First Men (FÖ 12.000)
Westeros was a peaceful green island uninhabited by a human. Only the Children of the Forest and giants lived in it. The Children of the Forest were more minor than human beings. They practiced magic and used dragon glass to make knives. They believed in their own gods and carved their faces into trees. Their peaceful life changed utterly when people set foot in Westeros.
People from Essos officially invaded Westeros with bronze weapons in their hands and their horses under them. They started cutting down trees and settling in. The cutting of the Weirwood trees, where the gods of the Children of the Forest carved their faces, was the final point. The Children of the Forest declared war on humans. This war went on for years. The Children of the Forest were more robust, but the people were too numerous and bulkier. Realizing they could not win the war, the Children of the Forest destroyed the connection between Essos and Westeros. But it was too late. A huge crowd had already crossed into Westeros.
The Children of the Forest continued their war with the humans. Realizing they could not win the war, they kidnaped one of the people; turned that human into the White Walker, the Night King, and used this person as a defense mechanism. It is unknown what the Night King did and why he did not obey the Children of the Forest and fled.
Unable to find a solution to win, the Children of the Forest are forced to make a peace treaty with the people. According to the agreement, everyone would stay in their own area and live there. Thus began a 2,000-year period called the Age of Heroes. During this period, humans formally settled in Westeros and laid the foundations for the 7 kingdoms that would emerge. Unfortunately, there is not much information about the Age of Heroes. Back then, they weren’t very good at keeping records. Technology and recording did not flourish in Westeros until the invasion of the Andals. The 2,000-year-old peace environment changes entirely in 8000 before the Conquest.
The Long Night
Westeros was a peaceful green island uninhabited by a human. Only the Children of the Forest and giants lived in it. The Children of the Forest were more minor than human beings. They practiced magic and used dragon glass to make knives. They believed in their own gods and carved their faces into trees. Their peaceful life changed utterly when people set foot in Westeros.
People from Essos officially invaded Westeros with bronze weapons in their hands and their horses under them. They started cutting down trees and settling in. The cutting of the Weirwood trees, where the gods of the Children of the Forest carved their faces, was the final point. The Children of the Forest declared war on humans. This war went on for years. The Children of the Forest were more robust, but the people were too numerous and bulkier. Realizing they could not win the war, the Children of the Forest destroyed the connection between Essos and Westeros. But it was too late. A huge crowd had already crossed into Westeros.
The Children of the Forest continued their war with the humans. Realizing they could not win the war, they kidnaped one of the people; turned that human into the White Walker, the Night King, and used this person as a defense mechanism. It is unknown what the Night King did and why he did not obey the Children of the Forest and fled.
Unable to find a solution to win, the Children of the Forest are forced to make a peace treaty with the people. According to the agreement, everyone would stay in their own area and live there. Thus began a 2,000-year period called the Age of Heroes. During this period, humans formally settled in Westeros and laid the foundations for the 7 kingdoms that would emerge. Unfortunately, there is not much information about the Age of Heroes. Back then, they weren’t very good at keeping records. Technology and recording did not flourish in Westeros until the invasion of the Andals. The 2,000-year-old peace environment changes entirely in 8000 before the Conquest.
Andal Invasion
In the 6,000 years before the Conquest, a brand new raid came from Essos. These people, called Andals, came to Westeros and nearly conquered the whole continent. The foundation of today’s Game of Thrones kingdoms was also laid in this period. Stronger and hairier than early humans, the Andals were also technologically advanced. While the first humans used bronze weapons, the Andals came with steel swords.
The Andals committed genocide against the first humans. Remarkably few early humans survived. Those who remained were slaves or lower class. But it is said that the blood of many great families had already mixed with the first people. The Andals, who managed to reach as far as the north, had to stop there. In today’s Game of Thrones, only the Starks are known as First Men. Unable to defeat the Starks due to geographical and natural conditions, the Andals abandoned them and the Night’s Watch and focused on the places they had conquered.
The Children of the Forest fought a fierce battle against the Andals, but they could not resist, as their lineage was reduced by The Long Night. The Andals believed in the 7-Faced God. Living at peace with the first humans, the Children of the Forest become a hate symbol in the eyes of the Andals. These hairy men, who committed genocide against the Children of the Forest, burned all their sacred trees one by one. The Children of the Forest, who were left with a few, disappeared into the secret, hiding in the 3-Eyed Raven’s cave.
Arriving 6,000 years before the Conquest, the Andals made Westeros the way they wanted within 2,000 years. Thus began the reign of the Andals, which would last for thousands of years. The Andals, divided into 7 different kingdoms, began to live independently and freely. These independent days of theirs are completely changed by a conqueror after thousands of years.
Targaryen Invasion and Seven Kingdoms
Before the Conquest in 300, Essos was ruled by the Valyrian people. Living in a city called Old Valyria, the Valyrian people consisted of 40 families known as dragon lords. All of these families had the ability to raise and ride dragons. One of these families was the Targaryen family. Aenar, the head of the Targaryens, had a daughter named Daenys. Her daughter was a dreamer. In one of these dreams, she sees that a great disaster will befall Valyria. Of course, no one believes Daenys, except for her father. Aenar, who sold all his lands in Valyria in 126 before the Conquest, took his family and left the lands. Daenys’ dream comes true in 114 Before the Conquest. Valyria and everyone in it experience an apocalypse that will turn the whole area into ashes.
The Targaryen family, who settled on Dragonstone, which we saw in the series, set their sights on the lands of Westeros over time. But the real fire begins with Aegon, born in the year 27 before the Conquest. Aegon and his two sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, who would later become his wives, completely change the fate of Westeros and take its present form.
Harrenhal’s leader, Harren the Black, prepares to wage war against the Durradons living on Storm’s End. Argalic Durrandon, who thinks he can’t handle this war, sends a letter to Aegon and presents his daughter to him. But Aegon says that his daughter should marry Orys Baratheon, not me. Angry at this, Argalic cuts off the envoy’s hands and sends them back to Aegon. Of course, Argalic’s move would cost him dearly.
After a 7-day meeting with his men on Dragonstone, Aegon sends a message to all of Westeros with crows. The message was clear: From this day forward, I am the king of Westeros. Those who kneel will be forgiven, but all who raise their swords will be burned. Aegon and his sisters came to the bay known as Blackwater Rush with their 3 dragons and ordered the construction of Aegonfort, which we will later call King’s Landing. Thus, Aegon officially entered and settled in Westeros. Faced with many rebellions and armies, Aegon and his sisters incinerate them with the flames of their dragons. Not a single power can stand in the way of dragons. Cleaning the area, Aegon chooses Orys Baratheon as his hand, his friend or supposedly bastard brother, for the first time in Westeros. Thus, Aegon, crowned with Valerian steel, officially becomes the protector of Westeros, the 7 kingdoms.
Aegon continues to advance through Westeros. Although the Targaryen armies have always struggled against the armies of Westeros, with the power of the dragons, the Targaryens have conquered all places in one way or another. Harranhal, which we see in ruins in the series, is the work of Aegon’s dragon Balerion.
When Harranhal fell, Argalic gathered his army and went to war against Orys’ army. This muddy war fought during a crazy rain, is won again with the dragon’s help. Thus, not a single army remains on Storm’s End, and Orys takes the castle and lays the foundation of the Baratheon family.
Westeros was moving towards the final battle that would later become known as The Field of Fire. The Lannister and Gardener families went against Aegon with their 55,000 men. Remaining 5 to 1, Aegon only lost 100 men in this battle because Balerion burned the whole army to ashes. As the Gardener family perished, the Lannisters knelt before the Targaryens and proclaimed their allegiance.
Targaryen Civil war
If you read my article on the Targaryen civil war, you can find the whole story that will be told in House of the Dragon. To summarize briefly, the king chose Rhaenyra, the heir to the throne, when Viserys could not have a son, and his wife died during childbirth. But upon the council’s insistence, the king marries the daughter of his hand, Otto Hightower. Alicent Hightower gives the king 3 sons who can sit on the throne. But the king keeps his word and declares that Rhaenyra will remain the heir to the throne. But one day, when the king dies, Alicent and the council secretly meet and decide that Alicent’s son, Aegon, should come to the throne. And they declare Aegon king without telling anyone. Hearing this, Rhaenyra declares war on Alicent and everyone who supports her. Thus, two sides are formed, greens and blacks, and a war that will last for years begins.
The Greens, Alicent’s biggest supporter, of course, were his own family, the Hightowers. The Hightower family fights families that support blacks many times during the civil war. It was a long and destructive time for Westeros. Houses and families have never been damaged this much ever before. But Targaryens come off worse. They lost most of their dragons, and remain ones were males. And those who remain left Westeros or perished in time.
Blackfyre Rebellion
Although Aegon captured Westeros, Dorne, unfortunately, did not give up. Time was passing, and everyone was getting old, even dragons. Although the Targaryens were rulers of Westeros, they no longer had dragons. After the Conquest in 158, King Daeron somehow managed to capture Dorne and died 3 years after his capture. Baelor, the post-Daeron king, made a deal with Dorne and ceded the city to the Martels.
Back in King’s Landing, Baelor imprisoned his three brothers. But Daena managed to escape. Being pregnant, Daena gave birth to a child. A bastard named Daemon Waters… Time passed, and didn’t feel sorry for anyone. Baelor died, and his brother Viserys II succeeded to the throne. He, too, died, and his son Aegon IV succeeded to the throne. Aegon allegedly poisoned his father.
Daemon Waters was growing and developing. Daemon, who became a knight in time, also possessed a Valyrian steel sword. Aegon had two children. But Daeron was not on good terms with his father. He did not like his father’s decisions. In 184, Aegon IV died and was succeeded by his son Daeron, who disliked him. Daeron might have been the greatest king in Westeros history. He gave importance to merit and preferred to communicate with people. He’s been good to all of Westeros.
Bastard Daemon made a request on the king’s wedding day: He said he wanted to build a fortress around Blackwater. The king granted Daemon’s request. Because why wouldn’t he?
Daeron signed a partnership with Dorne after 2 years of negotiations. Princess Daenerys married Prince Maron Martel, while King Daeron married Princess Mariah Martel. This tied Dorne and King’s Landing. With such a method, Daeron bound Dorne, who showed the greatest resistance, to himself. But this situation did not please the other kingdoms. They felt that the Martels were given too much credit. And by a twist of fate, Daeron, who was good to everyone, suddenly became a question in the eyes of the people because of the Martel merger.
The bastard Daemon Blackfyre led the questioners. Although Daeron had always treated him well, he rebelled and raised his sword, taking the other bastards with him. You know the Targaryen flag. There is a black 3-headed dragon on red. Daemon, on the other hand, did the opposite and walked towards the king with a red-on-black 3-headed dragon. Because of this rebellion, Westeros is divided in two. Half participate in the revolt, and half support the king.
Thus, the famous battle known as the Redgrass war takes place. On one side are Ser Quentyn Ball, and on the other are the armies of Leo Tyrell and Daemon Blackfyre. The rebels bring the war to the consistency of winning with a successful tactic, but there is something they did not calculate. Prince Baelor comes from behind with his cavalry armies and buries the rebels into history. More than 10,000 people die in this war, known as Redgrass.
Aegor Rivers, one of the rebels’ commanders, manages to escape the battle and throws himself in Essos. And he lays the foundations of the Golden Company, which Cersei will bring from Essos in the future.
Robert’s Rebellion (FS 283)
Aerys Targaryen, the famous Mad King. Someone who deserves his nickname. Every day has been challenging for Westeros since Aerys took the throne. Wild and ruthless, Aerys caused many innocent bloodsheds in the lands of Westeros. One day, Aerys declares Tywin Lannister to be the King’s Hand. Tywin was also no different from Aerys. He was also ruthless. Young Tywin causes problems in Westeros with his services. Tywin, on the other hand, always regards these as “ungratefulness.”
Aerys’ mental balance begins to deteriorate over time. Unfortunately, 4 children of Aerys, who tried to have children 6 times with his sister, Rhaella, are stillborn. Only Rhaegar and Viserys, whose names we will hear a lot in the future, survive. Then Daenerys is born, who is still in pursuit of the throne in the series. Aerys was already suffering from psychological problems due to her unborn children. In addition, he is taken hostage by the rebels while suppressing the rebellion in Duskandale. After 6 months in prison, Aerys is rescued by Tywin Lannister and Barristan Selmy. But the rescued Aerys is no longer the old Aerys. He, entirely insane, now thinks everyone wants to kill him and, because of that, becomes suspicious of everyone. So much so that his right-hand man is even suspicious of his beloved Tywin. Tywin, unable to stand Aerys’s mania and mobbing, abandons his badge and returns to Casterly Rock. In the process, Aerys invites 15-year-old Jaime Lannister, Tywin’s son, to join him after Harlan Grandison from the Kingsguard team led by Gerold Hightower. Thus, Jaime becomes one of the 7 Kingsguard members.
One day, a big tournament is held in Harrenhal. All members of the 7 kingdoms, including Aerys, participate in this tournament. Rhaegar, son of Aerys, was the champion of the tournament. Rhaegar, who knocked out names such as Yohn Royce, Brandon Stark, Arthur Dayne, and Barristan Selmy in the tournament, makes a move that will change the history of Westeros. Rhaegar, who was married to Elia Martel, gives the blue flower he will choose the queen of the tournament, not to his wife, but to Lyanna Stark of Winterfell. This was perhaps the biggest scandal in Westeros’s history. But the only problem was not Rhaegar’s marriage. Lyanna was engaged to Robert Baratheon. This scandal in Harrenhal does not stay there. Sometime later, Westeros was rocked by a brand new scandal: Rhaegar and Lyanna fled together. Or as they know it: Rhaegar has kidnapped Lyanna, despite being married.
Lyanna’s kidnapping takes a toll on her brother Brandon Stark. Planning to go to Catelyn Stark, Brandon changes his way to the door of King’s Landing and challenges Rhaegar, who he thought was there, to a duel. Aerys imprisoned Brandon for this attempt. Rickard Stark says, “Are you going to put my son in prison,” reaches King’s Landing with the men he has gathered and offers “Trial by Combat.” Rickard Stark tells Aerys to choose his best man. But Rickard didn’t know Aerys at all. The Mad King sets Rickard Stark on fire, saying he chooses fire. Unable to stand it, Brandon Stark commits suicide and kills himself. With the death of 2 Starks, Westeros enters into an irreversible war.
Anticipating what will happen, Aerys tells Jon Arryn to “stand by my side” and asks him to go against Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon, who are preparing to rebel. But Arryn does not accept this and takes sides with the rebels. The rebels send a crow to every corner of Westeros. Although they say enough is enough for this ruler, parts of the Riverlands and Stormlands agree to join the war. Many kingdoms side with the mad king. Only Tywin chooses neither side and remains neutral. While Eddard Stark was assembling an army in the north, Robert departed from Storm’s End, fighting and defeating those who took the Mad King’s side. Thus began preparations for the attack on King’s Landing. On his way to rendezvous with Eddard Stark’s armies, Robert encountered Randyll Tarly’s army. With Mace Tyrell catching up with Randyll, Robert’s army began rapidly advancing north to meet the large army.
Robert’s problems did not end there. Encountering Jon Connington’s army on the way, Robert entered into a great war. With the arrival of the troops of Eddard Stark and Hoster Tully, a massive field war broke out in Stony Sept. When Jon Cunnington realized he could not win the war, he fled with his army. This was the first victory of the great rebellion. So much so that Aerys, who heard that Jon had lost, took all his titles, saying that my eyes would not see you. The Mad King, who better understands the magnitude of the rebellion, starts the idea of equipping the city, which we will remember a lot in the future, with crazy fire. Just in case, crazy fire is placed in many points of the city.
Rhaegar, who knows where he was, returns to King’s Landing. Although, we found out where he is thanks to the series. Rhaegar, one way or another, assembled a huge army. He leads this army against the rebels coming to King’s Landing. 2 armies engage in a massive battle over Trident territory. During the battle, Robert and Rhaegar come face to face. Despite being a master fighter, Rhaegar is overwhelmed by Robert’s hatred and dies during the fight. With Rhaegar dead, the Mad King’s army retreats.
But despite all these efforts, armies do not end the war. As the rebels make their way to King’s Landing, Tywin is the first to arrive. Tywin, who comes to the door with his army, tricks Aerys by pretending to be a friend and enters. The army that enters destroys the place. Meanwhile, Aerys sends his wife Rhaella and son Viserys to Dragonstone. Rhaella was probably pregnant with Daenerys here. Sending his own family to the safe zone, Aerys does not let go of his son’s wife, Elia Martel, and throws her in jail. Thinking of Tywin standing at his door and the rebels coming from afar, Aerys decides to root out the matter and tells his master to ignite all the wildfires that stand by. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Jaime does not allow such a thing to happen and kills the master first and then Aerys. Since he is sworn in, he will be known as Kingslayer forever.
The army of the rebels is so large that Tywin has to prove himself to them by whatever means necessary. So Tywin tells his men, Amory Lorch and Gregor Clagane, to kill Elia Martel. They also fulfill this duty… The war is over. Only Robert truly wants the throne among the rebels, so he becomes the new king. With Robert’s rebellion, the Targaryen reign, which has been going on for 300 years, ends.
Eddard Stark immediately leaves King’s Landing and heads for the Tower of Joy. Here, as we see in the series, he finds his sister Lyanna dying with a baby in her hand. On the other hand, the Targaryens who went to Dragonstone are forced to flee to Bravos after the death of their mother, Rhaella.
No matter how much Robert now held the throne, he had no pleasure in ruling Westeros. Giving himself into drinking and fun, Robert had his right-hand man Jon Arryn do all the work. So much so that Robert, who has no intention of marrying after Lyanna, marries Tywin’s daughter Cersei, with Jon’s suggestion, just to unite with the Lannister family.
Greyjoy’s Revolt (FS 289)
While Robert Baratheon is at one of his usual boring meetings in King’s Landing, a message changes the whole course of the meeting. The content of the message was: The Greyjoys revolted. A brand new war was at hand. Quellon Greyjoy, who lived on the island of Pyke in the Iron Islands, was dissatisfied with the changing system after Aegon. Its fertile lands no longer produced anything but salt. Deciding to open up and expand his territory, Quellon offered to join all the inhabitants of the Iron Island. So he got what he wanted. All the iron islanders followed Quellon, saying we have your back.
Quellon had 5 sons. Balloon, Victorian, Euron, whom we never saw in the show, Urrigon, and Aeron. Quellon launches an attack on the Highgarden borders, taking his ships. But this attack does not go as he wishes, as the armies of the Shield Islands ambush the Greyjoys. Although many ships manage to escape, Quellon dies in the battle at the Mander. With the return of the ships, the eldest son Balon declares his kingdom and ensures the continuation of the rebellion. Balon waits for brand new ships to be built for 5 years. After 5 years, he asks all the iron islands to join him like his father. Balon, backed by their support, declares himself the king of the iron islands. Crowned at the beginning, he sails towards brand new adventures.
Euron and Victorian attack the Lannister beaches, destroying all the ships there. Thus, the coast of western Westeros falls into the hands of the Greyjoys. Meanwhile, Balon’s son Rodrik attacks Seagard on the Riverland side but is crushed by Jason Mallister and dies there.
The Victorian encounters Paxter Redwyne’s ships on the west coast with the massive army of the Isles. Just as the battle begins, he sees Stanis Baratheon’s ships coming from behind. Left in the middle, Victorian realizes that he will lose the war and flees from there. So the entire Greyjoy army went to the bottom of the sea. The ships to which the iron islands gave their years no longer exist. Victorian and Euron flee back to the anchorages. But Stanis does not let go and sets sail towards the anchor islands with his ships. Stanis’ presence allows Robert to get there with his armies very quickly.
The rebellion, starting with Quellon and then Balon, becomes a great massacre. The armies of Stanis, Robert, and Eddard Stark slay the iron islands. Although the islands fell, Balon was foolish to continue the rebellion, and hundreds of soldiers died because of it. Balon’s second son, Maron, dies while defending the wall. Seeing that the armies led by Thoros of Myr and Jorah Mormont are now at his doorstep, Balon finally kneels. Robert and Eddard inflict perhaps the ultimate punishment for Balon, leaving Balon alive. Eddard takes Balon’s youngest son, 10-year-old Theon, as a prisoner and takes him to Winterfell. The only reason the Greyjoys can’t revolt again is that Theon is held captive in Winterfell.
War of the Five Kings
The battle of the 5 Kings was the first battle we could see in the series. The war continued until the betrayal of the Freys and Boltons. Although Robert was married to Cersei, his children were actually from Jamie. Jon Arryn, who probably realized this, disappeared in an instant. Arryn’s wife asks Stanis for help, saying they poisoned my husband. Meanwhile, Eddard Stark takes the seat vacated by Jon Arryn and becomes the king’s hand. You already know what’s next.
Eddard is killed in the name of treason because of the dirty tricks of the Lannisters. With Eddard dead, Winterfell once again declares war on King’s Landing. On the one hand, King’s Landing deals with the attack of the Starks; on the other hand, deals with Stanis.
The aftermath is already known: Red Wedding.
Battle of Bastards
It is one of the craziest battles on the screens that we have the opportunity to watch in the series. Jon Snow fights with the northerners behind him against Ramsey Bolton, who has captured Winterfell. The result is the re-emergence of the Starks.
The Long Night
The war that we had the chance to watch in the 3rd episode of the 8th season is called the “final war” between the White Walkers and the people. When the war ended on the people’s side with Arya’s last-second goal, the last battle was the penultimate. Now, indeed, one more battle awaits us. But, of course, rest assured that the war does not end in Westeros. Westeros will always be hungry for war, whether Daenerys or Jon reclaim the throne or Cersei relinquishes it. Even if there has been an occasional atmosphere of peace for 12 thousand years, one way or another, war has broken out and will still happen.
Sources and Further Information
- R. Martin, George. “A Game of Thrones,” Bantam (2002)
- R. Martin, George. “A Clash of Kings,” Bantam (2002)
- R. Martin, George. “A Storm of Swords,” Bantam (2003)
- R. Martin, George. “A Feast for Crows,” Bantam (2011)
- R. Martin, George. “A Dance with Dragons,” Bantam (2011)
- R. Martin, George. “Fire & Blood,” Bantam (2018)
- A Wiki of Ice and Fire
- Wiki of Westeros
- Alt Shift X, YouTube
- Whycreate, YouTube