Blackwater Rush

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The crownlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
The crownlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
Blackwater Rush
The crownlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
The riverlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
The riverlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
Blackwater Rush
The riverlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
The westerlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
The westerlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush
Blackwater Rush
The westerlands and the location of the Blackwater Rush

The Blackwater Rush, also known as the Rush[1] or the Blackwater River,[2] but more commonly called the Blackwater,[3] is a river in the southern riverlands, the northern reach,[4] and the crownlands with some headwaters in the westerlands.[5] It is one of the major rivers of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

Geography

With headwaters near Stoney Sept,[6] the Blackwater flows southeast and is joined by two tributaries, one east of Stoney Sept and one from the Gods Eye.[7][8] King's Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne, is situated at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush at Blackwater Bay, and the River Gate is on of the capital's gates. The Goldroad crosses and follows some of the Rush. Tumbler's Falls is also located on the Blackwater Rush.[9]

In the video game Game of Thrones, Riverspring in the westerlands is located near the source of the Blackwater, and Castlewood in the riverlands is found on the banks of the river.[10]

A deep[11][12] and swift[13] river, the Blackwater's currents are wicked and treacherous.[14] The current is strong where the Blackwater Rush meets Blackwater Bay.[11] Although the Rush is a wide river at its mouth,[14] it is only a fifth as wide as the Rhoyne in Essos.[15]

Culture

Trout[16] and river pike[17] are fished from the Blackwater.

Swimmers have been known to drown in the Blackwater's powerful current.[18] According to King Robert I Baratheon, women swim naked in the river.[19]

History

Antiquity

In the days of the Hundred Kingdoms, the mouth of the Blackwater was claimed by the Darklyns of Duskendale, the Masseys of Stonedance, and the river kings of Houses Mudd, Fisher, Bracken, Blackwood, and Hook.[20] The river's mouth was successfully claimed by King Benedict II Justman.[21]

The Conquest

The Blackwater Rush at King's Landing, by Kim Pope

Prior to Aegon's Conquest, the southern shore of the Blackwater was claimed by Argilac Durrandon, the Storm King, and the northern shore by Harren Hoare, the King of the Isles and the Rivers.[20] After landing at the mouth of the river, Aegon the Conqueror founded the Aegonfort. The new king had the swords of those slain in the Field of Fire sent downriver as material for the Iron Throne.[22]

A new town developed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush during the Conquest. After being anointed by the High Septon at Oldtown, Aegon I chose to make the court of House Targaryen at this new settlement, which would become known as King's Landing.[22]

House Targaryen

A cog on the Blackwater was used as a temporary sept for King's Landing, and then a stouter building of daub-and-wattle was built on the shore. The High Septon then sponsored the building of a more impressive permanent sept at Visenya's Hill.[23]

King Maegor I Targaryen achieved a great victory over the Warrior's Sons in a battle at the Great Fork of the Blackwater during the Faith Militant uprising.[24]

In 57 AC, Septon Barth proposed a system of wells and pipes to deliver fresh water to King's Landing, as the Blackwater had muddy river water which was also polluted by sewers.[25]

Princess Gael Targaryen drowned herself in the river in 99 AC.[26]

After the yielding of Harrenhal in the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Daemon Targaryen and Caraxes followed the Blackwater downstream to participate in the participate in the fall of King's Landing.[27] Moslander of Yore, Ser Garrick Hall of Middleton, Ser Merrell the Bold, Ser Roger Corne, and Lord Owain Bourney were men of the Blackwater who participated in the First Battle of Tumbleton.[28]

Baela Targaryen enjoyed moonlight swims in the powerful river.[18] Lady Buckler and her daughters drowned en route to the Maiden's Day Cattle Show of 133 AC when their boat sank in the Blackwater.[29]

Prior to the First Blackfyre Rebellion, King Daeron II Targaryen granted land near the Blackwater to his half-brother, Daemon Blackfyre.[30]

During the terrible summer drought of 211 AC the Blackwater Rush and the Mander were running low,[31] while the river froze at the end of 281 AC, the year of the false spring.[32]

Displeased with King's Landing in 265 AC, King Aerys II Targaryen once considered building a new city of marble on the southern shore of the river.[32]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

A hundred pavilions are raised alongside the Blackwater Rush for the Hand's tourney at King's Landing.[16]

A Clash of Kings

Battle of the Blackwater by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

The party of Catelyn Stark crosses the Blackwater while en route from Riverrun to Bitterbridge.[33]

After being stopped at the Red Fork in the Battle of the Fords, Lord Tywin Lannister joins Lord Mathis Rowan and Lord Randyll Tarly near the headwaters of the Blackwater. At Tumbler's Falls they meet Lord Mace Tyrell, who has brought barges and a large host with him. From there they float down the Blackwater and land a half day's ride outside of King's Landing.[9]

During the Battle of the Blackwater, many of the ships of Joffrey Baratheon and his uncle Stannis Baratheon are set ablaze by wildfire after a great chain divides the river from Blackwater Bay.[11] The Rush appears to be on fire,[34] and King Joffrey has Antler Men flung into the river.[35] Podrick Payne knocks the armored Ser Mandon Moore into the water to save Tyrion.[36] The Lannisters and Tyrells attack Stannis's army in the rear and force him to retreat.[9]

A Storm of Swords

While the vicinity of Stoney Sept has suffered greatly from the War of the Five Kings, the harvest has not yet been burned south of the river and trading is still possible.[37]

In the aftermath of the Battle of the Blackwater, Ragged Jenna and Laughing Lord become pirates on the river.[38] Bronn is rewarded for his role in the battle by being knighted as Ser Bronn of the Blackwater.[39]

Before the port of King's Landing can be reopened, the Blackwater must be dredged of sunken ships. Three out of every four quays are damaged.[40] A flat-bottomed ferry is one of the few ships crossing the river at the capital.[41]

A Feast for Crows

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister desires to have a new palace built across the Blackwater from King's Landing once the war has ended.[42] She approves the construction of new dromonds on the river.[43]

The entourage of Queen Margaery Tyrell enjoys sailing up and down the Blackwater Rush and crossing the river to go hawking.[43]

Quote

The king's pavilion was close by the water, and the morning mists off the river had wreathed it in wisps of grey.[44]

—thoughts of Eddard Stark

Beyond the Mud Gate and the desolation that had once been the fishmarket and wharves, the river itself seemed to have taken fire.[34]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

References

  1. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 1, Arya I.
  2. The Rise of the Dragon, The Conquest: The Seven Kingdoms (The Stormlands).
  3. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, Reach map.
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, Westerlands map.
  6. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire.
  7. The Lands of Ice and Fire.
  8. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 14, Arya IV.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
  10. Game of Thrones
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
  12. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  13. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
  14. 14.0 14.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
  15. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
  16. 16.0 16.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  19. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  20. 20.0 20.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  21. The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
  23. Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
  24. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  25. Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and tragedies.
  26. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  27. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
  28. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
  29. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
  30. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  31. The Sworn Sword.
  32. 32.0 32.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  33. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
  34. 34.0 34.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 59, Tyrion XIII.
  35. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 60, Sansa VI.
  36. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 61, Tyrion XIV.
  37. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 29, Arya V.
  38. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
  39. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 4, Tyrion I.
  40. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 32, Tyrion IV.
  41. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 16, Sansa II.
  42. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  43. 43.0 43.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
  44. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.