Iron Islands ("Game of Thrones"): history and inhabitants. King of the Iron Islands

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The Iron Islands are one of the key regions of the Seven Kingdoms, a fictional world from George R. R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels, as well as the popular film adaptation called Game of Thrones. These islands are located in the very west of Westeros.

Islanders

The Iron Islands are separated from the mainland by the Iron Men Strait. From the west they are washed by the Sunset Sea. Briefly characterize this region, it is extremely poor. Its inhabitants are hardly able to feed themselves. All who were born on these islands are called ironborn. Throughout the Seven Kingdoms, they are famous as cruel and freedom-loving sea robbers. Simply put, pirates.

The inhabitants of the Iron Islands worship the Drowned God, and have long raided the lands of Westeros in his honor. In a certain period of time, the kings of these lands had significant power. At that time they ruled the lands on the mainland. The Greyjoy home is the main one on the islands. This family nest is located in the castle on Pike.

Location of islands

On the Seven Kingdoms map, the Iron Islands are located west of the Riverlands. It is worth highlighting the seven most important places in this area, which are given key attention in a series of novels. The first is Pike. The southern island where the Greyjoy family nest is located. The largest city of the entire archipelago, Lordport, is also located here.

Ore deposits are concentrated on the western island of Big Vic. These are the few resources that the Greyjoys can command and boast about. The sacred island called Old Wyk is at the heart of the worship of the Drowned God. In ancient times, this place was the palace of the Gray King. Currently, a veche is being held there, where new rulers are chosen.

In the east, not far from the mainland, is the most densely populated island of the Harlow archipelago. Orkmont Island deserves special mention. It is mountainous and rugged, but it was from there that the kings of Greyairon ruled. This is the ancient history of the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones, which began before the coming of the Andals. The books mention two more unremarkable islands - S alt Rock and Black Wave.

Island resources

The Iron Islands in Game of Thrones have a small set of resources. But still they are. These are tin, iron and lead ore. Thanks to them, the islands got their name. Mines and mines are abundant here, but there is practically nothing else. Metal and oreare the main goods that the inhabitants of the Iron Islands export to the mainland.

The most common professions in these places are gunsmiths and blacksmiths. That is why the locals have become so warlike. After all, perhaps the best armor, swords and axes in Westeros are made here. At the same time, practically nothing grows on the islands. The soil is poor and rocky. Grains cannot be sprouted here, you can only graze goats and sheep. Therefore, the inhabitants of the islands survive, only thanks to the gifts of the sea. There are a lot of fish in coastal waters, even lobsters with crabs are found.

In the Sunset Sea, the ironborn go out to hunt seals and whales. At the same time, there are practically no forests on the islands. They were cut down, as people were in dire need of the wood from which they built ships. Forests have been preserved only on the Big Vik. According to the stories of the wise archmaester Heireg, it was the lack of wood that forced the ironborn to take the path of robberies and raids in their time. When they lived peacefully with the population of the mainland, they simply exchanged wood for ore.

History of the Islands

The history of the islands goes back several thousand years. They were inhabited by the First People. According to the stories of the priests, their ancestors came straight from the seabed. However, most likely, the first settlers sailed from the mainland.

There were never giants and Children of the Forest, who at that time populated almost all of Westeros. True, according to legend, the Sea Throne still stood on the banks of the Old Wyk. So called a chair made of massive black stone, made in the shape of a kraken. However, no one couldfind out who left it. Perhaps they were unknown aliens who sailed from beyond the Sunset Sea.

Age of Heroes

When the Age of Heroes began in the kingdom, the legendary Gray King ruled the islands. The King of the Iron Islands also ruled the sea. He was married to a mermaid. He managed to kill a powerful sea dragon named Naggu and build a hall from his bones. According to legend, the Gray King ruled here for a thousand years.

After his death, the hall was quickly plundered. The supreme ruler of the islands was always chosen at the assembly. Power, according to tradition, was given to the most worthy. This custom most likely originated during the time of Galon Whitestaff. It was then that laws appeared that forbade the ironborn to fight among themselves, as well as to steal wives and rob neighbors.

King Hoare

A noticeable trace in the history of the ironborn was left by a king named Quored Hoare. He became the founder of a glorious dynasty. He was a powerful monarch who ensured that the inhabitants of the entire western coast of Westeros paid tribute to him. He liked to say that he rules wherever people smell the s alt water and hear the close lapping of the waves.

Even in his youth, he began to wage wars of conquest. Sacked Oldtown, won the wars in the Riverlands. Tribute was paid to him by the Kingdom of the Justmen, three princes from which he took as hostages. And when the inhabitants of the Riverlands overdue the next payment, he immediately killed them. True, after the death of Khoredthe power of the dynasty began to decline rapidly.

The kings on the continents grew stronger and eventually threw off the ironborn yoke. The ancient tradition of choosing a king at the veche was interrupted by Urron Greyiron. He came to the meeting along with his warriors with axes at the ready. They simply killed all the other contenders for the throne. After that, the Greyairon dynasty ruled for a thousand years, until the Andals came to Westeros.

The Andal invasion of the Iron Islands was ferocious and swift. As a result, they conquered all the lands of the ironborn. Shortly thereafter, the Greyairon line died out. A new dynasty of Hoar came to power. After that, Aegon Targaryen attacked the islands. He burned the castles and subjugated these lands. After becoming ruler, Targaryen allowed the locals to choose their own high lord. It was Vicon Greyjoy.

House Greyjoy

According to the new laws of the Targaryens, the islanders were forbidden to rob and attack their neighbors. It was possible to restore the law after Dagon Greyjoy came to power. He raised a rebellion against the supreme ruler, setting himself the goal of conquering the Sunset Sea. This is how the Greyjoy house became the most famous in these places.

At first they were successful, but soon the army of the islanders was defeated. After that, Robert Baratheon managed to seize power on the mainland, overthrowing the Mad King. Then Balon Greyjoy raised another rebellion, proclaiming himself king of the Iron Islands. But this time, everything ended unsuccessfully. The Starks and Baratheons jointly took Pyke.

Euron Greyjoy

EuronBalon's brother. His nickname is Crow's Eye. He is a famous pirate who goes to sea on a boat called "Silent". He is a cruel and domineering ruler. Many consider him insane, but no one dares to say it to his face. He is fond of magic and witchcraft. Euron Greyjoy is a brave pirate who, together with his people, conquers the endless seas of Westeros.