Iron Throne

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The Iron Throne by Nicole Cardiff ©
The Iron throne (tv show)

The Iron Throne is the seat of kings in the Seven Kingdoms and is often used as a metonymic device to refer to the king's authority. The king often holds audiences and dispenses Justice from atop it and other individuals who act on the king's behalf, such as his Hand or regent, may sit on the throne in his absence. The chair itself is cold and hard, with many jagged edges.[1]


The Iron Throne

Construction

The Iron Throne is the was constructed by Aegon I Targaryen, the first king of the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon 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 had taken fifty-nine days.[2]

The Iron Throne is a 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 the Conqueror had it made, saying that a king should never sit easy. King Aerys was always cutting himself upon it and it is said that the throne itself has caused the deaths of several people.[2]

The Throne Room

Since the construction of the Red Keep, the Iron Throne is located on a high platform in the Throne Room. 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.[2]

During the rule of the Targaryens, the Throne Room was decorated with the skulls of their dragons. When the Baratheon line overthrew them, the dragon skulls were substituted with hunting tapestries.[2] These were taken down after Robert's death.

It was in the Throne Room where Kings Maegor and Aerys II were murdered, the execution of Rickard and Brandon Stark took place and Joffrey I was poisoned at his wedding feast.

Kings on the Iron Throne

House Targaryen

Once Aegon I had conquered six of the seven kingdoms, he proclaimed himself king of Westeros, the rule of the Iron Throne extended over the continent. He was acknowledged by the previous kings in the North, and the Rock, and had the support of the rulers he had appointed to the Stormlands, the Riverlands and the Reach.

The first years of Targaryen reign were a period of uneasiness and turmoil. Upon King Aegon's death, his son Aenys, born of incest and considered weakling takes the throne. The Faith of the Seven rejects his legitimacy to rule which leads to the Faith Militant uprising 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, who also served as the King's Hand and succeed Aenys after he dies five years later. King Maegor I, was a harsh rule his response to the rebellion was bloody and ferocious, resulting in the deaths of thousands in battle, slaughter and dragonfire. The slaughter lasts all of Aenys and Maegor's reigns. Eventually, Maegor was succeeded by Jaehaerys I.

king, Viserys I, reign was a time of peace and plenty for the Seven Kingdoms. However, upon his death a succession dispute between his elder daughter and designated heiress Rhaenyra and his younger son Aegon. 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. The civil war ended with Rhaenyra's defeat and execution, but the rule of Aegon II was short. After his death, Rhaenyra's son Aegon III took the throne taking 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 dragons had died during the fratricidal fightings, thus depriving them of their most valuable resource.

King Daeron I ascended to the Iron Throne, at the age of fourteen and almost immediately launches an 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 manage to invade Dorne, but the rebellious Dornish made holding it a costly adventure. Daeron himself died while trying to solidify control of the area. After him, his brother Baelor proved a peaceful king.

Viserys II came next, but his reign only lasted a year. His son Aegon would end being remembered as Aegon the Unworthy, in part because after legitimatizing his bastards on his deathbed planted the seeds for the Blackfyre pretenders.

After Aegon came Daeron the Good who brought Dorne peacefully into the Seven Kingdoms through a dual marriage pact. He survived the first of the Blackfyre rebellions which ended with the death of his half brother Daemon Blackfyre.

Daeron died in the great spring sickness and was succeeded by Aerys I, a bookish man who left most of the running of the realm to his Hand of the King Brynden Rivers, another Blackfyre rebellion was ended during his rule at Whitewalls. Aerys death without issue let to the crowning of his younger brother Maekar I who ruled a dozen years. He was followed by his son Aegon V who became known as the unlikely seeing as he was the fourth son of a fourth son. House Blackfyre was finally exterminated during his reign in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Aegon perished in the tragedy of Summerhall.

Next came the sickly Jaehaerys II though frail he was wise and ruled well in his short three years. He was followed by Aerys II who would become known as the Mad King, his madness led to the War of the Usurper and an end of the Targaryen hold on the Iron Throne after nearly 300 years of unbroken rule. Aerys was cut down by one of his own Shield, who became known as the Kingslayer. Robert Baratheon was crowned King.

House Baratheon

Lord Robert Baratheon, of house Baratheons, ascended to the Iron Throne in the year 283 AC after successfully leading a rebellion against the Targaryens which erupted after Aerys’ unjust murders of several important lords and other atrocities. Six years after Robert accession, Lord Balon Greyjoy, of the Iron Islands, believing that King Robert rule was still insecure has proclaimed independence and led a rebellion against the Iron Throne, he was proven wrong.

King Robert reign came to end after his queen wife has arrange his death, fear discovery of her incestual relation and the illegitimacy of all of their children. After King Robert death, the bastard Joffrey Baratheon took the throne, while Robert brothers Lord Stannis Baratheon and Lord Renly Baratheon put forward their claims to the Iron throne and other noble Houses wished to seek independence from the rule of the Iron Throne, this led to the War of the Five Kings.

During the War of the Five Kings, the North and the Iron Islands has claimed independence and seceded from the Iron throne, while the rest of kingdom were thrown into turmoil. After two years of bitter fighting the war was unofficially ended with King Joffrey as the victor. Despite his victory however he was poisoned at his own wedding feast and his younger brother Tommen Baratheon was crowned in his place. This child king is the current occupant of the Iron Throne.

Kings on the Iron throne.png

List Kings on the Iron Throne


Claimants to the Iron Throne

References and Notes