Arbor
The Arbor is a golden island[1] off the southwestern-most part of Westeros, ruled by House Redwyne. It is considered part of the Reach, and is separated from the mainland by the Redwyne Straits. It is protected by the Redwyne fleet, the largest fleet of the Seven Kingdoms.[2]
Contents
Geography
The port town of Ryamsport is located on the island, as are the settlements of Vinetown and Starfish Harbor.[3] Smaller islands in the vicinity of the Arbor include Stonecrab Cay, the Isle of Pigs, the Mermaid's Palace, Horseshoe Rock, and Bastard's Cradle.[4] The Arbor and its surrounding isles are an excellent center for shipbuilding.[3]
Culture
The Arbor is among the richest places of Westeros.[5] The island is known for making the best wine in Westeros,[6] including Arbor reds[7] and Arbor golds.[8] Wine from the Arbor is usually sweeter than wine from Dorne.[9] Peaches from the Arbor are huge and sweet.[10]
Traders from the Arbor have often sailed to Qarth.[11]
History
Legend
Gilbert of the Vines, the legendary founder of House Redwyne, is said to have taught the Arbor's people to make wine.[12]
Ironborn
In the era of the First Men, ironborn rule under driftwood kings such as Qhored Hoare extended as far south as the Arbor.[13] House Hoare's sigil included a grape cluster to represent the Arbor.[14] Weaker ironborn kings eventually lost the Arbor, however, although Joron I Blacktyde is said to have raided the island and carried off its younger women.[15]
Kingdom of the Reach
In the aftermath of the ironborn's decline, the Arbor was an independent kingdom.[1] It was incorporated into the realm of Meryn III Gardener, the King of the Reach, when his cousin, the last King of the Arbor, was lost at sea.[16] Fleets from the Arbor and Oldtown protected the Reach from naval attacks during the Andal invasion.[17]
Targaryen Era
There were reliable reports that Lord Aegon Targaryen of Dragonstone hawked at the Arbor as a guest of Lord Redwyne before Aegon's Conquest.[18] Once king, Aegon I visited the Arbor on multiple occasions during his royal progresses.[19]
Elissa Farman sailed to Bear Island and the Arbor by the time she was twenty.[20] King Jaehaerys I Targaryen sampled the Arbor's wines during a visit on Vermithor in 54 AC.[21] During her search for the missing Aerea Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen and her dragon, Dreamfyre, were seen flying over the Shield Islands and the Arbor.[22]
During the Dance of the Dragons, the Arbor supported King Aegon II Targaryen.[23] Martyn Hightower squired at the Arbor with Lord Redwyne.[24] The second son of Lord Unwin Peake was also fostered on the island by Lord Redwyne, but the youth died in a sailing accident.[25] While traveling from the Arbor to King's Landing for the Maiden's Day Ball, the party of Patricia Redwyne was attacked three times by outlaws.[25] Lord Alyn Velaryon briefly visited the Arbor while returning from Fair Isle.[26]
During the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen, the Arbor suffered from a drought and its grapes turned to raisins on the vine. The island was also raided by the ironborn of Dagon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, around that time.[27]
Prince Oberyn Martell and Princess Elia Martell visited the Arbor on their way to Casterly Rock where their mother was to broker their marriage to the Lannister twins, Cersei and Jaime.[28] Horas and Hobber Redwyne bullied Samwell Tarly when the youth came to the Arbor.[29] Asha Greyjoy has traded at the Arbor[10] and sailed Black Wind around the island to the Stepstones.[30]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Stannis Baratheon sends Dale Seaworth to sail Wraith along Cape Wrath, the Broken Arm, the coast of Dorne, and the Arbor, informing the populace of Stannis's claim to the Iron Throne.[31]
A Storm of Swords
Lord Paxter Redwyne states that King Joffrey's Valor is being constructed at the Arbor in honor of King Joffrey I Baratheon.[32]
A Feast for Crows
Arya Stark spots big-bellied wine cogs from the Arbor at the Ragman's Harbor of Braavos.[33]
The Arbor is attacked by the ironborn after the taking of the Shields. Most of the Redwyne fleet is away at the siege of Dragonstone, and the small fleet left to defend the island is overwhelmed and destroyed. This allows the ironborn to send their ships into the Whispering Sound and threaten Oldtown.[34]
Quotes
So long as I hold those poxy twins of his, Lord Paxter will squat on the Arbor and count himself fortunate to be out of it.[35]
The wine was very fine; an Arbor vintage, she thought. It tasted of oak and fruit and hot summer nights, the flavors blossoming in her mouth like flowers opening to the sun.[36]
—thoughts of Sansa Stark
Ralf: Redwyne's fleet is off away. We need only reach out our hand to pluck the ripest fruit in Westeros.
Euron: Fruit? Only a craven would steal a fruit when he could take the orchard.
Ralf: It is the Arbor we want.[5]
Behind the Scenes
In a 1993 draft of the map of Westeros, the Arbor was called "Rhoyne" and had a settlement named "Sunstone."[37]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Arbor.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Garth Greenhand.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands.
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses on the Iron Islands
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Oldtown.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Andals in the Reach.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 70, Tyrion X.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 15, Samwell II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
- ↑ Clint Stevenson, Updated pic of the original map of Westeros, turned in to George RR Martin's editor in 1993 along with the first manuscript (Twitter.com), Oct 10, 2022
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||