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[[File:Seven Kingdoms.png|thumb|300px|right|The Seven Kingdoms, as they stood after unification by Aegon and before Robert's Rebellion From top-left to bottom-right:
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{{Infobox Realm
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| name = Seven Kingdoms
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| image =
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| image_caption =
  
[[The North]], [[Iron Islands]], [[Riverlands]], [[Vale]], [[The Westerlands]], [[Crownlands]], [[The Reach]], [[Stormlands]], [[Dorne]] ]]
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| location = [[Westeros]], south of the [[Wall]]
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| capital      = [[King's Landing]]
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| government = Feudal monarchy
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| ruler = [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men]]
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| religion = [[Faith of the Seven]]<br>[[Old gods]] <small>([[North]])</small><br>[[Drowned God]] <small>([[Iron Isles]])</small>
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| population =
  
The '''Seven Kingdoms''' is a realm located on the continent of [[Westeros]], ruled by the king who sits on the [[Iron Throne]] in the capital city, [[King's Landing]]. The name dates before the time of when [[Aegon the Conqueror]] set to [[War of Conquest|unite]] the lands of Westeros, when there were seven independent kingdoms. Today there are nine distinct regions.  
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| founded = {{date|1}}
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| preceded = [[Lord of Dragonstone|Lordship of Dragonstone]]<br>[[King in the North|Kingdom of the North]]<br>[[King of the Iron Islands|Kingdom of the Isles and the Rivers]]<br>[[King of the Rock|Kingdom of the Rock]]<br>[[King of the Reach|Kingdom of the Reach]]<br>[[Storm King|Kingdom of the Stormlands]]<br>[[Prince of Dorne|Principality of Dorne]] <small>({{date|187}})</small>
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| destroyed =
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| succeeded =
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| restored =
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| places = [[Red Keep]]<br>[[Great Sept of Baelor]]<br>[[Citadel|The Citadel]]<br>[[Wall|The Wall]]<br>[[Oldtown]]
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| organizations = [[Night's Watch]]<br>[[Maester|Order of Maesters]]<br>[[Faith of the Seven]]<br>[[Kingsguard]]<br>[[Small council]]
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}}
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[[File:Seven Kingdoms.png|thumb|300px|right|The Seven Kingdoms, as they stood after unification by Aegon and before Robert's Rebellion. From top-left to bottom-right:
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the [[north]], the [[Iron Islands]], the [[riverlands]], the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]], the [[westerlands]], the [[crownlands]], the [[Reach]], the [[stormlands]], and [[Dorne]]. ]]
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The '''Seven Kingdoms''' is a realm located on the continent of [[Westeros]], ruled by the [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]], the king who sits on the [[Iron Throne]] in the capital city, [[King's Landing]]. The name derives from the situation three centuries ago when [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] set to [[Wars of Conquest|unite]] the lands of Westeros, which then contained seven independent realms. The new realm created from [[Aegon's Conquest]] contains nine distinct regions or provinces.{{ref|AGOT|13}}
  
 
==Origin==
 
==Origin==
When Aegon used [[dragons]] to conquer the seven individually ruled kingdoms that existed on the [[Westeros|mainland]] and forged a huge, strong empire. The Kingdoms were: The [[Kingdom of the North]], the [[Kingdom of Mountain and Vale]], the [[Kingdom of the Iron Islands|Kingdom of the Isles and Rivers]], [[Kingdom of the Rock]], [[Kingdom of the Reach]], [[Kingdom of the Stormlands]] and [[Dorne]].  
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Aside from [[House Targaryen]]'s island "kingdom" of [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]], the continent of [[Westeros]] was ruled by seven monarchs at the time of [[Aegon's Landing]]:{{ref|TWOIAF| The North}}
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[[File:House Stark.svg|30px]] '''[[Torrhen Stark]]''', [[King in the North]].<br>
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[[File:House Arryn.svg|30px]] '''[[Ronnel Arryn (king)|Ronnel Arryn]]''', [[King of Mountain and Vale]].<br>
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[[File:House Hoare.svg|30px]] '''[[Harren Hoare]]''', [[King of the Isles and the Rivers]].<br>
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[[File:House Lannister.svg|30px]] '''[[Loren I Lannister]]''', [[King of the Rock]].<br>
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[[File:House Gardener.svg|30px]] '''[[Mern IX Gardener]]''', [[King of the Reach]].<br>
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[[File:House Durrandon.svg|30px]] '''[[Argilac Durrandon]]''', the [[Storm King]].<br>
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[[File:House Martell.svg|30px]] '''[[Meria Martell]]''', [[Princess of Dorne]].<br>
  
Aegon managed to conquer only six of the seven kingdoms, consolidating them under the rule of [[House Targaryen]] and the [[Iron Throne]]. [[Dorne]] was joined to the realm only two centuries later through diplomatic means, after a [[Conquest of Dorne|few hurdles]] on the way, thus making the name somewhat inaccurate.
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Aegon and his sisters conquered only six of the seven kingdoms, consolidating them under the rule of House Targaryen and the [[Iron Throne]]. Among the titles that Aegon received when crowned king in the [[Starry Sept]] in [[Oldtown]], however, was "[[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]" - laying claim to [[Dorne]], the seventh kingdom, though in truth the Iron Throne would not add Dorne to its domains for another two centuries, when it joined through peaceful marriage-alliance.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
  
 
==Government==
 
==Government==
:{{Main|Iron Throne|Warden{{!}}Wardens|Laws & Justice}}
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:{{Main|Iron Throne|Warden|Law and justice}}
  
 
For most of their history the regions of [[Westeros]] were independent kingdoms. The number of these kingdoms and their borders have changed many times. Following a successful conquest of all the lands of Westeros south of the [[Wall]] but [[Dorne]], and their consolidation under the rule of the [[Iron Throne]], Aegon established his new empire's capital on the spot of his landing, for which it was known as [[King's Landing]].  
 
For most of their history the regions of [[Westeros]] were independent kingdoms. The number of these kingdoms and their borders have changed many times. Following a successful conquest of all the lands of Westeros south of the [[Wall]] but [[Dorne]], and their consolidation under the rule of the [[Iron Throne]], Aegon established his new empire's capital on the spot of his landing, for which it was known as [[King's Landing]].  
  
Due to the vast size of the new Kingdom, in each region Aegon raised 'great houses' who swore fealty to him. The lords were granted a degree of autonomy and granted authority over their minor lords and small folk. In the original six kingdoms [[House Baratheon]] married into the Targaryens and were awarded the [[Stormlands]], after the defeat of King [[Argilac|Argilac the Arrogant]]; the [[House Tyrell]] was granted over-lordship over the Reach, while [[House Lannister]] was allowed to keep their family holdings after they bent the knee, following the defeat at the [[Field of Fire]]; [[House Stark]] chose to submit and was confirmed as overlords over the North. [[House Greyjoy]] was granted the [[Iron Islands]] after the defeat of King [[Harren the Black]]. For supporting Aegon against Harren, [[House Tully]] of Riverrun was awarded over-lordship of the [[Riverlands]].
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Due to the vast size of the new kingdom, in each region Aegon raised [[Great Houses]] who swore fealty to him. The lords were granted a degree of autonomy and granted authority over their minor lords and small folk.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
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===Houses that survived the Conquest===
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[[File:House Stark.svg|30px]] [[House Stark]] chose to submit and was confirmed as overlords over the north.<br>
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[[File:House Arryn.svg|30px]] [[House Arryn]] submitted and retained the [[Vale of Arryn]].<br>
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[[File:House Lannister.svg|30px]] [[House Lannister]] was allowed to keep their family holdings after they bent the knee, following defeat at the [[Field of Fire]].<br>
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[[File:House Martell.svg|30px]] [[House Martell]] retained its independence for a time.
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===Houses established by the Conquest===
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[[File:House Targaryen.svg|30px]] [[House Targaryen]] obtained dominion over most of Westeros, and settled in the Crownlands.<br>
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[[File:House Tully.svg|30px]] [[House Tully]] of Riverrun was awarded over-lordship of the [[riverlands]] as [[Lord Paramount of the Trident]], for supporting Aegon against Harren.<br>
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[[File:House Greyjoy.svg|30px]] [[House Greyjoy]] was granted the [[Iron Islands]] after the death of King [[Harren Hoare|Harren the Black]].<br>
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[[File:House Tyrell.svg|30px]] [[House Tyrell]] was granted over-lordship over the Reach as [[Lord Paramount of the Mander]].<br>
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[[File:House Baratheon.svg|30px]] [[House Baratheon]] married into the Durrandons and were awarded the [[stormlands]] as [[Lord Paramount of the Stormlands]], after the defeat of the [[Storm King]] [[Argilac Durrandon|Argilac the Arrogant]].<br>
  
 
==Regions and Territory==
 
==Regions and Territory==
:{{See also|Westeros{{!}}Westeros for Geographic info}}
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{{See also|Westeros}}
  
The Seven Kingdoms are divided into nine administrative regions, seven of which, [[The North]], [[Iron Islands]], the [[Vale]], [[The Westerlands]], [[The Reach]], the [[Stormlands]] and [[Dorne]], were independent kingdoms at the time of conquest. The [[Riverlands]] had been independent before, but had fallen to the Storm Kings and more recently to the ironborn. They regained independence after the local lords rebelled against [[Harren the Black]] and swore fealty to Aegon during the conquest. The area around King's Landing, which had also been a battleground between several kingdoms, constituted the royal demesne and became known as the [[Crownlands]]. The island stronghold of [[Dragonstone]], ancient seat of the Targaryens, was successively granted to heirs apparent to the throne.
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Despite its name, the Seven Kingdoms is a realm divided into nine administrative regions or provinces: the [[crownlands]], [[Dorne]], the [[Iron Islands]], the [[north]], the [[Reach]], the [[riverlands]], the [[stormlands]], the [[Vale of Arryn]], and the [[westerlands]]. These include former kingdoms such as the north, the Reach, the stormlands, the Vale, and the westerlands. The riverlands had been independent centuries ago, but had fallen to the Storm Kings and more recently to the ironborn, who jointly ruled both realms as [[Kings of the Isles and the Rivers]]. The rivermen regained independence after the local lords rebelled against [[Harren Hoare|Harren the Black]] and swore fealty to Aegon during the conquest, with the Iron Islands becoming a separate region. [[Dorne]] is a principality instead of a kingdom, while Aegon's island realm of Dragonstone, ancient seat of the Targaryens, was not counted as one of the Seven Kingdoms at the time of the conquest.{{ref|TWOIAF| The North}} The area around King's Landing, which had also been a battleground between several kingdoms, constituted the royal demesne and became known as the [[crownlands]]. Within the crownlands, Dragonstone was successively granted to the [[Prince of Dragonstone|heirs apparent to the throne]].
  
The realm's territory includes all but the northernmost tip of the [[Westeros|continent]], where the [[Wall]] defines its northern border. The king on the Iron Throne also controls the many islands off the coast of Westeros, such as [[Tarth]], [[Greenstone]], and [[Dragonstone]]. It is occasionally drawn into conflicts over the [[Stepstones]] off its southeastern coast, but it has rarely controlled a significant portion of them.
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The realm's territory includes all but the northernmost lands on the continent of Westeros, where the [[Wall]] defines its northern border. The king on the Iron Throne also controls the many islands off the coast of Westeros, such as the [[Arbor]], [[Bear Island]], [[Claw Isle]], [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]], [[Driftmark]], [[Estermont]], the [[Shield Islands|Shields]], [[Skagos]], [[Tarth]], and the [[Three Sisters]]. The kingdom has occasionally been drawn into conflicts over the [[Stepstones]] off its southeastern coast, but it has rarely controlled a significant portion of them.
  
 
==Population==
 
==Population==
The population of the Seven Kingdoms numbers in the millions. It is sparsely populated in the vast regions of the North and the deserts of Dorne, and mostly densely populated in the fertile lands of the Reach. The kingdoms are speckled with villages and holdfasts and a few large townships, but only five settlements can be called cities, their population numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Listed in decreasing order of size, they are:
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The population of the Seven Kingdoms numbers in the millions.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} The monarch on the [[Iron Throne]] use the title [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men]], referring to the major ethnic groups from which most Westerosi descend. The kingdom is sparsely populated in the vast regions of the north and the deserts of Dorne, and mostly densely populated in the fertile lands of the Reach. The kingdoms are speckled with holdfasts, towns, and villages, but only five settlements can be called cities. Listed in decreasing order of size, they are:
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* [[King's Landing]], the capital of the Seven Kingdoms and the most populous city,{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: Oldtown}} with a population of half a million.{{ref|ASOS|38}}
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* [[Oldtown]], located within the [[Reach]]. The oldest city on the continent and nearly equal to King's Landing in size,{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach}} it is home to the [[Citadel]] of the [[maesters]].
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* [[Lannisport]], located within the [[westerlands]].
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* [[Gulltown]], located within the [[Vale of Arryn]].
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* [[White Harbor]], located within the [[north]]
  
* [[King's Landing]], the capital of the Seven kingdoms, with a population of half a million.
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King's Landing and Oldtown are both large cities; Lannisport is a medium-sized city, while Gulltown and White Harbor are small cities.  All five of them are ports located on the coasts. Although there are many smaller ports and market towns, most of the Seven Kingdoms is primarily rural.
* [[Oldtown]], Located within [[the Reach]]. The oldest city on the continent, and home of the [[Citadel]] of the [[maesters]].
 
* [[Lannisport]] Located within [[the Westerlands]].
 
* [[Gulltown]], Located within [[the Vale]].
 
* [[White Harbor]], Located within [[the North]]
 
  
The rest of the Seven Kingdoms is primarily rural, with the rare exception of port towns because of their economic importance.
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Oldtown is the eldest of all the five cities:  its origins are lost in the mists of time in the [[Dawn Age]], extending back to when the First Men first settled in Westeros (if not earlier).  Lannisport is the next eldest, founded during the [[Age of Heroes]] after the Lannisters displaced the Casterlys - still making it quite ancient.  Both Oldtown and Lannisport had grown large enough to be considered "cities" by the time of the Andal invasion 6,000 years ago.  Gulltown, the next eldest, did exist at the time of the Andal invasion but had not yet reached the size of a true "city" - instead it was a prosperous port-town.  It was only under the following generations of Andal rule that Gulltown prospered and grew into a real city in scale.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Vale}}  White Harbor is far younger than the eldest three:  while there were always some inhabitants around the mouth of the White Knife, it was primarily a stronghold known as the Wolf's Den used to defend against attacks by sea.  The town and later city of White Harbor was only created about one thousand years ago, when [[House Manderly]] fled from the Reach and were given shelter by the Starks in the North, as well as the lands around the river mouth.  Despite being the largest city, King's Landing is by far the youngest:  created barely three centuries ago by the Targaryens, to serve as a new capital city for their realm after they unified the continent. King's Landing mushroomed into a true city in size by {{date|10}}, and by {{Date|25}} it had outgrown both White Harbor and Gulltown to become the third largest city on the continent.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}}
  
 
==Culture==
 
==Culture==
 
:{{See also|Customs}}
 
:{{See also|Customs}}
  
The people of the Seven Kingdoms are a mixture of several ethnic groups which have migrated to the continent over the centuries and intermarried. As such these original ethnicities are more of a blurred trend than firm political units. Today they are mostly identified through their place of residence, where each kingdom retains its unique flavor. The influence of the [[Andal]]s is strongest in the south, while the [[Northmen]] still follows many customs of the [[First Men]]. [[Dornishmen]] are heavily influenced by the mass immigration of the [[Rhoynar]]. Small groups, such as the [[Ironmen]] and the [[mountain clans]], maintain very different cultures from the rest of the realm.  
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The people of the Seven Kingdoms are a mixture of several ethnic groups which have migrated to the continent over the centuries and intermarried. As such these original ethnicities are more of a blurred trend than firm political units. Today they are mostly identified through their place of residence, where each kingdom retains its unique flavor. The influence of the [[Andals]] is strongest in the south, while the [[northmen]] still follows many customs of the [[First Men]]. [[Dornishmen]] are heavily influenced by the [[Rhoynar migration|mass immigration]] of the [[Rhoynar]]. Small groups, such as the [[ironmen]] of the Iron Islands and the [[Vale mountain clans]], maintain different cultures from the rest of the realm.  
  
 
Its feudal society is based on the model of the old kingdoms on which the Targaryen dynasty was built with each region retaining some sovereign rights and ruled by a high lord that answers only to the King.
 
Its feudal society is based on the model of the old kingdoms on which the Targaryen dynasty was built with each region retaining some sovereign rights and ruled by a high lord that answers only to the King.
Line 45: Line 90:
 
:{{See also|Currency}}
 
:{{See also|Currency}}
  
Most transactions in Seven Kingdoms involve [[Currency|currency]]. The coinage is minted by the [[Master of Coin]] appointed by the King on the [[Iron Throne]]. There are golden Dragons, silver Stags and copper Stars. Golden Dragons are worth the most and have a dragon stamped on one side and a Kings face on the other.<ref>[[A Dance with Dragons]], [[The Blind Girl (A Dance with Dragons)|The Blind Girl]]</ref>. Most [[Feudalism|smallfolk]] would never own a gold Dragon, using mostly copper Stars for their needs.
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Most transactions in Seven Kingdoms involve [[currency]]. The coinage is minted by the [[master of coin]] appointed by the King on the [[Iron Throne]]. There are golden dragons, silver stags and copper stars. Golden dragons are worth the most and have a dragon stamped on one side and a king's face on the other.{{ref|adwd|45}} Most [[smallfolk]] would never own a gold dragon, using mostly copper stars for their needs.
  
Trade within the Seven Kingdoms is quite vigorous, as the products of [[Dorne]] are very different from those of the North. However, long distance trade is almost entirely in luxuries, as transport is very expensive, not to mention dangerous. Transport by land is around ten times as expensive as transport by [[ships]], which means that almost all goods travel by river or coastal ship for at least part of their journey. Furs from the [[North]], silks and gems from the south, fine craft work from anywhere these are the items that are gathered at great markets. Grain, meat, and fish are also found there, but they have almost exclusively come from nearby areas.<Ref>[[A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying]], [[A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide|Campaign Guide]]</Ref>
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Trade within the Seven Kingdoms is quite vigorous, as the products of [[Dorne]] are very different from those of the north. However, long distance trade is almost entirely in luxuries, as transport is very expensive, not to mention dangerous. Transport by land is around ten times as expensive as transport by [[ships]], which means that almost all goods travel by river or coastal ship for at least part of their journey. Furs from the north, silks and gems from the south, fine craft work from anywhere these are the items that are gathered at great markets. Grain, meat, and fish are also found there, but they have almost exclusively come from nearby areas.<ref>[[A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying]], [[A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide|Campaign Guide]]</ref>
  
Furthermore there is regular trade between the Seven Kingdoms, [[Essos]], and the [[Summer Islands]].
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There is regular trade between the Seven Kingdoms, [[Essos]], and the [[Summer Isles]].
  
 
==Religion==
 
==Religion==
 
:{{See also|Religion}}
 
:{{See also|Religion}}
  
The people of the Seven Kingdoms follow several different faiths. The [[Faith of the Seven]] is the primary religion of the realm, the only regions where it is not practiced are the [[Iron Islands]], where worship of the [[Drowned God]] holds sway, and the [[North]], where worship of the [[old gods]] of the Forest remains strong.
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The people of the Seven Kingdoms follow several different faiths. The [[Faith of the Seven]] is the primary religion of the realm, the only regions where it is not practiced are the [[Iron Islands]], where worship of the [[Drowned God]] holds sway, and the [[north]], where worship of the [[old gods]] of the forest remains strong.
  
* '''The [[Faith of the Seven]]''', is the primary religion of the Seven Kingdoms, it was brought to the [[Westeros|continent]] by the [[Andals]], thousand of years before the country formation. The Faith worships the Seven, a single deity with separate aspects: the Mother, the Father, the Warrior, the Smith, the Maiden, the Crone and the Stranger (death).  
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* The [[Faith of the Seven]] is the primary religion of the Seven Kingdoms, it was brought to [[Westeros]] by the [[Andals]], thousand of years before the country formation. The Faith worships the Seven, a single deity with separate aspects: the [[Mother (the Seven)|Mother]], the [[Father (the Seven)|Father]], the [[Warrior (the Seven)|Warrior]], the [[Smith (the Seven)|Smith]], the [[Maiden (the Seven)|Maiden]], the [[Crone (the Seven)|Crone]], and the [[Stranger (the Seven)|Stranger]].  
  
* '''The [[old gods]]''', the faith of the North and the lands beyond the [[wall]]. The faith of the [[children of the forest]], who used to inhabit the land thousands of year ago, a faith that worship numerous and nameless gods of the forests, who are always watching through the faces carved into the bark of ancient [[weirwood]] trees.  
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* The [[old gods]] are worshiped in the north and the lands [[beyond the Wall]]. The faith of the [[children of the forest]], who used to inhabit the land thousands of year ago, a faith that worship numerous and nameless gods of the forests, who are always watching through the faces carved into the bark of ancient [[weirwood]] trees.  
  
* '''The [[Drowned God]]''', the indigenous deity of the [[Iron Islands]], a harsh deity who rewards those who plunder in his name
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* The [[Drowned God]], the indigenous deity of the [[Iron Islands]], is a harsh deity who rewards those who plunder in his name.
  
* '''The [[R'hllor|Red God]]''', R'hllor is a god popular in [[Essos]] who is little-known in Westeros, although gaining in popularity. The followers of R'hllor claim their deity is the Lord of Light and will stand against the [[Great Other]], the god of darkness and cold, in a war that is to come.
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* [[R'hllor]], the red god, is a deity popular in [[Essos]] but little-known in Westeros, although gaining in popularity. The followers of R'hllor claim their deity is the Lord of Light and will stand against the [[Great Other]], the god of darkness and cold, in a war that is to come.
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{Quote|The Seven Kingdoms have a very long history, and I haven't mentioned all of it... nor will I. <ref>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C91/P45/ Social Structure, Moat Cailin, and More].June 10, 2002</ref> }} – [[GRRM]]
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{{Quote|The Seven Kingdoms have a very long history, and I haven't mentioned all of it... nor will I.|[[George R. R. Martin]]<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Social_Structure_Moat_Cailin_and_More Social Structure, Moat Cailin, and More (June 10, 2002)]</ref>}}
  
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{{Quote|Ours by blood right, taken from us [[Robert's Rebellion|by treachery]], but ours still, ours forever.  You do not steal from [[House Targaryen|the dragon]], oh, no. The dragon remembers.|[[Viserys Targaryen]] to [[Daenerys Targaryen]]{{ref|AGOT|3}}}}
  
{{Quote|Ours by blood right, taken from us by treachery, but ours still, ours forever. You do not steal from the dragon, oh, no. The dragon remembers.}} – [[Viserys Targaryen]]
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{{quote|This talk of Seven Kingdoms is a folly. [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon]] saw that three hundred years ago when he stood where we are standing. They painted [[Painted Table|this table]] at his command. Rivers and bays they painted, hills and mountains, castles and cities and market towns, lakes and swamps and forests ... but no borders. It is all one. One realm, for one king to rule alone.|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Davos Seaworth]]{{ref|ASOS|36}}}}
  
==References and Notes==
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==References==
{{references|1}}
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{{references}}
  
 
[[Category:Nations]]
 
[[Category:Nations]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
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[[es:Siete Reinos]]
 
[[es:Siete Reinos]]
 
[[fa:هفت پادشاهی]]
 
[[fa:هفت پادشاهی]]
 
[[fr:Royaume des Sept Couronnes]]
 
[[fr:Royaume des Sept Couronnes]]
[[pt:Sete Reinos]][[ru:Семь Королевств]][[zh:&#19971;&#22823;&#29579;&#22269;]]
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[[pt:Sete Reinos]]
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[[ru:Семь Королевств]]
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[[zh:&#19971;&#22823;&#29579;&#22269;]]

Revision as of 05:46, 6 February 2019

Seven Kingdoms
Feudal monarchy
Location Westeros, south of the Wall
Capital King's Landing
Type of Government Feudal monarchy
Ruler King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men
Religion Faith of the Seven
Old gods (North)
Drowned God (Iron Isles)
Founded 1 AC
Preceded by Lordship of Dragonstone
Kingdom of the North
Kingdom of the Isles and the Rivers
Kingdom of the Rock
Kingdom of the Reach
Kingdom of the Stormlands
Principality of Dorne (187 AC)
Notable places Red Keep
Great Sept of Baelor
The Citadel
The Wall
Oldtown
Notable organizations Night's Watch
Order of Maesters
Faith of the Seven
Kingsguard
Small council
The Seven Kingdoms, as they stood after unification by Aegon and before Robert's Rebellion. From top-left to bottom-right: the north, the Iron Islands, the riverlands, the Vale, the westerlands, the crownlands, the Reach, the stormlands, and Dorne.

The Seven Kingdoms is a realm located on the continent of Westeros, ruled by the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, the king who sits on the Iron Throne in the capital city, King's Landing. The name derives from the situation three centuries ago when Aegon the Conqueror set to unite the lands of Westeros, which then contained seven independent realms. The new realm created from Aegon's Conquest contains nine distinct regions or provinces.[1]

Origin

Aside from House Targaryen's island "kingdom" of Dragonstone, the continent of Westeros was ruled by seven monarchs at the time of Aegon's Landing:[2]

House Stark.svg Torrhen Stark, King in the North.
House Arryn.svg Ronnel Arryn, King of Mountain and Vale.
House Hoare 2.svg Harren Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers.
House Lannister.svg Loren I Lannister, King of the Rock.
House Gardener.svg Mern IX Gardener, King of the Reach.
House Baratheon.svg Argilac Durrandon, the Storm King.
House Martell.svg Meria Martell, Princess of Dorne.

Aegon and his sisters conquered only six of the seven kingdoms, consolidating them under the rule of House Targaryen and the Iron Throne. Among the titles that Aegon received when crowned king in the Starry Sept in Oldtown, however, was "Lord of the Seven Kingdoms" - laying claim to Dorne, the seventh kingdom, though in truth the Iron Throne would not add Dorne to its domains for another two centuries, when it joined through peaceful marriage-alliance.[3]

Government

For most of their history the regions of Westeros were independent kingdoms. The number of these kingdoms and their borders have changed many times. Following a successful conquest of all the lands of Westeros south of the Wall but Dorne, and their consolidation under the rule of the Iron Throne, Aegon established his new empire's capital on the spot of his landing, for which it was known as King's Landing.

Due to the vast size of the new kingdom, in each region Aegon raised Great Houses who swore fealty to him. The lords were granted a degree of autonomy and granted authority over their minor lords and small folk.[3]

Houses that survived the Conquest

House Stark.svg House Stark chose to submit and was confirmed as overlords over the north.
House Arryn.svg House Arryn submitted and retained the Vale of Arryn.
House Lannister.svg House Lannister was allowed to keep their family holdings after they bent the knee, following defeat at the Field of Fire.
House Martell.svg House Martell retained its independence for a time.

Houses established by the Conquest

House Targaryen.svg House Targaryen obtained dominion over most of Westeros, and settled in the Crownlands.
House Tully.svg House Tully of Riverrun was awarded over-lordship of the riverlands as Lord Paramount of the Trident, for supporting Aegon against Harren.
House Greyjoy.svg House Greyjoy was granted the Iron Islands after the death of King Harren the Black.
House Tyrell.svg House Tyrell was granted over-lordship over the Reach as Lord Paramount of the Mander.
House Baratheon.svg House Baratheon married into the Durrandons and were awarded the stormlands as Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, after the defeat of the Storm King Argilac the Arrogant.

Regions and Territory

Despite its name, the Seven Kingdoms is a realm divided into nine administrative regions or provinces: the crownlands, Dorne, the Iron Islands, the north, the Reach, the riverlands, the stormlands, the Vale of Arryn, and the westerlands. These include former kingdoms such as the north, the Reach, the stormlands, the Vale, and the westerlands. The riverlands had been independent centuries ago, but had fallen to the Storm Kings and more recently to the ironborn, who jointly ruled both realms as Kings of the Isles and the Rivers. The rivermen regained independence after the local lords rebelled against Harren the Black and swore fealty to Aegon during the conquest, with the Iron Islands becoming a separate region. Dorne is a principality instead of a kingdom, while Aegon's island realm of Dragonstone, ancient seat of the Targaryens, was not counted as one of the Seven Kingdoms at the time of the conquest.[2] The area around King's Landing, which had also been a battleground between several kingdoms, constituted the royal demesne and became known as the crownlands. Within the crownlands, Dragonstone was successively granted to the heirs apparent to the throne.

The realm's territory includes all but the northernmost lands on the continent of Westeros, where the Wall defines its northern border. The king on the Iron Throne also controls the many islands off the coast of Westeros, such as the Arbor, Bear Island, Claw Isle, Dragonstone, Driftmark, Estermont, the Shields, Skagos, Tarth, and the Three Sisters. The kingdom has occasionally been drawn into conflicts over the Stepstones off its southeastern coast, but it has rarely controlled a significant portion of them.

Population

The population of the Seven Kingdoms numbers in the millions.[3] The monarch on the Iron Throne use the title King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, referring to the major ethnic groups from which most Westerosi descend. The kingdom is sparsely populated in the vast regions of the north and the deserts of Dorne, and mostly densely populated in the fertile lands of the Reach. The kingdoms are speckled with holdfasts, towns, and villages, but only five settlements can be called cities. Listed in decreasing order of size, they are:

King's Landing and Oldtown are both large cities; Lannisport is a medium-sized city, while Gulltown and White Harbor are small cities. All five of them are ports located on the coasts. Although there are many smaller ports and market towns, most of the Seven Kingdoms is primarily rural.

Oldtown is the eldest of all the five cities: its origins are lost in the mists of time in the Dawn Age, extending back to when the First Men first settled in Westeros (if not earlier). Lannisport is the next eldest, founded during the Age of Heroes after the Lannisters displaced the Casterlys - still making it quite ancient. Both Oldtown and Lannisport had grown large enough to be considered "cities" by the time of the Andal invasion 6,000 years ago. Gulltown, the next eldest, did exist at the time of the Andal invasion but had not yet reached the size of a true "city" - instead it was a prosperous port-town. It was only under the following generations of Andal rule that Gulltown prospered and grew into a real city in scale.[7] White Harbor is far younger than the eldest three: while there were always some inhabitants around the mouth of the White Knife, it was primarily a stronghold known as the Wolf's Den used to defend against attacks by sea. The town and later city of White Harbor was only created about one thousand years ago, when House Manderly fled from the Reach and were given shelter by the Starks in the North, as well as the lands around the river mouth. Despite being the largest city, King's Landing is by far the youngest: created barely three centuries ago by the Targaryens, to serve as a new capital city for their realm after they unified the continent. King's Landing mushroomed into a true city in size by 10 AC, and by 25 AC it had outgrown both White Harbor and Gulltown to become the third largest city on the continent.[8]

Culture

The people of the Seven Kingdoms are a mixture of several ethnic groups which have migrated to the continent over the centuries and intermarried. As such these original ethnicities are more of a blurred trend than firm political units. Today they are mostly identified through their place of residence, where each kingdom retains its unique flavor. The influence of the Andals is strongest in the south, while the northmen still follows many customs of the First Men. Dornishmen are heavily influenced by the mass immigration of the Rhoynar. Small groups, such as the ironmen of the Iron Islands and the Vale mountain clans, maintain different cultures from the rest of the realm.

Its feudal society is based on the model of the old kingdoms on which the Targaryen dynasty was built with each region retaining some sovereign rights and ruled by a high lord that answers only to the King.

Commerce and Currency

Most transactions in Seven Kingdoms involve currency. The coinage is minted by the master of coin appointed by the King on the Iron Throne. There are golden dragons, silver stags and copper stars. Golden dragons are worth the most and have a dragon stamped on one side and a king's face on the other.[9] Most smallfolk would never own a gold dragon, using mostly copper stars for their needs.

Trade within the Seven Kingdoms is quite vigorous, as the products of Dorne are very different from those of the north. However, long distance trade is almost entirely in luxuries, as transport is very expensive, not to mention dangerous. Transport by land is around ten times as expensive as transport by ships, which means that almost all goods travel by river or coastal ship for at least part of their journey. Furs from the north, silks and gems from the south, fine craft work from anywhere these are the items that are gathered at great markets. Grain, meat, and fish are also found there, but they have almost exclusively come from nearby areas.[10]

There is regular trade between the Seven Kingdoms, Essos, and the Summer Isles.

Religion

The people of the Seven Kingdoms follow several different faiths. The Faith of the Seven is the primary religion of the realm, the only regions where it is not practiced are the Iron Islands, where worship of the Drowned God holds sway, and the north, where worship of the old gods of the forest remains strong.

  • The old gods are worshiped in the north and the lands beyond the Wall. The faith of the children of the forest, who used to inhabit the land thousands of year ago, a faith that worship numerous and nameless gods of the forests, who are always watching through the faces carved into the bark of ancient weirwood trees.
  • The Drowned God, the indigenous deity of the Iron Islands, is a harsh deity who rewards those who plunder in his name.
  • R'hllor, the red god, is a deity popular in Essos but little-known in Westeros, although gaining in popularity. The followers of R'hllor claim their deity is the Lord of Light and will stand against the Great Other, the god of darkness and cold, in a war that is to come.

Quotes

The Seven Kingdoms have a very long history, and I haven't mentioned all of it... nor will I.

Ours by blood right, taken from us by treachery, but ours still, ours forever. You do not steal from the dragon, oh, no. The dragon remembers.

This talk of Seven Kingdoms is a folly. Aegon saw that three hundred years ago when he stood where we are standing. They painted this table at his command. Rivers and bays they painted, hills and mountains, castles and cities and market towns, lakes and swamps and forests ... but no borders. It is all one. One realm, for one king to rule alone.

References