The Iron Throne is the seat of the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. It is a metonymic device for the power of the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. With jagged edges and sharp blades, it is one of the most dangerous seats in Westeros. The Iron Throne got created from the swords of Kings and lords defeated during Aegon’s Conquest. It was uncomfortable as the King, Aegon Targaryen, argued that no ruler should be on a comfortable seat.
Appearance
The Iron Throne is an asymmetric seat made from metal and steel. Its edges are jagged, and many dangerous spikes make it look dreadful. The Iron Throne got constructed after Aegon’s Conquest of the Six Kingdoms. He collected the blades of defeated lords, dying soldiers, and fallen Kings and used them to craft a massive ugly throne symbolizing conquest.
The Iron Throne sits on a raised platform in the throne room of the Red Keep. It can get accessed through iron steps in the Great Hall. At the throne’s base is a table for the members of the Small Council.
The Iron Throne is as deadly as it is powerful. Its edges make it a sore for anyone sitting on top, and most King got cuts from trying to relax in the seat. The design got greenlighted by Aegon the Conqueror, who stated that no King should stay in a comfortable chair. Centuries after its creation, the blades are still sharp enough to cut someone. They are even deadlier as a cut could lead to an infection and death.
Some Kings who had problems with the Iron Throne include King Viserys I Targaryen, who almost died after stumbling. The throne cut Visery’s hand to the bone, and to save him from infection, Maester Gerardys had to amputate two extra fingers. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen also got injured by the Iron Throne after sitting on it. However, the worst victim was King Aerys II Targaryen, who got so many cuts that he got the nickname King Scab. Some stories claimed the throne killed King Maegor Targaryen as he got found on the seat dead.
History
Aegon I Targaryen
According to legend, after defeating the Kings that opposed him in Westeros, Aegon I Targaryen collected a thousand swords and used the fire from his dragon Balerion, to melt the blades. From the molten mass, the Iron Throne got crafted.
According to the history books, the Iron Throne got created by armorers. It stood at Aegonfort, a wooden castle Aegon had built when he first arrived in Westeros. For many years, The Iron Throne was the highest seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon’s wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, sat on it as they ruled the kingdom in Aegon’s stead. After the First Dornish War, there was peace in the Seven Kingdoms for about two decades. However, on Aegon’s death, war erupted.
Aenys and Maegor
After Aegon’s death, his son, King Aenys I Targaryen, took over. He experienced many rebellions from lords who tried to revert to the old ways. Aenys’ brother and bannerman, Maegor I Targaryen, tackled all the problems in a year. Later, the King had issues with the Faith of the Seven after he married his son Aegon to daughter Rhaena. The marriage led to the rise of the Faith Militant against the Iron Throne. Aenys fled King’s Landing and died a year later from a heart attack.
Maegor I returned after his brother’s death and claimed the Iron Throne. However, Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon crowned Aenys’ son Aegon King on Driftmark. Though Aegon tried claiming the throne, he got defeated by Maegor in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye. Maegor continued ruling and earned a reputation for his intense cruelty. When Prince Jaehaerys declared his claim to the Iron Throne, Maegor’s supporters abandoned him. He later got found dead on the throne.
Jaehaerys and Viserys
After Maegor the Cruel’s death, King Jaehaerys I took over. He recognized his sister’s eldest daughter Aerea Targaryen as heir, then his daughter, Daenerys Targaryen, and finally his son, Aemon Targaryen. However, Aemon died, and a problem of succession arose. Jaehaerys declared his son Baelon Targaryen, as heir, but his death led to the Iron Throne having no successor. To fix the succession problem, Jaeharys held the first Great Council at Harrenhal in 101 AC. From the event, Viserys I Targaryen became the next King.
King Viserys I Targaryen’s reign was peaceful and prosperous. However, after his second son’s death, he named his daughter Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen heir. Viserys later remarried Alicent Hightower after his first wife’s death. He had three sons with Alicent but still viewed his daughter as the heir to the Iron Throne. However, after his death, his eldest son Aegon II, declared himself King.
The Dance of the Dragons
After Aegon Ii became King, a civil war broke out. Rhaenyra’s faction got called the Blacks, while Alicent’s group was the Greens. The conflict lasted two and a half years, and by the end, Rhaenyra, Aegon II, Aemond, and Daemon Targaryen were dead. After the war, two people who declared themselves King, Trystane Truefyre and Gaemon Palehair, got arrested. Aegon II Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s young son, became King. He married Aegon II’s daughter and made Lord Cregan Stark the Hand of the King during the Hour of the Wolf.
Successions
Dareon Targaryen became King after Aegon III. He led another Conquest of Dorne and got killed four years later by Dornishmen. His brother, Baelor the Blessed, took over. Viserys II became King after his death. King Viserys ruled excellently, implementing many reforms. However, he died from a mysterious illness a year later.
After Viserys’s death, his son Aegon IV became King. King Aegon IV was an incredibly incompetent King, who loved whoring. On his deathbed, he legitimized all his bastard sons; this led to Daemon Blackfyre contending for the Iron Throne in the First Blackfyre Rebellion. After Aegon IV, Daron II became King. He included Dorne in the realm peacefully.
The Mad King
After many Kings and four Blackfyre rebellions, Aerys Targaryen became King. However, he grew mad and alienated everyone. After Brandon and Lord Cregan Stark, he asked Lord Jon Arryn to bring the heads of Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark; this led to Robert’s Rebellion against the Iron Throne. After Aerys’ son, Rhaegar Targaryen’s death, King’s Landing got sacked by Lord Tywin Lannister, leading to the fall of the Targaryens.
King Robert Baratheon
After Aerys’ death, Robert Baratheon became King. However, he hated his crown and the Iron Throne. Robert threw King’s Landing in debt by whoring, drinking, and hosting tourneys and feasts. Lord Balon Greyjoy tried rebelling against the throne but got defeated. His only living son, Theon Greyjoy, got sent to Winterfell, as a hostage of the Starks.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire Books
A Game of Thrones
After Lord Jon Arryn’s death, Lord Ned Stark travels to King’s Landing with his daughters Arya Stark and Sansa Stark. He rules as Hand of the King and sits on the Iron Throne when Robert Baratheon goes hunting. Queen Cersei Lannister arranges for her husband’s death to prevent him from learning the truth about her children Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, and Tommen Baratheon. After killing Robert, she arrests Ned Stark, and he later gets killed.
A Clash of Kings
After Robert and Eddard’s death, Westeros plunges into chaos. Renly Baratheon and his brother Stannis declare their claim to the Iron Throne. When Tywin Lannister heard of Ned’s death, he sent his son Tyrion Lannister to King’s Landing as the acting Hand of the King. Tyrion builds an alliance with Dorne, and when Renly gets killed, he sends Lord Petyr Baelish to make the Tyrells side with the Iron Throne. Stannis attacks King’s Landing in the Battle of the Blackwater but gets defeated.
A Storm of Swords
The War of the Five Kings closes after Robb Stark and Balon Greyjoy’s death. Joffrey gets married to Margaery Tyrell, but during his wedding feast, he gets poisoned. Tyrion gets accused and arrested for the act, but before his execution, his brother, Jaime Lannister, frees him. Before he leaves, Tyrion kills his father. Tommen becomes King, and his mother, Cersei, becomes Queen Regent.
A Feast for Crows
Cersei rules King’s Landing as Queen Regent. She sits on a gold and crimson seat beneath the Iron Throne. Her terrible decisions send the city into debt and economic turmoil. To repay some of the debt owed to the Faith, Cersei allows the restoration of the Faith Militant. She then tries framing Queen Margaery Tyrell but gets arrested for adultery and murder. Her uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister, becomes Lord Regent.
A Dance with Dragons
Ser Kevan continues governing King’s Landing for Tommen. He fixes the problems created by Cersei and guides King’s Landing to a better future. Meanwhile, the exiled Lord Jon Connington and Aegon VI Targaryen, Rhaegar Targaryen’s son, arrive in Westeros and start riding some regions. Before Kevan leads some troops against them, he gets killed by Lord Varys, King Robert Baratheon’s Master of Whisperers.
Relevance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, the Iron Throne was a highly coveted seat, leading to countless deaths and destruction. Queen Daenerys Targaryen fought her way from Essos to Westeros to claim her birthright, but after destroying King’s Landing, she got killed by Jon Snow. He got banished, and his brother Bran Stark became King with Samwell Tarly as Grand Maester and Tyrion Lannister as Hand of the King.
The Iron Throne: A Seat of Death
Though it was the highest chair in the realm, the Iron Throne brought only death and hardship. The intense struggle for it led to years of destruction, betrayals, and deaths. The bloodlust surrounding it makes it one of the most cursed things in the known world.
FAQs
Why did Aegon make the Iron Throne?
Aegon created the Iron Throne to symbolize his conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. He made the seat uncomfortable because he believed a King should never sit easily when the realm is in chaos.
Who did the Iron Throne kill?
The Iron Throne was so dangerous that some people believed it killed Maegor the Cruel. However, the story is shrouded in fiction as evidence points to the fact he got assassinated.
Was Daenerys supposed to be the Queen of Westeros?
Though she was King Aery’s daughter, Daenerys was not supposed to be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Her brother Viserys was the heir after Rhaegar’s death. However, he got killed by Khal Drogo.