King's Gate
The King's Gate is one of the seven huge gates along the city walls of King's Landing.
Contents
Layout
The King's Gate is by the southern corner of the southwest wall of King's Landing, connecting the western end of the River Row to the tourney grounds outside the city by the Blackwater Rush. There is a sally port in it,[1] and a stable near it.[2]
Heads of the condemned can be mounted on spikes above the King's Gate.[3][4]
History
In 19 AC, King Aegon I Targaryen decreed that new city walls with seven gates, each with a massive gatehouse and defensive towers, be built to protect King's Landing. Grand Maester Gawen and Ser Osmund Strong, Hand of the King, headed the construction, which took place between 20–26 AC.[5]
King Maegor I Targaryen had his own wife and queen, Alys Harroway, tortured to death and executed. Following her death, Alys's body was cut into seven parts and mounted on spikes above each of the seven gates of the city, one of which was above the King's Gate.[6][7]
Princess Aerea Targaryen spent part of the regency of Jaehaerys I Targaryen working in a stable near the King's Gate, which she considered to be the happiest time of her life.[2]
During the Dance of the Dragons, the gold cloaks at the King's Gate fled amid the riot of King's Landing. Ser Perkin the Flea recruited scores of former gold cloaks during the Moon of the Three Kings, and he gained control over the King's Gate, the Dragon Gate, and the Lion Gate for Trystane Truefyre.[8]
During the regency of Aegon III, the King's Hand, Ser Tyland Lannister ordered the city gates to be strengthened so they could better resist attacks from within the city walls.[9]
As part of his plan to destroy King's Landing with wildfire should the rebellion against him succeed, King Aerys II Targaryen commanded his alchemists to plant wildfire at all seven gates of King's Landing.[10]
Lord Eddard Stark led his northmen through the King's Gate during the Sack of King's Landing.[11]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
After leaving a riverside evening feast during the Hand's tourney, Sansa Stark and Sandor Clegane climb in a cart near the King's Gate and are taken through King's Landing to the Red Keep.[12]
Following the death of King Robert I Baratheon and ascension of King Joffrey I Baratheon, travelers are only allowed to depart King's Landing from the Iron Gate or the King's Gate, both of which are manned by red cloaks. Spying from the rooftop of an inn by the King's Gate, Arya Stark watches the guards search wagons.[13]
A Clash of Kings
Tyrion Lannister prevents the northmen who escort Ser Cleos Frey to King's Landing from entering the city.[14] When Tyrion sends Cleos back to Riverrun, the northmen rejoin him at the King's Gate for the journey west.[15]
After ships land by the tourney grounds, the gate is assaulted with a battering ram by the army of Stannis Baratheon during the Battle of the Blackwater. Tyrion Lannister rides to the King's Gate, where the gatehouse square is littered with wounded. Sandor refuses to lead a sortie and instead deserts from the battle. Tyrion and Ser Mandon Moore of the Kingsguard instead lead a detachment out of a sally port. After ending the threat of the ram, they ride toward the River Gate.[1] Ser Osney Kettleblack later reports that the King's Gate is again being rammed.[16]
A Storm of Swords
King Joffrey I Baratheon meets his betrothed, Margaery Tyrell, at the King's Gate when she arrives at King's Landing.[17]
Tyrion finds mud, ash, and bones when he investigates the land outside of the King's Gate. He reports to his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, that the gate is splintered and should be replaced.[18]
Ser Jaime Lannister reveals to Brienne of Tarth the truth of the wildfire cache planted at the King's Gate.[10]
A Feast for Crows
Ser Jaime Lannister is sent by his sister, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, to inspect the city gates. According to him the King's Gate needs to be replaced.[19]
Quotes
Jaremy: Tywin Lannister gave us a splendid choice. Take the black, or see our heads on spikes before evenfall. No offense intended, Tyrion.
Tyrion: None taken, Ser Jaremy. My father is very fond of spiked heads, especially those of people who have annoyed him in some fashion. And a face as noble as yours, well, no doubt he saw you decorating the city wall above the King's Gate. I think you would have looked very striking up there.[4]
Even so, by the time they reached the King's Gate, he could hear a booming crash of wood on wood that told him the battering ram had been brought into play. The groaning of the great hinges sounded like the moans of a dying giant.[1]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Nothing remained beyond the King's Gate but mud and ashes and bits of burned bone, yet already there were people living in the shadow of the city walls, and others selling fish from barrows and barrels.[18]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 59, Tyrion XIII.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 21, Tyrion III.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 20, Tyrion V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 61, Tyrion XIV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 32, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.