King's Landing

Biodata

Background / History

Aegon Targaryen landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with his three dragons and began his conquest of Westeros there. Although House Hightower reportedly offered him Oldtown as a capital, Aegon instead established a new city at his landing place; its name literally refers to where the king came ashore. A small fishing village subsequently expanded into Westeros's largest city. 87

King's Landing remained the capital after the fall of House Targaryen in the War of the Usurper, when House Baratheon assumed the Iron Throne. Its prosperity came with severe strain: its vast population outgrew the young city’s capacity, while its food supply depended heavily on grain from the Reach and Riverlands. 87 212

During Stannis Baratheon's assault, the city’s defenders used a chain barrier, defensive towers along the Blackwater Rush, and wildfire to destroy much of his fleet. The surviving attackers reached the harbor in only a few ships, while the Gold Cloaks celebrated the successful defense. 242 243

The later Lannister regime faced famine, unrest, and a looming siege after the Reach stopped sending grain and Riverlands were devastated by war. Tyrion Lannister closed the city’s grain shops, while Tywin Lannister considered seizing food directly from the smallfolk to feed his army. 422 453

Caesar's southern army ultimately overwhelmed the city’s defenses. The Unsullied attacked the western wall, while forces led by Selwyn and Brienne Tarth pressed the eastern wall; Cleopatra’s appearance broke the defenders’ morale. Tyrion and King Tommen later formally surrendered King’s Landing and the crown to Caesar. 437 438 463

Soon after the change of dynasty, wights breached the Red Keep during a storm. The battle devastated the city, killing an estimated 70,000 people before the human forces regained control. 475 478

Location & Cityscape

King's Landing is built beside the water, with its southern walls close to the Blackwater Rush and its eastern side facing Blackwater Bay. Its harbor is reached through the River Gate, more commonly called the Mud Gate. 441

The city has seven gates. The Iron Gate stands on the northeastern wall toward Rosby; during the ice dragon attack, it was the first reported point of contact. 533

Government

The Red Keep is the center of royal administration. The Small Council meets in Maegor's Holdfast and directs military, financial, legal, naval, and intelligence affairs. 301 484

Caesar Dynasty Small Council

The council’s first major concern under the new dynasty was supplying a massive northern army through winter. 484

Major Sieges and Crises

Later History

Thirty years after the Long Night era, King's Landing had grown larger and more prosperous than before, having been transformed from the snowbound, war-stricken capital Shireen Baratheon remembered. 546

The city continued to serve as the political heart of the realm: more than 500 lords assembled at the Red Keep for a Great Council that named Prince Aegon Caesar heir to the Iron Throne. 547

When King Octavian and Prince Aegon later split the realm into the Greens and Blacks, both sides contested the Iron Throne in King’s Landing. Northern armies marched south toward the capital as civil war approached. 548