Casterly Rock

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Casterly Rock (凯岩城)
Type	Coastal mountain fortress and castle
Location	Westerlands coast, overlooking the Sunset Sea 118
Affiliation	House Lannister (former); Jon Stark and the Starks of Casterly Rock (current) 169 170
Occupation/Role	Historic Lannister seat and the political heart of the Westerlands; later Jon's home and seat of rule 118 287
Status	Captured by Jon Stark after its first recorded fall; held under White Wolf banners 166 169
First Appearance	Chapter 75

History

Lannister Stronghold

Lann, the ancestor of House Lannister, founded his house at Casterly Rock during the Age of Heroes. Legends claim that Lann the Clever displaced the original House Casterly through an intricate scheme later reduced to a bawdy tale. 117 158

For thousands of years, the Lannisters used the Rock as the base from which they controlled the Westerlands. It endured the Andal invasion and the conquests of the dragon kings without falling, giving rise to its reputation as the “Unfallen Rock.” 117 153

After his defeat at King's Landing, Tywin Lannister returned to Casterly Rock to organize the Westerlands' defense. He treated it as the region's indispensable center of command, reinforced its defenses, expanded recruitment, and pushed for increased gold production. 118

Jon Stark's Siege and Capture

Jon's army of 20,000 reached Casterly Rock unexpectedly and completed extensive earthworks around it, while his ravens intercepted Tywin's communications with the southern Westerlands army and King's Landing. 156

An initial assault used more than 300 mud-coated shield carts to approach the outer defenses. Jon's troops broke into a low wall long enough to target the wells and springs, but Casterly Rock's arrows, trebuchets, giant scorpions, and layered defenses inflicted heavy losses. 156

The siege succeeded by exploiting the Rock's dependence on rainfall. Jon used the Redwyne Fleet and artificial rainfall to draw the storm over the sea, leaving only a light drizzle over Casterly Rock and preventing its cisterns from being replenished. 161 With fresh-water reserves expected to last only one or two weeks, Tywin's position became untenable. 162

Casterly Rock surrendered after Adam delivered the heads of Tywin, Damion, and Damon and secured guarantees for the garrison's safety. More than 10,000 soldiers left the fortress, and Martin Darry entered to take control. 169

Under Stark Rule

Jon's White Wolf banner replaced the Lannister lion, while Tyrell and Redwyne banners flew beside it in recognition of their support during the campaign. 169

Jon intended to retain a standing Westerlands army of at least 20,000, reorganizing surrendered soldiers who chose to remain in service. Officers and soldiers closely tied to House Lannister were held under strict guard, while other captives could return home or join the new army. 169

Following his marriage to Margaery Tyrell, Jon and Margaery returned to Casterly Rock as its lord and lady. Margaery later remade the Hall of Heroes into a monument to Jon's achievements, adding murals and a throne bearing Ghost's likeness. 198 220

Structure and Defenses

Casterly Rock is carved directly into a 200-foot stone mountain on the coast of the Sunset Sea. Its castle structures are nearly fused with the mountain itself, allowing the surrounding terrain to be observed from a naturally elevated position. 117 118

Defensive feature	Details
Mountain construction	The fortress is built into and across the stone mountain, with generations of Lannisters further steepening difficult approaches. 118
Drawbridges and elevation	Drawbridges appear repeatedly along routes with extreme changes in elevation, restricting access through the Rock. 118
Arrow towers and firing positions	Arrow towers were built at difficult angles, supported by concealed positions, layered fortifications, and traps. 118 169
Heavy siege weapons	Ballistae, trebuchets, and giant scorpions were already deployed on prepared platforms, with replacement parts stored beside them. 156 169
Lion Gate	The principal gate is carved as a roaring lion; entrants pass through its mouth. 118
Dockside caverns	Caverns beneath the mountain shelter warships from storms, though their capacity is limited. 118 172 202

Water Supply

Casterly Rock's height prevents the digging of sufficient wells within the fortress. A few wells near the mountain's foot could not support its population, so its enormous cisterns depended on the region's frequent rainfall. 118 153

This system was the Rock's critical weakness. Jon's fleet-assisted weather manipulation diverted rain away from the cisterns, turning the supposedly inexhaustible supply into a finite reserve. 161 162

Interior and Resources

• Golden Gallery — A corridor made with gold leaf and reliefs chronicling House Lannister's history from Lann the Clever onward. Its gold alone was said to nearly equal Casterly Rock's annual tax revenue. 118
• Hall of Heroes — A great hall containing hundreds of suits of ancestral Lannister armor, with damaged portions repaired in gold. It served both as an ancestral shrine and a council chamber. 118 169
• Casterly Palace — The central tower district, identified as the earliest form of Casterly Rock and once called “Casterly Palace.” 169
• Gardens and waterworks — The interior includes fountains, flowing water, gardens, and peacocks, as well as covered stone drainage channels along its roads. 169
• Stone knight avenue — The approach to the gates is lined with painted, fully armed stone knight statues over three meters tall. 169
• Armory and workshops — The fortress maintained hundreds of smiths, carpenters, and stonemasons whose work was integral to its defenses. 171

Smelting Workshop Production

Output	Reported daily production
Arrowheads	2,800–3,300
Spears	340–540
Armor sets	12–16

Production figures were reported to Tywin during his inspection of Casterly Rock's smelting workshops. 153

Administration Under Jon Stark

• Jon forbade rape and plunder after the surrender; violence against civilians was punishable by beheading. Servants and craftsmen were placed under immediate protection. 169
• He ordered the gold in the Golden Corridor stripped and melted into the treasury. 170
• Jon sought to retain the Rock's craftsmen by creating a new armory and offering its director a status equivalent to a viscount. The carpenter Wood was chosen as director. 171
• Jon planned to reclaim legislative, judicial, and conscription powers from the Westerlands lords, reducing their lands and strengthening central authority based at Casterly Rock. 170 175
• The surviving Westerlands nobles were later summoned to swear fealty. Jon waived proposed fines in exchange for gold deposits at Casterly Rock and sold Gold Dragon Certificates to raise funds. 175
• Mountain Clan immigrants were welcomed under Jon and Margaery's rule; Margaery named their new homeland “New York Town.” 199

Relationships

• House Lannister — The Rock's original ruling house, which held it for thousands of years before Tywin's defeat and the garrison's surrender. 117 169
• Tywin Lannister — Returned to the Rock after King's Landing to direct the Westerlands' defense; his loss of the fortress ended Lannister control of the region. 118 169
• Jon Stark — Conquered Casterly Rock, became its duke and lord, and made it his intended home. 166 169 287
• Margaery Tyrell — Became Lady of Casterly Rock through her marriage to Jon and reshaped the Hall of Heroes to celebrate his rule. 198 220
• Adam Lannister — Helped negotiate the fortress's surrender and guided Jon through its interior; later swore fealty to the Starks of Casterly Rock. 169 170
• House Tyrell and House Redwyne — Their banners flew alongside Jon's after the capture; the Redwyne Fleet was essential to denying the Rock its rainfall. 161 169