Editing Iron Throne (section)

===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:MagaliVilleneuve_JoffIronThrone.jpg|thumb|300px|King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] upon the Iron Throne - by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Lord [[Eddard Stark]], the [[Hand of the King]] to [[Robert I Baratheon]], sits the Iron Throne while the king is hunting in the [[kingswood]].{{Ref|AGOT|43}} Robert's reign comes to end after his wife, Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], arranges his death. Her eldest son, [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], takes the throne.{{Ref|AGOT|51}} Robert had acknowledged Joffrey as a trueborn son, but the father of Cersei's children is actually her twin, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] of the [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|AGOT|45}} The hunting tapestries which had replaced the dragon skulls are taken down from the throne room's walls.{{Ref|AGOT|57}}

During Joffrey's first court session in the throne room, the young king has Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] read his royal decrees. Ser [[Barristan Selmy]], [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]], is dismissed from his duties.{{Ref|AGOT|57}}

Robert's youngest brother, [[Renly Baratheon]], puts forward his own claim to the Iron Throne.{{Ref|AGOT|69}} After Joffrey capriciously orders the beheading of Lord Stark outside the [[Great Sept of Baelor]], the [[House Stark|Stark]] and [[House Tully|Tully]] bannermen gathered at [[Riverrun]] declare Ned's heir, [[Robb Stark]], as [[King in the North]]. The [[north]] and the [[riverlands]] secede from the Iron Throne.{{Ref|AGOT|71}}