The Crownlands

The Crownlands is one of nine regions that form together to create the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros beneath House Targaryen. It had never been an independent nation of itself, yet instead existed as contended territories by the River Kings, Storm Kings, and the localised Petty Kings in the area. However, it changed once King Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror seized complete control of the area upon his Wars of Conquest - the Crownlands serving as the prime region House Targaryen ruled from in their transition from Dragonstone to the Aegonfort, later renamed to the Red Keep inside King's Landing. Since the Conquest, the Crownlands have been ruled directly by the Iron Throne forged by those of House Targaryen.

Bastards of noble descent have the surname 'Waters' bestowed upon them.

## Geography

The Crownlands are centred around the Blackwater Bay, the capital of King's Landing built in the location the Blackwater Rush meets the bay itself. King's Landing, the largest of the cities in the Seven Kingdoms, contains the Great Sept of Baelor as well as the Red Keep, the place in which House Targaryen resides. Settlements to the north of King's Landing include the Antlers (the seat of House Buckwell), Rosby (the seat of House Rosby), Stokeworth (the seat of House Stokeworth), and Duskendale (the seat of House Darklyn) that acts as the secondary port for the Crownlands. Even further north is Rook's Rest (the seat of House Staunton), as well as Crackclaw Point - an insular penninsula that house castles such as Dyre Den (the seat of House Brune), Brownhollow (the second seat of House Brune), and the Whispers (the former seat of House Crabb). Beyond Cracklaw Point is the Bay of Crabs and the Vale of Arryn.

The Crownlands border the Riverlands to the northwest, and west. Between the two regions, a stream partially forms the boundaries between them as the hills of House Wode remain in the Riverlands and the lands of House Hogg in the Crownlands. Beneath the Gods Eye there is an unnamed river that flows into the Blackwater Rush inside the western Crownlands. In the southwest of King's Landing, there are the hills around Tumbleton in the Reach.

South of King's Landing is the Kingswood, the royal hunting forest, and the Stormlands. The Wendwater itself flowers through the Kingswood and into the Blackwater Bay. East of the Kingswood is Massey's Hook, another peninsula that, with Cracklaw Point, forms the inlet of the Blackwater Bay, Stonedance (the seat of House Massey), and Sharp Point (the seat of House Bar Emmon).

Islands inside the Blackwater Bay include Dragonstone (the ancestral seat of House Targaryen, belonging to the Crown Prince of Westeros), Driftmark (the seat of House Velaryon), and Claw Isle (the seat of House Celtigar). Sworn to the Crown Prince of Dragonstone is House Sunglass seated on Sweetport Sound. Massey's Hook is separated from Driftmark by the Gullet inside the Blackwater Bay, and to the east is the Narrow Sea that divides Westeros and Essos.

The Kingsroad connects King's Landing to Storm's End to the south, and the crossroads to the north. It is the Goldroad that connects King's Landing to Lannisport, and the Roseroad that connects King's Landing to Highgarden. The Crownlands is (with the exception of Cracklaw Point), considered flat. Situated in the middle section of Westeros, the Crownlands maintains a more temperate climbate.

## People and Economy

King's Landing is the driving force of the Crownlands, maintaining the largest population and harbour in the Seven Kingdoms. It is trade and taxes that flow into the capital from each corner of the realm that acknowledges the Iron Throne, as well as many foreign vessels that ply their wears as well. Virtually all crafts and trades are practised in the Crownlands, from metalsmithing, shipbuilding, and even alchemy. Elsewhere, fishing and farming are considered the norm, yet not to excluse a smattering of the common professions seen throughout the Seven Kingdoms.

Along the Kingsgoard that ventures northbound, a traveler goes "past woods and orchards and neatly tended fields, through small villages, crowded market towns, and stout holdfasts."

## Military Strength

The Crownlands had once been the smallest of the regions that comprise the Seven Kingdoms, yet in more recent years have managed to bolster their strength to a considerable amount. Ever since the Marcher Rebellion otherwise referred to as the Fifth Blackfyre Rebellion, the Marcher Lords of the Stormlands and the subsequent lands surrounding them have sworn themselves directly to Summerhall. Both territories taken from the Stormlands and instead sworn directly to the Iron Throne, rather than House Baratheon of Storm's End.

#### The Royal Fleet

The Crownlands houses the Royal Fleet, one of the three main forces at sea in Westeros (the others being the fleet of House Redwyne, and the Iron Fleet of the Iron Islands).

## History

### Hundred Kingdoms

In the Age of Heroes, the Petty Kings of House Darklyn ruled most of the future Crownlands, from Duskendale to Cracklaw Point. However, neighbour realms had forced them to swear fealty and their lands often changed between them throughout the years to come. House Darklyn still remained one of the more influential Houses in the region. In the days of the Hundred Kingdoms, the mouth of the Blackwater had been claimed by House Darklyn, House Massey, and the River Kings of House Mudd, House Fishers, House Bracken, House Blackwood, and House Hook.

Two centuries before the Doom of Valyria, a Valyrian House had settled on Dragonstone and build themselves a citadel as the westernmost outpost for the Valyrian Freehold, becoming a new figure in the region vying for power. In time, the middle of the Narrow Sea came to be controlled by the dragons of House Targaryen of Dragonstone, as well as the ships of House Velaryon of Driftmark and House Celtigar of Claw Isle.

### The Conquest

It had been in the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, the eventual site of King's Landing, that Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives Rhaenys and Visenya had landed their initial armies. The Petty Lords of the soon to be Crownlands had been subjugated by Harren the Black at the time. House Rosby and House Stokeworth surrendered to Rhaenys and Visenya peacefully, devoid of bloodshed, whilst Aegon and his bastard half-brother Orys Baratheon defeated House Darklyn and House Mooton. Massey's Hook and the southern shore of the Blackwater Rush, meanwhile, remained beneath the control of the Storm Kings from House Durrandon, yet House Bar Emmon and House Massey allied themselves to Aegon the Conqueror against King Argilac the Arrogant.

### Targaryen Era

Since the Conquest, the Crownlands have historically been a strong source of support for House Targaryen, with those from Cracklaw Point being particularly fierce supporters. The Conqueror's councillors included several Crownlanders, including Crispian Celtigar, Daemon Velaryon, as well as Tristan Massey. Nobles from the Crownland ssuch as Qarlton Chelsted, a Hayford Lord, and several members of House Targaryen have served as the Hand of the King. Even smallfolk of the region are near enough to catch the royal eye for such service, such as Rossart and presumably Septons Barth and Murmison. Nobles and smallfolk alike also provide much of the manpower for the City Watch of King's Landing. The Kingsguard, too, has also included many Crownlanders, such as Duncan the Tall, Donnel of Duskendale, the Cargyll twins, Ser Rickard Thorne, at least six men from Cracklaw Point, and seven Darklyn knights.

#### The Dance of Dragons

As the Dance of Dragons began, the Velaryons, supporters of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Blacks, used their fleet to seal the Gullet and blockade King's Landing. King Aegon II Targaryen's supporters, the Greens, retaliated by sacking Duskendale and Rook's Rest. The Greens later broke through the blockade during the Battle in the Gullet and sacked Driftmark. Rhaenyra, in the end, had been fed to Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre, at Dragonstone. At the end of the war, the Lads defeated Lord Borros Baratheon in the Battle of the Kingsroad.

#### The First Blackfyre Rebellion

In the First Blackfyre Rebellion led by Daemon I Blackfyre, the Battle of the Redgrass Field took place in the Crownlands. It saw a duel between Daemon I Blackfyre and Ser Gwayne Corbray of the Kingsguard that lasted for an hour as Blackfyre and Lady Forlorn clashed against one another. Daemon had blinded Gwayne as Blackfyre cut through the latter's helm, yet it proved to be a fatal mistake as Daemon's attempt to ensure the safety of Corbray resulted in Bloodraven ordering the Raven's Teeth to fire upon Daemon and his twin twelve year old sons, Aegon and Aemon, resulting in their deaths. Afterwards, Bittersteel ferried the rest of House Blackfyre across the Narrow Sea from the Crownlands.

#### The Second Blackfyre Rebellion

After Bloodraven had imprisoned the third son of the Blackfyre Pretender, Daemon II Blackfyre, the then Hand of the King had been persistent in ensuring Daemon remained a prisoner inside the Red Keep in order to prevent Bittersteel from crowning Daemon's younger brother, Haegon Blackfyre. Years afterwards, Daemon perished inside his cell.

#### The Third Blackfyre Rebellion

In 219 AC, Ser Aegor Rivers, known then as Bittersteel had launched another invasion after crowning Haegon I Blackfyre, the fourthborn son of Daemon I Blackfyre. It featured the second duel between Bittersteel and his half-brother Bloodraven. At the end of the battle, the Pretender, Haegon I, was dishonourably killed after he had surrendered and had given up his sword.

Bittersteel had been taken as a captive and brought to the Red Keep in chains, where Aerion and Bloodraven urged Aerys I to have Aegor executed. Whilst Bittersteel had been found guilty of high treason, the King spared his life and ordered that Bittersteel is to be sent to the Night's Watch rather than face execution. However, after the rebel forces had learned of Bittersteel's fate, the ship transporting Aegor to the Wall had been taken in the Narrow Sea on the way towards Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, and Bittersteel was freed.

#### The Great Council of 233 AC

The Great Council had been summoned and the Seven Kingdoms had been called to answer whether or not the Maester Aemon Targaryen, or the Prince Aegon Targaryen had been the ones to seat the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, Aenys Blackfyre made an attempt to attend under the pretense of safety, though had been dishonourably murdered upon arrival. In the end, Aemon had been released of his vows and ascended the Iron Throne much to the Crownlords’ dissatisfaction.

#### The Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion

The Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion had begun once Daemon III Blackfyre arrived in the Seven Kingdoms, landing on Massey’s Hook before travelling to Wendwater Bridge. The Black Dragon had earned a hard fought victory in the field as Bloodraven and Bittersteel traded their lives for one another. Though Daemon had been required to retreat across the Narrow Sea once Prince Aegon Targaryen and Lord Lyonel Baratheon defeated his forces.

#### The Fifth Blackfyre Rebellion

Otherwise referred to as the Marcher Rising, Lord Ronnel Caron had been accused of treason for conspiring with the Blackfyre Pretenders across the Narrow Sea, and a demand for his arrest found itself to the Stormlander Marches. The Marcher Lords, as a result, rose in rebellion and hoisted the banner of the Black Dragon. Prince Aegon had marched to see them surrender beside his sworn sword, Ser Duncan the Tall, and found themselves killed in their efforts. Lord Baratheon does little to put an end to the rebellion, and once the Crown forces put the Marcher Lords to rest, House Caron is all but destroyed as the remaining members are either slain in battle, sent to the Night's Watch, forced to become Silent Sisters. All bar one that fled to Essos.

In response to the inaction on behalf of Lord Baratheon, King Aemon I Targaryen had taken the Marches from the Stormlands and sworn them directly beneath Summerhall, which in turn had been sworn directly to the Crown. The Stormlanders losing a sizeable portion of their territories.

#### The Sixth Blackfyre Rebellion

Though not a rebellion outright, it is close enough as a betrayal of a vassals' oaths to a king and an attempted rebellion to be named the sixth in the Blackfyre Rebellions. It is also called the Sixth as a way for Blackfyre pretenders to allow their next rising to be the "Holy Seventh" and thereby "prophesized". A group of conspirators, including the Red Keep's Septon Harbert, Ser Ygon Bean, and master of laws Lord Edric Whent, plotted to murder His Grace on his ninetieth name day feast. Though the poisons were hidden in many items, including the Dornish red, a Norvoshi wintercake, and the glaze of a massive trout, the event is famously remembered as the "Pie Plot", for its only successful poisoning, but maesters prefer "the Name Day Plot".

The wondrous pie, which was intended to be served to firstly King Aemon, was eaten by Aemon's eldest son, Maekar, Prince of Dragonstone, Almost immediately, Maekar began coughing, eventually turning purple and collapsing. The Grand Maester almost immediately recognized it as a poison, and King Aemon ordered the doors barred. It did not take a night before Ser Ygon Bean talked, in hope of some clemency, but he found none. Each of the plotters were hanged for treason and murder, extincting the heirless House Whent.

It had been rumoured that this plot involved several other Crownlords that found themselves unnamed in Ser Ygon's confession, yet nothing ever came of said rumours and those that had taken place had been left unnoticed.

#### King Viserys III Targaryen's Ascension

King Aemon Targaryen, the Old King, passes away at the age one-hundred-and-four, the longest-reigning king in the history of House Targaryen, ruling for as long a time as Jaehaerys the First was alive. Viserys III inherits, taking the Iron Throne. Almost immediately, R'hllor converts and red priests begin to appear in his court, seeking favor with the so-called Red Dragon.

The Crownlands had seen minor nobilities flock towards the heathen that sat upon the Iron Throne in a bid to earn more favour. Meanwhile, others strengthened their resentful disposition towards Viserys III, and the line Aemon. Many had looked to the seat of their once more favourable claimant, Prince Aegon, whilst others had looked across the Narrow Sea to the Blackfyre Pretender to continued to build his strength for the Seventh Blackfyre Rebellion, the Holy Seventh.

## Houses

The Houses inside the Crownlands are:

* House Bar Emmon of Sharp Point
* House Blount of the Needles
* House Boggs of Cracklaw Point
* House Brune of Brownhollow
* House Brune of Dyre Den
* House Buckwell of the Antlers
* House Byrch of Byrch Keep
* House Bywater of Greatshore
* House Cave of Cracklaw Point
* House Cafferon of Faunton
* House Celtigar of Claw Isle
* House Chelsted of the Sheath
* House Chyttering of Chyttering
* House Cressey of Crest Ridge
* House Dargood of Duskendale
* House Darke of Duskendale
* House Darklyn of Duskendale
* House Darkwood of Duskendale
* House Dondarrion of Blackhaven
* House Edgerton of Edgerton
* House Farring of Crossguard Keep
* House Follard of the Jests
* House Gaunt of Ghostguard
* House Gower of Iron Gates
* House Grandison of Grandview
* House Hardy of Cracklaw Point
* House Harte of Harte's Crest
* House Hayford of Hayford
* House Herston of Hen Hall
* House Hogg of Sow's Horne
* House Hollard of unnamed Castle
* Houes Kettleblack of unnamed Castle
* House Langward of Longfield
* House Lonmouth of Skull Valley
* House Mallery of the Mall
* House Manning of Blackrush
* House Massey of Stonedance
* House Musgood of Good Tent
* House Pyle of Greathelm
* House Pyne of unnamed Castle
* House Rambton of the Horn
* House Rollingfield of the Sails
* House Rosby of Rosby
* House Rykker of the Hammerfort
* House Selmy of Harvest Hall
* House Slynt of Goldhall
* House Staedmon of Broad Arch
* House Staunton of Rook's Rest
* House Stokeworth of Stokeworth
* House Sunglass of Sweetport Sound
* House Swann of Stonehelm
* House Targaryen of Dragonstone
* House Targaryen of King's Landing
* House Targaryen of Summerhall
* House Tall of Summerhall
* House Velaryon of Driftmark
* House Wagstaff of Wagstaff
* House Wendwater of Wendwater