Westerlands

Biodata

Geography and Strongholds

• Casterly Rock — The Westerlands’ seat and political center, carved into a coastal stone mountain. Its elevated approaches, arrow towers and drawbridges make it exceptionally difficult to assault; a cavern beneath it shelters a limited number of warships 118 202.
• Golden Tooth — A fortress in a mountain pass guarding the approach from the Riverlands. Its position allows defenders to block an invading army from advancing directly toward Casterly Rock 118 145.
• Lannisport — A port with more capacity for warships than the docks beneath Casterly Rock. Under Jon, it becomes the site of extensive fortification work 202.

Resources and Economy

• Gold mines lie around Golden Tooth and beneath Casterly Rock. Under Lannister rule, the mines around Golden Tooth belonged to the Lannisters rather than House Lefford, which held the fortress 118 147.
• The Westerlands’ abundant ore supports advanced smelting; armor produced there earns praise during Jon’s campaign 145.
• War damages the mineral veins and disrupts production. Jon seeks outside investment to reopen the mines, estimating that restoring prewar output will take three to five years 182.

History

House Lannister ruled the Westerlands from Casterly Rock for more than a thousand years. Its hold on the region remained strong through successive invasions and the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms 117 118.

During the war, Westerlands forces ravage the Riverlands under Tywin Lannister’s orders. Later defeats, northern attacks and Ironborn raids leave the Westerlands short of soldiers and laborers. Tywin returns to Casterly Rock to organize its defense and orders further recruitment, despite warnings that the levies will drain the region’s workforce 9 118 153 175.

Stannis Baratheon offers Jon Stark the titles of Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, conditional on his persuading Robb Stark to yield his crown; Jon must take the Westerlands himself 128 129. Jon’s campaign captures Golden Tooth and advances toward Casterly Rock. After the Lannister garrison surrenders, his White Wolf banner replaces the lion banner above the castle 152 169.

Rule under Jon Stark

• Jon plans to retain a standing army of at least 20,000 in the Westerlands, partly in anticipation of threats from the Iron Islands 169.
• He moves to reduce noble estates and reclaim legislative, judicial and conscription powers for the central authority. He intends to settle independent farmers on confiscated land rather than depend on lords to provide soldiers 170 175.
• Following the conquest, Jon calls the remaining Westerlands nobles to Casterly Rock to swear fealty. He also seeks funds for rebuilding and plans to settle Mountain Clans people in the region to ease its labor shortage 175.
• His administration later recruits apprentice maesters as the foundation of a bureaucratic corps 175 202.