King's Landing

Biodata

Background / History

After surveying Summerfield from dragonback, Lonzell selected a mountain peak for a new fortress and town. The project was conceived not merely as a castle, but as a permanent Valaerys power center: a fortified seat, settlements for imported craftsmen, defended routes through the Boneway, and a large harbor. Its construction relied on recreated Old Valyrian methods, dragonfire, and Lonzell's magic 32.

The city rose rapidly. By the time Lonzell returned to manage his new territories, the settlement below the mountain was transitioning from tents into timber-and-stone buildings, while the upper fortress had already acquired its walls and principal towers 48. King's Landing was officially completed in early 124 AC; the associated town of Summerhall continued to develop, gaining a summer palace, Grand Sept, and market later that year 74.

Construction Timeline

Layout and Architecture

King's Landing is built into and around a mountain, combining a fortified upper city with the settlement of Summerhall below it. Its design deliberately uses Old Valyrian architectural methods and dragon-themed fortifications 32 48.

• A narrow mountain road rises to a dragon-head-shaped gate set into the mountainside 48.
• The first wall ring incorporates Sword-Hiding Tower, Bayleaf Tower, Flame Tower, and the Tower of the Gods 48.
• Weirwoods transplanted from the North grow within the first defensive level 48.
• Higher black walls merge with the mountain around Dragonglass Tower, Dragonpit Tower, and Raven Tower 48.
• A final wall bears indistinct flame-like patterns and encloses Silver Blood Tower and the corridor-linked Twin Towers 48.
• The completed upper city contains nine principal towers; its remaining works included a sept and stables 48.

Summerhall

Summerhall serves as the large town beneath King's Landing. It was planned as the civic and commercial counterpart to the mountaintop fortress 48.

• A city hall, initially built from wooden scaffolding over a marble foundation, was designed to hold thousands of people 48.
• Six wide roads radiate from the city hall: southern routes lead to the Boneway, while northern routes join the King’s Road 48.
• A sept occupies the eastern side of the town, while a grove was planted to the west 48.
• Buildings become progressively finer from the civic center outward, shifting from ordinary dwellings to substantial wood-and-stone construction 48.
• The Prince’s District contains the Valaerys Summer Palace, a marble complex decorated with purple and silver tiles, fountains, statues, gardens, and Eastern-style corridors 74.

Administration

King's Landing functions as a Valaerys administrative center as well as a military stronghold. Lonzell required the heads of several rewarded retainer families—including the Kaon, Valtaken, Calamityflame, Longdell, and Fezer families—to remain in the city and assist him, even after they received rights to build castles in newly acquired territories 48.

Notable Features

• Old Valyrian construction — The city’s fortress was built through techniques considered lost to the world, recreated through Lonzell’s dragons and magic 32.
• Dragonfire-built defenses — Dragons were integral to the city’s construction, allowing rapid shaping and fortification of the mountain site 32.
• Silver Blood Tower — The central tower of the upper city, positioned behind the final wall and flanked by the Twin Towers 48.
• Dragonpit Tower — One of the three towers set into the upper mountain defenses, reflecting the city’s role as a Dragonlord seat 48.