Ruling house

The **ruling houses** are those noble houses which rule their particular areas of the Seven Kingdoms in the name of the King on the Iron Throne. They are traditionally descended from the former rulers of the independant kingdoms in the days before the Targaryen conquest.

The ruling houses of the Seven Kingdoms at the time of Aegon the Conqueror's landing were:

* House Arryn of Mountain and Vale.
* House Gardener of the Reach.
* House Hoare of the Isles and the Rivers.
* House Lannister of the Rock.
* House Nymeros Martell of Dorne
* House Stark of the North.
* House Durrandon of the Storm.

The ruling houses prior to the War of the Five Kings were held to be:

* House Arryn of the Vale.
* House Baratheon of the Stormlands and the Crownlands.
* House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands.
* House Lannister of the Westerlands.
* House Martell of Dorne.
* House Stark of the North.
* House Tully of the Riverlands.
* House Tyrell of the Reach.

After the War of the Five Kings concluded, some changes were made to this list:

* House Bolton has supplanted the Starks as rulers of the North, although this is contested by some.
* House Frey has supplanted the Tullys as the holders of Riverrun, but Lord Petyr Baelish has been named Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.

## Heads of the ruling houses in A Game of Thrones

* Jon Arryn (House Arryn) - Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, Warden of the East, Keeper of the Gates and the Moon, Ser, and Hand of the King.
* Robert I Baratheon (House Baratheon of King's Landing) - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.
* Renly Baratheon (House Baratheon of Storm's End) - Lord of Storm's End, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, and Master of Laws.
* Balon Greyjoy (House Greyjoy) - Lord of the Iron Islands and Lord Reaper of Pyke.
* Tywin Lannister (House Lannister) - Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Ser, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, and Warden of the West.
* Doran Nymeros Martell (House Nymeros Martell) - Prince of Dorne and Lord of Sunspear.
* Mace Tyrell (House Tyrell) - Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Mander, High Marshal of the Reach, Warden of the South, and Defender of the Marches.
* Eddard Stark (House Stark) - Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount of the North, and Warden of the North.
* Hoster Tully (House Tully) - Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident.

## Heads of the ruling houses in A Clash of Kings

* Robert Arryn (House Arryn) - Lord of the Eyrie and Defender of the Vale.
* Joffrey I Baratheon (House Baratheon of King's Landing) - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.
* Stannis Baratheon (House Baratheon of Dragonstone) - Ser, Lord of Dragonstone, Lord of Storm's End, and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
* Balon IX Greyjoy (House Greyjoy) - King of the Iron Islands, King of Salt and Rock, Son of the Sea Wind, and Lord Reaper of Pyke.
* Tywin Lannister (House Lannister) - Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Ser, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, Warden of the West, and Hand of the King.
* Doran Nymeros Martell (House Nymeros Martell) - Prince of Dorne and Lord of Sunspear.
* Mace Tyrell (House Tyrell) - Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Mander, Warden of the South, High Marshal of the Reach, and Defender of the Marches.
* Robb Stark (House Stark) - Lord of Winterfell and King in the North.
* Edmure Tully (House Tully) - Ser, Lord of Riverrun, and Lord Paramount of the Trident.

## Heads of the ruling houses in A Dance with Dragons

* Robert Arryn (House Arryn) - Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, and Warden of the East.
* Tommen I Baratheon (House Baratheon of King's Landing) - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.
* Stannis Baratheon (House Baratheon of Dragonstone) - Ser, Lord of Dragonstone, Lord of Storm's End, and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
* Euron III Greyjoy (House Greyjoy) - King of the Isles and the North, King of Salt and Rock, Son of the Sea Wind, and Lord Reaper of Pyke.
* Cersei Lannister (House Lannister) - Dowager Queen, Queen Mother, Lady of Casterly Rock, and Lady Paramount of the Westerlands.
* Doran Nymeros Martell (House Nymeros Martell) - Prince of Dorne and Lord of Sunspear.
* Mace Tyrell (House Tyrell) - Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Mander, Warden of the South, High Marshal of the Reach, Defender of the Marches, Master of Ships, and Hand of the King.
* Roose Bolton (House Bolton) - Lord of the Dreadfort, Lord Paramount of the North, and Warden of the North.
* Petyr Baelish (House Baelish) - Lord of Harrenhal, Lord Paramount of the Trident, and Lord Protector of the Eyrie and the Vale of Arryn.