The Riverlands

### Notable Location

Riverrun, Harrenhal, Lord Harroway's town, Maidenpool, Saltpans, Fairmarket, Oldstones, High Heart, Stoney Sept

The riverlands is a central region of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, consisting of the rich, fertile, and populous areas around the three forks of the Trident and the northern Blackwater Rush. At the time of Aegon's Conquest the riverlands and the Iron Islands were ruled by House Hoare, the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers, although native river kings ruled centuries earlier.

Because of their central position in Westeros and lack of natural boundaries, the riverlands have been a frequent battleground. The people of the riverlands are known as "rivermen" or occasionally "riverlanders", and they are a mixture of hardy warriors, peaceful fisherfolk and devout smallfolk. Their lords have a reputation for being notoriously quarrelsome, and are referred to as "river lords". Noble bastards born in the riverlands are given the surname Rivers.

The riverlands are ruled from Riverrun by House Tully, the Lords Paramount of the Trident. Notable houses of the region have included Blackwood, Bracken, Darry, Frey, Lothston, Mallister, Mooton, Mudd, Piper, Ryger, Strong, Vance, and Greystorm.

## Geography

The riverlands encompass a region of plains, forests, hills, and endless rivers, and borders on every single kingdom except Dorne. Their northern border is near the swamplands of the Neck, the southernmost region of the north. To the east, the riverlands extend to the Vale of Arryn's Mountains of the Moon and Crackclaw Point in the crownlands. A stream forms part of the boundary between the riverlands and the crownlands, with the hills of House Wode in the former and the lands of House Hogg in the latter. To the south the riverlands border the crownlands and the Reach. The riverlands extend west to Ironman's Bay and the mountainous westerlands. The heavily fortified Golden Tooth guards the entrance to the riverlands but belongs itself to the westerlands. Some of the eastern hills of what are now the westerlands were once ruled by Kings of the Rivers and the Hills, such as the Mudds and Teagues. Some river kings also fought over territory with the Kings of the Reach to the south.

The riverlands are named for the number of rivers which are present. The Red Fork runs from its source in the western mountains to Riverrun where it combines with the Tumblestone and then runs to the east. The Blue Fork flows southeast from its sources near Seagard, while the Green Fork runs south from swamps in the Neck, near the kingsroad. The three forks come together a short distance from Lord Harroway's Town to form the Trident, which then pours into the Bay of Crabs at Saltpans. The northern Blackwater Rush and a river from the Gods Eye run through the southern riverlands.

The riverlands do not contain any major cities,[4] but have a number towns, such as Fairmarket, Harrentown, Harroway, Maidenpool, Saltpans, and Stoney Sept. Their major castles include Darry, Harrenhal, Raventree Hall, Riverrun, Seagard, Stone Hedge, and the Twins. Additional noteworthy places in the riverlands are the old ruins at Oldstones, where in ancient times House Mudd had its castle, and the Gods Eye lake with the Isle of Faces in it. The Lady of the Leaves lives in a village hidden in trees, while a ghost is said to be at High Heart. The Quiet Isle is located at the mouth of the Trident.

## People and Economy

The riverlands are rich and fertile and populous. The numerous rivers that run across their expanse are used for trading and the transport of goods. In times of peace fisherfolk in skiffs and grain barges pole downstream and merchants on floating ships sail on the rivers. With so much trade on the rivers, villagers will haul their grain and other goods to it to see it sold and carried elsewhere by the merchants. Wine can be made from small, tart grapes grown in the riverlands.

Although they are Lords Paramount of the Trident, the Tullys have historically fielded fewer men than the Blackwoods, Brackens, Freys, and Vances. Before Aegon's conquest, the Mallisters had a more prestigious lineage, while the Mootons were wealthier.

## History

### First Men

During the Dawn Age the First Men settled in the riverlands, coming into conflict with the native children of the forest. After centuries of fighting, a pact was signed at the Isle of Faces, the children withdrew to their forests, while the First Men raised their kingdoms in the lands ceded by the mysterious folk.

During the thousand years that followed, various families ruled the riverlands as river kings, claiming the titles King of the Trident or King of the Rivers and the Hills. Many dynasties claimed these lands during the Age of Heroes, including Fishers, Brackens, theBlackwoods, and Mudds, who were the last of the First Men to claim the riverlands as their own.

The time of the First Men river kings came to an end with the coming of the Andals. Remembered in song are the Fall of Maidenpool, the Widow's Ford, the White Wood, and the Battle of Bitter River. King Tristifer IV Mudd raised his armies and met the Andal invaders. Tristifer was said to have won ninety-nine out of his hundred battles against the Andals, but in the final battle he was killed. His son and successor, Tristifer V, was not as successful as his father and the kingdom fell.

### Andals

The victorious Andals raised their own kingdoms and dynasties. House Justman united the riverlands for almost three centuries, and King Benedict II Justmanexpanded their realm east to Duskendale, Rosby, and the mouth of the Blackwater Rush. However, the sons of King Bernarr II Justman were murdered by Qhored Hoare in the Bloody Keep of Pyke in the Iron Islands, and the riverlands fell into anarchy when Qhored sacrificed Bernarr to the Drowned God, ending the Justman line.

The riverlands were then disputed by Houses Blackwood, Bracken, Vance, Mallister, and Charlton for a century. The Hooks were also river kings of old who claimed the mouth of the Blackwater. The various kings were pressured by the Kings of the Iron Islands, the Kings of the Rock, the Vale mountain clans, the Kings of the Reach, the Storm Kings, and pirates from the Stepstones and the Three Sisters. Torrence Teague finally reunited the riverlands, but he and his heirs were disliked by their rebellious subjects. According to a semi-canon source, House Teague may not have had an uninterrupted rule, instead being contested by other river dynasties for generations.

### Storm Kings

The last native river kings were Humfrey I Teague and his kin. Humfrey founded numerous septs and motherhouses in his kingdom, and he repressed worship of the old gods. A rebellion began by Lord Roderick Blackwood led to the deaths of the Teagues in the Battle of Six Kings and their replacement by the Storm King, Arlan III Durrandon.

The Storm Kings of House Durrandon ruled the riverlands for more than three centuries.[10] Several leaders such as Lucifer Justman, Marq Mudd, Lord Robert Vance, Lord Petyr Mallister, Lady Jeyne Nutt, Ser Addam Rivers, Pate of Fairmarket, and Ser Lymond Fisher, rose in rebellion and even reigned, albeit for a short time, before being put down by the might of Storm's End.

### House Hoare

The Storm Kings in turn were defeated by the Iron King, Harwyn Hardhand, who established his own kingdom from the Iron Islands to the riverlands. The era of the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers is included in *The Iron Chronicle*. Harwyn's son, Halleck Hoare, made his seat in Fairmarket instead of the Iron Islands.

Harwyn's grandson, Harren the Black, ordered the construction of an immense castle, Harrenhal, as a display of his wealth and power. Construction of Harrenhal took forty years and a huge amount of resources and money to build. Feuding between the Blackwoods and the Brackens during the construction led Harren to punish both houses. Ironically, the same day the most immense castle in history was finished, Aegon Targaryen, the Lord of Dragonstone, landed in Westeros with his dragons.

### The Conquest

Harren the Black was unpopular within the riverlands when Aegon's Conquest began. Rather than support House Hoare, the river lords rose in rebellion and joined House Targaryen. The first to do so was House Tully, followed by the Blackwoods, Mallisters, Vances, Brackens, Pipers, Freys, and Strongs.

Harren thought if he refused battle to Aegon I Targaryen, the invaders would have to besiege Harrenhal with the river lords. Instead, Aegon let his dragon attack. The heat produced by Balerion was so great that much of Harrenhal burned and melted, killing Harren and his children. After the burning of HarrenhalAegon raised Lord Edmyn Tully to dominion over the riverlands, below the sovereignty of the Targaryens, as the Lord Paramount of the Trident.

Rivermen made up the bulk of Aegon's army at the Field of Fire. The Inn of the Kneeling Man on the Red Fork was built where Torrhen Stark, King in the North, is believed to have submitted to Aegon.

### Targaryen Dynasty

Having never been river kings, House Tully has sometimes been overshadowed by their bannermen.[20] Lord Edmyn Tully, however, repaired much of the damage caused by the rule of Harren the Black.[4] In 31 AC Prince Maegor Targaryen slew the Giant of the Trident, a robber knight.[33] Shortly after his coronation, King Aenys I Targaryen visited Riverrun. Harren the Red rebelled against Aenys and killed Gargon Qoherys, the Lord of Harrenhal.

## Recent History

### The Reign of Rhaegar

All through King Rhaegar's long reign, the Riverlands alternated between periods of peace and stability and moments punctuated by grave crises such as the Shivering Sickness, the Hook Uprising and Maegor's Breath, the coldest winter in recent history. Nevertheless, House Tully's stability during those times allowed the Riverlands to thrive in the face of such difficulties.

During King Rhaegar's reign, in 55 AC, Lord Prentys Tully and his wife, the Lady Lucinda Broome, were taken by a first wave of the Shivers that swept through the Riverlands for the following years taking thousands of people, high or low. Though young, inexperienced and a woman, Prentys's heir Agnes soon gathered the favour of the Riverlords thanks to her husband, Ser Lucas Tully - a man of great political acumen, who assumed control of the Riverlands and was named Warden of the North.

In those years, soon after the North declared its independence from the Iron Throne, the Riverlands was not only troubled by the shivers. The Interrupted trade between the Trident and the North, coupled with sickness, famine and raids from across the neck, had a heavy toll on the riverlords.

In his seven years as *de facto* Lord Paramount, Ser Lucas Tully attempted to heal this situation by investing in the development of the Riverlands's many towns and hamlets, focusing on trade with neighbouring regions to fill the void left by the Kingdom of Winter and establishing new economic policies.

One of the most defining events for House Tully and the Riverlands during the reign of Rhaegar was the Hook Uprising. When the trading cities of the Crownlands rose up against the Crown in protest, Maidenpool followed their lead. Failing to use diplomacy to solve the situation, Lady Agnes Tully sent a force spearheaded by her second husband and Warden of the North. Once Maidenpool was captured and Lord Mooton apprehended, Lady Agnes tried him in Riverrun and Lord Harry Darry personally executed him once he was found guilty. This series of events showed both to the crown and the Riverlords how House Tully administered the King's justice: loyally, swiftly and justly.

As the riverlands were about to recover from the epidemics and harsh winters of the past, King Rhaegar died, and conflict returned to the Seven Kingdoms.

### The Rosegold Rebellion

Soon after King Viserys' ascension, the Reach and the West rebelled against the crown in a war of succession that would be known as the Rosegold Rebellion. Though the Riverlands had always supported the crown in the past, House Tully's complete loyalty was hindered by Lady Tully's personal ties to house Lannister. Her daughter Cersei being married to Lord Lannister's son and heir, Lady Agnes feared for her child's safety, had she openly declared for the crown.

Refusing to risk the life of another family member so soon after becoming a widow for the second time in her life, Lady Tully called the riverlords for a secret Parley at Riverrun. There, she would convince them to join the King's side and explain she was incapable of joining the fray. Though many understood her and respected her attachment to her family, others questioned her honour - and were not pleased to be asked to field their men while their Lady's army remained in Riverrun.

Nonetheless, an army of Riverment was swiftly assembled, lead by Lord Darry, Lord Piper and Lord Blackwood. The battle at Tumbler's falls, when the riverlords met the western host would prove a disaster. The Rivermen, ambushed and outnumbered would suffer heavy losses, with two commanders losing their lives while Lord Harry Darry sounded the retreat. After that loss, many of the retreating rivermen managed to rejoin the Loyalist army and march with the Valemen to King's Landing.

The war ended with a white peace at the gates of King's Landing. In order to cement the Trident's loyalty and relationship to the crown, Lady Tully's grandson and eventual heir, Ser Edmyn, was made to wed the king's sister Princess Jaehaera.

### Current Events

With the war over and the Kingdom at peace, the Riverlands have time to heal. Lady Tully continues to hold a solid grip on the riverlands, holding an active court and administering its finances with great shrewdness. The Lady's most recent undertaking has been an attempt to engage with the neighbouring Kingdom of the North, trying to resume trade between the Riverlands and the Lands of House Stark.