The War of the Five Kings, along with Daenerys Targaryen's war for Westeros, has seen changes amongst the Great Houses. Robert's Rebellion ended in the exile of the last Targaryens, with House Baratheon replacing them on the Iron Throne, forming the royal cadet branch House Baratheon of King's Landing. Otherwise they are largely left to operate autonomously to simplify the bureaucracy and governance of the realm.

Each Great House rules over its territory and is responsible for collecting taxes and, in times of war, raising troops to fight for the king. Only House Martell of Dorne resisted his armies, but was later brought into the fold through a peaceful marriage-alliance some two centuries later.Įach Great House has a large number of vassal Houses serving it, most of whom in turn have smaller vassals under them, extending all the way down to farmers and landed knights. In addition, Aegon raised up the Tullys to rule over the Riverlands, which had been under ironborn occupation prior to his arrival. The Gardeners, Hoares, and Durrandons were slain and replaced by the Tyrells, Greyjoys, and Baratheons respectively, while the Lannisters, Arryns, and Starks surrendered peacefully and were allowed to remain in control of their lands. During the Conquest these families were either destroyed, replaced, or defeated and made to swear allegiance to King Aegon, who reigned from the Iron Throne in King's Landing. They exercise immense authority and power over their vassals and territories and are answerable only to the King of the Andals and the First Men, with the exception of House Stark, which rules over an independent kingdom.īefore the Targaryen Conquest, each of the Seven Kingdoms was ruled independently by a powerful royal family.

The Great Houses are the most powerful of the noble Houses of the Seven Kingdoms.

Night's Watch, the Gift and the Wall (black) House Baratheon, the Stormlands (yellow) King of the Andals and the First Men, the Crownlands (brown) House Arryn, the Vale of Arryn (navy blue)

Westeros family tree