“Game of Thrones”: All the important houses of Westeros

In “Game of Thrones” numerous noble houses fight for power over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. This leads to alliances, intrigues, bloody wars and betrayals. In our overview you will learn the stories of the most important houses in this conflict.

Below you can find out what the Starks, Lannisters and Targaryens and Co. are all about. Drive across the map and learn what part of Westeros the House rules. Click on a banner and read more about the history of each house.

Game of Thrones: Important houses of Westeros at a glance

The kingdom that controls most of the continent of Westeros is called the “Seven Kingdoms”. This realm is ruled by the King of the Andals and the First Men. The name “Seven Kingdoms” comes from a time long past when Westeros was ruled by seven different kingdoms.

When Aegon I Targaryen attempted to rule the continent some 300 years ago, he faced seven independent empires. Through wars and strategic marriages, the Targaryen Dynasty managed to conquer and unite the kingdoms over time.

But the “Game of Thrones” spin-off “House of the Dragon” shows that the lust for power shook the House Targaryen to its foundations and ultimately brought about its own downfall.

• In GoT: Kingdom of the North, ruled by House Stark of Winterfell
• In GoT: Kingdom of Mountain and Green Day, ruled by House Arryn of Eyrie
• Bei Got: Kingdom of Isles and Rivers, ruled by House Pride at Harrenhal Castle
• In GoT: Kingdom of Stone, ruled by House Lannister on Casterly Rock
• Bei Got: Kingdom of the Stormlands, ruled by House Durrandon of Storm’s End
• In GoT: Kingdom of the Expanse, ruled by House Gardener of Highgarden
• Bei Got: Principality of Dorne ruled by House Martell of Sunspear

The great houses of the Seven Kingdoms ruled largely autonomously, but were subordinate to the king. At the Harrenhal Grand Tournament, the winner Rhaegar Targaryen presented his tournament ribbon to Lady Lyanna Stark, proclaiming her Queen of Love. In doing so, he broke the tradition that the ribbon must always be given to the wife.

After the alleged abduction of Lyanna Stark by Rhaegar Targaryen, Targaryen rule collapsed. Robert Baratheon led his army into the battle known as Robert’s Rebellion. In doing so, he seized the throne and overthrew Aerys II Targaryen. This ended the centuries-long reign of the Targaryens.

After that, the Seven Kingdoms came under the rule of the House of Baratheon. With Cersei Lannister’s rise to power, they are now in the hands of House Lannister. But the Seven Kingdoms are not what they used to be. During the War of the Five Kings, numerous pretenders arose and the empire was splintered. In the meantime, however, a completely different danger was looming: the White Walkers from the far north were driving the free people south, and the Night’s Watch had to join forces with the wildlings to protect Westeros from the undead.

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Eventually, Daenerys Targaryen returned to her homeland to retrieve her family’s crown. The king of the north, Jon Snow, bowed his knee before her.

The Night King is defeated and the White Walkers crumble to dust. In the end, Daenerys Targaryen fights Cersei Lannister for the throne. In this fight, Daenerys and her dragon Drogo reduce King’s Landing to rubble. To avoid further harm, Jon Snow kills his beloved. As punishment for this, he is banished to the wall.

The last living Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen/Jon Snow, leaves the Wall at the end of GoT and rides north with the wildlings. This is how the story of GoT ends. The previously announced spin-off about the life of Jon Snow will continue to tell the story of the Targaryen family.