In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Moat Cailin is said to have been built well over ten thousand years ago by the Children of the Forest, though the accuracy of this is unclear. Moat Cailin as depicted in the title sequence before its fall. Or it is possible Renly knew what he was talking about and the 'price' for his granting the North its independence was losing the territory south of Moat Cailin. It may also be possible that Renly has only a simplified knowledge of geography of the North, or that he was speaking vaguely and considered 'the North' to symbolically start at Moat Cailin, because of the strategical importance of the fortress, and meant leaving the North's territory as it was. Renly's offer would've involved the Starks losing a substantial amount of their pre-war territory on the Neck, including Greywater Watch, but Catelyn does not mention this.While it could be a mere oversight that Renly pronounced it incorrectly it could also be seen as a sign of his ignorance of Westeros geography and his cavalier attitude toward being King. Renly pronounces the name 'Moat Cait-lin' the one time he mentions it in Season 2, but the Boltons pronounce it correctly as 'Cay-lin' in Season 4.Littlefinger marches the knights of the Vale to the North and encamps them at Moat Cailin while he meets with Sansa. Brienne and Pod follow them, but are forced to go all the way around the Moat and the swamp instead of through it. Sansa mentions that she, her father, and her sister visited Moat Cailin while traveling south to King's Landing. Sansa and Littlefinger pass through Moat Cailin while traveling to Winterfell. Season 5īrienne and Pod watch as Sansa and Littlefinger go through Moat Cailin. Upon surrendering, Ramsay reneges on the agreement and has all of the ironborn flayed alive. Ramsay has Reek use his former identity as Theon Greyjoy to convince ironborn garrison to surrender Moat Cailin, in exchange for safe passage back to the Iron Islands. With majority of House Bolton's army being trapped south of the Neck due to the ironborn occupation of the castle, Roose Bolton orders Ramsay to take the stronghold. Ironborn raiders seize Moat Cailin, as a part of Balon Greyjoy's campaign to conquer the North. He offers to recognize Robb's dominion over everything north of Moat Cailin. Renly discusses a potential alliance with Robb by negotiating with Catelyn.

Moat Cailin was constructed by the First Men during the Dawn Age, and, despite falling to disrepair, has since then remained an important strategic position in defending the North from invasions from the south, most notably being instumental in preventing the Andals from conquering the North during their invasion of Westeros.

Game of thrones moat cailin