Difference between revisions of "Iron Throne"

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[[File:Marc Simonetti Bran theironthroneJoff.jpg|According to [[George R. R. Martin]] this painting is close to how he envisions the Iron Throne <ref>[http://io9.com/george-r-r-martin-this-is-what-the-iron-throne-really-721293015?utm_source=recirculation&utm_medium=recirculation&utm_campaign=afternoon/ George R.R. Martin: This is what the Iron Throne REALLY looks like]</ref> - by Marc Simonetti ©|thumb|300px|right]]
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[[File:Marc Simonetti Bran theironthroneJoff.jpg|300|thumb|According to [[George R. R. Martin]], this painting by Marc Simonetti © is the closest to how he envisions the Iron Throne.<ref name="realthrone"/>]]
[[File:Forging the iron throne by earthenblood II.png|[[Balerion]] helps forge the Iron Throne - art by Lindsey Burcar ©|thumb|300px|right]]
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The '''Iron Throne''' is the seat of the [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]], and is often used as a [[w:Metonymy|metonymic]] device to refer to the authority of the [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men]] or to the polity born after [[Aegon's Conquest]]. The king often holds audiences and dispenses [[Law and justice|justice]] from atop it in the [[Red Keep]]'s throne room, the [[Great Hall (Red Keep)|Great Hall]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} The chair is cold and hard, with many jagged edges.{{Ref|ACOK|25}}
[[File:Forging the iron throne.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Workers help Balerion forge the Iron Throne]].
 
[[file:Iron Throne by thegryph.jpg|thumb|300px|The Iron Throne by Nicole Cardiff ©]]
 
[[File:Iron_throne_HBO.jpg|thumb|300px|The Iron Throne from ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 
  
The '''Iron Throne''' is the seat of kings in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] and is often used as a [[w:metonymy|metonymic]] device to refer to the king's authority. The king often holds audiences and dispenses [[Law and justice|justice]] from atop it in the [[Red Keep]]'s throne room.  Only the [[Hand of the King]] may sit on the throne in the king's absence. The chair itself is cold and hard, with many jagged edges.{{Ref|aCoK|25}}
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==Customs==
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In the king's absence, only his [[Hand of the King|Hand]] may sit on the throne. Such privilege does not extend to royal [[regent]]s.{{Ref|AFFC|24}} However, three exceptions exist: Queen [[Rhaenys Targaryen|Rhaenys Targaryen]] and Queen [[Visenya Targaryen]], who were King [[Aegon I Targaryen]]'s partners in power;{{Ref|FAB|Three Heads had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}} and Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], who sat the throne when [[Fall of King's Landing|she took]] [[King's Landing]] during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}
  
 
==Appearance==
 
==Appearance==
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of the Iron Throne|Images of the Iron Throne]]''
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of the Iron Throne|Images of the Iron Throne]]''
The Iron Throne was constructed by [[Aegon I Targaryen]], the first king of the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon the Conqueror had the throne made from the swords surrendered by his enemies. It is supposed to have taken a thousand blades to make, heated in the breath of [[Balerion|Balerion the Black Dread]]. The hammering took fifty-nine days.{{Ref|aGoT|43}}
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[[File:GT01 11093 TheIronThrone JacobMurray.jpg|thumb|300px|The Iron Throne - by Jake Murray © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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The Iron Throne is an asymmetric monstrosity of spikes and jagged edges and twisted metal.{{Ref|AGOT|43}} The throne was constructed by [[Aegon I Targaryen]] from the melted, twisted, beaten, and broken blades surrendered by his enemies,{{Ref|FAB|Aegon's Conquest}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} or wrenched from the hands of the dying.<ref name="realthrone"/> According to the songs, it took a thousand blades to make.{{Ref|AGOT|43}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has described the Iron Throne as "massive", "ugly", and "asymmetric".<ref name="realthrone">[[Not a Blog]]: [https://grrm.livejournal.com/327569.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter The Real Iron Throne (Jul. 8th, 2013)]</ref> The throne is a symbol of conquest.<ref name="realthrone"/>
  
The Iron Throne is an assymetric monstrosity of spikes and jagged edges and twisted metal. It is uncomfortable, and the back is fanged with steel which makes leaning back impossible. Aegon I had it made this way deliberately, saying that a king should never sit easy. King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], the "Mad King," was always cutting himself upon it, and it is said that the throne itself has caused the deaths of several people.{{Ref|aGoT|43}}
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The Iron Throne is located on a high platform in the throne room within the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|AGOT|43}} It can be reached by climbing steep iron steps{{Ref|AGOT|43}} in the [[Great Hall (Red Keep)|Great Hall]],{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} and the [[small council]] has a table at the base of the throne.{{Ref|AGOT|43}}
  
Since the construction of the [[Red Keep]], the Iron Throne has been located on a high platform in the throne room within the castle. Usually, the members of the [[Kingsguard]] stand guard below and when the king is presiding, only he, his family, and his council may sit. All others must stand or kneel.{{Ref|aGoT|43}} During the rule of the [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]], the throne room was decorated with the skulls of their [[dragon]]s.{{Ref|aGoT|43}}
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Because of the fanged steel behind, it is impossible to lean back on the iron seat of the Iron Throne. Aegon I intended for it to be uncomfortable, believing that "a king should never sit easy".{{Ref|AGOT|43}} The points of the twisted blades fan out like talons from arms of the throne. Even after three hundred years, some of the blades are still sharp enough to cut.{{Ref|AGOT|43}}
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The Iron Throne is known for being dangerous to its occupants. King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] cut his left hand to the bone after stumbling, and Maester [[Gerardys]] had to remove two fingers to save his life.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} According to Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], an armor-clad Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] was seen with cuts on her legs and left hand after sitting the throne for the first time, which led some to believe she had been rejected by it.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] was cut so many times that he became known as "King Scab".{{Ref|ASOS|36}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
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According to the stories, the Iron Throne is capable of killing a person, and has done so before.{{Ref|AGOT|43}} King [[Maegor I Targaryen]], for instance, was found dead on the Iron Throne, his arms slashed open from wrist to elbow on jagged barbs, and with a blade through his neck, emerging beneath his chin. Although various culprits have been considered as having possibly murdered Maegor the Cruel, many still believe the king had been killed by the throne itself.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}  
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
===Targaryen Dynasty===
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===Aegon the Conqueror===
:{{Main|House Targaryen}}
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[[File:Balerion by Earthenblood Iron Throne is forged II.png|thumb|300px|[[Balerion]] helps forge the Iron Throne - by Lindsey Burcar ©]]
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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]].{{Ref|AGOT|43}} According to history, however, the throne was forged by armorers.{{Ref|AGOT|43}}
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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}}
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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}}
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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}}
  
Once [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon I]] had conquered six of the seven kingdoms, he proclaimed himself the only king in Westeros, and the rule of the Iron Throne extended over the continent. He was acknowledged by the previous [[kings in the North]] and [[King of the Rock|the Rock]], and had the support of the rulers he had appointed to [[the Stormlands]], [[the Riverlands]] and [[the Reach]].  
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===Aenys I and Maegor I===
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[[File:Forging the iron throne.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Workers help [[Balerion]] forge the Iron Throne - by Donato Giancola ©]]
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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}}
  
The first years of Targaryen reign were a period of uneasiness and turmoil. Upon King Aegon's death, his son [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys I]], born of incest and considered a weakling, took the throne. The [[Faith of the Seven]] rejected his legitimacy to rule which led to the [[Faith Militant uprising]] against the Iron Throne. Unable to deal with the crisis, King Aenys handed much of the responsibility for the war to his half-brother, [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]], who served as the [[Hand of the King]]. He succeeded Aenys after he died five years later as Maegor I Targaryen. Maegor the Cruel was a harsh ruler - his response to the rebellion was bloody and ferocious, resulting in the deaths of thousands in battle, slaughter and [[dragonfire]]. The slaughter lasted all of Aenys and Maegor's reigns. During Maegor's reign contruction of the [[Red Keep]] was completed, and to preserve its secrets, Maegor had all its builders put to death. Maegor was murdered atop the Iron Throne; some say the throne itself killed him.{{ref|ASOS|36}} His successor, [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]], brought peace to the realm for over fifty years.
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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.
  
King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] reigned over a time of peace and plenty for the Seven Kingdoms. However, upon his death there was a succession dispute between his elder daughter and designated heiress [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] and his younger son Aegon. This dispute led to the first major civil war in the history of the unified Seven Kingdoms, that would be known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. According to Septon [[Eustace (Dance of the Dragons)|Eustace]], Rhaenyra bled after sitting the Iron Throne following the [[fall of King's Landing]], even though she wore armor.{{ref|TPATQ}} [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] eventually had Rhaenyra executed, but his rule was short. After his death, Rhaenyra's son [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]] took the throne and [[Jaehaera Targaryen]], the daughter of Aegon II, as a wife. Although the conflict had been resolved and the continuity of the Targaryen line was again assured, the war caused great damage to their power: many [[dragon]]s had died during the fratricidal fighting, thus depriving them of their most valuable resource.
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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}}
  
[[Dorne]] had long been a source of frustration to the Targaryens. Upon taking the throne in {{Date|157}} King [[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron I]], at the age of fourteen, almost immediately launched an [[Conquest of Dorne|invasion of Dorne]], in an attempt to finish Aegon the Conqueror work and unify all the seven original kingdoms and the rule of the Iron Throne. His campaign was a success, he managed to invade Dorne, but the rebellious [[Dornishmen]] made holding it a costly adventure. It is said the conquest of Dorne lasted but a summer and that the Young Dragon spent ten thousand men taking Dorne and lost fifty thousand trying to hold it. Daeron himself died while trying to solidify control of the area, after the Dornishmen rose in rebellion. He died at age eighteen and was succeeded by his brother. King [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor the Blessed]] proved a peaceful king and a pious man. He constructed the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] in King’s Landing. He died in {{Date|171}} and was succeeded by his uncle, King [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]], who was the tenth Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne. He reigned for only a year but it said he truly ruled and preserved the land for much longer, as the Hand during King Baelor's time and King Daeron's before him, while he was campaigning in Dorne.  
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===Jaehaerys I and Viserys I===
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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}}
  
His son, King [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon IV]], would end being remembered as Aegon the Unworthy, held to be the worst king in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, in part because he legitimized all of his [[bastard|bastards]] on his deathbed, planting the seeds for the [[Blackfyre Pretenders]].
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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}}
  
King [[Daeron II Targaryen]] brought Dorne peacefully into the Seven Kingdoms through a dual marriage pact. Daeron the Good survived the first of the Blackfyre rebellions which ended with the death of his half-brother, [[Daemon Blackfyre]].
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===The Dance and Regency===
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[[File:Daviddemaret Heir to the Iron Throne.jpg|thumb|400px|Iron Throne - by David Demaret © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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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}}
  
Daeron died in the [[Great Spring Sickness]] and was succeeded by [[Aerys I Targaryen|Aerys I]], a bookish man who left most of the running of the realm to his Hand, [[Brynden Rivers]]. The [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]] was ended at [[Whitewalls]] during his rule. Aerys's death without issue let to the crowning of his younger brother, [[Maekar I Targaryen]], who ruled a dozen years. He was followed by his son [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon V]] who became known as "the Unlikely" because he was the fourth son of a fourth son. [[House Blackfyre]] was finally exterminated in the male line during his reign in the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]]. Aegon perished in the [[tragedy of Summerhall]].
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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}}
  
Next came the sickly [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen|Jaehaerys II]]. Though frail, he was wise and ruled well in his short reign of three years. He was followed by his son, [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys II]], who would become known as the Mad King and King Scab because of how frequently he was cut by the Iron Throne. Aerys executed [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] and [[Brandon Stark]] in the throne room and demanded that [[Jon Arryn]] surrender [[Eddard Stark]] and [[Robert Baratheon]] to the throne. [[Robert's Rebellion]] put an end to the Targaryen Dynasty on the Iron Throne after nearly 300 years. Aerys was cut down by one of his own [[Kingsguard]], Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], who became known as the [[Jaime Lannister|Kingslayer]]. Robert was crowned king and the surviving Targaryens fled into exile in [[Essos]].
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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}}
  
===Baratheon Dynasty===
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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}}
:{{Main|House Baratheon of King's Landing}}
 
[[File:MagaliVilleneuve_JoffIronThrone.jpg‎‎|King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] upon the Iron Throne - by Magali Villeneuve. © Fantasy Flight Games|thumb|right|300px]]
 
Lord [[Robert Baratheon]] of [[Storm's End]] ascended to the Iron Throne in {{Date|283}} after successfully leading the [[Robert's Rebellion|rebellion]] against the Targaryens which erupted after Aerys's unjust executions of several important lords and other atrocities. The fact that Aerys Targaryen was slain by a Lannister spared Robert from being labelled a [[kingslayer]]. The dragon skulls in the throne room were replaced with hunting tapestries.
 
  
Six years after Robert's accession, Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]] of the [[Iron Islands]], believing that King Robert's rule was still insecure, proclaimed independence for the Iron Islands and led a rebellion against the Iron Throne. He was proven wrong and the same coalition which won Robert's Rebellion put down [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]] and repatriated the Iron Islands.
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===Daeron I, Baelor I, and Viserys II===
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[[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}}
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===Daeron II and Daemon Blackfyre===
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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}}
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Aegon's heir, King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], brought [[Dorne]] peacefully into the realm early on in his reign, by 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.
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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 ©]]
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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}}
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 +
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}}
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 +
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}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
King [[Robert Baratheon]]'s reign comes to end after his wife, Queen [[Cersei Lannister]], arranges his death. The eldest son of Cersei, [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], takes the throne. Robert had acknowledged him as a trueborn son, but the father of Cersei's children is actually her twin, [[Jaime Lannister]]. The hunting tapestries which had replaced the dragon skulls are taken down from the throne room.
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[[File:MagaliVilleneuve_JoffIronThrone.jpg‎‎|thumb|300px|King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] upon the Iron Throne - by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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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}}
  
After Joffrey capriciously orders the beheading of Lord [[Eddard Stark]], the [[North]] claims independence and secedes from the Iron Throne. Joffrey being a bastard leads Robert's brothers, [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] and [[Renly Baratheon]], to put forward their own claims to the Iron Throne.
+
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}}
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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}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
The [[Seven Kingdoms]] are thrown into turmoil during the [[War of the Five Kings]]. Renly is [[shadow assassin|assassinated]] and Stannis is defeated at the [[Battle of the Blackwater|Blackwater]]. The [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoys]] enter the war out of opportunism to re-establish independence for the [[Iron Islands]].
+
Renly's older brother, [[Stannis Baratheon]], announces his own claim to the Iron Throne,{{Ref|ACOK|10}} and the [[Seven Kingdoms]] are thrown into greater turmoil.{{Ref|ACOK|2}}{{Ref|ACOK|20}} [[Tyrion Lannister]], the acting King's Hand to Joffrey, holds audience from the throne.{{Ref|ACOK|25}}
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In [[Essos]], the exiled [[Daenerys Targaryen]] intends to claim the Iron Throne and [[Westeros]].{{Ref|ACOK|40}}
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 +
Renly is [[shadow assassin|assassinated]] during the [[siege of Storm's End (299)|siege of Storm's End]],{{Ref|ACOK|33}} and [[Balon Greyjoy]] enters the [[War of the Five Kings]] out of opportunism to re-establish independence for the [[Iron Islands]].{{Ref|ACOK|37}} Following Stannis's defeat in the [[Battle of the Blackwater]],{{Ref|ACOK|62}} Joffrey hosts a great audience in the [[Great Hall (Red Keep)|Great Hall]] but cuts his arm on the Iron Throne.{{Ref|ACOK|65}}
  
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
After two years of bitter fighting and the death of King [[Robb Stark]] in the [[Red Wedding]], the war is believed to have largely ended. Despite Joffrey's victory, he is poisoned at [[Purple Wedding|his own wedding feast]] in the throne room and his younger brother [[Tommen Baratheon]] is crowned in his place. Tommen is controlled by his advisors and his mother, Queen Regent Cersei, and his grandfather, [[Tywin Lannister]], who serves as Tommen's [[Hand of the King]].
+
At [[Dragonstone]], Ser [[Axell Florent]] claims to have seen a vision in flames of Stannis sitting on the Iron Throne.{{Ref|ASOS|36}}
 +
 
 +
[[Balon Greyjoy]] dies at [[Pyke]]{{Ref|ASOS|45}} and [[Robb Stark]], [[King in the North]] and [[King of the Trident]], is slain at the [[Twins]] in the [[Red Wedding]].{{Ref|ASOS|51}}
 +
 
 +
The [[War of the Five Kings]] is believed to have largely ended, and the Iron Throne is draped in long silk streamers for the royal wedding of King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] to [[Margaery Tyrell]]. The young king is poisoned at [[Purple Wedding|his own wedding feast]] in the throne room,{{Ref|ASOS|60}} however, and his younger brother [[Tommen Baratheon]] is crowned in his place. Tommen I is controlled by his advisors: his mother, Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]], and his grandfather, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], who serves as [[Hand of the King]]. The trial of [[Tyrion Lannister]], who is accused of having murdered Joffrey, is held before the Iron Throne.{{Ref|ASOS|70}}
  
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
Following the death of Tywin, Cersei controls the Iron Throne on behalf of her son, the young Tommen. She is arrested by the [[Faith of the Seven]], however. King [[Euron Greyjoy]] tells the [[ironborn]] they can conquer all of Westeros.
+
[[File:Tommen_iron_throne.jpg|thumb|thumb|300px|King [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]] and his kittens by the Iron Throne - by Magali Villeneuve ©]]
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Following the murder of Tywin by Tyrion, Cersei holds the Iron Throne as [[regent]] on behalf of her son, the young Tommen. Cersei has a dream of herself sitting the Iron Throne which turns into a nightmare.{{Ref|AFFC|3}} Cersei refuses to allow Tommen to sit on the sharp throne.{{Ref|AFFC|25}} As she is not the monarch or the [[Hand of the King]], Cersei rules from a gold-and-crimson high seat beneath the Iron Throne.{{Ref|AFFC|32}}
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 +
Princess [[Arianne Martell]] plots to crown Princess [[Myrcella Baratheon]], Tommen's older sister, on the Iron Throne as queen. The plot falters at the [[Greenblood]], however.{{Ref|AFFC|21}} [[Euron Greyjoy]], chosen as Balon's successor as [[King of the Isles and the North]] at the [[kingsmoot]], plans to conquer all of Westeros and claim the Iron Throne.{{Ref|AFFC|29}}
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 +
After Cersei re-establishes the [[Faith Militant]], she is arrested by the [[Faith of the Seven]] for various crimes. Her uncle [[Kevan Lannister]] becomes regent in her place.{{Ref|AFFC|43}}
  
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
Tommen continues to hold the Iron Throne, but Stannis still maintains his claim while in the North. The [[Golden Company]] begin their campaign to place [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon VI Targaryen]] on the throne.
+
Tommen continues to hold the Iron Throne under the regency of his grand-uncle, Ser [[Kevan Lannister]],{{Ref|ADWD|54}} but Stannis still maintains his claim even while in the north.{{Ref|ADWD|17}}
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 +
The exiled Lord [[Jon Connington]] leads the [[landing of the Golden Company]] in the [[stormlands]]. The [[sellswords]] plot to place [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon VI Targaryen]] on the throne.{{Ref|ADWD|61}} Kevan and Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] are murdered by [[Varys]], a supporter of Aegon, at the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
  
 
<!--temporarily removed until the extension will be fixed. {{Template:Iron Throne}}-->
 
<!--temporarily removed until the extension will be fixed. {{Template:Iron Throne}}-->
[[File:Kings on the Iron throne.png|right]]
+
==Monarchy==
 +
===Succession===
 +
[[File:Iron_throne_HBO.jpg|thumb|300px|The Iron Throne from ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 +
Inheritance customs for the Iron Throne differ from the inheritance customs in the rest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. Generally, like elsewhere in the kingdom, male-preference [[w:primogeniture|primogeniture]] is customary. [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys]], the eldest son of King [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon I]], the first king on the Iron Throne, was considered Aegon's clear successor. The birth of Aenys's first child, [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena]], brought forth the question as to who should stand next in line following Aenys: his daughter Rhaena, or his younger brother [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor]]? The birth of Aenys's son [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon]] settled the discussion of who should succeed Aenys, although it was not concluded whether Rhaena or Maegor stood earlier in the line of succession.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}
 +
 
 +
After Aenys died, his brother Maegor took the throne by force, ignoring the claim of Aenys's son Aegon. Following Aegon's death, his wife Rhaena feared for the safety of their eldest daughter, [[Aerea Targaryen|Aerea]], who stood Aegon's heir by the laws of the Seven Kingdoms. Aerea was eventually appointed as Maegor I's heir, until he would have a son of his own.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}} However, Maegor the Cruel died childless, and several claims were discussed. As the only surviving son of the late King Aenys I, [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys Targaryen's]] claim was strong. However, his elder brother Aegon had claimed the throne before him, and if he were to be considered to have been the true king, the throne should pass to his eldest child, Aerea. Some even suggested that the claim of Princess Rhaena, as Aenys I's eldest child, was the strongest of them all. However, Aerea and her younger twin were discounted on account of their sex and young age, and Rhaena on account of her sex alone. As a result, Jaehaerys ascended the Iron Throne.{{Ref|FAB|Prince into King – The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}
  
==List of Kings==
+
Jaehaerys I named his niece Aerea as his heir as well,{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49}}{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}} a position she held for five years (with the exception of three days during {{Date|52}}), until the birth of Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daenerys]] in {{Date|53}}.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} The title of heir apparent was given to Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon]] following his birth two years later,{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} upsetting Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]].
* {{Date|1}}-{{Date|37}}: [[Aegon I Targaryen]], also known as "the Conqueror" and "the Dragon"
 
* {{Date|37}}-{{Date|42}}: [[Aenys I Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|42}}-{{Date|48}}: [[Maegor I Targaryen]], also known as "the Cruel"
 
* {{Date|48}}-{{Date|103}}: [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], also known as "the Conciliator" and "the Wise"
 
* {{Date|103}}-{{Date|129}}: [[Viserys I Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|129}}-{{Date|131}}: [[Aegon II Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|131}}-{{Date|157]}: [[Aegon III Targaryen]], also known as "the Dragonbane"
 
* {{Date|157}}-{{Date|161}}: [[Daeron I Targaryen]], also known as "the Young Dragon"
 
* {{Date|161}}-{{Date|171}}: [[Baelor I Targaryen]], also known as "the Blessed" and "the Beloved"
 
* {{Date|171}}-{{Date|172}}: [[Viserys II Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|172}}-{{Date|184}}: [[Aegon IV Targaryen]], also known as "the Unworthy"
 
* {{Date|184}}-{{Date|209}}: [[Daeron II Targaryen]], also known as "the Good"
 
* {{Date|209}}-{{Date|221}}: [[Aerys I Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|221}}-{{Date|233}}: [[Maekar I Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|233}}-{{Date|259}}: [[Aegon V Targaryen]], also knwon as "the Unlikely"
 
* {{Date|259}}-{{Date|262}}: [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]]
 
* {{Date|262}}-{{Date|283}}: [[Aerys II Targaryen]], also known as "the Mad King" and "King Scab"
 
  
* {{Date|283}}-{{Date|298}}: [[Robert I Baratheon]], also called "the Usurper"
+
Aemon remained heir to the throne until his own death in battle in {{Date|92}}. Aemon's death caused a crisis in the succession, as his only issue was a daughter, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys]]. Rhaenys was pregnant upon the death of her father, and when Jaehaerys appointed Aemon's brother [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]] over Rhaenys, Rhaenys proclaimed that the king had not only passed over her, but also her "unborn son". Upon Baelon's death in {{Date|101}}, Jaehaerys followed the advice of his only surviving son [[Vaegon Targaryen|Vaegon]] and called the first [[Great Council]]. There, fourteen claims were considered. Nine lesser claims were dismissed, including those of a man claiming descent from Lord [[Gaemon Targaryen (son of Aenar)|Gaemon Targaryen]] through a daughter; three [[bastard]] grandsons of King Jaehaerys through his daughter [[Saera Targaryen|Saera]]; a man claiming to be a bastard son of Maegor I; a hedge knight claiming to be a bastard son of King Jaehaerys; Archmaester Vaegon, Jaehaerys's only remaining son; Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Jaehaerys's grandchild through his eldest son, Aemon; and [[Laena Velaryon]], Rhaenys's eldest child. The two claims that remained belonged to [[Laenor Velaryon]], Rhaenys's son, and [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], the eldest son of Prince Baelon. As Laenor descended from the king through the king’s eldest son, primogeniture favored him, but proximity favored Viserys, as Viserys was the king’s grandson, while Laenor was his great-grandson. Laenor's young age spoke against him, however, and the lords present voted for Viserys over Laenor twenty to one. Many felt that a male line was preferred over a female line, and believed that the decision of the Great Council set a precedent stating that the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or to the male descendants of a woman.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* {{Date|298}}-{{Date|300}}: [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]]
 
* {{Date|300}}-Present: [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]]
 
  
 +
Ironically, it was Prince Viserys, by then crowned king, who disregarded these precedents in {{Date|105}} by naming his daughter and only remaining child at the time, [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], as his heir. Despite the birth of three healthy sons during his second marriage in the years that followed, Viserys remained intent that Rhaenyra should succeed him.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}} Viserys's decision would eventually lead to the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]], where his eldest son [[Aegon II Targaryen]] claimed the throne, ignoring Rhaenyra’s status as heir. During the war, Aegon II's sons, [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys]] and [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]], died, as did Rhaenyra's eldest three sons ([[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], and [[Joffrey Velaryon]]), while her youngest son, Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]], was presumed dead.{{Ref|tpatq}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} In an attempt to end the war, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] ensured that Aegon II's only remaining heir, his daughter [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]], was betrothed to Rhaenyra's son, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]], and that both were named Aegon II's heirs.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}} Following Aegon II’s death, Aegon III was crowned.
  
;Claimants to the Iron Throne
+
The agnatic principle laid down in the Great Council of 101 AC was slightly modified after the Dance of the Dragons. Thereafter, according to a semi-canon source, ''women came after all men in the Targaryen succession,''<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Comic_Con_San_Diego_CA_July_20_232/ Comic Con San Diego (July 23, 2006)]</ref> i.e., women could only succeed if the entire male line of House Targaryen became extinct. Nonetheless, several females claims have since been considered. In {{Date|171}}, following the deaths of Aegon III's sons [[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron I]] and [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor I]], both childless, the claims of Aegon's three daughters were considered. However, with the Dance of the Dragons still fresh in their minds, the claims of the three women were passed over and Aegon's brother [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys II]] ascended the throne.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}} Another few decades later, King [[Maekar I Targaryen]] died without a clearly established heir. His simple-minded granddaughter [[Vaella Targaryen (daughter of Daeron)|Vaella Targaryen]], the only child of Maekar's [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|eldest son]], was seen as a possible claimant. However, her claim was quickly dismissed.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}{{Ref|ACOK|6}}
* {{Date|129}}-{{Date|130}}: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], also known as "the Realm's Delight", Princess of Dragonstone, the rightful heir to [[Viserys I Targaryen]]; she was usurped by her half-brother, [[Aegon II Targaryen]]. This lead to the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons‎]].  
 
* {{Date|196}}-{{Date|196}}: [[Daemon Blackfyre]], the first of the [[Blackfyre Pretenders]], trying to claim the throne during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]].
 
* {{Date|211}}: [[Daemon II Blackfyre]], plotting to claim the throne during the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. The second of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 
* {{Date|219}}: [[Haegon I Blackfyre]], trying to claim the throne during the [[Third Blackfyre Rebellion]]. The third of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 
* {{Date|236}}: [[Daemon III Blackfyre]], trying to claim the throne during the [[Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion]]. The fourth of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 
* {{Date|260}} :[[Maelys I Blackfyre]], trying to claim the throne during the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]]. The fifth and last of the Blackfyre Pretender.
 
* {{Date|283}}-{{Date|298}}: [[Viserys Targaryen]], the Beggar King, styled himself as Viserys III Targaryen; killed by the [[Dothraki]] for violating the laws of [[Vaes Dothrak]].
 
* {{Date|298}}-Present: [[Daenerys Targaryen]], the Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea.
 
* {{Date|298}}-{{Date|299}}: [[Renly Baratheon|Renly I Baratheon]], Lord of Storm's End; killed by a [[Shadow assassin|shadow]].
 
* {{Date|299}}-Present: [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis I Baratheon]], Lord of Dragonstone.
 
* {{Date|300}}-Present: [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], the son of the late Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].
 
  
==Quotes about the Iron Throne==
+
In {{Date|283}}, the [[Sack of King's Landing]] during [[Robert's Rebellion]] led to the death of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]]. His sister-wife, Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]], pregnant with Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]], was at [[Dragonstone]] with Aerys's surviving son, Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], who was declared king on the island fortress.{{Ref|AWOIAF|Rhaella Targaryen}} [[Robert I Baratheon]], however, acceded the Iron Throne by right of conquest,{{Ref|ACOK|22}} chosen as claimant by the rebels due to his Targaryen descent,{{Ref|AGOT|30}} as he was the grandson of Princess [[Rhaelle Targaryen]], the youngest daughter of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]],{{Ref|AFFC|35}} which gave him the better claim among the rebels. Nonetheless, the exiled Viserys declared his sister Daenerys his heir, naming her [[Princess of Dragonstone]],{{Ref|AGOT|3}} and following Viserys's death, Daenerys has declared her own claim for the Iron Throne.{{Ref|ACOK|40}}
[[File:Marc Simonetti ARIS mashup.jpg|Marc Simonetti © |thumb|300px|right]]
 
{{Quote|[[Jaime Lannister|He]] spoke truly, it is a monstrous uncomfortable chair. In more ways than one.{{Ref|agot|12}}}} [[Robert Baratheon]], to [[Eddard Stark]]
 
  
 +
===List of Kings===
 +
The following kings have ruled the [[Seven Kingdoms]] with the Iron Throne as their seat:
 +
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
 +
|-
 +
!Order !! Monarch !! Epithet !! Spouse(s) !! Mode of Accession !! Reign !! Royal Lineage !! Heir
 +
|-
 +
|1 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon I Targaryen]] || the Conqueror<br>the Dragon<br>the Dragonlord || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Visenya Targaryen]]<br>{{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Rhaenys Targaryen]] || Conquest || {{Date|1|37}} || Founder of the Line || [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|2 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aenys I Targaryen]] ||  || {{coa|Velaryon|s}} [[Alyssa Velaryon]] || Succession || {{Date|37|42}} || Son of Aegon I || [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|3 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Maegor I Targaryen]] || the Cruel || {{coa|Hightower|s}} [[Ceryse Hightower]]<br>{{coa|Harroway|s}} [[Alys Harroway]]<br>{{coa|Pentos|s}} [[Tyanna of the Tower]]<br>{{coa|Costayne|s}} [[Elinor Costayne]]<br>{{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]]<br>{{coa|Westerling|s}} [[Jeyne Westerling (wife of Maegor I)|Jeyne Westerling]] || Usurpation || {{Date|42|48}} || Son of Aegon I || [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys Targaryen]] <small>(disinherited)</small><br>[[Aerea Targaryen]] <small>(heiress presumptive)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|4 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] || the Conciliator<br>the Wise<br>the Old King || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Alysanne Targaryen]] || Rebellion || {{Date|48|103}} || Son of Aenys I ||[[Aerea Targaryen]] <small>(heiress presumptive)</small><br>[[Aegon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aegon Targaryen]]<br>[[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Jaehaerys I)|Daenerys Targaryen]]<br>[[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]]<br>[[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]<br>[[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|5 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Viserys I Targaryen]] || the Young King || {{coa|Arryn|s}} [[Aemma Arryn]]<br>{{coa|Hightower|s}} [[Alicent Hightower]] || Election || {{Date|103|129}} || Grandson of Jaehaerys I || [[Daemon Targaryen]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small><br>[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|6 || {{coa|Aegon II Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon II Targaryen]] || the Usurper || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Helaena Targaryen]] || Succession <small>(disputed)</small> || {{Date|129|131}} || Son of Viserys I || [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]]<br>[[Maelor Targaryen]]<br>[[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|7 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon III Targaryen]] || the Dragonbane<br>the Unhappy<br>the Unlucky<br>the Broken King<br>the Uncrowned King || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Jaehaera Targaryen]]<br>{{coa|Velaryon|s}} [[Daenaera Velaryon]] || Succession || {{Date|131|157}} || Grandson of Viserys I || [[Baela Targaryen]] <small>(heiress presumptive)</small><br>[[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small><br>[[Daeron I Targaryen|Daeron Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|8 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Daeron I Targaryen]] || the Young Dragon<br>the Boy King || None || Succession || {{Date|157|161}} || Son of Aegon III || [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor Targaryen]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|9 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Baelor I Targaryen]] || the Blessed<br>the Beloved || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Daena Targaryen]] || Succession || {{Date|161|171}} || Son of Aegon III || [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|10 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Viserys II Targaryen]] ||  || {{coa|Lys|s}} [[Larra Rogare]] <small>(pre-reign)</small> || Succession || {{Date|171|172}} || Grandson of Viserys I || [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|11 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] || the Unworthy || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Naerys Targaryen]] || Succession || {{Date|172|184}} || Son of Viserys II || [[Daeron II Targaryen|Daeron Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|12 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Daeron II Targaryen]] || the Good || {{coa|Martell|s}} [[Myriah Martell]] || Succession || {{Date|184|209}} || Son of Aegon IV || [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]]<br>[[Valarr Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|13 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aerys I Targaryen]] ||  || {{coa|Penrose|s}} [[Aelinor Penrose]] || Succession || {{Date|209|221}} || Son of Daeron II || [[Rhaegel Targaryen]]<br>[[Aelor Targaryen]]<br>[[Aelora Targaryen]]<br>[[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|14 || {{coa|Maekar Targaryen|s}} [[Maekar I Targaryen]] ||  || {{coa|Dayne|s}} [[Dyanna Dayne]] <small>(pre-reign)</small> || Succession || {{Date|221|233}} || Son of Daeron II || [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen]]<br>[[Aerion Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|15 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon V Targaryen]] || the Unlikely<br>the Fortunate || {{coa|Blackwood|s}} [[Betha Blackwood]] || Election || {{Date|233|259}} || Son of Maekar I || [[Duncan Targaryen]]<br>[[Jaehaerys II Targaryen|Jaehaerys Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|16 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]] ||  || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Shaera Targaryen]] || Succession || {{Date|259|262}} || Son of Aegon V || [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|17 || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aerys II Targaryen]] || the Mad King<br>King Scab || {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Rhaella Targaryen]] || Succession || {{Date|262|283}} || Son of Jaehaerys II || [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]<br>[[Viserys Targaryen]]
 +
|-
 +
|18 || {{coa|Baratheon of King's Landing 1|s}} [[Robert I Baratheon]] || the Usurper || {{coa|Lannister|s}} [[Cersei Lannister]] || Rebellion || {{Date|283|298}} || Great-grandson of Aegon V || [[Stannis Baratheon]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small><br>[[Joffrey Baratheon]]
 +
|-
 +
|19 || {{coa|Baratheon of King's Landing|s}} [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] || the Illborn || {{coa|Tyrell|s}} [[Margaery Tyrell]] || Succession || {{Date|298|300}} || Son of Robert I || [[Tommen Baratheon]] <small>(heir presumptive)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|20 || {{coa|Baratheon of King's Landing|s}} [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]] || the Boy King || {{coa|Tyrell|s}} [[Margaery Tyrell]] || Succession || {{Date|300|+}} || Son of Robert I || [[Myrcella Baratheon]] <small>(heiress presumptive)</small>
 +
|}
  
{{Quote|I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one.}} – [[Robert Baratheon]], to [[Eddard Stark]]
+
===Gallery===
 +
<gallery caption="Kings on the Iron Throne" mode="packed">
 +
AEGON I.jpg|[[Aegon I Targaryen]]
 +
AENYS I.jpg|[[Aenys I Targaryen]]
 +
MAEGOR I.jpg|[[Maegor I Targaryen]]
 +
JAEHAERYS I.jpg|[[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]
 +
VISERYS I.jpg|[[Viserys I Targaryen]]
 +
AEGON II.jpg|[[Aegon II Targaryen]]
 +
AEGON III.jpg|[[Aegon III Targaryen]]
 +
DAERON I.jpg|[[Daeron I Targaryen]]
 +
BAELOR I.jpg|[[Baelor I Targaryen]]
 +
VISERYS II.jpg|[[Viserys II Targaryen]]
 +
AEGON IV.jpg|[[Aegon IV Targaryen]]
 +
DAERON II.jpg|[[Daeron II Targaryen]]
 +
AERYS I.jpg|[[Aerys I Targaryen]]
 +
Maekar Targaryen by Amok.jpg|[[Maekar I Targaryen]]
 +
AEGON V.jpg|[[Aegon V Targaryen]]
 +
JAEHAERYS II.jpg|[[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]]
 +
AERYS II.jpg|[[Aerys II Targaryen]]
 +
Robert Baratheon.jpg|[[Robert I Baratheon]]
 +
Joffrey Baratheon.jpg|[[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]]
 +
King Tommen.jpg|[[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]]
 +
</gallery>
  
 +
===Rival Kings and Claimants to the Iron Throne===
 +
* {{Date|42|43}}: [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Aenys I)|Aegon Targaryen]], eldest son of [[Aenys I Targaryen]] and his rightful heir, laid claim to the throne after his uncle [[Maegor I Targaryen]] took it. He was killed by his uncle in the [[Battle Beneath the Gods Eye]].
 +
* {{Date|129|130}}: [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], also known as "the Realm's Delight", [[Prince of Dragonstone|Princess of Dragonstone]], the named heir to [[Viserys I Targaryen]]; her succession was challenged by her half-brother, [[Aegon II Targaryen]]. This led to the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons‎]].
 +
* {{Date|130}}: [[Trystane Truefyre]], alleged bastard son of [[Viserys I Targaryen]], during the [[Moon of the Three Kings]].
 +
* {{Date|130}}: [[Gaemon Palehair]], alleged bastard son of [[Aegon II Targaryen]] and a [[Essie|whore]], during the [[Moon of the Three Kings]].
 +
* {{Date|130}}: [[Hugh Hammer]], a [[dragonseed]], openly declared to the [[Greens]] his intention to sit the Iron Throne and started to wear a crown. However, he was killed by Ser [[Jon Roxton]] while he was preparing for the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]].
 +
* {{Date|196}}: [[Daemon I Blackfyre]], the first of the [[Blackfyre Pretenders]], trying to claim the throne during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]].
 +
* {{Date|212}}: [[Daemon II Blackfyre]], plotting to claim the throne during the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. The second of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 +
* {{Date|219}}: [[Haegon I Blackfyre]], trying to claim the throne during the [[Third Blackfyre Rebellion]]. The third of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 +
* {{Date|236}}: [[Daemon III Blackfyre]], trying to claim the throne during the [[Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion]]. The fourth of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 +
* {{Date|260}}: [[Maelys I Blackfyre]], trying to claim the throne during the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]]. The fifth and last of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
 +
* {{Date|283|298}}: [[Viserys Targaryen]], the Beggar King, styling himself as Viserys III Targaryen; killed by the [[Dothraki]] for violating the laws of [[Vaes Dothrak]].
 +
* {{Date|298|+}}: [[Daenerys Targaryen]], the Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea.
 +
* {{Date|298|299}}: [[Renly Baratheon|Renly I Baratheon]], Lord of Storm's End; killed by a [[Shadow assassin|shadow]].
 +
* {{Date|299|+}}: [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis I Baratheon]], Lord of Dragonstone.
 +
* {{Date|300}}: [[Myrcella Baratheon]] was taken by [[Arianne Martell]] as part of a plan to crown her queen of the Seven Kingdoms. This plan was quickly foiled by Arianne's father, [[Doran Martell|Prince Doran]].
 +
* {{Date|300|+}}: [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], the allegedly living son of the late Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].
  
{{Quote|Seat [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] on the Iron Throne and I promise you, the realm will bleed.{{Ref|aGoT|47}}}} – [[Petyr Baelish]], to [[Eddard Stark]]
+
=== Family tree ===
 +
{{Iron Throne tree}}
  
 +
==Quotes about the Iron Throne==
 +
[[File:Marc Simonetti ARIS mashup.jpg|thumb|300px|Marc Simonetti ©]]
 +
{{Quote|Have no fear, Stark. I was only keeping it warm for our friend [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert]]. It's not a very comfortable seat, I'm afraid.{{Ref|AGOT|12}}|[[Jaime Lannister]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}
 +
 +
{{Quote|[[Jaime Lannister|He]] spoke truly, it is a monstrous uncomfortable chair. In more ways than one.{{Ref|AGOT|12}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}
  
{{Quote|This is war, this is what it looks like, this is the price of the Iron Throne.{{Ref|aGoT|61}}}} – [[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s thoughts
+
{{Quote|I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}|[[Robert I Baratheon]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|Seat [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] on the Iron Throne and I promise you, [[Seven Kingdoms|the realm]] will bleed.{{Ref|AGOT|47}}|[[Petyr Baelish]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}
  
{{Quote|They can keep their [[Red Keep|red castle]] and their iron chair as well.{{Ref|aGoT|71}}}} – [[Rickard Karstark]]
+
{{Quote|When [[Wights|dead men]] come hunting in the night, do you think it matters who sits on the Iron Throne?{{Ref|AGOT|70}}|[[Jeor Mormont]] to [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|They can keep their [[Red Keep|red castle]] and their iron chair as well.{{Ref|AGOT|71}}|[[Rickard Karstark]] to [[Jon Umber]]}}
  
{{Quote|Have you ever seen the Iron Throne? The barbs along the back, the ribbons of twisted steel, the jagged ends of swords and knives all tangled up and melted? It is not a '''comfortable''' seat, ser. [[Aerys II|Aerys]] cut himself so often men took to calling him King Scab, and [[Maegor I|Maegor the Cruel]] was murdered in that chair. '''By''' that chair, to hear some tell it. It is not a seat where a man can rest at ease. Ofttimes I wonder why my brothers wanted it so desperately.{{Ref|aSoS|36}}}} – [[Stannis Baratheon]], to [[Davos Seaworth]]
+
{{Quote|Tell me, what right did my brother [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert]] ever have to the Iron Throne? Oh, there was talk of the blood ties between [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]] and [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]], of weddings a hundred years past, of second sons and elder daughters. No one but the [[maesters]] care about any of it. Robert [[Robert's Rebellion|won the throne]] with his warhammer.{{Ref|ACOK|22}}|[[Renly Baratheon]] to [[Catelyn Stark]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|This Iron Throne you speak of sounds monstrous cold and hard. I cannot bear the thought of jagged barbs cutting your sweet skin.{{Ref|ACOK|40}}|[[Xaro Xhoan Daxos]] to [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}
  
{{Quote|By the end the [[Aerys II Targaryen|Mad King]] had become so fearful that he would allow no blade in his presence, save for the swords his [[Kingsguard]] wore. His beard was matted and unwashed, his hair a silver-gold tangle that reached his waist, his fingernails cracked yellow claws nine inches long. Yet still the blades tormented him, the ones he could never escape, the blades of the Iron Throne. His arms and legs were always covered with scabs and half-healed cuts.{{ref|AFFC|16}}}} – [[Jaime Lannister]]'s thoughts
+
{{quote|'''Jorah''': When [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Dragon]] stepped ashore in [[Westeros]], the kings of [[King of Mountain and Vale|Vale]] and [[King of the Rock|Rock]] and [[King of the Reach|Reach]] did not rush to hand him their crowns. If you mean to sit his Iron Throne, you must win it as he did, with steel and [[dragonfire]]. And that will mean blood on your hands before the thing is done.<br>
 +
'''Daenerys''': The blood of my enemies I will shed gladly. The blood of innocents is another matter.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}|[[Jorah Mormont]] and [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|'''Stannis''': Have you ever seen the Iron Throne? The barbs along the back, the ribbons of twisted steel, the jagged ends of swords and knives all tangled up and melted? It is not a comfortable seat, ser. [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] cut himself so often men took to calling him King Scab, and [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor the Cruel]] was murdered in that chair. By that chair, to hear some tell it. It is not a seat where a man can rest at ease. Ofttimes I wonder why my brothers wanted it so desperately.<br>
 +
'''Davos''': Why would you want it, then?<br>
 +
'''Stannis''': It is not a question of wanting. The throne is mine, as [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert's]] heir. That is law.{{Ref|ASOS|36}}|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Davos Seaworth]]}}
  
{{Quote|If [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] is no more than a sweet young girl, the Iron Throne will cut her into sweet young pieces.{{Ref|aDwD|5}}}} – [[Tyrion Lannister]], to [[Illyrio Mopatis]]
+
{{Quote|By the end the [[Aerys II Targaryen|Mad King]] had become so fearful that he would allow no blade in his presence, save for the swords his [[Kingsguard]] wore. His beard was matted and unwashed, his hair a silver-gold tangle that reached his waist, his fingernails cracked yellow claws nine inches long. Yet still the blades tormented him, the ones he could never escape, the blades of the Iron Throne. His arms and legs were always covered with scabs and half-healed cuts.{{Ref|AFFC|16}}|[[Jaime Lannister]]'s thoughts}}
  
 +
{{Quote|If [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] is no more than a sweet young girl, the Iron Throne will cut her into sweet young pieces.{{Ref|ADWD|5}}|[[Tyrion Lannister]] to [[Illyrio Mopatis]]}}
  
{{Quote|I will claim the Iron Throne by myself, with your swords and your allegiance.}} - [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], to the [[Golden Company]]
+
{{Quote|I will claim the Iron Throne by myself, with your swords and your allegiance.{{Ref|ADWD|24}}|[[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]] to the [[Golden Company]]}}
  
==References and Notes==
+
==Behind the Scenes==
{{references|3}}
+
[[George R. R. Martin]] intends the Iron Throne to be intimidating. In an interview, he referenced [[w:Percy Bysshe Shelley|Percy Bysshe Shelley]]'s poem "[[w:Ozymandias|Ozymandias]]": 'Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'<ref>[[w:92nd Street Y|92nd Street Y]]: [http://92yondemand.org/george-r-r-martin-world-ice-fire Game of Thrones Mastermind George R. R. Martin: The World of Ice and Fire], Oct 26, 2014</ref>
  
 +
==References==
 +
{{References|3}}
  
{{Template:Kings of Westeros}}
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{{Kings of Westeros}}
  
 
[[Category:Objects]]
 
[[Category:Objects]]
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[[Category:Red Keep]]
 
[[Category:Thrones]]
 
[[Category:Thrones]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
[[Category:King's Landing]]
 
[[Category:Red Keep]]
 
  
 
[[es:Trono_de_Hierro]]
 
[[es:Trono_de_Hierro]]

Latest revision as of 02:28, 14 October 2023

According to George R. R. Martin, this painting by Marc Simonetti © is the closest to how he envisions the Iron Throne.[1]

The Iron Throne is the seat of the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and is often used as a metonymic device to refer to the authority of the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men or to the polity born after Aegon's Conquest. The king often holds audiences and dispenses justice from atop it in the Red Keep's throne room, the Great Hall.[2] The chair is cold and hard, with many jagged edges.[3]

Customs

In the king's absence, only his Hand may sit on the throne. Such privilege does not extend to royal regents.[4] However, three exceptions exist: Queen Rhaenys Targaryen and Queen Visenya Targaryen, who were King Aegon I Targaryen's partners in power;[5] and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, who sat the throne when she took King's Landing during the Dance of the Dragons.[6]

Appearance

See also: Images of the Iron Throne
The Iron Throne - by Jake Murray © Fantasy Flight Games

The Iron Throne is an asymmetric monstrosity of spikes and jagged edges and twisted metal.[7] The throne was constructed by Aegon I Targaryen from the melted, twisted, beaten, and broken blades surrendered by his enemies,[8][9] or wrenched from the hands of the dying.[1] According to the songs, it took a thousand blades to make.[7] George R. R. Martin has described the Iron Throne as "massive", "ugly", and "asymmetric".[1] The throne is a symbol of conquest.[1]

The Iron Throne is located on a high platform in the throne room within the Red Keep.[7] It can be reached by climbing steep iron steps[7] in the Great Hall,[2] and the small council has a table at the base of the throne.[7]

Because of the fanged steel behind, it is impossible to lean back on the iron seat of the Iron Throne. Aegon I intended for it to be uncomfortable, believing that "a king should never sit easy".[7] The points of the twisted blades fan out like talons from arms of the throne. Even after three hundred years, some of the blades are still sharp enough to cut.[7]

The Iron Throne is known for being dangerous to its occupants. King Viserys I Targaryen cut his left hand to the bone after stumbling, and Maester Gerardys had to remove two fingers to save his life.[10] According to Septon Eustace, an armor-clad Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen was seen with cuts on her legs and left hand after sitting the throne for the first time, which led some to believe she had been rejected by it.[6] King Aerys II Targaryen was cut so many times that he became known as "King Scab".[11][12]

According to the stories, the Iron Throne is capable of killing a person, and has done so before.[7] King Maegor I Targaryen, for instance, was found dead on the Iron Throne, his arms slashed open from wrist to elbow on jagged barbs, and with a blade through his neck, emerging beneath his chin. Although various culprits have been considered as having possibly murdered Maegor the Cruel, many still believe the king had been killed by the throne itself.[13]

History

Aegon the Conqueror

Balerion helps forge the Iron Throne - by Lindsey Burcar ©

Following his conquest of six of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros, Aegon I Targaryen proclaimed himself their king, and was crowned by the High Septon at Oldtown.[9] From the swords of his enemies, Aegon created the Iron Throne, and the dynasty he began would rule for nearly three hundred years.[9][7] According to the songs, the throne was constructed with a thousand blades, heated by the dragonflame of Balerion, Aegon's dragon.[7] According to history, however, the throne was forged by armorers.[7]

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.[9][14] Aegon reconciled the Iron Islands under his rule in 2 AC, and continued his wars in 4 AC with the First Dornish War, in an attempt to subdue the seventh of the Westerosi kingdoms.[15]

The Iron Throne kept out of war following the conclusion of the First Dornish War in 13 AC.[15] Other wars with Dorne would follow under Aegon's successors: the Second Dornish War in 37 AC at the start of Aenys I Targaryen's reign, the Third and Fourth Dornish War during the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen,[16] and the Conquest of Dorne during the reign of Daeron I Targaryen.[17]

During Aegon's reign, one of his queens 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 progresses.[5] In 35 AC, Aegon had the Aegonfort where the Iron Throne stood torn down.[18] As construction of the Red Keep began, the Iron Throne remained where it had stood.[13]

Aenys I and Maegor I

Workers help Balerion forge the Iron Throne - by Donato Giancola ©

Aegon's immediate successor, his eldest son Aenys I, faced several rebellions at the start of his reign in 37 AC, which were resolved by his bannermen and brother, Prince Maegor, during the course of the year. Aenys later faced problems with the Faith of the Seven, first following his brother's polygamous marriage in 39 AC, and next after he married his son and daughter, Aegon and Rhaena, to one another in 40 AC. The Faith rose 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.[19][13]

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 43 AC 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 43 AC. The Red Keep was completed in 45 AC, after which Maegor had all the workers killed to prevent the castle's secrets being spread.[13][20] Aenys I's youngest son, Prince Jaehaerys, announced his claim to the throne at Storm's End early on in 48 AC. 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.[13][11][20]

Jaehaerys I and Viserys I

Following his death, Maegor I was succeeded by his brother's youngest son, Jaehaerys I Targaryen. Jaehaerys reigned for fifty-five years.[21] He recognized first his sister's eldest daughter Aerea Targaryen as his heir,[22][23] followed by his own daughter Daenerys[24] and later his son Aemon.[25] Aemon's death in 92 AC resulted in a crisis in the line of succession, forcing Jaehaerys to choose between Aemon's daughter and only child, Rhaenys, and his own second son, 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 101 AC, 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. The elder Viserys was chosen with the great majority of the votes.[10]

Viserys's reign gave peace and plenty to the realm. In 126 AC, 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, [26] Following the death of his second son, Prince Baelon, Viserys officially proclaimed his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, as his heir. Viserys remarried after the death of his first wife, but despite having three sons during his second marriage, he continued to view Rhaenyra as his heir.[10]

The Dance and Regency

Iron Throne - by David Demaret © Fantasy Flight Games

At Viserys I's death in early 129 AC, 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 130 AC, Rhaenyra 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, 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".[6]

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.[27] 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.[28]

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.[28] Aegon was killed with poison half a year later after the Battle of the Kingsroad,[28] and his body was laid upon a bier by the Iron Throne when the Lads arrived at the Red Keep.[29] Rhaenyra's eleven year-old son, Aegon the Younger, was crowned king, and married to Aegon II's daughter and only remaining child, Jaehaera Targaryen, uniting the claims.[30] 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.[29]

When Lord Corlys Velaryon died in 132 AC during the regency of Aegon III, his body was placed beneath the Iron Throne for seven days.[31] Unlike Cregan Stark, Lord Unwin Peake used the Iron Throne while serving as Aegon's Hand.[32] Aegon sat on the throne during the Maiden's Day Ball.[32]

Daeron I, Baelor I, and Viserys II

Aegon III Targaryen was succeeded in 157 AC by his fourteen-year old son, 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. When Baelor the Blessed died in 171 AC after a forty-day fast,[33] 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.[34]

Daeron II and Daemon Blackfyre

After Viserys II Targaryen died of a sudden illness, his eldest son ascended the Iron Throne as Aegon IV, who is remembered in history as "the Unworthy". On his deathbed, Aegon legitimized all of his bastards, including Daemon Blackfyre, his bastard son by his cousin Daena Targaryen. , in which Daemon Blackfyre fought King Daeron II Targaryen for the Iron Throne.[35]

Aegon's heir, King Daeron II Targaryen, brought Dorne peacefully into the realm early on in his reign, by wedding his younger sister Daenerys to his good-brother Maron Martell, the Prince of Dorne.[36] Aegon IV had previously gifted Daemon Blackfyre with the Targaryen sword Blackfyre, typically considered the "sword of kings".[35] This, combined with the growing Dornish influence at court, brought resentment against Daeron II.

In 196 AC, 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. Four other rebellions would follow in the decades that followed. The second and third rebellions took place during the reign of Aerys I Targaryen,[37] the fourth during the reign of Aegon V Targaryen, [38] and the fifth and final rebellion as part of the War of the Ninepenny Kings during the reign of Jaehaerys II Targaryen. [39]

Later Kings

Following the death of Daeron II Targaryen's eldest son, Baelor, and Baelor's two sons Valarr and Matarys, Daeron was succeeded by his second son, Aerys I Targaryen. The new king's first heir was his brother, Rhaegel.[37] After Rhaegel's death, Aerys acknowledged Rhaegel's only son Aelor as his heir, but Aelor died in 217 AC during a mishap caused by his twin sister and wife, Aelora.[37] Aerys's third heir was Aelora.[40] 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. When Aerys died in 221 AC, Maekar succeeded him.[37][41]

Maekar I's reign lasted until 233 AC, when the king fell in battle fighting a rebellious lord on the Dornish Marches[41] during the Peake Uprising.[42]

A Great Council was convened after Maekar's death, and his fourth son was chosen as King Aegon V Targaryen.[41] Aegon the Unlikely perished in 259 AC in the tragedy of Summerhall,[38] however, and was succeeded by his second son, Jaehaerys II, who died three years later of illness.[43]

The Mad King

Ser Jaime Lannister awaiting Lord Eddard Stark - by guillemhp ©

Jaehaerys was followed by his son, Aerys II. Although his reign began promising, Aerys's madness slowly grew. By 280 AC, he had become known as the “Mad King” and “King Scab”, for he had cut himself on the Iron Throne many times.[12]

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 282 AC. Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard stood at the foot of the Iron throne during the executions.[44] Lord Jon Arryn refused Aerys's order to kill Rickard's heir, Lord Eddard Stark, and Lord Robert Baratheon at the Eyrie, however, beginning Robert's Rebellion against House Targaryen.[45]

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.[46][47] Jaime climbed the steps and waited on the Iron Throne to see who would claim it,[46] eventually climbing down after the arrival of Ned Stark to the throne room.[48] Rhaegar's children, Rhaenys and Aegon, were murdered by Ser Amory Lorch and Ser Gregor Clegane during the Sack.[49] Tywin had the children's bodies covered in crimson cloaks and placed before the Iron Throne to await the arrival of Robert,[50][51] who claimed the throne as king.[45]

Aerys's wife, Rhaella Targaryen, died giving birth to Princess Daenerys on Dragonstone. Aerys's surviving son, young Viserys, fled with Daenerys in exile to the Free Cities.[52]

Robert Baratheon

King Robert I Baratheon ascended to the Iron Throne in 283 AC. Robert came to strongly dislike his kingship;[53][54] according to Donal Noye, becoming king changed Robert, and not for the better.[55] Finding ruling his realm tedious,[56] Robert refers to the Iron Throne as "that damnable"[53] and "monstrous uncomfortable" chair.[48] Meanwhile, his love for tourneys and feasts beggared the realm,[56] 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 golden dragons.[56]

In 289 AC, 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.[57]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

King 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.[7] Robert's reign comes to end after his wife, Queen Cersei Lannister, arranges his death. Her eldest son, Joffrey I Baratheon, takes the throne.[58] 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.[50] The hunting tapestries which had replaced the dragon skulls are taken down from the throne room's walls.[59]

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.[59]

Robert's youngest brother, Renly Baratheon, puts forward his own claim to the Iron Throne.[60] After Joffrey capriciously orders the beheading of Lord Stark outside the Great Sept of Baelor, the Stark and 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.[61]

A Clash of Kings

Renly's older brother, Stannis Baratheon, announces his own claim to the Iron Throne,[62] and the Seven Kingdoms are thrown into greater turmoil.[63][64] Tyrion Lannister, the acting King's Hand to Joffrey, holds audience from the throne.[3]

In Essos, the exiled Daenerys Targaryen intends to claim the Iron Throne and Westeros.[65]

Renly is assassinated during the siege of Storm's End,[66] and Balon Greyjoy enters the War of the Five Kings out of opportunism to re-establish independence for the Iron Islands.[67] Following Stannis's defeat in the Battle of the Blackwater,[68] Joffrey hosts a great audience in the Great Hall but cuts his arm on the Iron Throne.[69]

A Storm of Swords

At Dragonstone, Ser Axell Florent claims to have seen a vision in flames of Stannis sitting on the Iron Throne.[11]

Balon Greyjoy dies at Pyke[70] and Robb Stark, King in the North and King of the Trident, is slain at the Twins in the Red Wedding.[71]

The War of the Five Kings is believed to have largely ended, and the Iron Throne is draped in long silk streamers for the royal wedding of King Joffrey I Baratheon to Margaery Tyrell. The young king is poisoned at his own wedding feast in the throne room,[72] however, and his younger brother Tommen Baratheon is crowned in his place. Tommen I is controlled by his advisors: his mother, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, and his grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister, who serves as Hand of the King. The trial of Tyrion Lannister, who is accused of having murdered Joffrey, is held before the Iron Throne.[73]

A Feast for Crows

King Tommen I Baratheon and his kittens by the Iron Throne - by Magali Villeneuve ©

Following the murder of Tywin by Tyrion, Cersei holds the Iron Throne as regent on behalf of her son, the young Tommen. Cersei has a dream of herself sitting the Iron Throne which turns into a nightmare.[74] Cersei refuses to allow Tommen to sit on the sharp throne.[75] As she is not the monarch or the Hand of the King, Cersei rules from a gold-and-crimson high seat beneath the Iron Throne.[76]

Princess Arianne Martell plots to crown Princess Myrcella Baratheon, Tommen's older sister, on the Iron Throne as queen. The plot falters at the Greenblood, however.[77] Euron Greyjoy, chosen as Balon's successor as King of the Isles and the North at the kingsmoot, plans to conquer all of Westeros and claim the Iron Throne.[78]

After Cersei re-establishes the Faith Militant, she is arrested by the Faith of the Seven for various crimes. Her uncle Kevan Lannister becomes regent in her place.[79]

A Dance with Dragons

Tommen continues to hold the Iron Throne under the regency of his grand-uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister,[80] but Stannis still maintains his claim even while in the north.[81]

The exiled Lord Jon Connington leads the landing of the Golden Company in the stormlands. The sellswords plot to place Aegon VI Targaryen on the throne.[82] Kevan and Grand Maester Pycelle are murdered by Varys, a supporter of Aegon, at the Red Keep.[83]

Monarchy

Succession

The Iron Throne from Game of Thrones

Inheritance customs for the Iron Throne differ from the inheritance customs in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Generally, like elsewhere in the kingdom, male-preference primogeniture is customary. Aenys, the eldest son of King Aegon I, the first king on the Iron Throne, was considered Aegon's clear successor. The birth of Aenys's first child, Rhaena, brought forth the question as to who should stand next in line following Aenys: his daughter Rhaena, or his younger brother Maegor? The birth of Aenys's son Aegon settled the discussion of who should succeed Aenys, although it was not concluded whether Rhaena or Maegor stood earlier in the line of succession.[13]

After Aenys died, his brother Maegor took the throne by force, ignoring the claim of Aenys's son Aegon. Following Aegon's death, his wife Rhaena feared for the safety of their eldest daughter, Aerea, who stood Aegon's heir by the laws of the Seven Kingdoms. Aerea was eventually appointed as Maegor I's heir, until he would have a son of his own.[13] However, Maegor the Cruel died childless, and several claims were discussed. As the only surviving son of the late King Aenys I, Jaehaerys Targaryen's claim was strong. However, his elder brother Aegon had claimed the throne before him, and if he were to be considered to have been the true king, the throne should pass to his eldest child, Aerea. Some even suggested that the claim of Princess Rhaena, as Aenys I's eldest child, was the strongest of them all. However, Aerea and her younger twin were discounted on account of their sex and young age, and Rhaena on account of her sex alone. As a result, Jaehaerys ascended the Iron Throne.[84]

Jaehaerys I named his niece Aerea as his heir as well,[22][23] a position she held for five years (with the exception of three days during 52 AC), until the birth of Princess Daenerys in 53 AC.[24] The title of heir apparent was given to Prince Aemon following his birth two years later,[25] upsetting Queen Alysanne Targaryen.

Aemon remained heir to the throne until his own death in battle in 92 AC. Aemon's death caused a crisis in the succession, as his only issue was a daughter, Rhaenys. Rhaenys was pregnant upon the death of her father, and when Jaehaerys appointed Aemon's brother Baelon over Rhaenys, Rhaenys proclaimed that the king had not only passed over her, but also her "unborn son". Upon Baelon's death in 101 AC, Jaehaerys followed the advice of his only surviving son Vaegon and called the first Great Council. There, fourteen claims were considered. Nine lesser claims were dismissed, including those of a man claiming descent from Lord Gaemon Targaryen through a daughter; three bastard grandsons of King Jaehaerys through his daughter Saera; a man claiming to be a bastard son of Maegor I; a hedge knight claiming to be a bastard son of King Jaehaerys; Archmaester Vaegon, Jaehaerys's only remaining son; Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Jaehaerys's grandchild through his eldest son, Aemon; and Laena Velaryon, Rhaenys's eldest child. The two claims that remained belonged to Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenys's son, and Viserys Targaryen, the eldest son of Prince Baelon. As Laenor descended from the king through the king’s eldest son, primogeniture favored him, but proximity favored Viserys, as Viserys was the king’s grandson, while Laenor was his great-grandson. Laenor's young age spoke against him, however, and the lords present voted for Viserys over Laenor twenty to one. Many felt that a male line was preferred over a female line, and believed that the decision of the Great Council set a precedent stating that the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or to the male descendants of a woman.[85][10]

Ironically, it was Prince Viserys, by then crowned king, who disregarded these precedents in 105 AC by naming his daughter and only remaining child at the time, Rhaenyra Targaryen, as his heir. Despite the birth of three healthy sons during his second marriage in the years that followed, Viserys remained intent that Rhaenyra should succeed him.[86] Viserys's decision would eventually lead to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, where his eldest son Aegon II Targaryen claimed the throne, ignoring Rhaenyra’s status as heir. During the war, Aegon II's sons, Jaehaerys and Maelor, died, as did Rhaenyra's eldest three sons (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon), while her youngest son, Prince Viserys, was presumed dead.[87][88] In an attempt to end the war, Lord Corlys Velaryon ensured that Aegon II's only remaining heir, his daughter Jaehaera, was betrothed to Rhaenyra's son, Aegon the Younger, and that both were named Aegon II's heirs.[28] Following Aegon II’s death, Aegon III was crowned.

The agnatic principle laid down in the Great Council of 101 AC was slightly modified after the Dance of the Dragons. Thereafter, according to a semi-canon source, women came after all men in the Targaryen succession,[89] i.e., women could only succeed if the entire male line of House Targaryen became extinct. Nonetheless, several females claims have since been considered. In 171 AC, following the deaths of Aegon III's sons Daeron I and Baelor I, both childless, the claims of Aegon's three daughters were considered. However, with the Dance of the Dragons still fresh in their minds, the claims of the three women were passed over and Aegon's brother Viserys II ascended the throne.[34] Another few decades later, King Maekar I Targaryen died without a clearly established heir. His simple-minded granddaughter Vaella Targaryen, the only child of Maekar's eldest son, was seen as a possible claimant. However, her claim was quickly dismissed.[41][55]

In 283 AC, the Sack of King's Landing during Robert's Rebellion led to the death of King Aerys II Targaryen. His sister-wife, Queen Rhaella Targaryen, pregnant with Princess Daenerys, was at Dragonstone with Aerys's surviving son, Prince Viserys, who was declared king on the island fortress.[90] Robert I Baratheon, however, acceded the Iron Throne by right of conquest,[91] chosen as claimant by the rebels due to his Targaryen descent,[92] as he was the grandson of Princess Rhaelle Targaryen, the youngest daughter of King Aegon V Targaryen,[93] which gave him the better claim among the rebels. Nonetheless, the exiled Viserys declared his sister Daenerys his heir, naming her Princess of Dragonstone,[52] and following Viserys's death, Daenerys has declared her own claim for the Iron Throne.[65]

List of Kings

The following kings have ruled the Seven Kingdoms with the Iron Throne as their seat:

Order Monarch Epithet Spouse(s) Mode of Accession Reign Royal Lineage Heir
1 House Targaryen.svg Aegon I Targaryen the Conqueror
the Dragon
the Dragonlord
House Targaryen.svg Visenya Targaryen
House Targaryen.svg Rhaenys Targaryen
Conquest 137 AC Founder of the Line Aenys Targaryen
2 House Targaryen.svg Aenys I Targaryen House Velaryon.svg Alyssa Velaryon Succession 3742 AC Son of Aegon I Aegon Targaryen
3 House Targaryen.svg Maegor I Targaryen the Cruel House Hightower.svg Ceryse Hightower
House Harroway.svg Alys Harroway
Pentos.svg Tyanna of the Tower
House Costayne.svg Elinor Costayne
House Targaryen.svg Rhaena Targaryen
House Westerling.svg Jeyne Westerling
Usurpation 4248 AC Son of Aegon I Jaehaerys Targaryen (disinherited)
Aerea Targaryen (heiress presumptive)
4 House Targaryen.svg Jaehaerys I Targaryen the Conciliator
the Wise
the Old King
House Targaryen.svg Alysanne Targaryen Rebellion 48103 AC Son of Aenys I Aerea Targaryen (heiress presumptive)
Aegon Targaryen
Daenerys Targaryen
Aemon Targaryen
Baelon Targaryen
Viserys Targaryen
5 House Targaryen.svg Viserys I Targaryen the Young King House Arryn.svg Aemma Arryn
House Hightower.svg Alicent Hightower
Election 103129 AC Grandson of Jaehaerys I Daemon Targaryen (heir presumptive)
Rhaenyra Targaryen
6 Aegon II Targaryen.svg Aegon II Targaryen the Usurper House Targaryen.svg Helaena Targaryen Succession (disputed) 129131 AC Son of Viserys I Jaehaerys Targaryen
Maelor Targaryen
Aegon Targaryen (heir presumptive)
7 House Targaryen.svg Aegon III Targaryen the Dragonbane
the Unhappy
the Unlucky
the Broken King
the Uncrowned King
House Targaryen.svg Jaehaera Targaryen
House Velaryon.svg Daenaera Velaryon
Succession 131157 AC Grandson of Viserys I Baela Targaryen (heiress presumptive)
Viserys Targaryen (heir presumptive)
Daeron Targaryen
8 House Targaryen.svg Daeron I Targaryen the Young Dragon
the Boy King
None Succession 157161 AC Son of Aegon III Baelor Targaryen (heir presumptive)
9 House Targaryen.svg Baelor I Targaryen the Blessed
the Beloved
House Targaryen.svg Daena Targaryen Succession 161171 AC Son of Aegon III Viserys Targaryen (heir presumptive)
10 House Targaryen.svg Viserys II Targaryen Lys.svg Larra Rogare (pre-reign) Succession 171172 AC Grandson of Viserys I Aegon Targaryen
11 House Targaryen.svg Aegon IV Targaryen the Unworthy House Targaryen.svg Naerys Targaryen Succession 172184 AC Son of Viserys II Daeron Targaryen
12 House Targaryen.svg Daeron II Targaryen the Good House Martell.svg Myriah Martell Succession 184209 AC Son of Aegon IV Baelor Targaryen
Valarr Targaryen
13 House Targaryen.svg Aerys I Targaryen House Penrose.svg Aelinor Penrose Succession 209221 AC Son of Daeron II Rhaegel Targaryen
Aelor Targaryen
Aelora Targaryen
Maekar Targaryen
14 Maekar Targaryen.svg Maekar I Targaryen House Dayne.svg Dyanna Dayne (pre-reign) Succession 221233 AC Son of Daeron II Daeron Targaryen
Aerion Targaryen
15 House Targaryen.svg Aegon V Targaryen the Unlikely
the Fortunate
House Blackwood.svg Betha Blackwood Election 233259 AC Son of Maekar I Duncan Targaryen
Jaehaerys Targaryen
16 House Targaryen.svg Jaehaerys II Targaryen House Targaryen.svg Shaera Targaryen Succession 259262 AC Son of Aegon V Aerys Targaryen
17 House Targaryen.svg Aerys II Targaryen the Mad King
King Scab
House Targaryen.svg Rhaella Targaryen Succession 262283 AC Son of Jaehaerys II Rhaegar Targaryen
Viserys Targaryen
18 House Baratheon.svg Robert I Baratheon the Usurper House Lannister.svg Cersei Lannister Rebellion 283298 AC Great-grandson of Aegon V Stannis Baratheon (heir presumptive)
Joffrey Baratheon
19 House Baratheon of King's Landing.svg Joffrey I Baratheon the Illborn House Tyrell.svg Margaery Tyrell Succession 298300 AC Son of Robert I Tommen Baratheon (heir presumptive)
20 House Baratheon of King's Landing.svg Tommen I Baratheon the Boy King House Tyrell.svg Margaery Tyrell Succession 300 AC – Present Son of Robert I Myrcella Baratheon (heiress presumptive)

Gallery

Rival Kings and Claimants to the Iron Throne

Family tree

This tree only contains kings, queens and claimants for the Iron Throne, as well as a few others that link them.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aerion
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Rhaenys
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aegon I
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Visenya
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
Monarchs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aenys I
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Maegor I
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rival
claimants
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aegon
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Jaehaerys I
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other family
members
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Baelon
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Hightower.svg
Alicent
Hightower
 
House Targaryen.svg
Viserys I
Targaryen
 
House Arryn.svg
Aemma
Arryn
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Daemon
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aegon II Targaryen.svg
Aegon II
Targaryen
 
Rhaenyra Targaryen.svg
Rhaenyra
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aegon III
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Viserys II
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Daeron I
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Baelor I
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Daena
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aegon IV
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Naerys
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Blackfyre 2.svg
Daemon I
Blackfyre
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Daeron II
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Blackfyre 2.svg
Daemon II
Blackfyre
 
House Blackfyre 2.svg
Haegon I
Blackfyre
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aerys I
Targaryen
 
Maekar Targaryen.svg
Maekar I
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Blackfyre 2.svg
Daemon III
Blackfyre
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aegon V
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Blackfyre 2.svg
Maelys I
Blackfyre
 
House Targaryen.svg
Jaehaerys II
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Rhaelle
Targaryen
 
House Baratheon.svg
Ormund
Baratheon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aerys II
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Lannister.svg
Tywin
Lannister
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Baratheon.svg
Steffon
Baratheon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Rhaegar
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Viserys
Targaryen
 
House Targaryen.svg
Daenerys
Targaryen
 
Kingsguard.svg
Jaime
Lannister
 
House Lannister.svg
Cersei
Lannister
 
House Baratheon.svg
Robert I
Baratheon
 
House Baratheon of Dragonstone.svg
Stannis
Baratheon
 
House Baratheon.svg
Renly
Baratheon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Targaryen.svg
Aegon
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
House Baratheon of King's Landing.svg
Joffrey I
Baratheon
 
House Baratheon of King's Landing.svg
Tommen I
Baratheon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quotes about the Iron Throne

Marc Simonetti ©

Have no fear, Stark. I was only keeping it warm for our friend Robert. It's not a very comfortable seat, I'm afraid.[48]

He spoke truly, it is a monstrous uncomfortable chair. In more ways than one.[48]

I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one.[53]

Seat Stannis on the Iron Throne and I promise you, the realm will bleed.[94]

When dead men come hunting in the night, do you think it matters who sits on the Iron Throne?[95]

They can keep their red castle and their iron chair as well.[61]

Tell me, what right did my brother Robert ever have to the Iron Throne? Oh, there was talk of the blood ties between Baratheon and Targaryen, of weddings a hundred years past, of second sons and elder daughters. No one but the maesters care about any of it. Robert won the throne with his warhammer.[91]

This Iron Throne you speak of sounds monstrous cold and hard. I cannot bear the thought of jagged barbs cutting your sweet skin.[65]

Jorah: When Aegon the Dragon stepped ashore in Westeros, the kings of Vale and Rock and Reach did not rush to hand him their crowns. If you mean to sit his Iron Throne, you must win it as he did, with steel and dragonfire. And that will mean blood on your hands before the thing is done.
Daenerys: The blood of my enemies I will shed gladly. The blood of innocents is another matter.[96]

Stannis: Have you ever seen the Iron Throne? The barbs along the back, the ribbons of twisted steel, the jagged ends of swords and knives all tangled up and melted? It is not a comfortable seat, ser. Aerys cut himself so often men took to calling him King Scab, and Maegor the Cruel was murdered in that chair. By that chair, to hear some tell it. It is not a seat where a man can rest at ease. Ofttimes I wonder why my brothers wanted it so desperately.

Davos: Why would you want it, then?

Stannis: It is not a question of wanting. The throne is mine, as Robert's heir. That is law.[11]

By the end the Mad King had become so fearful that he would allow no blade in his presence, save for the swords his Kingsguard wore. His beard was matted and unwashed, his hair a silver-gold tangle that reached his waist, his fingernails cracked yellow claws nine inches long. Yet still the blades tormented him, the ones he could never escape, the blades of the Iron Throne. His arms and legs were always covered with scabs and half-healed cuts.[97]

Jaime Lannister's thoughts

If Daenerys is no more than a sweet young girl, the Iron Throne will cut her into sweet young pieces.[98]

I will claim the Iron Throne by myself, with your swords and your allegiance.[99]

Behind the Scenes

George R. R. Martin intends the Iron Throne to be intimidating. In an interview, he referenced Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias": 'Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'[100]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Not a Blog: The Real Iron Throne (Jul. 8th, 2013)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
  4. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Fire & Blood, Three Heads had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
  8. Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  12. 12.0 12.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  14. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
  16. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  17. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I.
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings - Aegon I.
  19. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  20. 20.0 20.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  21. Fire & Blood, Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade.
  24. 24.0 24.1 Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  25. 25.0 25.1 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  26. Fire & Blood, The Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  27. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  29. 29.0 29.1 Fire & Blood, Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf.
  30. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  31. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  32. 32.0 32.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
  33. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
  34. 34.0 34.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.
  35. 35.0 35.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  36. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
  38. 38.0 38.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  39. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II.
  40. asoiaf.westeros.org: R+L=J v. 164 – Comment by Ran (December 12, 2017)
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.
  42. The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  43. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys V.
  44. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
  45. 45.0 45.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion.
  46. 46.0 46.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
  47. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  48. 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  49. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
  50. 50.0 50.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
  51. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 66, Tyrion IX.
  52. 52.0 52.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  54. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  55. 55.0 55.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
  56. 56.0 56.1 56.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
  57. The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New.
  58. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 51, Sansa IV.
  59. 59.0 59.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  60. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
  61. 61.0 61.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  62. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  63. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
  64. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 20, Tyrion V.
  65. 65.0 65.1 65.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
  66. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33, Catelyn IV.
  67. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 37, Theon III.
  68. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 62, Sansa VII.
  69. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  70. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  71. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
  72. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  73. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 70, Tyrion X.
  74. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 3, Cersei I.
  75. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 25, Brienne V.
  76. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
  77. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  78. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  79. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
  80. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.
  81. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
  82. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
  83. A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  84. Fire & Blood, Prince into King – The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
  85. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  86. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  87. The Princess and the Queen.
  88. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  89. So Spake Martin: Comic Con San Diego (July 23, 2006)
  90. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Rhaella Targaryen.
  91. 91.0 91.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
  92. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  93. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
  94. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
  95. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
  96. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
  97. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  98. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  99. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 24, The Lost Lord.
  100. 92nd Street Y: Game of Thrones Mastermind George R. R. Martin: The World of Ice and Fire, Oct 26, 2014