Riverlands
No other land in the Seven Kingdoms has seen so many battles, nor so many petty kings and royal houses rising and falling. The waters of the Trident make the lands ripe for settlement, farming, and conquest, whilst the river's three branches stimulate trade and travel during peacetime, and serve as both roads and barriers in times of war. - The World of Ice and Fire[1]

The Riverlands describes the area of Westeros that stretches from the boundaries of the Neck to the north, the mountain ranges to the west and the east, and south down to the mouth of the Trident and the Gods' Eye. In the past, the boundaries of the Riverlands have spread even further, including all the lands between the Bay of Crabs and the Blackwater Rush. Due to its position in relation to other realms and regions, the Riverlands are famed for their long history of conflicts and upheaval.
Terrain and Culture
The Riverlands are defined by the great river Trident and its three major branches: the Red Fork, the Green Fork, and the Blue Fork. These waterways stretch across the region, shaping not only its terrain but also the daily lives of its inhabitants. Navigating the rivers has thus become a key part of Riverman culture, not only for transporting goods and people, but also in religious rites and ceremonies.

Geographically, the Riverlands span from the swampy expanses of the Neck in the north to the southern banks of the Blackwater. Eastward, the region reaches the foothills bordering the Vale, and westward it brushes against the mountainous highlands. The terrain is generally open and lacks prominent natural borders, with rolling hills, plains, and numerous river crossings. The climate is temperate and the soil fertile, making the Riverlands particularly well-suited for farming and settlement. [2]
Each of the Trident’s three forks contributes to the distinct character of the region. The Red Fork carries reddish silt from the western uplands, tinting its waters a murky colour. The Green Fork flows from the bogs of the northern Neck, with moss-laced water and a darker current. The Blue Fork has its source in pure springs and flows southeast past Oldstones. [2]
The lack of natural defenses has historically contributed to a great deal of unrest in the Riverlands. The region has been shaped by frequent and often violent shifts in power, with various local leaders and ruling houses rising and falling over the centuries. As a result, the Riverlands are often seen as one of the most unstable regions, where the political landscape changes as swiftly as the currents of its rivers. [3]
Main Regions
History
The Dawn Age
Perhaps as a consequence of forming the centre part of Westeros, the Riverlands have been a site of considerable significance since the Dawn Age. Two of the most important sites to the Children of the Forest remain in the Riverlands - one being High Heart, a unique and mysterious weirwood grove atop a hill to the South of Stone Hedge, and the Gods' Eye itself, an island upon a strange and sorcerous lake that drives away any who seek to land upon it uninvited. Weirwoods run around the outer edge of the lake as well, as though to guard against trespass.
The Age of Heroes
The earliest kingdoms of men in the Riverlands are shrouded in myth and mystery, but the first known dynasty to have claimed to be King of Rivers and Hills are House Fisher of Misty Isle. House Fisher hailed from a tidal island where the Trident estuary meets the Bay of Crabs. Their realm included both the Riverlands as it was at the time of the Coming of the Andals, as well as the lands later considered the Blackwater Marches.
Nonetheless, as the centuries past the Fishers began to decline in their power. Their power relied on their ability to control the rivers, and when that fell into question - their rule did likewise. A few poor kings at the wrong time did the rest, and House Fisher passed from the heights of renown, into the long decay of obscurity.
The downfall of House Fisher created new opportunities, and led to the rise of new kingdoms. House Blackwood had been driven from the North due to the incessant wars over the great primordial forests, and arrived in the Riverlands in search of new opportunities. What precisely followed is in question. House Bracken would tell you they offered protection to the Blackwoods and were betrayed, whereas the Blackwoods would say that the Brackens were their vassals who turned on them. Whatever the case, the Houses of Blackwood and Bracken would both claim the titles of River Kings during this period, along with certain lost kings from House Hook. At times, they restored the Kingdom to what it had been, but forever fleeting. It was not until the rise of House Mudd approximately a thousand years before the Andal Invasions, that a renewed stability would return to the Riverlands.
During this time the Mudds were greatly afflicted by an expanding High Kingdom of the Iron Islands. The Cape of Eagles remained in their hands until by chance a company of Andal Adventurers pledged their service to the King of the Rivers and the Hills, and drove the Ironmen back into the sea. Seeing an opportunity, the Mudds gave the Cape of Eagles to their leader, and thus House Mallister was created.
The Coming of the Andals
The Arrival of the Andals in earnest shattered the integrity of the Mudd realm. The feud between House Blackwood and House Bracken had flared up every few generations, but a strong united Mudd realm could quench the flames and make a peace. When Armistead Vance shattered the outer reaches of the River King's realm however, the ensuing chaos led to the Blackwoods and Brackens both renouncing Mudd rule and declaring themselves river kings. The realms that lay on the far side of Blackwood Vale and Stone Hedge no longer had any overland connection to Oldstones, and thus looked to themselves for defence as well, whether from Andals to the East, or the Western Mountain Clans.
First Century A.I.
Armistead Vance came west into the Riverlands after failing to breach the allied defences of King Staun Darklyn and Florian Mooton, along with the aid of the Robber King Baurgard Hogg. Whilst Togarion Bar Emmon remained in the region out of Stubbornness, Armistead sought to try his fortunes elsewhere. He shattered the power of the remnants of House Hook and their bannermen, and gathered to himself seven warlords, with the intend to overrun the fractured Riverlands, igniting the Clash of Six Kings. This two-year war saw the allied kings of the First Men, Mudd, Blackwood, Mooton, and Darklyn, stand against the growing Andal kingdom of Vance.
Despite initial victories, the alliance suffered severe losses, including the capture and execution of King Florian Mooton. Soon after, Armistead Vance declared himself King of the Rivermark, and imposed his rule from the newly renamed Vancemark (formerly Atranta).
In the Spring War, King Armistead Vance launched a devastating invasion of Blackwood Vale. The final coalition of the First Men mustered at Raventree Hall, Fisher, Mudds, Mallisters, Strongs, Brackens of Whiskermoor, and other loyal houses. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, they were ultimately defeated.
Rather than destroy them entirely, Vance offered terms: Blackwood Vale would become his vassal, granted religious exemptions; the Tully lands were awarded to House Lydden; and the Mudds were forced to swear peace. With this, the last free southern kingdoms of the Riverlands fell to the Andals.

The Kingdom of Maidenpool eventually fell under the dominion of the Kingdom of Duskendale, after King Aldhelm Darklyn forced his nephew Seth Mooton to bend the knee, surrender his crown, and accept vassalage. Weakened by the death of Florian the Brave, the ineffectual rule of his son, and the constant raids from the Clawmen, Maidenpool was in no position to resist—and the conquest went unchallenged.
More Andals poured into the Riverlands. In a final act of defiance, the last Fisher King performed a dark ritual, sacrificing himself to unleash a devastating plague aimed at destroying the Den Reeves. Despite the curse, the Den Reeves ultimately conquered the Fisher Kingdom and seized Misty Isles.
Further upriver, the Kingdom of the River and the Hills faced an incursion from Den Brove. Though they succeeded in defeating him, the plague, prolonged warfare, and the harsh winter that followed severely weakened King Arik Mudd and his realm.
Come spring, the full force of the Ironborn descended from the Iron Islands. They crushed King Arik and his remaining allies from the Rivermark, resulting in the fall of Seaguard to the raiders and forcing House Mallister into exile.
Soon after, a civil war broke out in the Rivermark over the question of who would wear the crown after King Artys Vance. King Armistead “The Fool” Vance emerged victorious and went on to win later wars against the Durrandons and Gardeners.
Second Century A.I.
Peace in the Riverlands proved short-lived when Marq Gaunt attempted to seize the lands of House Darry, even as the Ironborn sought to take more Mudd territory to gain access to the Trident. Rivermark and the River and the Hills once again joined forces, managing to defeat Marq Gaunt, though they could not drive back the Ironborn. In the spring, however, they would have their revenge. A powerful alliance of House Mudd, House Vance, House Mallister, House Risley, House House Bracken, House Bartheld, and House Toyne came together, and under the leadership of Cedric Mallister, Seagard was liberated, though not the entirety of the Cape of Eagles.
Around the same time, the Fishers rose again, and Misty Isle regained its independence and soon another war for the entirety of the Cape of Eagles began anew in the River and the Hills, where they won and regained the Cape of Eagles.
Soon after, a great war broke out over the rule of the River and the Hills. King Edric’s eldest son, a follower of the Seven, was crowned as his successor. Yet his uncle refused to accept this, determined to resist Andal influence and their religion.
Thus began a bitter conflict: on the side of King Tristifer “Justheart” Mudd fought those houses and vassals who had embraced the Seven, while King Tristifer “the Brave” Mudd gathered almost all of the Magnars of the kingdom to his cause, as well as allies from Clan Horn and House Royce.
The war erupted during a false spring, but when the winter snows returned, many of the Horn and Royce warriors withdrew, leaving the struggle to the Riverlander themselves. After many bloody battles, it was King Tristifer “Justheart” who ultimately prevailed.
In summer, the realm was swept by a storm of war. In the Rivermark, the First Men rose in rebellion against the harsh rule of King Armistead III Vance, who forced followers of the River Gods to convert to the Faith of the Seven. At the same time, the Green Men unleashed a terrible plague near Lavehaven, which spread across the Rivermark. In the River and the Hills, Elsa Mudd summoned a vast army of the undead, bent only on bringing ruin in the name of the Deep Ones. Their devastation was great, and it took the combined strength of all the River and the Hills, together with House Corbray, to bring them down.
With summer’s end came yet more war. In autumn, King Armistead III denounced King Robert Lannister as a false follower of the Seven, accusing him of consorting with the Ironborn before being betrayed by them. Armistead rallied the Riverlands and struck at the Westerlands, but the united hosts were defeated. In the aftermath of this failure, King Armistead descended into madness, slaying his own queen and daughter. When he turned upon the crown prince, Lord Florian Den Ford intervened to protect the heir and slew the king. In the aftermath, a new Vance king was crowned, styling himself King Marq, and he took a bride from House Den Ford. Lord Florian Den Ford, though pardoned for his regicide, was punished by the loss of a hand. Under King Marq’s rule, the Rivermark entered a period of prosperity.
Meanwhile, in the River and the Hills, King Tristifer “Justheart” Mudd passed away in old age. He was succeeded by King Edric “the Strong” Mudd, who began the continued expansion of Fairmarket.
While Fairmarket continued to grow, King Edric “the Strong” Mudd was forced to wage two wars against the Marshes, who had encroached upon his lands. He was defeated in the first conflict by King Tallow “the Furry” Marsh, and though he managed to reclaim the Charlton lands in the second war against King Halden Marsh, the Mallisters lost more of their swamplands to the crannogmen. King Edric died in old age and was succeeded by his grandson, King Cedric “Beanstalk” Mudd, a frail young man raised in Vancemark. He was married to Queen Sharis “the Golden Eagle” Mallister, reflecting King Edric’s high regard for House Mallister.
During the same period as the crannogmen campaigns, tragedy struck House Gaunt. Originally rewarded with Moonbrooks for their service against King Tristifer “the Brave” Mudd, the Gaunts had later expanded their holdings by defeating House Grey and establishing Sweetwillow as their seat. When King Edric called for aid, Lord Gilad “the Impaler” Gaunt promised support in exchange for further resources. Yet, in the decisive battle, Lord Gilad did not join the main host of the Mudds, seeking glory instead by moving against an expected Reed host. King Edric suffered defeat, and Lord Meros Mallister placed particular blame upon Gilad. Declared guilty of betrayal, Lord Gilad was sent to the Wall, leaving his young son Geoffrey Gaunt as lord. This marked a sharp decline in relations between House Mudd and House Gaunt.
In the Rivermark, the reign of King Marq Vance alongside his queen, Jocelyn Den Ford, was marked by prosperity. When Duskendale was conquered and forced into tribute by the Gardeners and Durrandons, Marq skillfully secured the loyalty of the Dorwents, former vassals of the Darklyns, thereby expanding his own power.
These were meant to be peaceful years in the Riverlands, a time when the greatest change would be the liberation of Duskendale and the chance for its people to rebuild their realm. In the end, the Dorwents once again swore their allegiance to House Darklyn.