In medieval times, around the same technology as Westeros has, castles were important. Seats to high lords, fortresses to armies and safe havens for citizens. They’re extremely valuable points on the map, containing mass amounts of valuable resources, work-stations and political power.
Due to this, many castles have been built across the world of Game of Thrones, just like in real life. Every great House needs a seat from which to rule its land. I’ll be going through the 10 biggest castles in Westeros, providing information on how they were built and who currently occupies them!
Since this list is based solely on the show, I’ll only include castles we’ve actually seen. Otherwise, Storm’s End and Sunspear would definitely make an appearance here. The show has a tendency to drastically reduce the size of castles, compared to how they’re described in the books, so it’d be unfair to include them.
10. Last Hearth
Game Of Thrones Map Last Hearth Free
— Brandon Stark and Osha before the latter leaves for the Last Hearth. src Last Hearth, also called the Last Hearth, is an abandoned castle in the North, formerly the seat of House Umber, a vassal house holding fealty to House Stark of Winterfell. It is located south of the Gift, east of the Kingsroad and north of the Last River. Game of Thrones is a complex tale and it can be a little confusing to follow. It's not uncommon to have to skip back a few pages, or refer to a map, to figure out what and where things are happening. To help clarify this dense tome, we've created a snapshot map of the Westeros and Essos, including characters and interesting information.
Once the great castle of the now extinct House Umber, Last Hearth is a currently unoccupied fortification. Located far North, extremely close to The Wall, it was a vital strategic point for battles with Wildlings. Now the North is unified under its Queen, as well as Jon Snow theorised to be King Beyond The Wall, Last Hearth loses its strategic effectiveness. However, it will act as a haven between the Northern houses and the land beyond the wall.
9. Riverrun
The ancestral seat of House Tully, Riverrun is a unique castle, surrounded by water. A siege would last years, as told by Brynden “Blackfish” Tully. Erected by Axel Tully on an island, attacking forces face a huge task if they want to breach Riverrun’s walls. The Riverrlands tend to have little in the way of mountainous regions, so using water as a natural barricade is mandatory.
8. Dreadfort
Located North of Hornwood, the Dreadfoot is a huge castle, once occupied by the historical House Bolton. Little is mentioned of the Dreadfort after the Battle of the Bastards. We can only assume the Night King slaughtered any remaining inhabitants. It’ll likely be given to a house loyal to the Queen of the North and hopefully, all memories of flaying will go with it.
7. Pyke
Pyke is the capital of the Iron Islands, being held by the Greyjoys for many years. Originally, the cliff it was built on was whole, the sea has eroded it into many stone columns. This only makes Pyke more fortified though, an attack by climbing simply isn’t feasible. Instead, like the Siege of Pyke, forces must fight their way through a long siege.
Game Of Thrones Map Last Hearth War
6. Highgarden
Said to be the most bountiful and economically effective fort in Westeros, Highgarden is a grand castle for any who occupy it. Ser Bronn of the Blackwater is currently the Lord Paramount of the Reach, with his seat being Highgarden. We don’t get to see Highgarden too close, but we can tell it’s absolutely huge. Sat atop a large hill and surrounded by fertile lands, it’s also connected to many roads that link the major cities of the Six Kingdoms.
5. Winterfell
By far the most recognisable castle, maybe even fantasy history. Winterfell is the ancestral seat of House Stark, being erected by Bran the Builder in the Age of Heroes. Winterfell is the biggest castle in the North and is considered the capital.
Throughout the events of Game of Thrones, Winterfell has been attacked, torched and rebuilt several times. It still stands strong, remaining a key stronghold in the North.
4. Casterly Rock
While it may not be the biggest castle on the list, Casterly Rock is arguably the most fortified. Such is the tactical nuance that the Lannisters have possessed over the years, they’ve built their seat perfectly. According to Tywin Lannister, Casterly Rock has many gold mines underneath it, but they’ve all ran dry. Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s no gold left underneath it. I’m sure Casterly Rock will continue to be a major power in Westeros for many more generations!
3. Dragonstone
Created using ancient, long-lost Valyrian techniques, Dragonstone is a formidable fortress, located on a scarce island. For many years, it was the seat of House Targaryen. Vhdl code for 3 to 8 decoder. Due to such techniques, each wall and gate is significantly more difficult to breach than regular castles. However, the island itself produces no resources other than the now useless dragonglass. Making it more of a refuge or military base than a viable seat.
2. The Red Keep
Built atop the Aegonfort, the Red Keep is a super-massive castle, far larger than any previous entries. Not just in height or width, it has countless underground networks to consider. Towering over the rest of King’s Landing and surrounded by a cliff, just reaching the Red Keep is no tall order.
Due to it being the seat of the King of the Seven (now Six) Kingdoms, it does resemble a palace more than a military castle. Even then, the sheer size of it is insane, only a Dragon could penetrate it against a fierce garrison of defenders.
1. Harrenhal
Seemingly an odd choice as we never truly see Harrenhal in its full glory. Taking King Harren Hoare three generations to build, it’s the largest fortress in Westeros. Millions of men could have tried to take it, Harrenhal was impervious to any ground assault. Dragons though, turned it into what we know today.
So why has it remained so dormant over the years? Even though it’s a ruin, it’s been hundreds of years since it was burned. Some say a curse lies on it, signalling the end for any who dare to move in. In reality, the fortress is simply too large. The surrounding lands can’t possible produce enough resources to maintain it fully. Harrenhal is currently unoccupied, I’d be surprised if there aren’t any future tales surrounding it though!
Related Posts
| Last Hearth | |
|---|---|
| castle | |
Last Hearth by Yoann Boissonnet © Fantasy Flight Games | |
| Location | The north |
| Government | House Umber , Feudal lord. |
| Ruler | Lord Jon Umber |
| Religion | Old gods |
Last Hearth,[1] sometimes called the Last Hearth,[2] is the seat of House Umber in the north. It lies close to the Gift in a forest east of the kingsroad. It is north of the Last River, northeast of Long Lake, and west of the Bay of Seals.[3][4][5] With the exception of the castles of the Night's Watch, Last Hearth is the northernmost major castle of the Seven Kingdoms.[6]
- 2Recent Events
History
Last Hearth was the royal seat of the Umbers when they were petty kings in the Age of Heroes.[7]
In 58 AC Queen Alysanne Targaryen flew on Silverwing to the Last Hearth and other local keeps, surprising and delighting northern lords.[8]
In the great mêlée at Last Hearth in 170 AC, it is said that no fewer than eighteen men died, and half again that number were sorely maimed before the day was done.[9]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Greatjon Umber and his son, the Smalljon, lead most of the Umber fighting men south alongside Robb Stark.[10]
A Clash of Kings
In the absence of its lord, Last Hearth is administered by joint castellans, Mors Crowfood and Hother Whoresbane, uncles of the Greatjon. During the harvest feast of Winterfell, Mors and Hother request assistance from Bran Stark because the Umbers lack the manpower to harvest their land and repel wildlings encroaching from across the Bay of Seals. The castellans are tasked by Ser Rodrik Cassel to build longships made of Umber lumber with White Harbor's assistance.[4]
A Storm of Swords
Bran and his companions consider stealing horses and riding to Last Hearth, but Bran decides they should find the three-eyed crowbeyond the Wall instead.[1]
Maester Aemon sends a raven to Last Hearth in a plea for help to defend Castle Black from wildlings.[11]
A Dance with Dragons
Because Greatjon Umber is held prisoner at the Twins after the Red Wedding, Hother reluctantly supports Lord Roose Bolton as Warden of the North. Mors decides to support Stannis Baratheon as King of Westeros if he is given the skull of Mance Rayder and if Hother is pardoned for supporting Roose.[12] It is unknown who holds Last Hearth in the brothers' absence. At Castle Black, Ser Godry Farring suggests that Stannis intimidate the Umbers by killing Mors and burning Last Hearth, but Jon Snow scoffs at the idea.[12]
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
Theon Greyjoy tells Stannis that Mors took green boys to support Stannis, while Hother took greybeards to support Roose.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.01.1A Storm of Swords, Chapter 9, Bran I.
- ↑A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
- ↑The Lands of Ice and Fire, Westeros.
- ↑ 4.04.1A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
- ↑George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Last Hearth.
- ↑George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Last Hearth.
- ↑The World of Ice & Fire, The North: The Kings of Winter.
- ↑Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑The World of Ice & Fire, The North.
- ↑A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
- ↑A Storm of Swords, Chapter 55, Jon VII.
- ↑ 12.012.1A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
- ↑The Winds of Winter, Chapter , Theon.
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