Tarth

Tarth
Information
Type	Island
Location	the Narrow Sea, the Stormlands, Westeros
Rulers	House Tarth
Religion	Faith of the Seven
Places of note	Evenfall Hall

"You told them Tarth was full of sapphires. It's called the Sapphire Island because of the blue of its water."

―Brienne of Tarth to Jaime Lannister

A map showing the location of Tarth off the coast of Westeros.

Tarth is an island in the Narrow Sea off the southeastern coast of Westeros, separated from the mainland by the Straits of Tarth and Shipbreaker Bay. It is part of the Stormlands and is held by House Tarth, vassals of House Baratheon, from their seat on Evenfall Hall. Being situated in the Narrow Sea, Tarth is located fairly close to the Free Cities of the eastern continent, particularly Tyrosh. It is also known as the Sapphire Isle due to the blue of the surrounding waters. 

The castle of Tarth, located on the west coast of the island, is called Evenfall Hall. It is the home of Brienne of Tarth, sometimes called the Maid of Tarth. The island is ruled by Brienne's father, Lord Selwyn Tarth.

History

Season 3

When Locke was about to let his men rape Brienne, Jaime Lannister told him who she was and that Tarth was called the "Sapphire Isle" because every sapphire in the Seven Kingdoms was mined on it, to point out the wealth of her father. Locke relents and orders his men not to harm Brienne, as it would be more worthwhile to ransom her unharmed.

Brienne later pointed out that the "Sapphire Isle" is actually so-called because of the blue of its waters: there are no actual sapphire mines on the island.

Season 5

While sailing south from King's Landing to Dorne, Jaime Lannister spots an island on the horizon and asks the ship's captain if it is Estermont; he is corrected that it is Tarth.

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Tarth is said to be a beautiful island. It is called the Sapphire Isle for the clear blue waters surrounding the island (but there are no real sapphires in it). The island contains mountains, waterfalls, high meadows, and shadowed vales. Tarth is also apparently rich in marble - marble used in the construction of The Eyrie in the Vale had to be shipped from Tarth.

Being located in the Narrow Sea, Tarth is closer to the Free Cities than some other parts of Westeros, though it is unfortunately within range of the pirate dens in the Stepstones to the south. During the long and otherwise peaceful reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, pirate-lords from the Stepstones actually invaded and seized the eastern side of Tarth and had to be driven off.

During the Andal Invasion, Tarth was one of the first locations that the Andals captured in the Stormlands. House Tarth itself was an Andal family - though they intermarried heavily with the local First Men population. Their bloodline and the local title of the ruler of the island, "the Evenstar", are said to extend back to the dawn of days.

See also

• Tarth on A Wiki of Ice and Fire

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