Editing Warden (section)

==History==
===Essos===
The ancient title of [[Warden of the River]] is used by the [[Meereen]]ese official in charge of ferries, dredges, and irrigation ditches along the [[Skahazadhan]].{{ref|ADWD|55}}

===Westeros===
Wardens have historically been used through [[Westeros]] south of the [[Wall]], including by petty kings of [[Dorne]] prior to [[Nymeria's War]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships}}

During [[Aegon's Conquest]] and the unification of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] granted new warden titles to monarchs who submitted to [[House Targaryen]], including [[Loren I Lannister|Loren Lannister]], [[Ronnel Arryn (king)|Ronnel Arryn]], and [[Torrhen Stark]]. Aegon also named [[Harlan Tyrell]], a former steward, as warden.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}

Wardens for the [[Iron Throne]] act as supreme military leaders responsible for the defense of their region in the event of foreign invasion.<ref name=SSM/> In times of peace, this prestigious title is purely honorary. Tradition holds that each title is hereditarily given to the lord of a certain family, but the king retains the right to award it to another of his choosing. This typically only happens if the traditional holder dies and his heir is not yet of age, although in times of turbulence the office may be offered to those holding a monarch's favor.{{ref|AGOT|12}}

The four major directional wardens as per the start of the books: 
* [[Warden of the East]], held by [[Jon Arryn]], Lord of the [[Eyrie]]. [[House Arryn]] were once [[Kings of Mountain and Vale]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Vale: House Arryn}} 
* [[Warden of the North]], held by [[Eddard Stark]], Lord of [[Winterfell]]. [[House Stark]] were once [[Kings in the North]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Kings of Winter}}
* [[Warden of the South]], held by [[Mace Tyrell]], Lord of [[Highgarden]]. [[House Tyrell]] were once stewards to [[House Gardener]], the [[Kings of the Reach]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: House Tyrell}} 
* [[Warden of the West]], held by [[Tywin Lannister]], Lord of [[Casterly Rock]]. [[House Lannister]] were once the [[Kings of the Rock]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Westerlands}}

There are also smaller-scale wardens:
* [[Warden of the Prince's Pass]], guardian of the [[Prince's Pass]] in [[Dorne]]. Held by Lord [[Franklyn Fowler]] as per the tradition of [[House Fowler]].
* [[Warden of the Sands]], guardian of the deserts of Dorne. Only granted to Lord [[Jon Rosby]] during the [[First Dornish War]].
* [[Warden of Stone Way]], guardian of the [[Boneway]] in Dorne. Held by Lord [[Anders Yronwood]] as per the tradition of [[House Yronwood]].
* [[Warden of the White Knife]], guardian of the [[White Knife]] in the [[north]]. Held by Lord [[Wyman Manderly]] of [[White Harbor]] as per the tradition of [[House Manderly]].

After reaching [[Customs#Age of majority|majority]] and beginning to rule in his own right, King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] replaced the [[Warden of the King's Mint]], among other lesser offices.{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}

King [[Robert I Baratheon]] called upon Tywin, his Warden of the West, and Eddard, his Warden of the North, to help suppress [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}