Template: Location map

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Revision as of 10:39, 19 June 2007 by Scafloc (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search

The 'Westerlands is a region in the West of Westeros. It is ruled by house Lannister. Before the Conquest it was a kingdom until the last Lannister King was defeated by Aegon Targaryen and surrendered his kingdom. After that time the Lannisters held the Westerlands as vassals of the Targaryens.

Geography

The Westerlands lie west of the Riverlands. The boundary runs between Golden Tooth and Pinkmaiden north up to the Ironman's bay and south up to the Goldroad.
At the Goldroad the Westerlands borders on the Reach. The border runs a few leagues south of the line Silverhill, Cornfield, Crakehall to the Western sea. Fair Island is part of the Westerlands, the Iron Islands in Ironman's bay are not.

A large part of the Westerlands consists of hills and mountains, especially around the border with the Riverlands. The customary surname of bastards is hill, taken from the abundance of hills in the Westerlands.

Around Crakehall there are some woods.

Accessibility and natural defences

Because of the hills and mountains the only road from the Riverlands to the Westerlands is through the Red Fork. The castle at Golden Tooth commands the access.
From the south the main entrance is by the Sea Road. It is more accessible then the Red Fork but the forest at Crakehall gives the Westermen a good defence line. The Westerlands are vulnerable for an attack from the sea. The coast is quit flat and can be easily invaded.

Lannisport

Lannisport is the biggest city of Westeros. It ranks 3rd biggest city after Kingslanding and Oldtown but is must larger then next cities as White Harbor and Gulltown.

Economy

There are a lot of goldmines in the Westerlands. Because of that the Westerlands is considered the richest region of Westeros and the Lannister family the richest house. 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 Island.

History

Before the Andals

Nothing is known of the time before the coming of the First Men. Probably like in the rest of Westeros the Children of the Forest 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. This means they might have lived near Crakehall.
During the Age of Heroes the legendary hero and trickster Lann the Clever got hold of Casterly Rock. According to legend he would be the ancestor of the Lannisters.


Kingdom of the Rock

Some 6000 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. In the Westerlands Andal adventurers founded the Kingdom of the Rock under Lannister kings.
Not much in said in the books about the history of the Kingdom of the Rock. Without doubt it warred against the other kingdoms in Westeros.
Ser Eustace of house Osgrey mentions that a famous relative of him defeated an attack of the kingdom of the Rock by killing the Lannister king (Lance IV)

Probably the Westermen also fought with the Ironborne.

Targaryen era

See also War of Conquest

After the invasion of Aegon Targaryen king Lorn of the Rock allied with king Mern of the Reach. Together they assembled an enormous army which was defeated by the Targaryen dragons. King Lorn escaped the battle and submitted to Aegon. He was granted the primacy in the Westerlands as vassal of the Targaryen. Since this time the Westerlands have been part of the of the Sevenkingdoms.

During Blackfire Rebellion some Westerland houses kept a foot in booth camps. It is mentioned that some nobles supported Daemon Blackfire. There are no Westerland supporters of Daeron mentioned. It is unknown if this means the Westerland were pro-Daemon Blackfire.

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

Recent history

During the reign of Tytos Lannister, Lannister rule was purely nominal. Tytos was held in very low esteem and was basically ignored by his vassals. The houses Tarbeck and Reyne eventually revolted against his rule. Tytos son Tywin led the campaign to put the rebellion down. He did this so well that the rebel houses were completely extinguished. Since this time no House opposes House Lannister in the Westerlands. Because of this unity, the Westerlands are force to be reckoned with. Tywin prestige was so great that he became Hand of the King for king Aerys II.

Robert's Rebellion

After the apparent abduction of Lyana Stark, fiancé of Robert Baratheon by crown prince Rhaegar and the execution of her father and brother by Aerys a rebellion of house Stark, house Arryn, house Baratheon and house Tully began. Before this time Tywin had resigned as Hand and the for the most part of the war the Westerlands stayed neutral. After the Trident the chose the side of the rebels. The Westerland army attacked and sacked Kingslanding and killed the Targaryen heirs to prove their support. After the crowning of the main rebel Robert Baratheon he married to Cercei Lannister to bind the Lannisters to his cause.

Some years later Balon Greyjoy rebelled. His fleet under command of Victarion Greyjoy attacked Lannisport and burned the Lannister Fleet.

War of the Five Kings

During the War of the Five Kings Westerland armies devastated the Riverlands. In revenge a joint Riverland Northern army invaded the Westerlands. They pillaged the eastern area of the Westerland. Other areas of westerland remained relatively unscathed although a lot of westermen were killed during a number of battles.



Regions of Westeros |North | Vale of Arryn | Riverlands | Westerlands| The Iron Islands | The Reach | Dorne | Stormlands| Kingslanding area| Dragonstone|