Location Details |
Address: | The Westerlands |
Coordinates: | West Westeros |
Owner: | House Lannister |
Type: | Kingdom Region |
Wealth: | Destitute - Opulent |
The Westerlands is a region in the west of the continent of Westeros. Before Aegon's Conquest, it was known as the Kingdom of the Rock. People from the Westerlands are known as Westermen.
The Westerlands lie near the upper central-western portion of the Seven Kingdoms, just below the Neck. It is west of the Trident, north of the Reach, and spreads from Lannisport on its southern edge to Ironman’s Bay in the north. The Goldroad and the Red Fork make for useful southern and eastern boundary lines.
The land in this area is mostly mountainous and hilly, with rich valleys and farms providing food to the rest of the Westerlands, mostly nuts, berries, turnips, and similar crops as well as sheep, cattle, deer, and goats. The fisherfolk add to the Westerlands’ self-reliance by providing bountiful catches. Gold mines dot the landscape of the Westerlands.
In addition to the mines at Golden Tooth and Casterly Rock, there are also working mines at Castamere, Nunn’s Deep, and the Pendric Hills. Many of the people who’ve made their living working the lands of the region have been slowly moving into the cities that spring up around these mines. While there’s no shortage of smallfolk to farm and fish, the work and fortunes available in the cities may eventually draw so many people it will negatively affect the Westerlands as a whole. The small towns sometimes dry up when the gold does, which means that there are fewer castles and forts in the Westerlands compared to the other regions of the Seven Kingdoms.
Locations of Importance
- Casterly Rock: Atop the rock overlooking the harbor of Lannisport and the Sunset Sea sits Casterly Rock. It is so named because it originally belonged to the Casterlys, who lost their holdings to Lann the Clever, according to legend. The second part of the name is drawn from the fact that the castle is literally carved out of the rock itself. It’s the castle from which House Lannister rules over the Westerlands. The outside of the stronghold is impressive and intimidating. In fact, the Rock has never fallen to an invading army. The castle’s natural defenses are further improved by walls and other fortifications, including watchtowers. Inside Casterly Rock are the living quarters of the Lannisters, as well as the halls and meeting rooms that they use for all official purposes. The Golden Gallery, the Lion’s Mouth, and the Hall of Heroes are all contained inside its walls. They’re impressive chambers and corridors where a boy could easily entertain himself for hours, which is exactly what Tyrion and Jaime Lannister did as youngsters. Below the stronghold are gold mines that continue to produce ore, as well as caverns that the sea roars into and out of. The bowels of Casterly Rock are riddled with an unknown (and probably unknowable) number of tunnels and chambers created when the gold mines were first being dug. They lead throughout the rock under the castle, and almost all of them lead to dead ends or open into caverns that echo with the sounds of the sea below. There may be passages that lead out of the mountain, but if there are, no one knows them. The area immediately to the southwest of Casterly Rock is Lannisport, the largest city of the Westerlands. North and west of Casterly Rock is the city of Kayce. Up the river, road sits Golden Tooth, midway between Casterly Rock and Riverrun. Some distance south of the Goldroad lies Silverhill, and traveling south on the sea road, one encounters Crakehall along the coast. And within three day’s ride is a village named Oxcross.
- The Golden Tooth: The Golden Tooth is a small keep sitting just east of the heart of the Westerlands, along the river road. It’s built above rich gold mines that supply a large percentage of the wealth to the region. From its vantage point above these mines, the Golden Tooth’s watchtowers overlook the river road and the rocky terrain around it. Its commanding view of the area makes it difficult for armies to approach secretly. The fact that the Golden Tooth is situated near the river road also makes it a valuable and hotly contested piece of land. A stronghold that controls access to the river road is a worthwhile asset to any lord and serves to protect the Westerlands from any force that might invade from the east. If an enemy were to take it, that lord could control the access to the river road and attack armies as they made their way past. The current occupants work hard to ensure that doesn’t happen.
- Lannisport: Lannisport sits along the coast of the Sunset Sea where the river road, Goldroad, and the sea road meet, just to the west and in full view of Casterly Rock. This port city is one of the major ports of the Seven Kingdoms and the largest city in the Westerlands by a wide margin. Compared to other cities in Westeros it’s smaller than King’s Landing and Oldtown but larger than Gulltown and White Harbor. So many visitors and traders make their way here and intermingle with the local farmers, herders, and fisherfolk, it makes the city a wild mix of the familiar and the foreign that people usually only expect from a place the size of King’s Landing. The wealth in the city means there are a number of skilled workers including excellent jewelers, goldsmiths, and blacksmiths.
People of the Westerlands
Great Ruling House of the Westerlands
Major Houses of the Westerlands
Brax • Crakehall • Farman • Kenning • Lefford • Lydden • Marbrand • Prester • Serrett • Westerling
Minor Houses of the Westerlands
Banefort • Estren • Jast • Moreland • Payne • Plumm • Stackspear
Landed Houses of the Westerlands
Greenfield • Hetherspoon • Ruttiger • Swyft • Vikary • Yew
Extinct Houses
Algood • Belgrave • Bettley • Broom • Clegane • Doggett • Drox • Falwell • Ferren • Garner • Hamell • Hawthorne • Lorch • Myatt • Parren • Peckledon • Reyne • Sarsfield • Tarbeck • Turnberry • Yarwick
The Westerlands are the richest most bountiful of all of the regions, even more so than the Crownlands and the Reach. This is mostly imparted to the numerous gold mines found throughout the land. Because of this level of wealth, even the smallfolk live rather comfortably unless they've done something to be a societal pariah.
There is a saying that the gold of the region has gotten into the very blood of the people that live there because most everyone from the Westerlands has hues of golden hair. The nobles are some of the most pampered people in the realms so they tend to be slight and delicate in their build. While the smallfolk that tend the mines and fields are a hearty thick sort.
Because mining has been so important to the history of the Westerlands, many cities and towns have grown up around mines only to then be deserted when they stop producing ore. This has left the mountains and valleys dotted with ghost towns as nobles and their smallfolk move on to new mines and new cities. That pattern continues, but the Golden Tooth, Casterly Rock, and other major mines still produce ore enough to keep the Lannisters and their nobles wealthy and busy.
The Westerlands are ruled from Casterly Rock by House Lannister. Notable bannermen have included Banefort, Brax, Broom, Crakehall, Farman, Lefford, Lydden, Marbrand, Payne, Prester, Reyne, Serrett, Swyft, Tarbeck, and Westerling. Noble bastards born and raised in the Westerlands are given the surname Hill.
House Lannister
Ever since Lann the Clever took Casterly Rock from the Casterlys, the Lannisters have ruled over the Westerlands, first as kings, and then after the Targaryen conquest, as lords in service to their new king. The Their sigil is a roaring lion, gold on crimson.
Household
Relations
- Lord Tywin Lannister, his eldest son and heir. Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, Hand of the King, Savior of the City of King's Landing and Protector of the Realm for King Tommen I. Killed by his son Tyrion Lannister on the privy.
- Lady Joanna Lannister, his wife. Died after giving birth to their second son Tyrion. Also a first cousin to Tywin.
- Queen Cersei Lannister, their only daughter. Widow to the late King Robert Baratheon, formerly Queen Regent; Queen Dowager, and Queen Mother. Formerly the Lady of Casterly Rock, Queen of the Andals and the First Men and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. Agreed to marry King Euron Greyjoy of the Iron Islands after the prospective defeat of Daenerys Targaryen. Crushed by falling debris under the Red Keep during the Battle of King's Landing.
- Unnamed prince, her eldest son. Briefly, heir to the Seven Kingdoms died of a fever. The only legitimate child of Queen Cersei by King Robert.
- King Joffrey Baratheon, her second son. King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. Poisoned at his own wedding feast by Olenna Tyrell.
- Princess Myrcella Baratheon, her only daughter. Betrothed to Trystane Martell. Poisoned by Ellaria Sand.
- King Tommen Baratheon, her youngest son. King of the Andals and the First Men and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Committed suicide after the death of his wife, Queen Margaery Tyrell.
- Unborn child, her unborn child died before ever being born along with Cersei when she was crushed by falling debris under the Red Keep during the Battle of King's Landing.
- Ser Jaime Lannister, their eldest son. Cersei's twin and Tywin's desired heir. Called "the Kingslayer". Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and former Commander of the Lannister Army. Renounced his position and left Cersei to fight with the North and House Targaryen against the Night King. Crushed by falling debris under the Red Keep during the Battle of King's Landing.
- Tyrion Lannister, their youngest son. The current Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, head of the family, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. A dwarf called "the Imp" and "Halfman". Former acting Hand of the King and Master of Coin to King Joffrey I. As well as former Hand of the Queen to Daenerys I Targaryen before resigning following the Battle of King's Landing. Pardoned and now serving as Hand of the King to Brandon I Stark.
- Tysha, his former wife.
- Queen Sansa Stark, his former wife through force, and still unconsummated, marriage. The current head of House Stark, Queen in the North and Lady of Winterfell.
- Queen Cersei Lannister, their only daughter. Widow to the late King Robert Baratheon, formerly Queen Regent; Queen Dowager, and Queen Mother. Formerly the Lady of Casterly Rock, Queen of the Andals and the First Men and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. Agreed to marry King Euron Greyjoy of the Iron Islands after the prospective defeat of Daenerys Targaryen. Crushed by falling debris under the Red Keep during the Battle of King's Landing.
- Lady Joanna Lannister, his wife. Died after giving birth to their second son Tyrion. Also a first cousin to Tywin.
House Banefort
House Banefort commands their holdings from their castle, Banefort. Their sigil is a hooded man, black on grey, within a fiery tressure.
Lord Quenten was taken captive in the Whispering Wood but was released during the Red Wedding.
Household
Relations
- Lord Quenten Banefort, Lord of Banefort.
House Brax
Their sigil is a purple unicorn on silver.
Stayed true to House Lannister and managed to survive the War of Five Kings. Ser Tytos Brax rules.
Household
Relations
- Lord Andros Brax, Lord of Hornvale. Drowned at the Battle of the Camps.
- Lord Tytos Brax, his eldest son.
- Ser Robert Brax, his second son. Slain at the Battle of the Fords.
- Ser Flement Brax, his third son, married to Morya Frey.
- Robert Brax, Flement's eldest son, serving as a page at Casterly Rock.
- Walder Brax, Flement's second son.
- Jon Brax, Flement's third son.
- Ser Rupert Brax, Andros' brother. Slain at the Battle of Oxcross.
House Crakehall
The Crakehall’s hold rises near the sea, west of the sea road. Their sigil is a black and white brindled boar on brown.
Household
Relations
- Lord Desmond Crakehall, Lord of Crakehall
House Estren
Their sigil is a green saltire between four red double-headed eagles on white.
He was captured in the Whispering Wood and released during the Red Wedding.
Household
Relations
- Lord Regenard Estren, Lord of Wyndhall.
House Farman
House Farman is one of House Lannister’s bannermen and commands the Fair Isle from their keep Faircastle. heir sigil is three silver ships on blue, a border of crimson and gold.
Household
Relations
- Lord Sebaston Farman, Lord of Fair Isle.
- Jeyne Farman, his sister. The wife of Ser Gareth Clifton, they have a dozen children
House Greenfield
Their sigil is a double treasure white on green.
Household
Relations
- Ser Garth Greenfield, the Knight of Greenfield.
House Hetherspoon
Their sigil is an oak spoon within a white cartouche on orange and black lozengy.
Household
Relations
- Ser Tybolt Hetherspoon, head of the house.
House Jast
Their sigil is an inverted pall between three lion’s heads, yellow on black.
Household
Relations
- Lord Antario Jast, the current lord.
- Lanna Lannister, his wife
- Their sons.
- Lanna Lannister, his wife
House Kenning
House Kenning rules the town of Kayce, neighbors to the holdings of House Prester. Their sigil is four sunbursts countercharged on quartered orange and black.
Household
Relations
- Lord Terrence Kenning, Lord of Kayce.
House Lefford
House Lefford’s seat is the Golden Tooth, one of the richest gold mines in the Westerlands, and it’s well positioned to block traffic between the Westerlands and the Riverlands. Their sigil is a golden inverted pile on sky blue, a yellow sun in the first.
Household
Relations
- Leo Lefford, Lord of the Golden Tooth, the current head of the house.
House Lydden
Their sigil is a white badger on per pale green and brown.
Household
Relations
- Lewys Lydden, Lord of the Deep Den.
- Jeyne Lydden, second wife of Stevron Frey, heir to Lord Walder, and mother to Aegon Frey and Maegelle Frey.
House Marbrand
One of the Marband features is copper-hair. Their sigil is a burning tree, orange on smoke.
Household
Relations
- Lord Damon Marbrand, Lord of Ashemark, the current head of the family.
- Ser Addam Marbrand, his eldest son and heir.
House Moreland
Their sigil is per pale barry - russet and green.
Household
Relations
- Lord Robin Moreland, head of the house.
House Payne
Their sigil is a checkered purple and white, within each square a gold coin.
Household
Relations
House Plumm
Their sigil is three purple roundels on gold.
Ser Harwyn Plumm, known as Hardstone, clears broken men from Darry.
Ossifer is mentioned by Queen Cersei Lannister to illustrate for Jaime that any child of Margaery Tyrell could be recognized as King Tommen I Baratheon's, even if it was physically impossible for him to impregnate the woman.
Lord Philip Plumm is among the gathered nobility that escort the corpse of Tywin back to Casterly Rock.
Harwyn Hardstone is named the commander of the garrison at Darry Castle. He is away hunting outlaws when Jaime visits the castle. He is possibly involved romantically with Lord Lancel Lannister's wife, "Gatehouse Ami" Frey.
Household
Relations
- Lord Philip Plumm, Lord Plumm
- Ser Dennis Plumm, his eldest son and heir.
- Ser Peter Plumm, his second son.
- Ser Harwyn Plumm, his third son, called "Hardstone".
House Prester
House Prester rules their lands from their castle called Feastfires, perched on the end of a peninsula west of Casterly Rock. Their sigil is a red ox on ermine.
A banner of House Prester is among those gathered to escort the corpse of Lord Tywin Lannister back to Casterly Rock.
Ser Forley joins Ser Daven Lannister to march on Riverrun and besiege it again with the Freys. Forley commands the escort which will bring Ser Edmure Tully and Jeyne Westerling to Casterly Rock. He is ordered by Ser Jaime Lannister to kill Edmure or Jeyne should either of them try to escape.
Household
Relations
- Lord Garrison Prester, Lord of Feastfires.
- Ser Forley Prester, his cousin.
House Ruttiger
Their sigil is an orange bend engrailed on black.
]]
*Ser Raynard Ruttiger, head of house Ruttiger.
[[# serrett
Household
Relations
House Serrett
House Serrett is a major house with holdings south of the goldroad near one of the river Mander’s tributaries. Their sigil is a peacock in his pride on cream.
Household
Relations
- Lord Serrett, present at the Battle of the Green Fork.
- The mother of Ser Harras Harlaw.
House Stackspear
Their sigil is crossed black spears on checkered silver and gold.
Household
Relations
- Lord Selmond Stackspear, Lord Stackspear.
- Ser Steffon Stackspear, his eldest son and heir.
- Ser Alyn Stackspear, his second son.
House Swyft
House Swyft is an important house in the westerlands with strong ties to House Lannister. Their sigil is a blue bantam rooster on yellow.
Household
Relations
- Ser Harys Swyft, the Knight of Cornfield and head of the House.
- Dorna Swyft. Married to Ser Kevan Lannister.
House Vikary
Their sigil is quarterly - A red boar’s head on white, beneath a gold bend sinister, a silver lion rampant regardant with a forked tail, armed and langued gold, on red.
Household
Relations
- Ser Lymond Vikary, head of house Vikary.
House Westerling
The Crag, the ancestral seat of House Westerling, sits along the western coast and is well regarded. As their gold mines are quite the prize and source of great status. The Lady of the Westerlands, Johanna Lannister came from this house. Their sigil is six white seashells on sand.
Household
Relations
- Lord Gawen Westerling, Lord of the Crag.
- Lady Sybell Spicer, his wife.
- Ser Raynald Westerling, his eldest son and heir. Last reported jumping into the Green Fork during the Red Wedding.
- Jeyne Westerling, his eldest daughter.
- Eleyna Westerling, his second daughter.
- Rollam Westerling, his second son.
- Lady Sybell Spicer, his wife.
House Yew
Their sigil is a golden longbow on white between two crimson flanches.
Household
Relations
- Ser Manfryd Yew, the head of House Yew.
Extinct Houses
House Algood
Their sigil is a golden wreath on blue, a gold border.
House Algood went extinct in the Whispering Wood, lost when in conflict with the Northern forces during the War of the Five Kings.
Household
Relations
House Belgrave
House Belgrave became extinct in a rather quiet way, a boy just wasn't born for a few generations and the name faded as the daughters took their husband's names. This happened after the reign of King Baelor I "The Blessed". Their lands were very near the southern border of the Westerlands and neighbor the Reach. Their lands and tower eventually become the holding of House Clegane. Their sigil is a black bell on yellow.
Household
Relations
House Bettley
Their sigil is three blue beetles on gold.
The Battle of Whisper Wood between forces of the North against Westerlands saw House Bettley decimated down to one lone surviving male member, and he, Ser "Beardless Jon" Bettley, has not been heard of since after the Siege of Riverrun in 300 AC.
Household
Relations
House Broom
Brooms are an ancient line, dating back to the days of the First Men. They are sworn to House Lannister. Their sigil is a silver helm crested with a sprig of broom on black and green checks. Ser Benedict Broom, master-at-arms at Casterly Rock was one of the few military persons that remained at Casterly Rock when it was seized by the Unsullied. Greyworm thrust his spear through Ser Benedict's heart. Several other Brooms marched south with Jaime Lannister and one died during the sacking of Highgarden while the last of the Broom name was burnt to ash by Queen Daenerys' dragon mount when she confronted Jaime's forces on their way back to King's Landing after Highgarden fell.
Household
Relations
House Clegane
The founder of House Clegane was the grandfather of Gregor and Sandor, who served as the kennel master at Casterly Rock. While accompanying Lord Tytos Lannister on an excursion, they were attacked by a lioness. He rescued his master, losing three dogs and a leg in the process, and was awarded lands and title for his actions. The lands and tower once belonged to House Belgrave. House Clegane's sigil is three black dogs on a yellow field.
The two remaining Cleganes, Ser Gregor "The Mountain" and his younger brother, Sandor "The Hound" didn't just have sibling rivalry, they were archnemesis. Gregor pressed his brother's face into a fire for playing with one of his toys. He is also guilty though not proven to be the murderer of their father, mother, and little sister. But Gregor became a favorite soldier of Tywin Lannister so it wasn't until the Sacking of King's Landing by Queen Daenerys that Sandor finally got his revenge. The duel between the brothers amongst the crumbling ruins of the Red Keep has become a favorite tragic song. The duel ended when Sandor tackle-pushed both himself and The Mountain out of the tower plummeting hundreds of feet into the burning city below.
Household
Relations
House Doggett
Their sigil is per bend a white unicorn on green, a black raven on white.
House Doggett was one of many to lose its members in the War of the Five Kings. The last is thought to have been trampled during one of the battles with King Robb Stark.
Household
Relations
House Drox
Their sigil is three black crossbows, on gold, a black border.
House Drox was another to end during the battles with King Robb Stark.
Household
Relations
House Falwell
Their sigil is a fool in red and gold motley juggling five suns on black.
House Falwell was one of the first houses to end. They fell at the Battle of the Blackwater when Stannis attacked.
Household
Relations
House Ferren
Their sigil is per saltire, red and gold checks, a silver and black ferret on green.
The last members of House Ferren were lost in the destruction of King's Landing - standing beside the Lannister troops.
Household
Relations
House Garner
Their sigil is three grey owls upon white plates on green.
House Garner fell in the battles leading up to the Whispering Wood.
Household
Relations
House Hamell
Their sigil is an erminois maunch on pink, an erminois border.
House Hamell was lost during the battle of King's Landing when Danaerys attacked.
Household
Relations
House Hawthorne
Their sigil is a ring of black thorns and a ring of pink flowers, interlocked, on green.
The Hawthornes were routed during the Whispering Wood. One was taken captive but was released only to die later at King's Landing during Danaerys' attack.
Household
Relations
House Lorch
Their sigil is a black manticore on white, beneath a crimson chief with three gold coins.
Lorch took significant hits from Stannis attack during the Battle of Blackwater. The rest were lost during Danaerys' attack on King's Landing.
Household
Relations
- Ser Lorent Lorch, a landed knight.Deceased
House Myatt
Their sigil is a spotted tree cat, yellow and black, on mud brown.
House Myatt was in attendance at the Red Wedding. They were paid back for their aid to the Frey by coming to an end at King's Landing when Danaerys' attacked.
Household
Relations
House Parren
Their sigil is per saltire - burgundy and white stripes, a black lion’s head on gold.
House Parren was lost at the Battle of Blackwater.
Household
Relations
House Peckledon
Their sigil is ten mullets, 4-3-2-1, purple on yellow.
House Peckledon was lose at the attack on King's Landing by Danaerys.
Household
Relations
- Josmyn Peckledon, a squire to Ser Jaime Lannister.
House Reyne
Their sigil is a red lion rampant reguardant with a forked tail, armed and langued gold, on silver.
Extinct at the end of Reyne's Rebellion along with House Tarbek.
Household
Relations
House Sarsfield
Their sigil is a green arrow on white bend on green.
The last of House Sarsfield was lost at King's Landing when Danaerys attacked.
Household
Relations
- Ser Melwyn Sarsfield
- Shierle Swyft, his wife.
House Tarbeck
Their sigil is a seven-pointed star, countercharged, on gyronny silver and blue.
Sided with House Reyne in Reyne's Rebellion. Made extinct by House Lannister.
Household
Relations
House Turnberry
Their sigil is nine strawberries on a white saltire, on green and red vairy in point.
The last of House Turnberry, Ser Lambert was lost under the crushing weight of the Red Keep. Qyburn had kept him beneath it.
Household
Relations
- Ser Lambert Turnberry, a knight.
House Yarwyck
Their sigil is two bronze halberds crossed between four red diamonds, on white.
The remainder of House Yarwyck was lost in the attack on King's Landing by Danaerys.
Household
Relations
*Othell Yarwyck, First Builder of the Night's Watch. Killed for mutiny against Jon Snow.