Westeros
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Westeros is one of the two continents described in George R. R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire.
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Geography
It has been suggested that the inhabited part of the continent 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 present there. 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 larger cities on the continent; in order of size these are called King's Landing, Oldtown, Lannisport, Gulltown, and White Harbor.
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.
- 208 AL - Spring
- 209 AL – Great Spring Sickness
- 211 AL - Summer
- 281 AL – the Year of the False Spring
- 288–298 AL – the long summer
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 the a demonic race called the Others invade from the north and nearly destroye all men in Westeros. The Others are finally defeated at the Battle of the Dawn the men of the Night's Watch defeat the Others. Perhaps this is the time when the Wall is built, a giant fortification in the north of the continent protecting the southern districts from the menaces 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. After centuries of fight, 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.
- 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 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:
- Blackwater Rush
- Chattaya's, a brothel
- Flea Bottom
- The Great Sept of Baelor
- The Red Keep
The Wall
The Wall is a huge fortification built primarily of ice, located on the far north of Westeros. It extends from the Bay of Seals on the east to the Frostfang mountains on the west, and is extremely hard to cross over due to its size. It is a defense against the Others and wildlings—men who do not bow to the King on the Iron Thone to the south. There are nineteen castles along the Wall, although some are too small to truly be called castles. Only three are manned during the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, including the largest one—Castle Black, the eastmost one—Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, and a western one—the Shadow Tower.
The Wall is manned by the Night's Watch, also called "crows" because of their black uniform. The Night's Watch has had its ups and downs throughout the history of Westeros, and during the events of A Song of Ice and Fire it is implied that they are short on men and supplies.
Castles Along the Wall
- Westwatch-by-the-Bridge
- The Shadow Tower
- Sentinel Stand
- Greyguard
- Stonedoor
- Hoarfrost Hill
- Icemark
- The Nightfort
- Deep Lake
- Queensgate
- Castle Black
- Oakenshield
- Woodswatch-by-the-Pool
- Sable Hall
- Rimegate
- The Long Barrow
- The Torches
- Greenguard
- Eastwatch-by-the-Sea
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 is home to a small Godswood, one of the last of its kind on Westeros. As such a large castle, it also has several abandoned towers and sections, where few are allowed to go. The castle has deep catacombs where statues of the former lords of Winterfell and the old Kings of the North are placed over their mausoleums.
At the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Lord Eddard Stark was the Lord of Winterfell, and thus the Warden of the North. Robb Stark 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.
Places on the Eastern Continent
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.
Valyria is also known for their blades of exceptional quality, specifically for the "Valyrian steel" the blades are made from.
| A Song of Ice and Fire |
| King's Landing | The Wall | Westeros | Winterfell | Valyria |
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