Game of Thrones Glossary ⚔️❄️

Explore the terms George R.R. Martin uses throughout the Game of Thrones realm, including characters, locations, items, and more.

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  • Aeron GreyjoyAfter becoming a priest, Aeron Greyjoy leaves the politics of the Iron Islands and focuses on serving the Drowned God.
  • Alliser ThorneSer Alliser Thorne is the master-at-arms of Castle Black and a former knight of House Thorne. He comes from House Thorne, a noble house from the Crownlands. Coming from a family sworn to the Targaryens, he fought on the side of House Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion.
  • Alys KarstarkAs a beautiful girl, Alys Karstark got tasked by her father to sway Robb towards wanting her when she initially visited Winterfell.
  • AndalsThe Andals are one of the primary cultural groups of humans in Westeros. They originated from Essos and migrated across the Narrow Sea.
  • ArakhAn Arakh is a traditional fighting weapon used by the Dothraki in Essos. As a half sword and half scythe, it gets used by riders on horseback.
  • Areo HotahAreo Hotah is a calm yet deviously calculating man who judges his opponent by how they act and react to the world.
  • Arianne MartellArianne Martell is the eldest daughter of Prince Doran Martell, the ruling prince of Dorne, and Lady Mellario of the Free City of Norvos.
  • Arya StarkFrom becoming a boy to joining a league of assassins, Arya Stark's journeys made her grow to become a cunning, brutal, and relentless girl.
  • AstaporAstapor is an ancient independent city-state known for slavery. The Red City was founded before the Valyrian Freehold and outlived two empires.
  • Azor AhaiAzor Ahai was a legendary hero who wielded Lightbringer according to stories from the followers of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, and Asshai.
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  • Balon GreyjoyAs an ironborn prodigy, Balon Greyjoybecame the captain of his ship at 17. However, his cruelty and bitterness cost him everything.
  • Barristan SelmyBarristan Selmy was one of the strongest soldiers in Westeros. He was deemed by many to be the greatest knight alive.
  • Benjen StarkBenjen Stark's skills and fierceness made him a thorn in the wildlings' flesh. Mance Rayder travels to Winterfell to study him.
  • BloodriderA bloodrider is the sworn protector of a Khal. He is called 'blood of my blood' by the leader of a Khalasar and defends him till death.
  • BraavosBraavos is the wealthiest and most powerful of the Free Cities of Essos, as it houses institutions like the Iron Bank and Faceless Men.
  • BronnBefore becoming Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, Bronn met Tyrion at the Inn of the Crossroads. He then built a relationship that got him knighted.
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  • Casterly RockCasterly Rock is the seat of House Lannister. It has a deep history dating to the era of the Children, the First Men, and the Andals.
  • Castle BlackCastle Black is one of the three out of nineteen castles used by the Watch, the remaining two being Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and the Shadow Tower.
  • Catelyn StarkCatelyn Stark was the Lady of Winterfell and the wife of Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, under King Robert Baratheon's reign.
  • ChettChett was a steward of the Night's Watch. Before taking the black, he was the son of a leechman in the Riverlands.
  • Children of the ForestThe Children of the Forest are a non-human race who were the original inhabitants of Westeros before the arrival of the First Men.
  • ColdhandsColdhands is a mysterious unknown figure from beyond the Wall. Though his real name is not known, he was nicknamed Coldhands by Sam.
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  • Dagmer CleftjawDagmer Cleftjaw is a minor character in A Song of Ice and Fire novels whose role is crucial in the events in the North.
  • Davos SeaworthSer Davos Seaworth is a former smuggler. Because of his contribution to Robert's Rebellion, he became one of Stannis's most trusted men.
  • Doran MartellIn Game of Thrones, Prince Doran Nymeros Martell, or Doran Martell, is the Prince of Dorne, head of House Martell, and Lord of Sunspear.
  • DoreahFound in a pleasure house at nine, Doreah became a crucial influence on young Daenerys.
  • DorneDorne is a constituent region that makes up the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It is a peninsula in the southernmost part of the continent.
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  • Eddard StarkEddard Stark believed in honor. Though in a cruel world, he remained a man of great character; this led to his death.
  • Edmure TullyEdmure Tully's actions greatly influenced the War of the Five Kings and indirectly led to Robb Stark's defeat.
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  • Faceless MenThe Faceless Men are a cult of religious assassins in the Free City of Braavos who serve the Many-Faced God in the House of Black and White.
  • Faith MilitantThe Faith Militant is the military order of the Faith of the Seven. It got disbanded after a massive rebellion against the Iron Throne.
  • Faith of the SevenThe Faith of the Seven is the predominant religion in Westeros. It got practiced in the Seven Kingdoms except for the North and Iron Islands.
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  • GaredGared is an experienced ranger of the Watch. He served in Castle Black for about 40 years and was one of the best men Lord Mormont knew.
  • Gregor CleganeGregor Clegane was a knight of Clegane's Keep and one of the most feared people in the Seven Kingdoms. He got called Tywin Lannister's mad dog.
  • GrennGrenn is a ranger of the Night's Watch, a friend to Jon Snow, Sam, and Pyp. He rises to become one of the best fighters at Castle Black.
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  • Hand of the KingThe Hand of the King is the highest appointed position in Westeros. As the king's closest adviser, he possesses power only rivaled by the king.
  • HarrenhalHarrenhal holds the title of the largest castle in the seven kingdoms. Its sheer size made it a wonder of Westeros until its destruction.
  • Hedge KnightEven though there are at the bottom of the knight hierarchy, there have been exceptions where Hedge Knights became great warriors.
  • Hizdahr zo LoraqHizdahr zo Loraq, Fourteenth of That Noble Name, is a noble of Ghsicari descent living in Meereen. He is one of the city's wealthiest.
  • HodorHodor is a stableboy serving House Stark at Winterfell. He is a giant with little intellectual capabilities.
  • House BaratheonHouse Baratheon of Storm's End is a great house of Westeros. It rules the Stormlands with the title Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
  • House FreyHouse Frey is a noble house in Westeros. With its seat of power at the Twins, it becomes crucial in Robb Stark's cause against the Lannisters.
  • House GreyjoyHouse Greyjoy is one of the great houses in Westeros. With its seat on the Island of Pyke, it has rivaled many houses for power over centuries.
  • House MartellWith the term Nymeros coming from their Rhoynish descent, House Martell has a culture not revolving around the conscripts of gender roles.
  • House TullyAfter Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna Stark, Robert incited a rebellion, and with help from House Tully, he marched against King Aerys II Targaryen.
  • House TyrellHouse Tyrell is one of the Great Houses in the Seven Kingdoms, and its leader, the Lord of Highgarden, serves as the Warden of the South.
  • House VelaryonHouse Velaryon is an ancient house in the Crownlands that traces its origins back to the Valyrian Freehold.
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  • Illyrio MopatisOnce a poor bravo, Illyrio Mopatis rose to become one of the wealthiest people in Pentos. Learn more about his story.
  • Ilyn PayneSer Ilyn Payne is a member of House Payne, the King's Justice, and royal executioner. He is Podrick Payne's cousin.
  • Iron IslandsThe Iron Islands is a region ruled by House Greyjoy at Pyke. With Aegon I's ascension to the Iron Throne, the Greyjoys got reduced to lords.
  • IrriIrri Daenerys's handmaiden. After Khal Drogo killed her father, she became a servant of the Khaleesi and served with Jhiqui and Doreah.
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  • Janos SlyntJanos Slynt was the former Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing. He rose to power during the time of King Joffrey I Baratheon.
  • Jaqen H'gharJaqen H'ghar is a Lorathi sellsword taken by Yoren to join the Night's Watch. It gets revealed that he is a messenger of death, a Faceless Man.
  • Jeyne PooleJeyne Poole is Vayon Poole's daughter, Winterfell's steward, and the friend of Sansa Stark.
  • Jeyne WesterlingJeyne Westerling is the eldest daughter of Lord Gawen Westerling and Lady Sybell Spicer.
  • Joffrey BaratheonIn Game of Thrones, Joffrey Baratheon was heir to the Iron Throne, but his claim waned as the Seven Kingdoms plunged into chaos.
  • Jojen ReedJojen Reed is a young boy from House Reed. He was born in Greywater Watch and is the son of Lord Howland Reed.
  • Jon ConningtonJon Connington: A knight from a time past, a lord who fell, but began a journey to redemption. Learn more about the Lord of Griffin's Roost.
  • Jorah MormontJorah: an exiled knight running from his past, seeking solace in a continent far from home. Learn more about Jorah Mormont.
  • Jory CasselJory Cassel is the Captain of the Guards for House Stark of Winterfell and the nephew of Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms of Winterfell.
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  • Kevan LannisterSer Kevan Lannister is a House Lannister knight and is Lord Tywin Lannister's younger brother, the Lord of Casterly Rock.
  • Khal DrogoKhal Drogo: A brutal warlord feared throughout the Dothraki Sea, destroying everything in his wake for the sake of a child and a queen.
  • King's LandingKing's Landing is the second largest city in Westeros. Having housed the government since Aegon I Targaryen, it is a massive trade hub.
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  • Loras TyrellSer Loras Tyrell is a highly skilled knight from House Tyrell. He and Lord Renly Baratheon plot to replace Queen Cersei Lannister for Margaery.
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  • Maester CressenMaester Cressen is a maester serving Stannis Baratheon at Dragonstone. He deeply cared for Stannis and lost his life trying to protect him.
  • Maester LuwinMaester Luwin is a maester of the Citadel in service of House Stark of Winterfell. He was crucial in the events in the North.
  • Maester PycelleThough one of the wisest maesters in the seven kingdoms, Grand Maester Pycelle, destroyed himself by playing the game of thrones.
  • Maggy the FrogMaggy the Frog was a woman from Lannisport who was a fortune teller. She was an expert in curses and love portions.
  • Mance RayderMance Rayder is the King of the wildlings and lives beyond the Wall. Formerly a man of the Night's Watch, he abandons his vows and travels beyond Castle Black to unite the various tribes of wildlings scattered up North.
  • Master of CoinBesides advising the king on budget allocation, the master of coin is responsible for providing money for funding the government.
  • Meera ReedMeera Reed is a member of House Reed and is the daughter of Howland Reed. She is Jojen Reed's older sister.
  • Mirri Maz DuurMirri Maz Duur later encountered Khal Drogo's Khalasar and sought revenge against him. She succeeded but burned.
  • Mya StoneMya Stone is the bastard child of King Robert Baratheon. She served House Royce of the Gates of the Moon and realized the world was cruel.
  • Myrcella BaratheonMyrcella Baratheon is legally Robert's only daughter and the sister to Prince Tommen Baratheon and Joffrey Baratheon.
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  • Night's WatchThe Night's Watch is an order of soldiers dedicated to watching the Wall separating the realms of men from the creatures beyond the Wall.
  • NymeriaNymeria is among the pups found by Jon Snow, Robb Stark, and Bran Stark. She got named after Dornish Princess Nymeria of the Rhoynar.
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  • Obara SandWith an angry demeanor and man-like strength, Obara Sand deems herself a warrior and shatters the norms of Dorne. Learn more about her.
  • Oberyn MartellOberyn Martell is the younger brother of Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne. He is a beloved Prince in Sunspear and a master of deadly poisons.
  • Olenna TyrellOlenna Tyrell was Lord Luthor Tyrell's wife before he died. She plays a vital role in King Joffrey Baratheon's reign and plots his murder.
  • OshaOsha becomes a crucial character that helps Bran and Rickon escape from Winterfell after its fall into Theon Greyjoy's hand.
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  • PentosPentos is one of the nine Free Cities of Essos. It is a populous port city that deals in trade and commerce of products across the Narrow Sea.
  • Petyr BaelishAs one of the most intelligent people in Westeros, Petyr Baelish creates the rift between the Starks and Lannisters, causing the War of the Five Kings.
  • Podrick PayneAfter the Battle of Blackwater, Podrick Payne remained loyal to his master, Tyrion, who got injured during the conflict.
  • PyparPypar, popularly called Pyp, is a brother of the Night's Watch who comes into the order with Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly, and Grenn.
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  • QarthQarth is an ancient port city on the southern coast of Essos. It got called the Queen of Cities, a self-proclaimed title it shared with Yunkai.
  • Qhorin Halfhand: The Valiant SoldierQhorin Halfhand is a brother of the Night's Watch and a crucial character in the events on the Wall in A Song of Ice and Fire.
  • QyburnQyburn was a maester of the Citadel who got stripped of his title after indulging in unethical experiments involving tearing apart the living.
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  • Randyll TarlyLord Randyll Tarly is a mighty commander whose battle intellect made him an asset to the Iron Throne. Learn more about his deeds.
  • Renly BaratheonRenly Baratheon is King Robert I Baratheon's younger brother. He amasses a mighty army when his brother dies.
  • Rickard KarstarkIn Game of Thrones, Lord Rickard Karstark is the Lord of Karhold and head of House Karstark, a cadet branch of House Stark.
  • Rickon StarkWhen Eddard becomes the new Hand of the King, he leaves Winterfell with Arya Stark and Sansa Stark, to Rickon Stark's dismay.
  • Robb StarkRobb Stark is the eldest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. He becomes the King when war erupts but gets defeated after a crushing betrayal.
  • Robert BaratheonRobert Baratheon, the Demon of the Trident, was the seventeenth King of the Seven Kingdoms who dethroned Aerys II Targaryen during a rebellion.
  • Rodrik CasselThough a fierce warrior, Rodrik Cassel is compassionate and kind to his enemies. He trained Robb, Jon Snow, and the ironborn Theon Greyjoy.
  • Roose BoltonLord Roose Bolton is the head of House Bolton, the former ruling great house of the North, and the Lord of the Dreadfort.
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  • Salladhor SaanSalladhor Saan is from the Saan family, a house of Valyrian descent, and calls himself the Prince of the Narrow Sea.
  • Samwell TarlyAnnoyed at his softness, Randyll tried many methods to make Samwell Tarly become manly to no avail, and later, he gave up.
  • Sandor Clegane (the Hound)Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound, left House Clegane when his brother came of inheritance and instead fervently started serving the Lannisters.
  • Selyse BaratheonSelyse Baratheon is a cold-hearted queen and fanatic believer in Melisandre, the red priestess of R'hllor. Learn more about her.
  • ShaeBeing a beautiful woman, Shae catches the eyes of Tyrion, and throughout the War of the Five Kings, he stops whoring. However, she betrays him.
  • SkinchangerA skinchanger is a human with the ability to possess the mind of an animal and control its actions.
  • Stannis BaratheonStannis Baratheon is King Robert Baratheon's younger brother. He was the master of ships, Lord of Dragonstone, and claimant of the Iron Throne.
  • Stone MenThe Stone Men are people infected by the flesh-eating disease Greyscale. They were isolated from the rest of society and had a thriving community.
  • Syrio ForelSyrio Forel is a master swordsman of the water dance fighting technique of the Free City of Braavos. He is a proficient and deadly fighter.
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  • The Fist of the First MenThe Fist of the First Men is a hill in the Haunted Forest beyond the Wall. It was crucial to the Night's Watch during the Great Ranging.
  • The ValeThe Vale of Arryn, or as it is also known, the Vale, is one of the constituent regions that make up the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
  • The WaifAfter leaving Westeros for Essos, Arya arrives at the temple of the Faceless Men. She meets a Kindly Man and the Waif.
  • Theon GreyjoyTheon Greyjoy is the son of Balon Greyjoy and heir apparent to the Iron Islands. He lands in trouble with Ramsay when he betrays the Starks.
  • Thoros of MyrThoros of Myr is a red priest that serves the Lord of Light, R'hllor. He was born in the free city of Myr in Essos and traveled to Westeros.
  • Three-Eyed RavenKnown by the Children of the Forest as the last greenseer, the three-eyed raven could see the past and present using a weirwood tree.
  • Tommen BaratheonTommen Baratheon is the last child of King Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei Lannister. He becomes King after the death of his cruel brother.
  • Tyene SandTyene Sand, a quiet but deadly woman, grew up at the Water Gardens and learned the art of poisons from her father, Oberyn.
  • Tywin LannisterLord Tywin Lannister was the Lord of Casterly Rock and head of House Lannister. He served as the Hand of the King to King Aerys II Targaryen.
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  • UnsulliedThe Unsullied are slave soldiers who get castrated at a young age. They get trained to be fearlessly merciless and incredibly skilled.
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  • ValyriaDuring the height of its reign, Valyria was an unstoppable force that pummeled all its opposers to ash.
  • Valyrian SteelValyrian steel is steel from the Valyrian Freehold. Because of the use of magic in its forging process, it got used for making many tools.
  • Vargo HoatThough Vargo Hoat is a minor character in the overall story of A Song of Ice and Fire, he impacted the events that happened in the Riverlands.
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  • Lord VarysVarys is a eunuch who started as a poor slave in Essos. After meeting Illyrio Mopatis, he became one of the wealthiest men in Pentos.
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  • Victarion GreyjoyFaithfully serving Balon, Victarion Greyjoy rode to many battles at sea for the Iron Islands. However, he got betrayed by his brother and men.
  • Viserys TargaryenTo save him from the carnage in Westeros, Aerys sends Viserys Targaryen and his mother to Dragonstone, where she conceives Daenerys.
  • VolantisVolantis, or Old Volantis, is one of the oldest existing cities on the continent of Essos. As one of the richest, proudest, and most senior of the nine free cities, it has a rich and deep history that began after the fall of the Old Empire of Ghis.
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  • Walder FreyWalder Frey is a cold-hearted man with more than 20 children. He becomes the final piece that destroys the Starks.
  • WargA warg, skinchanger, or beastling is someone with the ability to enter the body and mind of an animal and control its perceptions and actions.
  • Waymar RoyceSer Waymar Royce was a sworn brother of the Night's Watch and a former knight of House Royce.
  • WeirwoodWeirwood trees were sacred to the Children of the Forest. They used it for religious, medicinal, and construction purposes.
  • WildlingsThough disorganized, most of the Free Folk, wildlings, worship the Old Gods of the Forest and share a common enemy, the Night's Watch.
  • Wyman ManderlyWyman Manderly is the Lord of White Harbor and the head of House Manderly. He holds many honorary titles.
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  • YgritteYgritte is a spearwife and a woman of the free folk. She becomes Jon Snow's lover when he enters the camp of the wildlings as a spy.
  • YunkaiYunkai is one of the great Ghiscari city-states of Slaver's Bay in central Essos. It has a terrible reputation for its dealings in slavery.
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