Red Lake
Lago Rojo
Not to be confused with Red Lake (river).
Red Lake is the seat of House Crane, built on the shores of a lake of the same name on the northwestern edge of the Reach, where it borders the Westerlands.
Its history runs from Age of Heroes legend to the wars between rival kingdoms before the Conquest, and it later became a refuge for one of the last dragons to survive the Dance of the Dragons.
Chapter 1
The lake that changed color
Books only
The lake that gives the stronghold its name was not always called that. It was once known as Blue Lake, and legend holds that it became Red Lake after Brandon Bloody Blade slaughtered a vast number of children of the forest along its shores.
Tradition also holds that Rose of Red Lake, a daughter of Garth Greenhand, gave rise to a line that still lives by these waters. Later, under the rule of Garth the Great, the land joined the Kingdom of the Reach through pacts of friendship and mutual defense.
Chapter 2
The death of the King of the Rock
Books only
Centuries later, in the age of rival kingdoms before the Conquest, Red Lake was the site of a king's death. Lancel IV Lannister, King of the Rock, fell there under the sword of Ser Wilbert Osgrey while trying to force his army's way into the Reach.
Chapter 3
The wild dragon's lair
Books only
After the Dance of the Dragons came to its end, very few dragons remained alive. One of them, Silverwing, went feral and chose an island on Red Lake as its hideaway, living there apart from men.
Chapter 4
The royal progress that avoided it
137 ACBooks only
Torrhen Manderly
Aegon III TargaryenYears later, in 137 AC, Lord Torrhen Manderly, Hand of King Aegon III Targaryen, organized a progress for the young king and his wife across different parts of the realm. Red Lake was among the places he considered adding to the route.
The idea was dropped because Aegon III himself felt an aversion to dragons, and the lake's reputation as Silverwing's refuge was enough to make Manderly change his plans.