- "When I took command of the Watch, you were stray mongrels. Starving and undisciplined. Now, you're a pack of hounds. You're sated and honed for the hunt. My brother's city has fallen into squalor. Crime of every breed has been allowed to thrive. No longer. Beginning tonight, King's Landing will learn to fear the color gold!"
- ―Daemon Targaryen
The City Watch of King's Landing,[1] or simply the City Watch,[2] is a law-enforcement and military institution responsible for the security of the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms. Men of the Watch are commonly nicknamed "Gold Cloaks"[3] because of the gold-colored capes they wear. The Crown pays the City Watch salaries, but unlike other organizations in the Seven Kingdoms, these soldiers swear no allegiance, except to the king.
The City Watch in its modern form was created by Daemon Targaryen. For the first century of King's Landing's existence before that, they were little more than a poorly trained and random assortment of hired goons. When Daemon was made their commander, he reorganized and re-equipped them, turning the Watch into essentially a small private army. Most notably, Daemon gave them their famous golden cloaks as part of their new standardized uniform.
History[]
Background[]
Prince Daemon Targaryen was appointed commander of the City Watch by King Viserys I Targaryen on the advice of Ser Otto Hightower to distance Daemon from the royal court. Under the prince's command, the City Watch was significantly reformed and reshaped into a trained, disciplined, well-armed and well-funded organization. This and Daemon's own personality makes the prince popular with the Gold Cloaks.[4]
House of the Dragon: Season 1[]
Just prior to the Heir's Tournament, Daemon leads his 2,000 Gold Cloaks across King's Landing in a violent public display, rounding up apparent criminals to carry out summary justice. Daemon is made to answer for the Gold Cloaks at the Small Council, but he defends his actions as necessary. Otto fears that the Gold Cloaks have become Daemon's own private army.[4]
Later, Daemon invites his officers to the Street of Silk, where he is alleged by Otto to have toasted Prince Baelon as the "Heir for a Day." Viserys is outraged; he exiles Daemon, and supplants him with Rhaenyra as his heir.[4] An army of Gold Cloaks follow Daemon to Dragonstone, the traditional seat of the heir, where they seize the fortress and occupy the island. Otto rebukes them as traitors, but Daemon says that they are under his command and follow him out of loyalty.[5] The occupation is later ended, and the army disbanded. Ser Harwin Strong has become the new commander of the City Watch. It is unknown who follows him after his death.[6]
At the Green Council, Otto notes that two captains in the City Watch are known to be loyal to Daemon. During the coup, Gold Cloaks usher masses of smallfolk into the Dragonpit to witness the coronation of Aegon II Targaryen, and flank the new king as he walks onto the stage.[7]
At the Black Council, Daemon tells Rhaenyra that he will reach out to his loyalists in the City Watch, though he does not know how many there are.[8]
Known commanders[]
- Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Ser {Harwin Strong}
In the books[]
- Main page: City Watch of King's Landing#In the books
References[]
- ↑ Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 1: "Two Swords" (2014).
- ↑ Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 4: "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" (2011).
- ↑ Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 7: "You Win or You Die" (2011).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "The Heirs of the Dragon"
- ↑ "The Rogue Prince"
- ↑ "The Princess and the Queen"
- ↑ "The Green Council"
- ↑ "The Black Queen"
External links[]
- City Watch of King's Landing on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (potential spoilers for House of the Dragon)