King's Landing

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	King's Landing
Original Name	君临城
Type	Royal capital and port city of the Seven Kingdoms 253
Population	Around 400,000–500,000 residents before the influx of tens of thousands of refugees 53 216
Ruler	Robb Stark, after he captures the city and takes the Iron Throne 230 231
Status	Active; seat of Robb Stark's rule and the Iron Throne 230 296
First Appearance	Chapter 43: Butterfly Wings 43

Cityscape

Location	Description
Red Keep	The royal fortress containing the throne room and the Iron Throne. It is the center of royal government and a frequent target during the city's political crises. 52 230 233
Great Sept of Baelor and Baelor Square	A major public gathering place where Eddard Stark is forced to confess and later killed, and where Robb publicly tries Tywin Lannister. 83 84 231
Gods' Gate	A heavily guarded entrance used by travelers on the King's Road. Following a rebellion in the Red Keep, Gold Cloaks inspect everyone entering or leaving through it. 52
Dragon Gate	A city gate used by nobles and arriving processions; it serves as the point where Robb and the returning Stark household are received. 162 253
Mud Gate / River Gate	A gate destroyed during Stannis's assault and later rebuilt and renamed River Gate by Tywin Lannister. It becomes the entry point through which Robb's army ends the Battle of King's Landing. 141 176 230
Flea Bottom	A densely populated slum reached from Flour Street. Under Tywin, its dilapidated districts are demolished amid efforts to rebuild and restore order. 53 188
Silk Street	The city's red-light district, known for its nightlife and brothels. 43 67 231
Cobbler's Square	A crowded leather-goods marketplace with routes toward the Gods' Gate, Old Gate, Mighty Lion Gate, Iron Street, and the Great Sept of Baelor. 56
Rhaenys's Hill	A district associated with Silk Street and the Dragonpit ruins. 231 269

History

Lannister Crisis

Following King Robert Baratheon's death, the city becomes the center of a succession crisis. Cersei orders strict inspections at the Gods' Gate after a rebellion in the Red Keep, disrupting refugees, merchants, and other travelers entering the city. 51 52

Robb Stark's covert operation in King's Landing throws the city into disorder. His party recovers Ice, kills Ilyn Payne and the Gold Cloaks' commander, and forces the authorities to deploy large numbers of men to search the city. 85 The manhunt particularly disrupts Flea Bottom and Aegon's High Hill, while operatives disguised as Gold Cloaks exploit access to the Red Keep's southern gate. 67

Cersei uses the Gold Cloaks to announce Eddard Stark's public confession at Baelor Square. Before a large crowd, Eddard reveals Joffrey's parentage and accuses the Lannisters of regicide; Joffrey then kills him himself. 83 84

Sieges and Lannister Rule

During Stannis Baratheon's siege, the Mud Gate tower and part of the surrounding wall are destroyed by a wildfire explosion. Thousands of civilians become trapped between attacking troops and the city's defenders as fighting pushes through the breached gate. 141

After Joffrey's disappearance and reported death, Tywin Lannister travels to the city to stabilize Tommen I's succession. He rebuilds the Mud Gate as River Gate, removes corrupt Gold Cloaks, and replaces many of them with Lannister cavalry. 175 176 186

Tywin's administration also demolishes sections of Flea Bottom, which had been plagued by unrest and corruption. The project is publicly credited with restoring order, though the displacement of its residents is questioned by observers. 188

Capture by Robb Stark

Robb advances toward King's Landing with an army of approximately 100,000 men after taking several strategic castles along the Rose Road. Though his council suspects Tywin may have prepared a trap, Robb continues the march. 227

The assault begins amid a wildfire trap outside the city. Blood Wind's howl signals the attack, and Robb's allied forces advance on King's Landing from the flanks and center. 228 Robb's army ultimately enters through River Gate, ending the Battle of King's Landing; the city experiences looting, though murders and assaults are reported to be rare under Klye's law-enforcement supervision. 230

Robb claims the Iron Throne in the Red Keep. The captured Gold Cloaks are confined in a prisoner-of-war camp, while the Northern Army's law-enforcement unit takes over the city's defense. 230 231

Stark Rule

Robb holds Tywin Lannister's public trial at Baelor Square, using the site of Eddard Stark's death to clear his father's name. Tywin confesses to crimes including Eddard's false accusation, Robert's poisoning, and the murders of Elia Martell and her children; Robb sentences him to death and strips House Lannister of its noble status. 231

Under Robb's rule, Klye implements measures intended to restore trade and improve living conditions. Sanitation workers and street-hygiene supervisors help make the city cleaner, while collected waste is transported to Rosby and Stokeworth for fertilizer. 253

The city remains vulnerable to later wartime threats. Robb rushes back when he fears Daenerys may attack King's Landing as she attacked Winterfell and Highgarden, arriving during fighting at a crossroads within the city. 271

Administration and Security

• Gold Cloaks — The City Watch controls entry through the gates and conducts inspections during emergencies. 52
• Lannister reforms — Tywin arrests and executes Commander Rhaegar Bronn and Gold Cloaks connected to his corrupt faction, then replaces many watchmen with Lannister cavalry. 186
• Expanded watch — The Gold Cloaks grow to more than 6,000 men as refugee camps and public-order problems spread around the city. 216
• Northern law enforcement — After Robb's victory, Klye's law-enforcement unit assumes responsibility for city defense while the former Gold Cloaks are detained. 230 231
• Gate controls — River Gate is rebuilt as a broader entryway, later divided to permit commoner traffic while military and noble processions pass separately. 176

Population and Economy

• The city is densely populated, with narrow streets and crowded districts such as Flour Street and Flea Bottom. 53
• As both a capital and a port, King's Landing recovers quickly after the war once Robb's trade and livelihood policies are implemented. 253
• Refugees from the Riverlands, Westerlands, Reach, Stormlands, and Dornish Marches establish large camps outside the city gates, placing severe pressure on order and infrastructure. 216
• The city has a long-standing reputation for poor sanitation; under Robb's government, waste collection and hygiene supervision visibly improve conditions. 253
• Large public events—including royal coronations, noble banquets, trials, and military arrivals—regularly draw both nobles and commoners into the city's streets and squares. 177 231 269

Major Events

Event	Outcome
Robb Stark's covert incursion	Robb's forces recover Ice, kill key Lannister officials, and trigger a citywide manhunt. 67 85
Eddard Stark's execution	Joffrey kills Eddard at Baelor Square after Eddard publicly denounces the Lannisters. 83 84
Stannis's siege	Wildfire destroys the Mud Gate tower and opens a route into the city. 141
Tommen I's coronation	Tommen's courteous public appearance earns praise from nobles and commoners. 177
Battle of King's Landing	Robb's army captures the city through River Gate, allowing him to take the Iron Throne. 228 230
Tywin Lannister's trial	Robb publicly clears Eddard's name, executes Tywin, and demotes House Lannister to commoner status. 231
Dragon arrival	A captured dragon is brought toward the Dragonpit ruins, drawing enormous crowds to River Gate. 269

Namesake on Pike Island

The novel also uses King's Landing for a separate port settlement on Pike Island, the fief of House Potterly. This Iron Islands settlement is distinct from the royal capital. 102 109

• The Pike Island settlement serves pirates and merchants as a place to resupply, trade illicit goods, and spend their wealth. 102
• Robb captures it during his campaign against the Iron Islands. 108 109
• Under Theon's rule, its waters are patrolled by the Iron Fleet, raiding merchant ships is prohibited, and the settlement expands into a major port city. 153 240