MovieChat Forums > Game of Thrones (2011) Discussion > So who's running the Seven Kingdoms?

So who's running the Seven Kingdoms?

posted 8 years ago by Otter (24464)
10 replies | jump to latest

It occurs to me that we don't really know who's in charge of most of the Seven Kingdoms. Jon is Kinginthenorth and slappable little lRobin Arryn is letting Littlefinger run the Vale for him... but what about the other places?

Is Cersei in charge of the Westerlands, or did Jamie take over when Tommen booted him out of the Kingsguard? Are there any Baratheons left, or is Cersei running things there? What about the Riverlands with Edmure still in jail and the Freys gone - does that leave a child too young to attend banquets or the latest Mrs. Frey to run things? What about the Tyrell lands, is Olenna the actual ruler or is she pushing some Tyrell cousin who's the real heir around? And what about Dorne - Elaria had no legal right to run things anyway, as far as I know the eldest surviving Sand Snake would be the legal ruler.

Very odd that we don't know these things when the writers are usually so precise, it's as if the question won't matter soon.

[–] Kawada_Kira (7282) 8 years ago

It's pretty well broken apart right now. As Jaime said, Cersei controls a relatively small part of Westeros at the moment.

The Crownlands, the region around King's Landing, is of course ruled by Cersei.

Jaime can't inherit land as a member of the Kingsguard, so Cersei is the Lady of Casterly Rock now as well as queen of Westeros.

I don't know what's going on in the Stormlands (historical home of House Baratheon, which may or may not still exist). Possibly loyal to Cersei, although at least in the books, if I remember correctly, Storm's End was still controlled by Stannis-loyalists and was under siege by Mace Tyrell at the behest of Cersei. But because the show has diverged so much from the books, I don't know what the situation there is now in the show, who's in control of Storm's End.

The Iron Islands are controlled by Euron Greyjoy.

The North is controlled by Jon Snow.

The Reach is controlled by Olenna Tyrell. I don't think any Tyrell cousins have been mentioned, although since she's old, she ought to be grooming someone to take her place soon.

Dorne is probably in a power vacuum right now, God knows what's going on there. The show has been really lazy about Dorne.

The Riverlands is probably also in a power vacuum with Walder Frey and most of the line of succession dead, if not the entire Frey family (doubtful; there are likely still plenty of Frey cousins, but now they'll be contending among themselves).

The Vale is controlled by Littlefinger through his puppet Robin Arryn.

Dragonstone is part of the Cersei-controlled Crownlands, but of course is occupied by Daenerys now.

[–] Otter (24464) 8 years ago

Tommen booted Jamie out of the kingsguard last season, during the Sparrow mishegas. I wonder if he's actually assumed control of the family lands, or rather, he's administering the Westerlands and the Lannister holdings as Cersei's devoted stooge. He's wearing a red cloak and regular armor now, as a Lannister ought and a kingsguard wouldn't.

And if Littlefinger has any sense, he'll haul his Vale knights down to the Twins, officially to express his condolences, but in actuality to slaughter whatever Freys are left and to put Edmure back in charge of Riverrun and the Riverlands. That'd put the Tullys in the same position as the Starks, back in possession of their lands and titles and owing everything they have to Littlefinger. That's put LF in control of half of Westeros, and ready to make his move for the iron throne.

As for the Baratheon lands... I want Gendry to inherit on of the seven kingdoms! He does seem to be the last Baratheon standing, even if he is a bastard.

[–] Kawada_Kira (7282) 8 years ago

"Tommen booted Jamie out of the kingsguard last season, during the Sparrow mishegas."

I'd completely forgotten that. That's what I get for not reviewing the series this year, as is my usual custom whenever a new season is about to come out.

I wonder if it means anything though. At the time of Tywin's death, Jaime was still a member of the Kingsguard, so Cersei would likely have inherited Casterly Rock. Would she be stripped of that because of Jaime no longer being in the Kingsguard? It seems like that would have been mentioned, and would have been the source of some discord between them. Tywin would probably have insisted on it, but he's too dead to argue, so there's nobody with the authority to tell Cersei to give it to Jaime other than Jaime himself. If Jaime hasn't explicitly claimed and demanded Casterly Rock, Cersei is likely the current holder of its lands and titles, ruling it through some castellan she appointed there. Even if Jaime does claim it, I can't see her giving it to him without a fight, and an inter-Lannister civil war is the last thing they need right now.

As for Gendry, I can't see him taking up the lordship of Storm's End even if it was offered to him. He seems to have a disdain for the nobility and its power games. Besides, I don't think there's anyone in a position to offer it to him who knows of his existence. Cersei might know of him, but I doubt she would trust him. However if he was interested, he could certainly try to put forth a claim, and would likely have support in the Stormlands, if he could argue convincingly that he's Robert's son. But I doubt he's interested.

I wonder what Littlefinger is going to do. He now has great power at his disposal, but doesn't seem to have decided on a course of action. He's approached Jon Snow, but been rebuffed with extreme prejudice, despite Snow's self-acknowledged need for allies. After his cold reception in the North, I wonder if he'll go south and join with Cersei against Daenerys, only to betray Cersei and make a grab for power himself.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 8 years ago

slappable little Robin Arryn

Well, that's at least one thing Sansa did that I liked. Slapped him silly!

[–] BourbonKing (5788) 8 years ago

I never read the books, but I never get the sense from the TV show that there is any ONE ruler over the 7 Kingdoms. The title seems at most symbolic with not economic or military extension of King's Landing lording over the other kingdoms.

Everything in each Kingdom seems to already be set in its ways, but there is very little detail on how each Kingdom keeps its people in check. When you compare it to Medieval Europe there's only so much you can parallel because there is no organized religion to compare to the Catholic Church which was instrumental the development of the aristocracy across Europe. In GOT they only reference age old legends and mythology to explain their origins.

[–] LeiaOfLothlorien (1980) 8 years ago

The King/Queen is supposed to be in charge of all Seven Kingdoms, but there are also Wardens of the North/South/East/West, and the Lords have some power as well.

As to organized religion... The Faith of the Seven had that role, until Cersei blew the Great Sept to smithereens.

[–] Otter (24464) 8 years ago

Sevenism is the dominant religion of Westeros, but it's not nearly as dominant as the Catholic church was in medieval Europe, and the High Septon doesn't have nearly as much power as the Pope did back in the day - not even the high Sparrow and his "faith militant" goons. And the Medieval Pope had much more feverent followers, and didn't have to deal with whole regions that worship the Old Gods or a Drowned God, and didn't have evangelical priests of the Red God trying to muscle in on his territory.

Personally, I think the religious life of Westeros is well thought out and believable, in both the show and the books.

[–] Atarimaster (442) 8 years ago

»the High Septon doesn't have nearly as much power as the Pope did back in the day - not even the high Sparrow and his "faith militant" goons.«

The High Sparrow might have gained that power, over time.
However, getting burned to ashes was kind of a deal breaker.

(And geez, I think I’ll never get this straight: Is it "burned to ashes" or "burnt to ashes" in English?)

[–] Kawada_Kira (7282) 8 years ago

"(And geez, I think I’ll never get this straight: Is it "burned to ashes" or "burnt to ashes" in English?)"

Either one seems to be valid. The more common usage seems to depend on what part of the English-speaking world you're in.

http://grammarist.com/usage/burned-burnt/

[–] Atarimaster (442) 8 years ago

Thanks!
So, "burned" is the older form. Seems to be appropriate in GoT context. :-)