The wolfswood is a massive forest named after the wolves that howl at night. It extends for many leagues across the northwestern region of the North and is home to foresters, crofters, hunters, and ice fishermen. It also houses many animals, including bears, foxes, treecats, rabbits, and elk.
Geography
The wolfswood is a forest that spans the northwestern region of the North. It extends as far south as Torrhen’s Square and west as Sea Dragon Point, a forested peninsula. Winterfell is east of the forest, and to the North is the Bay of Ice. The forest extends north and south of Winterfell, with a tributary of the White Knife on its southern edge. The kingsroad cuts through the eastern side of the forest.
There are many creatures living in the wolfswood. Many people call the forest their home, and it is not uncommon to find ice fishermen, foresters, and hunters in the region. The animals who call the wolfswood their home include foxes, deer, badgers, and wolves, and there are many varieties of plants, including black brier, oak, sentinels, soldier pines, evergreen, hawthorn, firs, ironwoods, chestnuts, beech, and ash. There are also wierwood trees. However, they are mostly isolated or found in pairs.
Politics
Though the people living in the wolfswood live simpler lives, there are some minor houses in the region; these clans are sworn to Deepwood Motte and are skilled woodsmen. They include House Forrester, Woods, Bole, and Branch. Members of House Stark also hunt boar in the forest.
History
Before the arrival of the Kings of Winter, House Blackwood controlled most of wolfswood. However, they were driven from the region by the Starks. After leaving, the Blackwoods settled in the Riverlands before the Andals arrived and took over. Also, among those who succumbed to the Starks were the Glovers of Deepwood Motte, demoted from Kings to vassals.
After the Andals reached Westeros, they led many conquests and took regions from the First Men. Harrag Hoare, the King of the Iron Islands, burnt part of the forest. Later, Aegon Targaryen led the conquest of Westeros and became the King of the Kingdoms.
In 58 AC, Queen Alyssane Targaryen visited the North and hunted for wild boar and elk in the wolfswood with Lord Eric Stark. When they were still younger, Bran Stark, Robb Stark, and Jon Snow traveled into the forest with Jory Cassel to fish for trout.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
After Lord Eddard Stark agrees that Jon Snow becomes a member of the Night’s Watch, he travels to King’s Landing as the Hand of the King. Jon and Tyrion Lannister travel together to Castle Black, using the kingsroad, in the eastern part of the wolfswood. They meet Yoren at a holdfast in the region.
When Bran Stark wakes up after his accident, he meets Tyrion Lannister, who designs a special saddle for him. Bran rides into the forest with his brother Robb and Theon Greyjoy. However, while hunting, he is separated from the group and is captured by some wildlings. His brother and thrown eventually save him as they kill all the wildlings and arrest one of them, Osha.
A Clash of Kings
When maester Luwin learns of the ironborn’s threat to Torrhen’s Square, he sends ravens to White Harbor, the barrowlands, and the deepest parts of the wolfswood, instructing the regions to summon their levies. However, his message proves futile as the ironborn captures Deepwood Motte and the Starks’ stronghold.
After capturing Winterfell, Bran and his friends disappear. Theon Greyjoy leads an extensive search party that travels into the forest. However, unknown to him, Bran and his companions stay in the crypts.
A Storm of Swords
On leaving Winterfell, Bran and his friends travel north of the Wall. They avoid the kingsroad and travel around the western edge of the hills north of the Starks’ castle. While the group stays in the Tumbledown Tower, Summer hunts in the eastern wolfswood.
A Dance with Dragons
Asha Greyjoy stays at Deepwood Motte. However, she gets captured by Stannis Baratheon, who invades the region. When Stannis travels to the Wall, he tells Jon Snow that the crofters from the forest joined his army after he liberated Deepwood Motte. The self-proclaimed King then heads for Winterfell. However, a blizzard forces him and his men to shelter in a crofters’ village.
Relevance in Adpatation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, the wolfswood is where Stannis Baratheon’s army enters during the battle on the ice. The Bolton’s cavalry pursues Stannis’s men into the forest and destroys them.
Wolfswood: The Great Forest
The wolfswood is by far the most prominent forest in the North. It provides a home to many people and animals and serves as a source of raw materials for many regions of the North.
