn Stark to Robb Stark


Tyrion: What do I want, you ask? I’ll tell you what I want. I want what is mine by rights. I want Casterly Rock ... I want you to stand up before the realm and proclaim that I am your son and your lawful heir.
Tywin: Casterly Rock. Never .. neither gods nor men shall ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse.[18]

- Tyrion Lannister and Tywin Lannister

References and Notes

  1. "Casterly Rock" entry in A World of Ice and Fire
  2. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  3. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 65, Cersei II.
  4. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 66, Tyrion XII.
  5. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
  6. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
  7. A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
  9. 9.0 9.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
  10. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV, Jaime notes that Pia, who was born at Harrenhal, would think any castle in the realm was small except the Rock..
  11. The Rogue Prince.
  12. The Princess and the Queen.
  13. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 1, The Prophet.
  14. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 77, Tyrion XI.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  16. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  17. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 55, Catelyn VIII.
  18. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 3, Arya I.