Free Cities

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Free Cities grouped along the western coast of Essos
Nine Free Cities on the continent of Essos:
Pentos, Braavos, Lys, Qohor, Norvos, Myr, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lorath

The Free Cities are a group of nine city-states grouped along the western coast of Essos. They trade and interact frequently with the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

Geography

The nine city-states composing the Free Cities lie across the narrow sea, east of Westeros, on the western side of the eastern continent. Braavos, Lorath, Lys, and Tyrosh are located on islands, Myr, Pentos, and Volantis are located on the coasts, and Norvos and Qohor lie inland. There are significant differences between the geography of the various cities, from the thick forests around Qohor, to the rolling hills of Norvos, to the tiny islands of Braavos. To the east of the Free Cities lies the Dothraki sea, to the south Slaver's Bay. North of the Free Cities lie the Shivering Sea and the islands of Ibben.[1]

The Nine Free Cities

With the exception of Braavos, the Nine Free Cities are all colonies founded by the Valyrian Freehold for various reasons. Because they are "daughters of Valyria", all speak different dialects of the Valyrian language. The closer, southern ones were founded as trade and military outposts, while the further northern ones were founded by religious dissidents who wanted to remove themselves as far from the center of Valyrian power as possible. What made them "free" cities is that their founders purchased contracts from the dragon-lords which granted them a limited amount of self-rule over their own internal affairs, though they called on their "mother" for aid in times of war or other crisis.[2]

When Valyria was destroyed during the Doom, their vast empire collapsed, and local rulers asserted their independence. This chaotic time, known as the Century of Blood, was the formative period for the Free Cities as they were later known. Volantis, the eldest and largest of the Free Cities, attempted to seize power over the others, but eventually lost when the others united against it - though after the defeat of Volantis the other cities went back to squabbling with each other, though less frequently then in the dark years after the Doom.[2]

While other Valyrian settlements can be found across Essos, such as Mantarys, Selhorys, and Tyria, none of these cities or towns were independent, but instead were ruled directly by archons sent from Valyria. The Free Cities already had some form of local government when the Doom struck, so they survived the ensuing chaos better: in contrast, direct colony cities had been dependent on Valyria and thus did not fare as well, so comparatively few survived as independent city-states.[2]


Some called the city of Gogossos on the Basilisk Isles the "Tenth Free City" when it grew rich and powerful during the Century of Blood, until it was destroyed by plague.[3] Essaria, near the grasslands, has sometimes been considered the "Lost Free City", as the colony was reduced to ruins by the Dothraki.[4]

Braavos

Braavos, also known as Braavos of the Hundred Isles[5] and the Secret City,[2][6][7] and sometimes referred to as the bastard daughter of Valyria,[8] is the wealthiest and likely the most powerful of the Free Cities.[6] It is also the youngest of the nine cities, and was founded by slaves fleeing the grasp of the Valyrian Freehold.[6] The ancestry of the founders of Braavos was highly diverse, and the founders of Braavos spoke many tongues. Because of this, they used the language of their masters, High Valyrian, as their common tongue.[6] The current Braavosi tongue is a corrupt dialect of the original High Valyrian.[5] Because of the diverse origins of the Braavosi, temples for all gods can be found in Braavos, including a temple for the Moonsingers of the Jogos Nhai of the Further East.[6][9] A seafaring city composed of many tiny islands, Braavos is known for its ships with purple hulls and sails, the powerful Iron Bank, the guild of assassins known as the Faceless Men, and the Titan of Braavos, the fortified statue and lighthouse that straddles the entrance channel to the city. Braavos is ruled by the Sealord, who is elected by the city's magisters and keyholders of the Iron Bank.[6][10][9]

Notable Braavosi include Syrio Forel, a former First Sword of Braavos, and Tycho Nestoris, an agent of the Iron Bank of Braavos.

Lorath

Located on the largest of three islands at the mouth of Lorath Bay, Lorath is one of the northernmost of the Free Cities. It is also the smallest, poorest, and least populous of the Nine Free Cities, as well as the most isolated. While the islands were originally inhabited by the Mazemakers, Lorath was founded when the followers of the god Boash settled on the main isle in 1436 BC.[11][12][13]

Notable Lorathi include Jaqen H'ghar.

Lys

Lys is located on an island near the southern coast.[11] The blood of Old Valyria still runs strong in this Free City, and as such, many Lyseni, even among the smallfolk, resemble the dragonlords of old. Lys is well known for its pleasure houses, training slaves in the arts of love and selling them as concubines and bed-slaves. Having once formed a kingdom together with Tyrosh and Myr, Lys now frequently fights with them over the control of the Disputed Lands.[14]

Notable Lyseni include Varys, a eunuch and spymaster for several Westerosi kings;[15] Salladhor Saan, a pirate and sellsail; Doreah, a handmaid to Daenerys Targaryen; Lysono Maar, a member of the Golden Company; and Tregar Ormollen, a merchant prince.

Myr

Myr is a coastal city renowned for their master glasscrafters,[16][17] intricate lace, and fine carpets. It is considered to be among the most advanced of the Free Cities, and famed for its arts and learning. While Myr once formed the Kingdom of the Three Daughters with Tyrosh and Lys, they now frequently fight over control of the Disputed Lands.[14][18]

Notable Myrmen include Taena, the wife of Lord Orton Merryweather; Thoros of Myr, a priest of R'hllor; and Serala, the wife of Lord Denys Darklyn, who was involved in the Defiance of Duskendale.

Norvos

Norvos sits on the main continent in two parts, one atop a high hill and the other beside a low river. The surrounding area is a land of rolling hills, terraced farms, and white-stucco villages. The city has three large bells, each with its own name and distinctive voice, that are rung to govern every aspect of city life. Norvoshi men can be recognized by their dyed and upswept mustaches. The city is run by a council of magisters, chosen by the bearded priests.[19][20][21]

Notable Norvoshi include Areo Hotah, the captain of Prince Doran Martell's guard, and Lady Mellario, Doran's estranged wife.

Pentos

Pentos is a major trading port on a bay of the western coast, at approximately the latitude of the Westerosi city King's Landing.[8][1] The city is ruled by a Prince who is chosen by the de facto rulers of the city, known as Magisters. Dothraki Khalasars occasionally make their way this far from the Dothraki sea, but the Pentoshi are spared much of the raiding and invasions by paying tribute to their khals. Slavery is outlawed in Pentos, but the Pentoshi flout these laws by keeping servants who, in essence, are slaves.[8][21][18]

Notable Pentoshi include Illyrio Mopatis, a powerful magister; and the Tattered Prince, the commander of the Windblown, a mercenary company.

Qohor

Situated on the main continent, Qohor lies in the vast Forest of Qohor.[11] It is known for its fine tapestries and its smiths, who have the rare ability to reforge Valyrian steel. The Black Goat is a prominent god in the city. The city guard is comprised solely of Unsullied eunuch slave soldiers, and has been ever since three thousand Unsullied soldiers successfully defended the city against a Dothraki khalasar.[22][23][24]

Notable Qohoriks include Vargo Hoat, also known as the Goat, leader of the brutal mercenary company called the Brave Companions; and Tobho Mott, a master armorer in King's Landing.

Tyrosh

A coastal city, Tyrosh is ruled by an archon. The Tyroshi are known for their greed.[25] Traders deal extensively in slaves[14] and Tyroshi pear brandy,[13] and Tyroshi master armorsmiths make intricate armor in fantastic shapes.[26] The city is often involved in conflicts over the Disputed Lands and the Stepstones with Lys and Myr.[14][27]

Notable Tyroshi include Greenbeard; Roro Uhoris; and the flamboyant Daario Naharis, one of three captains of the Stormcrows sellsword company.

Volantis

The southernmost of the Free Cities, Volantis is situated nearest Slaver's Bay, and does extensive trade in slaves, glassware and wines. The city is the oldest and proudest of the Free Cities, and only the Old Blood, those who can trace their lineage back to Valyria, may dwell within the part of the city behind the Black Wall. Volantis is ruled by an elected triarchy. Volantene sellswords are often recognizable by their fierce tattoos.[28] It is not uncommon for the Volantene to mark the faces of their slaves and servants with tattoos as well.[29][30][31] Volantis is sometimes drawn into conflicts over the Disputed Lands.[27][32]

Notable Volantenes includes the triarch Belicho, the fool Patchface, and the widow of the waterfront.

Quotes

In the Free Cities of the west, towers and manses and hovels and bridges and shops and halls all crowded in on one another.[33]

Daenerys Targaryen's thoughts


The Nine Free Cities are the daughters of Valyria that was, but Braavos is the bastard child who ran away from home.[34]

– the kindly man to Arya Stark


It was all profit with the merchant princes of the Free Cities. "Spice soldiers and cheese lords," his lord father called them, with contempt.[35]

Tyrion Lannister's thoughts


Some in the Free Cities think that we're all savages on our side of the narrow sea. The ones who don't think that we're children, crying out for a father's strong hand.[30]

Jorah Mormont to Tyrion Lannister

References and Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Lands of Ice and Fire, The Known World.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Valyria's Children.
  3. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Basilisk Isles.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands.
  5. 5.0 5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Braavos.
  7. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Pentos.
  9. 9.0 9.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 6, Arya I.
  10. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 The Lands of Ice and Fire, The Free Cities.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Lorath.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 54, Daenerys VI.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  15. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
  16. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  17. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 35, Jon VII.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  19. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Norvos.
  20. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
  21. 21.0 21.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  22. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
  23. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
  24. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
  26. The Hedge Knight.
  27. 27.0 27.1 The Rogue Prince.
  28. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
  29. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
  30. 30.0 30.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
  31. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Volantis.
  32. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  33. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 36, Daenerys IV.
  34. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
  35. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.