The Andals in Game of Thrones: Unveiling their Origins and Impact

Highlights

The Andals were a group of invaders who shaped the visual and cultural landscape of Westeros, introducing knights and a writing system.

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The Seven were worshipped by them, a group of deities comparable to Western Catholicism, while also imposing stringent gender roles and religious doctrine. The Andals achieved dominance in Westeros through their utilization of superior iron weaponry and armor, leading to the subjugation of the First Men and the eventual genocide of the Children of the Forest.

The history of Westeros bears the marks of numerous invaders, ordinary people, and deities that have been long forgotten. These entities have all left their lasting imprint on the land, crafting a complex and troubled tapestry that unfolds in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. Among them, the Andals stand as one of the most influential groups after the First Men.

The Andals, through their actions, have significantly contributed to the visual and cultural landscape that both viewers and readers have grown fond of in Martin's world. To understand the Andals, it is crucial to unravel their identity as early invaders and grasp the pivotal role they played in shaping the Seven Kingdoms.

Who Were The Andals?

The Andals originated from the "Axe," a region located in northern Essos. Prior to their invasion of Westeros, the Andals established an empire by conquering the various tribes inhabiting Essos' Flatlands and Velvet Hills. According to legend, during their expansion, the Andals were visited by the Seven, a group of deities that would later form the foundation of Westeros' primary religion. Supposedly, the Seven anointed the first Andal king, Hugor of the Hill.

Most records of Andal culture focus on their time in Westeros, leaving little information about their day-to-day life in Essos. However, drawing from later Westerosi culture, it can be inferred that the Andals possessed knights and a society reminiscent of medieval Europe. Unlike the First Men, who arrived thousands of years earlier during the Bronze Age, the Andals wielded iron weapons. They also developed a more advanced writing system which gradually replaced the runes used by the First Men.

The faith of the Seven in Andal culture bore a striking resemblance to Western Catholicism with a few noteworthy variations. However, certain aspects such as the presence of a priesthood (septon) and medieval religious beliefs regarding homosexuality, virginity, and the necessity of suppressing women's sexuality persisted. Similar to medieval Europe, Andal knights formed a warrior class that enjoyed special privileges, wealth, land, and titles, all while fighting in the name of their gods. The society constructed by the Andals in Westeros served as evidence that women were confined to the roles of mother, wife, and caretaker, while men enjoyed a higher level of social and political freedom. This distinction, mirroring the reality of Europe, was upheld through religious doctrines and, when required, through acts of violence based on gendered biases.

How Did The Andals Conquer Westeros?

At an undisclosed time - estimates range from two to six thousand years prior to the occurrences in Game of Thrones - the Andals traversed the Narrow Sea and infiltrated Westeros. It is widely believed that the Andals fled the approaching Valyrian Freehold, characterized by its possession of dragons. Virtually all recorded histories of Westeros were transcribed subsequent to the Andals' invasion, consequently written predominantly by Andal historians. This renders the historical accounts one-sided and somewhat detached from the events they claim to document. The existing narrative is not entirely trustworthy, but regardless of their motives, the Andals deserted or were compelled to leave their cities and embarked on a mass migration.

Before the Andal invasion, Westeros enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity thanks to the Pact, a peace agreement between the elf-like Children of the Forest and the First Men who had invaded thousands of years ago. However, after the invasion, the First Men were oppressed and the genocide of the Children, which had been ongoing for thousands of years, was effectively completed.

Despite their smaller numbers, the First Men were no match for the invaders due to the Andals' superior iron weapons and armor. The Andals began their invasion in the Fingers, a region of narrow peninsulas in the northeastern part of the Vale that extend into both the Narrow and Shivering Seas. During their conquest, they destroyed the sacred weirwood trees, killed both the Children of the Forest and the First Men, and proclaimed the superiority of the Seven over the Old Gods worshipped by their enemies. It was during this time of expansion and genocide that some of Westeros' oldest Southern houses, such as the Lannisters, rose to prominence.

After centuries of brutal conflict, the Andals successfully eradicated or intermingled with every southern kingdom, even establishing a few new ones. The sole preexisting Westerosi powers who resisted the Andals were led by the "Kings of Winter," namely the Starks and other rulers of the future North. At Moat Cailin, the Kings of Winter halted the advance of the Andals, fiercely maintaining their independence until Aegon and his sister arrived with their mighty dragons to conquer the entirety of the continent.

Although the Faith of the Seven gradually gained dominance over the continent, the Andals initially allowed the worship of the Old Gods as a necessity. Even after the war was over, the First Men still outnumbered them, and the ruling Andals feared that a complete religious ban would incite a revolt. However, fate had a different plan, as the Andal dominion over Westeros was ultimately threatened from an external force, not from within. Adding to their downfall was the intervention of a familiar party.

Escaping their own disaster, survivors of the Valyrian Freehold, led by three Targaryen siblings, invaded Westeros on the backs of dragons. After a brief conflict, Aegon Targaryen successfully conquered the entire continent, including the Northern Kingdoms. Unlike the Andals, these new conquerors did not aim to completely overhaul the existing society; instead, they sought to establish themselves as its leaders.