Royal Council

"We are the **Lesser Royals of the Kingdom**, the **Lords of Royal Meetings**." - Lord Reginald Westernling.

## Royal Council

### Allegiance

King of the Andals, Talmar, Easternlings, and the Free Men, King of the Eight Kingdoms

## Information

### Founded

169 CE by King Regent Reginald Westernling
227 CE by King Vardis Talmar

### Clergy

Lord Councilors

The **Royal Council** is a body which advises the King of the Eight Kingdoms, later the Seven Kingdoms and institutes policy at his command. It is the inner council of the king, essentially forming the "government cabinet" of the Eight Kingdoms. Members are appointed to their position by the King; theoretically they can be dismissed at will by the king, however in practice this might lead to undesirable political fallout.

The King serves as the Head of the Council and takes note of its recommendations, but only the king cane make the council's decisions into law. The Lord Commandant, later known as the "Lord Regent" is the leading advisor on the council and serves as the king's proxy when he is not present, in which case the Lord Regent chairs the meeting. If the king is a minor, then by default the appointed regent will act in place of the king on the council.

The royal council meets at the Capital of the Eight Kingdoms in Orysfort, in the Tower of the Crown.

## Composition

Members of the Royal Council are appointed and dismissed by the king, in theory as the king wills. In practice, of course, appointments or dismissals may have undesired political consequences which the king must consider.

The **Royal Council** consists of nine non-hereditary positions. Long vacancies sometimes also occurred for one or more than one of these positions, i.e. during time of war, thought this is considered undesirable, or when the Royal Council was reappointed during the **Reign of King Vardis Talmar** in 227 CE.

* Lord Protector: the seat of the head of the state, which is the position of the king.
* Lord Regent: chairs the royal council, serves as the King's proxy during his absences. The title was invented by **King Ned Talmar** following his accession to the throne, suggested as a rather fancy title of the council.
* Lord of Coins: the realm's chief treasurer and bookkeeper.
* Lord of Spies: the realm's chief intelligence advisor and spymaster, supervising covert activities and information gathering, both at home and abroad. The title was invented by King Regent Reginald Westernling following the **King's Two Failed Assassination Attempts** in 169 and 170 CE respectively.
* Lord of Laws: the realm's chief legal advisor, who also manages the Orysfort's dungeons, and supervises law enforcement.
* Lord of Ships: the realm's chief sea captain, supervising the Royal Fleet and coordinating the realm's maritime defenses.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard: the realm's chief military advisor, particularly in regards to land-based warfare. While the king personally appoints knights to the Crownsguard at his whim, once chosen they are lifetime appointments, which cannot legally be removed. In theory, however, a king may demote the **Lord Commander** back to being a regular member, and elevate one of the other five Crownsguard to Lord Commander.
* Lord Warden: the realm's chief governor, who manages the various Lord Bishops, who act as governors of the provinces of the realm.
* Member for Long Island: a position created by King Vardis Talmar in 231 CE following the **Treaty of Eastern Watch and North Vale**, declaring it a vassal state of the kingdom, declaring it as a Principality of Long Island. Following the Death of King Vardis in 253 CE, Long Island secede itself from the Eight Kingdoms, which led to the Formation of the Seven Kingdoms.
* Lord Commander of Capital Guard: the title was invented by King Ned Talmar following his accession to the throne. The Lord Commander serves as the City Guard Commander of the Capital and attends the royal council meetings to report on conditions in the capital city. Osmund Trant is given an official seat on the council as one of his rewards for the role he played in the betrayal and arrest of Lord Geoffrey Byrch, the king's uncle.

If the regent of an underage King does not already possess one of these positions, then they are included in the royal council as the King's proxy.

During the Reign of King Ned, the City Guard Captain of the Capital was given an official seat on the Royal Council who acted as the Castellan of the Royal Garrison in the capital. A formidable example is Ser Ramsay Yellowbrook who played an important role in the Second Skirmish of Rebels. For his reward he was appointed the City Guard Captain and given an official seat in the royal council.

The council may on occasion extend invitations to other lords to occupy a seat on the council, despite there being no actual "office" for them to fill (serving as advisors who function as ministers without portfolio).

## Members

### Under King Tommen I Talmar

The positions and members of the king's royal council under Tommen I Talmar included:

* King Regent: Lord Reginald Westernling.
* Lord of Coins:
	+ Lord Lyman Clark.
	+ Lord Anton Largent.
* Lord of Spies: Lord Rupert of Grymore.
* Mistress of Spies: Alysa of Al-Saan.
* Lord of Laws: Lord Roderick of Portia.
* Lord Admiral: Duke Dustin of Tyrinia.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard:
	+ Ser Albus Marshall.
	+ Ser Tomwell Marshall.
	+ Ser Elyan Royne.
	+ Ser Joffery Largent.
* Duke Governor:
	+ Lord Theodred Westernling.
	+ Baron Robb Dustin.
* Lord Confessor: Lord Archwyn of Altmore.

### Under King Orlando Talmar

The positions and members of the king's royal council under Orlando Talmar, **Orlando the Great** included:

* Lord Commandant:
	+ Lord Reginald Westernling.
	+ Lord Rupert of Grymore.
	+ Lord Lord Archwyn of Altmore.
* Lord of Coins: Lord Lyman Clark.
* Lord of Spies: High Septon Carlo.
* Mistress of Spies:
	+ Alysa of Al-Saan.
* Lord of Laws:
	+ Lord Roderick Hardman.
	+ Lord Earnest Ivanstar.
* Lord Admiral:
	+ Lord Robert Talmar.
	+ Lord Janos of Pyne.
	+ Lord Robert Talmar.
* Legion Commander: Lord Rupert of Grymore.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard:
	+ Ser Jefferson Stockwell.
	+ Ser Osmund Stockwell.
* Duke Governor:
	+ Lord Robert Talmar.
	+ Lord Roderick Hardman.

### Under King Theon Talmar

The positions and members of the king's royal council under Theon Talmar included:

* Lord Commandant:
	+ Lord Rupert of Grymore.
	+ Lord Thaddeus Fossoway.
* Lord of Coins:
	+ Lord Lyman Clark.
	+ Lady Alicent Fossoway.
	+ Lord Albus Hoffman.
* Lord of Spies: High Septon Matthews.
* Mistress of Spies:
	+ Lady Shireen.
* Lord of Laws:
	+ Lord Earnest Ivanstar.
	+ Lord Otto Manning.
* Lord Admiral:
	+ Lord Robert Talmar.
	+ Lord Janos of Pyne.
	+ Lord Robert Towers.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard: Ser Osmund Stockwell.
* Duke Governor:
	+ Lord Roderick Hardman.
	+ Lord Victor Durrand.

### Under King Vardis Talmar

The positions and members of the king's small council under Vardis Talmar included:

* Lord Commandant:
	+ Lord Renly of Godsgrace.
	+ Lord Corlys Ackerman.
* Lord of Coins:
	+ Lord Joffery Connington.
	+ Lord Varrick Costayne.
* Lord of Spies:
	+ Lord Cassius Estermont.
	+ Lord Linus Estermont.
* Mistress of Spies: Lady Talisa Valmont, Lady Jeyne Ackerman.
* Lord of Laws:
	+ Lady Mary Blount.
	+ Lord Aaron Hardman.
* Legion Admiral:
	+ Lady Mary Blount.
	+ Lord Corlys Ackerman.
	+ Lady Yara Whent.
* Legion Commander:
	+ Lord Orston Fowler.
	+ Lord Robb Hornwood.
	+ Lord Joffery Connington.
* Lord of Ships:
	+ Lord Corlys Ackerman.
	+ Lord Arnold Pendragon.
	+ Lord Yann Fleetway.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard:
	+ Lord Osmund Spyre.
	+ Ser Garlan Barrister.
* Duke Governor:
	+ Lord Lyonel Largent.
	+ Lord Arnold Pendragon.
	+ Lord Randall Royne.
	+ Lord Grenn Wellington.

* Member for Long Island: Lord Varrick Valmont.
* High Septon: Orwyle.
* Lord Confessor: Ser Lucifer Greentown.