Editing Iron Throne (section)

==History==
===Aegon the Conqueror===
[[File:Balerion by Earthenblood Iron Throne is forged II.png|thumb|300px|[[Balerion]] helps forge the Iron Throne - by Lindsey Burcar ©]]
Following [[Aegon's Conquest|his conquest]] of six of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] in [[Westeros]], [[Aegon I Targaryen]] proclaimed himself their king, and was crowned by the [[High Septon (Aegon's Conquest)|High Septon]] at [[Oldtown]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} From the swords of his enemies, Aegon created the Iron Throne, and the dynasty he began would rule for nearly three hundred years.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}{{Ref|AGOT|43}} According to the songs, the throne was constructed with a thousand blades, heated by the [[dragonflame]] of [[Balerion]], Aegon's [[dragon]]. Hammering of the component swords by armorers took fifty-nine days.{{Ref|AGOT|43}}

The Iron Throne stood at Aegon's wooden castle, the [[Aegonfort]], which was located at the place where he had first come to shore. The town that grew around it became [[King's Landing]], the kingdom's new capital.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}} Aegon reconciled the [[Iron Islands]] under his rule in {{Date|2}}, and continued his wars in {{Date|4}} with the [[First Dornish War]], in an attempt to subdue the seventh of the Westerosi kingdoms.{{Ref|FAB|Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I}}

The Iron Throne kept out of war following the conclusion of the First Dornish War in {{Date|13}}.{{Ref|FAB|Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I}} Other wars with Dorne would follow under Aegon's successors: the [[Second Dornish War]] in {{Date|37}} at the start of [[Aenys I Targaryen]]'s reign, the [[Third Dornish War|Third]] and [[Fourth Dornish War]] during the reign of [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]],{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} and the [[Conquest of Dorne]] during the reign of [[Daeron I Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}}

During Aegon's reign, one of his queens [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys]] and [[Visenya Targaryen]] would sit on the Iron Throne while Aegon and his other sister were away from the capital for one of his [[Royal progress|progresses]].{{Ref|FAB|Three Heads had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}} In {{Date|35}}, Aegon had the Aegonfort where the Iron Throne stood torn down.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings - Aegon I}} As construction of the [[Red Keep]] began, the Iron Throne remained where it had stood.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}

===Aenys I and Maegor I===
[[File:Forging the iron throne.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Workers help [[Balerion]] forge the Iron Throne - by Donato Giancola ©]]
Aegon's immediate successor, his eldest son [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys I]], faced several rebellions at the start of his reign in {{Date|37}}, which were resolved by his bannermen and brother, Prince [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]], during the course of the year. Aenys later faced problems with the [[Faith of the Seven]], first following his brother's [[polygamy|polygamous]] marriage in {{Date|39}}, and next after he married his son and daughter, [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon]] and [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena]], to one another in {{Date|40}}. The Faith rose [[Faith Militant uprising|in rebellion]] against the Iron Throne, eventually forcing Aenys and his family to flee King's Landing for [[Dragonstone]]. Aenys died the following year of [[illness]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}

Aenys's brother Maegor returned from his exile and claimed the throne over the late king's eldest son, Prince Aegon, who was unable to travel to King's Landing. While Maegor took the throne, Dowager Queen [[Alyssa Velaryon]] proclaimed Aegon king on [[Driftmark]], but few came forth to support him. Called "the pretender" and "Aegon the Uncrowned", Aegon took up arms against Maegor in {{Date|43}} after he slipped into the capital to claim the dragon [[Quicksilver]]. Aegon fell to Maegor during the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]] later that year, however.

During his six-year rule, Maegor continued to fight the Faith and did so harshly, causing the deaths of thousands. Notably, he ordered the construction of [[Maegor's Holdfast]] within the [[Red Keep]] in {{Date|43}}. The Red Keep was completed in {{Date|45}}, after which Maegor had all the workers killed to prevent the castle's secrets being spread.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}} Aenys I's youngest son, Prince [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]], announced his claim to the throne at [[Storm's End]] early on in {{Date|48}}. Maegor's main supporters flocked to Jaehaerys's side, leaving him with insufficient men to defend himself. Maegor was found dead seated on the Iron Throne by Queen [[Elinor Costayne]] hours after his last war council. The cause of Maegor's death is still debated; several potential murderers have been put forth, with some suggesting that Maegor had been killed by the throne, and others that Maegor had taken his own life.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}{{Ref|ASOS|36}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}

===Jaehaerys I and Viserys I===
Following his death, [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor I]] was succeeded by his brother's youngest son, [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]. Jaehaerys reigned for fifty-five years.{{Ref|FAB|Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}} He recognized first his sister's eldest daughter [[Aerea Targaryen]] as his heir,{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49}}{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}} followed by his own daughter [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daenerys]]{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} and later his son [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon]].{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} Aemon's death in {{Date|92}} resulted in a crisis in the line of succession, forcing Jaehaerys to choose between Aemon's daughter and only child, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys]], and his own second son, [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]]. When Baelon was named, the pregnant Rhaenys proclaimed that the king had not only passed over her, but also her "unborn son". Upon Baelon's death in {{Date|101}}, Jaehaerys called the first [[Great Council]] at [[Harrenhal]], to appoint his new heir. For thirteen days, the fourteen claims were discussed by the lords of the realm. The lords assembled eventually chose between Rhaenys's son [[Laenor Velaryon]] and Baelon's eldest son [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys]]. The elder Viserys was chosen with the great majority of the votes.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Viserys's reign gave peace and plenty to the realm. In {{Date|126}}, after passing judgement seated on the Iron Throne, Viserys injured himself severely on the barbs. Maester [[Gerardys]] managed to save the king's life. The amputation of two of Viserys's fingers, {{Ref|FAB|The Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Following the death of his second son, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Baelon]], Viserys officially proclaimed his daughter, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], as his heir. Viserys remarried after the death of [[Aemma Arryn|his first wife]], but despite having three sons during his second marriage, he continued to view Rhaenyra as his heir.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

===The Dance and Regency===
[[File:Daviddemaret Heir to the Iron Throne.jpg|thumb|400px|Iron Throne - by David Demaret © Fantasy Flight Games]]
At [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys I's]] death in early {{Date|129}}, [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon the Elder]], his eldest son, claimed the throne, making use of [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s presence at [[Dragonstone]] during her pregnancy. Brother and sister fought over the throne during the two and a half years that followed, a struggle called the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. In {{Date|130}}, Rhaenyra [[fall of King's Landing|took King's Landing]] and sat the first night on the Iron Throne to accept fealty from those present at the Red Keep. Even though Rhaenyra wore armor at that time, Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], one of the supporters of Aegon II, claims that Rhaenyra had cuts on her legs and the palm of her left hand once she got up from the throne. Eustace claimed this was an indication that "the Iron Throne had spurned her".{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Once Rhaenyra fled King's Landing half a year later after the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]], two new "kings" declared themselves during the [[Moon of the Three Kings]]: [[Trystane Truefyre]], a young squire who took possession of the Red Keep and sat on the Iron Throne, and [[Gaemon Palehair]], a small child.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown}} Aegon II fed Rhaenyra to his dragon, [[Sunfyre]], after the [[fall of Dragonstone]]. Trystane and Gaemon were eventually arrested by Lord [[Borros Baratheon]]. Since Aegon was away at [[Dragonstone]], the Dowager Queen [[Alicent Hightower]] received the submission of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] from the lower steps of the Iron Throne.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

The crippled Aegon was unable to climb the steps of the Iron Throne when he returned to the capital, so he instead used a carved and cushioned wooden seat below.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} Aegon was killed with [[poison]] half a year later after the [[Battle of the Kingsroad]],{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} and his body was laid upon a bier by the Iron Throne when the [[Lads]] arrived at the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} Rhaenyra's eleven year-old son, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]], was crowned king, and married to Aegon II's daughter and only remaining child, [[Jaehaera Targaryen]], uniting the claims.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Lord [[Cregan Stark]] briefly served as [[Hand of the King]] during the so-called [[Hour of the Wolf]]. Although Cregan might have sat the Iron Throne as Hand, he instead used a simple wooden bench beneath it.{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}} 

When Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] died in {{Date|132}} during the [[regency of Aegon III]], his body was placed beneath the Iron Throne for seven days.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} Unlike Cregan Stark, Lord [[Unwin Peake]] used the Iron Throne while serving as Aegon's Hand.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} Aegon sat on the throne during the [[Maiden's Day Ball]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}

===Daeron I, Baelor I, and Viserys II===
[[Aegon III Targaryen]] was succeeded in {{Date|157}} by his fourteen-year old son, [[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron]], who led the [[conquest of Dorne]]. The Young Dragon was slain by [[Dornishmen]] four years later, however, and then succeeded by his brother [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor I]]. When Baelor the Blessed died in {{Date|171}} after a forty-day fast,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} the succession of the Iron Throne was again unclear. The claims of Baelor's three sisters were discussed, but dismissed, after which Baelor's uncle, [[Viserys II Targaryen]], was crowned. Viserys reigned for only a year, but it said he truly ruled and preserved the land for much longer, as he had been [[Hand of the King]] during the time of his brother Aegon III's reign, as well as the reigns of his nephews Daeron and Baelor. Despite the shortness of his reign, Viserys implemented several new reforms.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}

===Daeron II and Daemon Blackfyre===
After [[Viserys II Targaryen]] died of a sudden illness, his eldest son ascended the Iron Throne as [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]], who is remembered in history as "the Unworthy". On his deathbed, Aegon legitimized all of his [[bastard]]s, including [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]], his bastard son by his cousin [[Daena Targaryen]]. , in which Daemon Blackfyre fought King [[Daeron II Targaryen]] for the Iron Throne.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}

Aegon's heir, King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], brought [[Dorne]] peacefully into the realm early on in his reign, by [[Wedding of Maron Martell and Daenerys Targaryen|wedding]] his younger sister [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys]] to his good-brother [[Maron Martell]], the [[Prince of Dorne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} Aegon IV had previously gifted Daemon Blackfyre with the Targaryen sword [[Blackfyre]], typically considered the "sword of kings".{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} This, combined with the growing Dornish influence at court, brought resentment against Daeron II.

In {{Date|196}}, Daemon announced his claim to the Iron Throne, beginning the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]]. When he died during the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]] later that year with his two eldest sons, his remaining children fled to [[Essos]]. [[Blackfyre Pretenders|Four other rebellions]] would follow in the decades that followed. The [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion|second]] and [[Third Blackfyre Rebellion|third]] rebellions took place during the reign of [[Aerys I Targaryen]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} the fourth during the reign of [[Aegon V Targaryen]], {{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} and the fifth and final rebellion as part of the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]] during the reign of [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]]. {{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}}

===Later Kings===
Following the death of [[Daeron II Targaryen]]'s eldest son, [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor]], and Baelor's two sons [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]] and [[Matarys Targaryen|Matarys]], Daeron was succeeded by his second son, [[Aerys I Targaryen]]. The new king's first heir was his brother, [[Rhaegel Targaryen|Rhaegel]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} After Rhaegel's death, Aerys acknowledged Rhaegel's only son [[Aelor Targaryen|Aelor]] as his heir, but Aelor died in {{Date|217}} during a mishap caused by his twin sister and wife, [[Aelora Targaryen|Aelora]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} Aerys's third heir was Aelora.<ref>asoiaf.westeros.org: [http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/146027-rlj-v164/&do=findComment&comment=8092607 R+L=J v. 164 &ndash; Comment by Ran (December 12, 2017)]</ref> However, she was mad with grief and committed suicide sometime later, leaving Aerys to recognize his fourth and last heir to the throne, his youngest brother [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]]. When Aerys died in {{Date|221}}, Maekar succeeded him.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}

Maekar I's reign lasted until {{Date|233}}, when the king fell in battle fighting a rebellious lord on the [[Dornish Marches]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}} during the [[Peake Uprising]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}

A [[Great Council]] was convened after Maekar's death, and his fourth son was chosen as King [[Aegon V Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}} Aegon the Unlikely perished in {{Date|259}} in the [[tragedy of Summerhall]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} however, and was succeeded by his second son, [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen|Jaehaerys II]], who died three years later of illness.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys V}}

===The Mad King===
[[File:Eddard Jaime Aerys guillemhp.jpg|thumb|300px|Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] awaiting Lord [[Eddard Stark]] - by guillemhp ©]]
Jaehaerys was followed by his son, [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys II]]. Although his reign began promising, Aerys's madness slowly grew. By {{Date|280}}, he had become known as the “Mad King” and “King Scab”, for he had cut himself on the Iron Throne many times.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}

Following the abduction of [[Lyanna Stark]] by Aerys's son, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], the Mad King executed her father and brother, Lord [[Rickard Stark]] and [[Brandon Stark]], in the throne room in {{Date|282}}. Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] of the [[Kingsguard]] stood at the foot of the Iron throne during the executions.{{Ref|ACOK|55}} Lord [[Jon Arryn]] refused Aerys's order to kill Rickard's heir, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], and Lord [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] at the [[Eyrie]], however, beginning [[Robert's Rebellion]] against [[House Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}

The [[Vale of Arryn]], the [[north]], and parts of the [[stormlands]] and [[riverlands]] rose against Aerys, and the [[westerlands]] joined the rebels after Rhaegar's death in the [[Battle of the Trident]]. During the [[Sack of King's Landing]] by Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s host, the Mad King ordered his [[pyromancers]] to destroy the capital with the [[wildfire plot]]. Jaime, Tywin's eldest son, hauled Aerys off the steps of the Iron Throne and cut his throat, even though the Kingsguard was sworn to protect the king.{{Ref|ASOS|11}}{{Ref|ASOS|37}} Jaime climbed the steps and waited on the Iron Throne to see who would claim it,{{Ref|ASOS|11}} eventually climbing down after the arrival of Ned Stark to the throne room.{{Ref|AGOT|12}} Rhaegar's children, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], were murdered by Ser [[Amory Lorch]] and Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] during the Sack.{{Ref|ASOS|53}} Tywin had the children's bodies covered in crimson cloaks and placed before the Iron Throne to await the arrival of Robert,{{Ref|AGOT|45}}{{Ref|ASOS|66}} who claimed the throne as king.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}

Aerys's wife, [[Rhaella Targaryen]], died giving birth to Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] on [[Dragonstone]]. Aerys's surviving son, young [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], fled with Daenerys in exile to the [[Free Cities]].{{Ref|AGOT|3}}

===Robert Baratheon===
King [[Robert I Baratheon]] ascended to the Iron Throne in {{Date|283}}. Robert came to strongly dislike his kingship;{{Ref|AGOT|4}}{{Ref|AGOT|33}} according to [[Donal Noye]], becoming king changed Robert, and not for the better.{{Ref|ACOK|6}} Finding ruling his realm tedious,{{Ref|AGOT|20}} Robert refers to the Iron Throne as "that damnable"{{Ref|AGOT|4}} and "monstrous uncomfortable" chair.{{Ref|AGOT|12}} Meanwhile, his love for [[tourney]]s and feasts beggared the realm,{{Ref|AGOT|20}} and despite the fact that [[Aerys II Targaryen]] had left treasure vaults overflowing with gold, Robert's spending has left the crown in debt of over six million [[Currency|golden dragons]].{{Ref|AGOT|20}}

In {{Date|289}}, [[Balon Greyjoy]], [[Lord of the Iron Islands]], proclaimed the independence of the [[Iron Islands]] and led [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]] against the Iron Throne. The rebellion was put down within a year, and Robert pardoned Balon after the [[siege of Pyke]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}