Crownlands

The Crownlands is one of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It was never a sovereign nation, instead being contested by river kings, Storm Kings, and local petty kings until Aegon the Conqueror seized control of the area during his Wars of Conquest and made it his primary foothold on the continent. Since then, the crownlands have been ruled directly by the Iron Throne. Bastards of noble origin raised in the crownlands are given the surname Waters.

Some notable houses of the crownlands include Bar Emmon, Celtigar, Massey, Rosby, Rykker, Stokeworth, Sunglass, and Velaryon.

Geography
The crownlands are based around Blackwater Bay, with the capital of King's Landing built where the Blackwater Rush meets the bay. King's Landing, the largest city in Westeros, which contains the Red Keep, the home of House Targaryen of King's Landing. Settlements north of King's Landing include Antlers (seat of House Buckwell), Rosby (seat of House Rosby), Stokeworth (seat of House Stokeworth), and Duskendale (seat of House Darklyn), the region's secondary port.

Farther north are Rook's Rest (seat of House Staunton) and Crackclaw Point, a rugged peninsula of insular folk whose castles include the Dyre Den (seat of House Brune), Brownhollow (another seat of House Brune), and the Whispers (formerly of House Crabb). North of Crackclaw Point are the Bay of Crabs and the Vale of Arryn.

The crownlands are bordered to the northwest and west by the riverlands. A stream forms part of the boundary between the two regions, with the hills of House Wode in the riverlands and the lands of House Hogg in the crownlands. An unnamed river flows south from Gods Eye into the Blackwater Rush in the western crownlands. Southwest of King's Landing are hills around Tumbleton in the Reach. North of Duskendale are hills, fields, and woods.

South of King's Landing is the kingswood, the royal hunting forest, and the stormlands. The Wendwater flows through the kingswood into the bay. East of the kingswood is Massey's Hook, another peninsula that with Crackclaw Point forms the inlet of Blackwater Bay. Castles on Massey's Hook include Stonedance (seat of House Massey) and Sharp Point (seat of House Bar Emmon).

Islands within Blackwater Bay include Dragonstone, Driftmark (seat of House Velaryon), and Claw Isle (seat of House Celtigar).

The kingsroad connects King's Landing with Storm's End to the south and the crossroads to the north, while the capital is connected to Lannisport by the goldroad and to Highgarden by the roseroad. The Rosby road runs from King's Landing toward Duskendale, and the Duskendale road heads north to Maidenpool in the riverlands.

People and Economy
The metropolis of King's Landing is the driving force of the region, with the largest population and harbor in the realm. Trade and taxes flow into the capital from every corner of the realm acknowledging the Iron Throne, and many foreign vessels ply their wares as well. Virtually every craft and trade is practiced here, from metalsmithing and shipbuilding to alchemy. Elsewhere, fishing and farming are the norm, with a smattering of the common professions.

Along the kingsroad north of the capital, a traveler goes past woods and orchards and neatly tended fields, through small villages, crowded market towns, and stout holdfasts.

The Dance of the Dragons
During the Dance of the Dragons, many of the Crownlords sided with the Blacks, namely Houses Velaryon, Darklyn, and Staunton. All seats would be sacked at varying points of the conflict though many of the Lords would be too wounded and disorganized at the end of the Dance to take part at the Battle of the Kingsroad. Following the proclamation of victory, Alyn Velaryon would leave with nearly half of the Velaryon fleet following the strange and sudden death of Lord Corlys Velaryon in the Black Cells of the Red Keep while he was waiting for trial by Queen Rhaenyra and her Hand, Lord Cregan Stark.

The Witch's War
In 136 AC, at the request of Larys Strong, the Crown moved against the stronghold of Harrenhal to rid the castle of the Witch Alys Rivers and her bandits that had taken up the castle following the death of Aemond One-Eye in what would come to be called The Witch's War. Lord Lewyn Harte was given command and what men of the Crownlands could be afforded marched with him, with men of Hayford, Pyle, Thorne, Wendwater, and Stokeworth marching with them. They faced serious resistance once they neared the God’s Eye and various ambushes left Lord Harte’s army in dire straits and the Heir of Hayford and the Lord of Wendwater were killed during the battles and forced him to turn back towards the Kingsroad until the forces of the Vale descended from the north and forced the bandits to fall back to Harrenhal. The men of the Crownlands fought valiantly in the battle at Harrenhal and while they did not distinguish themselves like the Knights of the Vale. With Harrenhal secured, they would return home to continue rebuilding.

The Last Dance
Two years later, violence would once again descend upon the Crownlands. The sudden rage of The Cannibal was a shock for all the houses of the Crownlands. His rage on Dragonstone paled to the destruction he wrought upon Hayford. The ancient line of House Hayford was suddenly and unceremoniously snuffed out when the red and orange flames of the dragon obliterated the ancient castle in a matter of less than half an hour. Lord Hayford and all his family were killed in the fire. Lords Pyle and Edgerton sent men to investigate, though a band of hedge knights under Ser Archibald Darke reached the castle first, having been in King’s Landing after leaving Duskendale. The men were set upon by the dragon and all but one of the men were killed. The man reported that Ser Archibald had managed to hurl a spear into the eye of the beast, wounding it greatly. The lords around Hayford quickly formed a small force to challenge the beast, with the Knight of House Suggs joining Lords Pyle, Edgerton, and Blount. The Cannibal rose up to devastate their force when he was met by Prince Viserys atop Silverwing. Both dragons would fall to the ground and the men of the Crownlands would be helpless to aid Prince Viserys and were unable to put The Cannibal out of his misery and the beast would die of it’s wounds in what the singers would come to call The Last Dance.

The Crown thanked all the men that took part in the campaign and Archibald Darke’s son, Ambrose, was granted the lands of Hayford and a stipend to rebuild the castle. He would be aided by Lords Pyle and Edgerton and even Duskendale sent a few stonemasons and carpenters to the lands to respect their years of service.

The Blue Dragon Rebellion
When House Hightower rose up in 145 AC to declare Daeron the Daring returned, the men of the Crownlands rose up to stand with the Crown. Many of the major lords raised their banners to join King Aegon II in his fight against the Blue Dragon. Many of the major lords joined the army, including Lords Darklyn, Velaryon, Celtigar, Staunton, and Rosby. They marched with King Aegon to Tumbleton and fought with him in the battle, though the King would fall to the blade of the Blue Dragon. Many leal and loyal Crownlords would die to the blades of the supporters of the Blue Dragon, but many would distinguish themselves on the battlefield. Still, they would be victorious that day and the men would return home to celebrate their victory and the ascension of Queen Baela I.

The War in the Stepstones
When King Jaehaerys II gathered his forces to attack the Kingdom of the Stepstones, many of the Crownlords joined the expedition. Lord Celtigar was granted command of the left wing of the fleet when the forces of the Crown and the Stepstones met off the coast of the isle of Scarwood. King Jaehaerys would kill Alyn II Velaryon in the battle, after sustaining several wounds himself, but still managed to break the power of the Stepstones that day.

The Conquest of Dorne
Many men of the Crownlands would accompany the King Consort's army to Dorne, with those at sea either falling under Lord Velaryon's fleet or the remaining ones under Lord Celtigar's command. Those on land would slog their way through the Boneway, besieging Wyl and seeing the surrender of House Yronwood soon after. It would also be the men of the Crownlands, specifically Darklyn, Staunton, and Sunglass, that would finally bring justice to the Vulture King Albin Sand on the shores of Ghaston Grey. The Crownlords would be present for the Sacking of Sunspear and some would ride with the King Consort in the ill-fated Battle of Tallgrass in the dying weeks of the war.