Riverlands

A map showing most of the Riverlands.

The Riverlands is one of the constituent regions of the continent of Westeros. Located in the rough center of the continent, it has been a frequent battleground in the civil wars that have afflicted the Seven Kingdoms and also in the wars that took place between the old nations of the continent before the Targaryen conquest.

The Riverlands were ruled by the ironborn at the time of the Targaryen conquest, and Aegon the Conqueror's assault was assisted by a popular uprising led by House Tully. For this reason - that the Riverlands didn't have a king at the time of the invasion - the Riverlands are not technically counted as part of the 'Seven' Kingdoms (and are sometimes said to 'make the eight'). However, for administrative purposes, the Riverlands and their rulers are equal to any other region of the realm.

The Riverlands are ruled from the castle of Riverrun by House Tully. Bastards born in the Riverlands are given the surname Rivers.

In the books

File:Riverlands.PNG

Map showing the location of the Riverlands on the continent of Westeros.

In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, the Riverlands is relatively small in size but high in population. It is fertile due to the numerous rivers that run across its expanse, most notably the massive River Trident and its numerous tributaries.

The people of the Riverlands are known as 'rivermen' and are a mixture of hardy warriors, peaceful fisherfolk and devout smallfolk. The Riverlands possess a number of middling-to-large towns, such as Maidenpool, Saltpans, Fairmarket and Stoney Sept.

The borders of the Riverlands are held to be the marshes of the Neck in the far north, the Mountains of the Moon to the north-east, the Blackwater Rush to the south and the hills of the Westerlands to the west.

The Riverlands used to be a kingdom in its own right, but centuries before the Targaryen invasion they were overrun and conquered by the armies of the Storm King. The Storm King couldn't hold such a large territory, especially when the ironborn invaded in force from the west, and was forced to cede the Riverlands to King Hoare of the Iron Islands. The ironborn set about erecting a massive fortress on the lake known as the Gods Eye, completing it on the very day that Aegon the Conqueror set foot on the shores of Westeros. Aegon's dragons burned out the castle, Harrenhal, killing King Harren the Black. Lord Edmyn Tully of Riverrun led a popular rebellion of the river lords against the ironborn, helping Aegon drive them out. For this act, Aegon made House Tully the rulers of the Riverlands in his name.

Castles of the Riverlands

• Riverrun, the seat of House Tully, the ruling house of the Riverlands.
  • Harrenhal, the seat of House Whent (rightfully House Stynos), the largest castle in Westeros, held by some to be cursed.
  • Seagard , the seat of House Mallister .
  • Stone Hedge , the seat of House Bracken.
  • The Twins, the seat of House Frey.

See also

• The Riverlands at A Wiki of Ice and Fire.