The Lion Gate is one of the seven huge gates that surround the huge walls of King's Landing.
Layout
The Lion Gate is located near the center of the southwest wall, with the King's Gate and the tourney grounds to the south. The Goldroad to Lannisport in the westerlands starts at the Lion Gate.[1]
The Lion Gate is narrower and less splendid than the Gate of the Gods.[2] The gold cloaks stationed at the Lion Gate are called "lions".[3]
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.[4]
In the reign of Maegor I Targaryen, Maegor 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.[5][6]
The tourney for the completion of the Dragonpit in 55 AC was held in the fields west of the Lion Gate and the King's Gate.[7]
Amid the Dance of the Dragons, the lions, the gold cloaks at the Lion Gate, joined the mobs during the riot of King's Landing.[3]
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.[8]
Ser Adrian Thorne was the captain of the Lion Gate before becoming the Commander of the City Watch in 135 AC.[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]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
After the arrest of Eddard Stark, his daughter Arya finds that the Dragon Gate, the Lion Gate, and the Old Gate are closed and barred.[11]
A Storm of Swords
Ser Jaime Lannister reveals to Brienne of Tarth the truth of the wildfire cache planted at the Lion Gate.[10]
A Feast for Crows
After the funeral of Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord Gyles Rosby tells Queen Regent Cersei Lannister that he has hired a master stonecarver to sculpt a statue of her father to stand by the Lion Gate.[12]
Ser Jaime Lannister thinks it would have been more appropriate if the procession returning Tywin's body to Casterly Rock had departed through the Lion Gate rather than the Gate of the Gods.[2]
Jaime is sent by his sister, Cersei, to inspect the city gates.[13]
Known Captains of the Lion Gate
- Ser Adrian Thorne[9]
Quotes
The funeral procession departed King's Landing through the Gate of the Gods, wider and more splendid than the Lion Gate. The choice felt wrong to Jaime. His father had been a lion, that no one could deny, but even Lord Tywin never claimed to be a god.[2]
—thoughts of Jaime Lannister
References
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire, King's Landing.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ 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, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.