Gulltown

Gulltown is the major port city of the Vale of Arryn. It is located in a fine natural harbor at the northern tip of the Bay of Crabs, southeast of the Eyrie and south of nearby Runestone. It is the largest city in the Vale, but is much smaller than Oldtown and King's Landing.

Gulltown is ruled by House Grafton and also contains a cadet branch of the Vale's rulers, House Arryn of Gulltown. There are branches of House Shett in or near the city.

Gulltown is an important port and portal to the Vale, its sheltered harbor offering anchorage to ships traveling from King's Landing to Braavos or the north. Its strategic location means it never lacks for trade in many of the exotic goods making their way from across the narrow sea, keeping the Vale supplied even when the passes of the Mountains of the Moon are closed in winter. Gulltown has fine seamstresses.

Origins
Prior to the Andal invasion, Gulltown was a wealthy harbor town of the First Men ruled by House Shett. Because he was threatened by by King Yorwyck VI Royce of Runestone, King Osgood III Shett allied with the Andal knight Gerold Grafton. Osgood was killed in battle, however, and House Grafton replaced House Shett as the kings of Gulltown.

Although a First Men rebellion had to be bloodily suppressed, Gulltown grew into the Vale's only city. The sister of King Robar II Royce later convinced the Shetts to rebel against the Graftons, allowing Robar's men to storm the city. Like most of the Vale, however, Gulltown submitted to Artys I Arryn, King of Mountain and Vale, after the Battle of Seven Stars. The Arryns and Graftons developed Gulltown into one of the greatest cities of Westeros.

During the War Across the Water, the Starks burned hundreds of Vale ships when the Gulltown's stone walls resisted their attempt at conquest.

3rd Century AC
Refugees fleeing the conflicts in Essos began arriving in port cities throughout Westeros in the year 335. The Septons of Gulltown banded together to denounce the Red Priests and their efforts to spread the faith of R'hllor. After several months of escalating tensions, riots broke out in Gulltown as followers of the Faith of the Seven attacked worshippers of the Red God. A third of the city was burned by fires set by the rioters, and House Grafton needed to request aid from Runestone to pacify the city and get the port open once more.