The Length of Time in Game of Thrones: A Timeline of Events

The Active Era of Game of Thrones

The Game of Thrones franchise continues to grow with countless spinoffs in the works which will explore various time periods in Westeros. In the context of the greater Game of Thrones timeline, the less than ten years in which the original show happened is a mere blip in the thousands of years that comprise the known history of Westeros according to George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels.

A man painting the map of Westeros in Game of Thrones

Despite the relatively short period compared to House of the Dragon which has already spanned decades, the era of Game of Thrones may be one of the most active in Westerosi history with multiple major character deaths, several wars fought and lost over the Iron Throne, the furthest reaches of Westeros and back to Winterfell, and the rise of the White Walkers. With so much to cover, determining how long the Game of Thrones timeline gives a better understanding of some of the show's biggest moments.

Kit Harrington as Jon Snow holding a baby Ghost in Game of Thrones

The Chronology of Seasons

It's estimated that Game of Thrones' eight seasons occurred across six to seven years — although, exactly how much time passes in the complete Game of Thrones' timeline is ultimately unclear. Much of the confusion regarding this matter stems from Westeros' many differences from the real world, such as how seasonal changes work in Game of Thrones, or the lack of recognizable, repeating holidays that could provide more clues about the exact passage of time. In addition, the events aren't all happening concurrently, and the issues with travel time in this series have been well-documented by angry fans. However, there are a few comments and details that can be used to put together a rough timeline for the show.

Bran Stark sitting in his wheelchair and looking up by the water in Game of Thrones

In the pilot episode, it is explicitly stated that it has been 17 years since Robert's Rebellion, while in season 2, it is said that Renly's death happened 18 years after the Rebellion. This means that between the pilot and season 2, episode 5, 'The Ghost of Harrenhal,' about a year has passed. By season 3's 'The Bear And The Maiden Fair' (season 3, episode 7), another year has passed, as Talisa states that the War of the Five Kings has been going on for two years (and started with the end of the first season). This means that by the end of the third season, somewhere between two and three years have passed.

Arya on a ship in the finale of Game of Thrones

The Unclear Passage of Time

Based on contextual clues the Game of Thrones timeline lasts about six to seven years – but from season 4 onward, the chronology seems to get a little murkier. The show doesn't provide quite so many clear markers as to how much time is passing, and Bran's time-travel Warging complicates matters. However, there are a couple of mentions of the passage of time to help clear things up.

Jon Snow heading Beyond the Wall in Game of Thrones finale

When Jaime heads to Dorne to 'rescue' Myrcella Lannister, she says that she has been there for three years. She set out for Sunspear in season 2, episode 6, 'The Old Gods And The New,' and sees Jaime Lannister again toward the end of season 5, which means that three years passed between the middle of season 2 and the middle of season 5. This means that by the end of season 5, around 4-5 years have passed in total.

Viserys Targaryen holding up a baby in House of the Dragon