Unveiling the Enigmatic World of Westeros in Game of Thrones

In HBO's Game of Thrones, the snowy North sets the stage for the opening scene featuring rangers Will, Gared, and Ser Waymar Royce from the Night's Watch, an ancient order. Tasked with investigating reports of Wildlings in the Haunted Forest beyond the Wall, the scene provides insight into the significance of this fortification as a defensive barrier along the Northern border of the Kingdom of North.

During their expedition, Will, Gared, and Waymar discover that the Wildlings, referred to as "savages" by Waymar, are outlaws situated beyond the Wall. These separatists reject the political system that governs the Kingdom of the North and King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. This raises the question of the capital's location and the region it serves as the administrative center for.

Westeros, the fictional continent in which Game of Thrones is set, is derived from George R. R. Martin's book series, A Song of Ice and Fire. This vast landmass is situated to the west and is separated from the eastern continent of Essos by the Narrow Sea. Within Westeros, there are Seven Kingdoms spanning across nine regions, all under the rule of the monarch who sits on the Iron Throne. Martin has masterfully constructed a rich and expansive world, providing an intricate backdrop for the power struggles and political maneuvering that occur in the game of thrones.

The Geography And Conquest Of Westeros

The Free Cities, mentioned in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, are the closest foreign territories to Westeros. The Summer Isles lie to the south of Westeros, while the western edge of Westeros remains uncharted on most maps. In the Game of Thrones finale, "The Iron Throne," Arya Stark, the youngest daughter of Ned Stark, fulfilled her longing for adventure by embarking on a journey across the Sunset Sea, which stretches to the west of Westeros. This vast continent boasts a diverse landscape, characterized by its elongated shape with the Wall in the north and Dorne in the south. The northernmost regions of Westeros, known as the Land of Always Winter, remain largely unexplored due to their treacherous terrain.

The Targaryen dynasty was established by Aegon I, who successfully conquered six out of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Prior to his invasion, Westeros was divided into seven separate and feuding kingdoms: the North, the Rock, the Reach, the Isles and Rivers, the Stormlands, the Mountain and the Vale, and Dorne. Each of these kingdoms was governed by a noble house from their main stronghold. Notably, House Stark ruled over the Kingdom of the North from their ancestral seat and stronghold, Winterfell. Aegon perceived these warring kingdoms and the independent Principality of Dorne as a unified entity, and embarked on a mission to conquer and incorporate them into his realm.

The Political Machinery of Westeros

The continent of Westeros is one of the known continents in the Known World. While Essos, a much larger and historically rich continent, is featured in HBO's Game of Thrones, Westeros is where the majority of the show's action takes place. Prior to Sansa Stark's liberation of the North and Bran Stark's election as King, Westeros was divided into nine distinct administrative regions (excluding the North): the Vale, the Riverlands, the Iron Islands, the Westerlands, the Crownlands, the Reach, the Stormlands, and Dorne. The Monarch occupied the highest position in the ruling hierarchy, exerting their authority over the fictional realm known as the Seven Kingdoms. Social status was determined by birthright, though individuals like Varys, who were underprivileged, or those like Baelish, who lacked distinguished lineage, managed to attain high-ranking positions. However, their retention of power often relied on deceitful tactics and political maneuvering.

In Westeros, the monarchs, like Queen Cersei Lannister, implemented strict policies, while some benevolent kings, such as Jaehaerys and Viserys I Targaryen, were also recognized in history. The Wildlings, known as the Free Folk, did not adhere to the laws and limitations that governed the Seven Kingdoms. Considering themselves as free people, the Wildlings resided in Westeros and had a distinct characteristic of selecting their leaders rather than having a hereditary ruler. An underlying mistrust and animosity existed between the Free Folk and the citizenry of the Seven Kingdoms until Jon Snow forged an alliance, allowing the Wildlings to join forces with the Northerners in order to defend against the Night King's army of the dead. Ultimately, in the Game of Thrones finale, Jon Snow, accompanied by his friend Tormund Giantsbane and his direwolf Ghost, returned north of the Wall with the remaining Free Folk. They left Castle Black behind, venturing into the Haunted Forest, and that marked the end of their journey.