The River Gate is one of the seven huge gates along the city walls of King's Landing. It is known as the Mud Gate by the population of the city.[1]
Layout
The River Gate is near the center of the southeast wall and connects Fishmonger's Square and the wharfs on the Blackwater Rush.[2] It has a portcullis.[1] The Street of Steel begins at the market square beside the River Gate,[1] and the River Row runs east and west from the River Gate.[2] The fish market is found outside of the gate.[3]
Opposite the River Gate on the southern shore of the Blackwater is the kingsroad, which leads to Storm's End.[2]
History
Construction
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]
Maegor the Cruel
In the reign of Maegor I Targaryen, Maegor had his own wife and queen, Alys Harroway, tortured to death by Tyanna of the Tower. Following her death, Alys's body was cut into seven parts and mounted on spikes above each of the seven gates of King's Landing, including the River Gate.[5][6]
Dance of the Dragons
During the fall of King's Landing, part of the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, thirteen knights from House Hightower and a hundred men-at-arms held the River Gate for eight hours from attacks without and within the city. Despite this impressive resistance, the other six gates fell swiftly to the blacks.[7]
When a massive riot broke out in King's Landing, sailors unable to return to their ships attacked the River Gate. Ser Luthor Largent and four hundred spearmen were eventually able to disperse the rioters, through the gate was badly damaged and a hundred men were slain, including twenty-five gold cloaks.[8] As the riot intensified, the banner of King Trystane was raised above the River Gate's battlements, and the bodies of its captain and three of his serjeants were hung from the gatehouse.[8] Ser Perkin the Flea feasted his gutter knights on stolen food at the River Gate and then led them to loot along the riverfront.[8] Since the Mud gate was held by her foes, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen escaped the capital through the Dragon Gate.[8]
The crippled King Aegon II Targaryen returned to King's Landing through the River Gate in a closed litter.[9]
Aegon III
During the regency of Aegon III, Ser Tyland Lannister, Hand of the King, ordered the city gates to be strengthened so they could better resist attacks from within the city walls.[10]
When Lord Alyn Velaryon returned to the capital after his victory in the Stepstones, he rode through the River Gate on an elephant intended for the Sealord of Braavos.[11] Later, thousands rushed through the River Gate to greet Alyn when he returned from his voyage to the Sunset Sea.[12]
Roggerio Rogare opened a pillow house known as the Mermaid beside the River Gate. During the end of the Lysene Spring, Tessario the Tiger was arrested in a dockside tavern near the River Gate.[13]
Recent History
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.[14]
Gendry was once almost rode down near the Mud Gate by King Robert I Baratheon returning from a hunt.[15]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
In the aftermath of the arrest of Eddard Stark, the Lannisters close up all the gates of the city, except for the Mud Gate and the Gate of the Gods where people can enter the city but not leave it.[16]
After being dismissed from the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy flees from the Red Keep and escapes from the capital through the Mud Gate, slaying two gold cloaks in the process.[17][18]
A Clash of Kings
The commander of the River Gate, Ser Jacelyn Bywater, is made the new commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.[19]
In preparation for Stannis Baratheon's attack on King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister, acting Hand of the King, tours the riverfront. Carpenters extend wooden hoardings from the battlements of the Mud Gate.[20] Three catapults are raised in the market square by the gate.[20][21]
The Lannisters burn the riverfront and retreat to the Mud Gate during the Battle of the Blackwater.[22] King Joffrey I Baratheon is at the gate with Tyrion and the Kingsguard, with the king encouraging the archers on the hoardings.[23] The River Gate is assaulted with a battering ram by the army of Stannis.[23][24] When Ser Osmund Kettleblack informs Queen Regent Cersei Lannister that the gate is under attack, Cersei orders that Joffrey be brought back to the Red Keep.[23] Tyrion and Ser Mandon Moore ride for the Mud Gate after defending the King's Gate.[25]
A Storm of Swords
Chella and a dozen Black Ears return to King's Landing after the Blackwater, but red cloaks chase them away while Kingslanders cheer and throw dung at the clansmen.[26]
Margaery Tyrell brings Sansa Stark to the waterfront, and they find the Mud Gate scarred and splintered from the Blackwater.[27]
Charged with inspecting the damages from the battle, Tyrion judges that both the River Gate and the King's Gate should be replaced.[28]
Ser Jaime Lannister reveals to Brienne of Tarth the truth of the wildfire cache planted at the River Gate.[14]
A Feast for Crows
Ser Jaime Lannister, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, inspects the city walls and affirms that the King's Gate and the Mud Gate need to be replaced.[29]
Thousands cheer for Lord Mace Tyrell at the Mud Gate as he leaves King's Landing with his host for Storm's End.[30]
Three thousand smallfolk, mostly women, crowd through the Mud Gate to see Ser Loras Tyrell as he sails of Sweet Cersei for Dragonstone.[31]
Known Captains of the River Gate
Quotes
The Mud Gate was open, and a squad of City Watchmen stood under the portcullis in their golden cloaks, leaning on spears. When a column of riders appeared from the west, the guardsmen sprang into action, shouting commands and moving the carts and foot traffic aside to let the knight enter with his escort.[1]
—thoughts of Eddard Stark
Tywin: What did you find at the riverfront?
Tyrion: Mud, and a few dead things no one's bothered to bury. Before we can open the port again, the Blackwater's going to have to be dredged, the sunken ships broken up or raised. Three-quarters of the quays need repair, and some may have to be torn down and rebuilt. The entire fish market is gone, and both the River Gate and the King's Gate are splintered from the battering Stannis gave them and should be replaced. I shudder to think of the cost.
Tywin: You will find whatever gold is required.[28]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Lands of Ice and Fire, King's Landing.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Fishmarket.
- ↑ 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 - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfeast.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 37, Brienne VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 52, Jon VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 60, Sansa VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 16, Sansa II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 61, Tyrion XIV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 4, Tyrion I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 15, Jon II.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 32, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.