Game of Thrones is a historical epic with a lot of fascinating backstory details. Anyone paying attention to the dialogue will occasionally find themselves wondering about a line of dialogue about an ancient hero or a song lyric about some glorious victory. While George R. R. Martin certainly created a lot of prequels, some stories are hidden in questions some wouldn’t think to ask. Looking at King’s Landing might raise several concerns, but how did the capital reach its place of prominence?
Almost every episode of Game of Thrones spends some time in King’s Landing. It’s only absent from seven of the show’s 73 outings. Most of season one’s exterior shots of King’s Landing were filmed in Malta. By season two, the crew began using footage of Dubrovnik, a coastal city in Croatia. Though cinematographers picked up most of the shots in Europe, production designer Gemma Jackson always imagined a more Indian look for the capital, specifically citing Rajasthan. Those real-world inspirations and executions delivered an excellent take on the book’s descriptions.
What was the Aegonfort?
Before King’s Landing, Aegon I Targaryen established the Aegonfort. This would serve as his base of operations during Aegon’s Conquest. He selected the area with a stroke of brilliance. Aegon had his sights set on Westeros as a single land mass that he could unify and rule. He eagerly awaited an excuse to invade. He got it when Argilac Durrandon, the last Storm King, proposed an alliance against Harren Hoare, the last King of the Isles and Rivers. When Aegon pitched Argilac a different deal, the Storm King sent Aegon his envoy’s severed hands, unwittingly providing a suitable provocation. Aegon called his banners and sent ravens with messages to each of the Seven Kingdoms, promising that only those who bent the knee to him would survive. This was the beginning of Aegon’s Conquest, which prompted Aegon to pick a perfect position.
Aegon sailed to Westeros with a relatively small army. He selected the tallest hill at the mouth of the Blackwater River and ordered the construction of a fort. Despite its intimidating name, the Aegonfort was a ramshackle affair. His limited forces assembled temporary wooden shacks and a messy wooden wall. Gradually, they replaced those simple structures with a tall log castle, a stone kitchen, a barracks, a sept, and even a drum tower. The Aegonfort grew fast as the Conqueror met challengers on the battlefield. Aegon selected the location as a gambit. It sat in disputed land between the territories of the Storm King and the King of the Isles and Rivers. Endless wars prevented ports from popping up in the area. Since Aegon’s fort was in disputed territory, neither king could attack without risking an alliance against them. That clever decision allowed Aegon to face challengers gradually, establishing himself as a threat and expanding his legend across Westeros.
How did King’s Landing expand?
Aegon’s Conquest lasted a little over two years. Aegon received the crown in Oldtown after finding its leader, Manfred Hightower, eager to submit to his rule. The High Septon crowned Aegon the first King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. With that absurdly long title, Aegon set to work building the new Westeros. Many expected him to turn the site of his coronation into his capital, but he had another idea. Aegon chose to develop the site of his Aegonfort into a new city. It took nine years to create King’s Landing at the mouth of the Blackwater. He built the Iron Throne out of melted swords from defeated foes and housed it in the Aegonfort. After over 20 years, King’s Landing became the third-largest city in Westeros. Trade shifted to favor the ideal port conditions and new opportunities in King’s Landing, allowing it to grow even faster. Maegor I Targaryen, the third king of Westeros, oversaw the creation of the Red Keep, which replaced the Aegonfort. His successor, Jaehaerys, made massive improvements to King’s Landing. He built wells, streets, roads, and fountains to make King’s Landing a glorious place to live. By the time of his heir, Viserys, King’s Landing had become the finest city in Westeros. It remained a marvel of engineering and planning through the rest of the Targaryen Dynasty.
What happened to King’s Landing?
Several characters in Game of Thrones comment on the stench of King’s Landing. While the city is a massive achievement, the tremendous population leads to endless unpleasant odors. Still, it remained the capital through Robert’s Rebellion, narrowly avoiding the Mad King’s wildfire plot. It also survived Stannis Baratheon’s attack after the Battle of the Blackwater. The end of the series depicts the most notable attack on King’s Landing. Daenerys Targaryen, seemingly possessed by Targaryen Madness, sacked King’s Landing with her dragons. Their fire consumed huge portions of the city. Amazingly, that attack also ignited the hidden charges of wildfire, causing greater destruction. Most of the people in King’s Landing died. Most of the city was reduced to ash. It’s hard to imagine how long it would take to rebuild the Red Keep and surrounding city. Daenerys tied her story to Aegon’s with this quote:
Aegon the Conqueror brought fire and blood to Westeros, but afterward he gave them peace, prosperity, and justice.
King’s Landing rose from humble origins to become one of the most powerful cities in Game of Thrones. The Aegonfort sat in a carefully selected spot, starting Aegon’s Conquest on the right foot. When he claimed the Seven Kingdoms, he rewarded his headquarters by building the surrounding capital. King’s Landing survived countless terrible rulers, numerous invasion attempts, and a full-on dragon siege. It deserves to be the capital.
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