King's Landing

King's Landing is the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms. It is located on the east coast of Westeros, overlooking Blackwater Bay. It is the site of the Iron Throne and the seat of the King.

In the books
King's Landing is the largest and most populous city in Westeros, with a population of roughly half a million. The walled city is located on uplands just north of where the Blackwater Rush flows into Blackwater Bay, and is built around three tall hills: Visenya's Hill, Rhaenys's Hill and Aegon's Hill. The Red Keep is the primary fortress and redoubt of the city, located atop Aegon's Hill behind several inner walls.

King's Landing was founded by King Aegon I Targaryen. He established a small wooden fort atop the hill later named for him when his ships first landed from Dragonstone, and used this as a base to prosecute his campaign to conquer the continent. Having achieved his goal, he established a new capital city on the site of his original fort. The city expanded rapidly under his descendants.

King's Landing has suffered occasional attacks during its existence, most notably during the civil war known as Robert's Rebellion, when Lord Tywin Lannister betrayed King Aerys II Targaryen and ordered his army to brutally sack the city before turning it over to Robert Baratheon as a sign of fealty.