The Iron Throne

The Iron Throne is the seat of the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms The monarch often holds audiences and dispenses justice from atop it in the Red Keep's throne room, the Great Hall. The chair is cold and hard, with many jagged edges. In the monarch's absence, only his Hand may sit on the throne. Such privilege does not extend to royal regents and royal consorts. However, three exceptions exist: Queen Rhaenys Targaryen and Queen Visenya Targaryen, who were King Aegon I Targaryen's partners in power; and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, who sat the throne when she took King's Landing during the Dance of the Dragons.

Currently, Queen Rhaenys I Targaryen sits the Iron Throne.

## Appearance

The Iron Throne is an asymmetric monstrosity of spikes and jagged edges and twisted metal. The throne was constructed by Aegon I Targaryen from the melted, twisted, beaten, and broken blades surrendered by his enemies, or wrenched from the hands of the dying. According to the songs, it took a thousand blades to make. The throne is a symbol of conquest. The Iron Throne is located on a high platform in the throne room within the Red Keep. It can be reached by climbing steep iron steps in the Great Hall, and the small council has a table at the base of the throne.

Because of the fanged steel behind, it is impossible to lean back on the iron seat of the Iron Throne. Aegon I intended for it to be uncomfortable, believing that "a king should never sit easy". The points of the twisted blades fan out like talons from arms of the throne. Even after three hundred years, some of the blades are still sharp enough to cut.

The Iron Throne is known for being dangerous to its occupants. King Viserys I Targaryen cut his left hand to the bone after stumbling, and Maester Gerardys had to remove two fingers to save his life. According to Septon Eustace, an armor-clad Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen was seen with cuts on her legs and left hand after sitting the throne for the first time, which led some to believe she had been rejected by it. According to the stories, the Iron Throne is capable of killing a person, and has done so before. King Maegor I Targaryen, for instance, was found dead on the Iron Throne, his arms slashed open from wrist to elbow on jagged barbs, and with a blade through his neck, emerging beneath his chin. Although various culprits have been considered as having possibly murdered Maegor the Cruel, many still believe the king had been killed by the throne itself.

File:Iron Throne Large.jpg
## Monarchs on the Iron Throne

Kings and Queens on the Iron ThroneAegon I Targaryen.jpegAegon I Targaryen
Born: 27 BC, at Dragonstone
Died: 37 AC, at Dragonstone
Reign: 1-37 ACAenys I Targaryen.jpegAenys I Targaryen
 Born: 7 AC, at Dragonstone
 Died: 42 AC, at Dragonstone
 Reign: 37-42 ACMaegor I Targaryen.jpegMaegor I Targaryen
 Born: 12 AC, at Dragonstone
 Died: 48 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 42-48 ACJaehaerys I Targaryen.jpegJaehaerys I Targaryen
 Born: 34 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 103 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 48-103 ACViserys I Targaryen.jpegViserys I Targaryen
 Born: 77 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 129 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 103-129 ACAegon II Targaryen.jpegAegon II Targaryen
 Born: 107 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 131 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 129-131 ACAegon III Targaryen.jpegAegon III Targaryen
 Born: 120 AC, at Dragonstone
 Died: 157 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 131-157 ACDaeron I Targaryen.jpegDaeron I Targaryen
 Born: 143 at King's Landing
 Died: 161 AC in Dorne
 Reign: 157-161 ACBaelor I Targaryen.jpegBaelor I Targaryen
 Born: 144 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 171 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 161-171 ACViserys II Targaryen.jpegViserys II Targaryen
 Born: 122 AC, at Dragonstone
 Died: 172 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 171-172 ACAegon IV Targaryen.jpegAegon IV Targaryen
 Born: 135 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 184 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 172-184 ACDaeron II Targaryen.jpegDaeron II Targaryen
 Born: 153 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 209 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 184-209 ACAerys I Targaryen.jpegAerys I Targaryen
 Born: 172 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 221 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 209-221 ACMaekar I Targaryen.jpegMaekar I Targaryen
 Born: 175 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 233 AC, at Starpike
 Reign: 221-233 ACAegon V Targaryen.jpegAegon V Targaryen
 Born: 200 AC, at King's Landing
 Died: 245 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 233-245 ACRhaenys I Targaryen.jpegRhaenys I Targaryen
 Born: 228 AC, at King's Landing
 Reign: 245 AC-
## Notable Claimants to the Iron Throne

### Targaryen pretenders

* Aegon Targaryen, eldest son of Aenys I Targaryen and his rightful heir, laid claim to the throne between 42 and 43 AC after his uncle Maegor I Targaryen took it. He was killed by his uncle in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.
* Rhaenyra Targaryen, also known as "the Realm's Delight", Princess of Dragonstone, was the named heir to Viserys I Targaryen. However, her succession was challenged by her half-brother, Aegon II Targaryen. This led to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons‎. After her defeat and subsequent death, King Aegon II decreed that Rhaenyra was never a queen and that she be referred to only as princess in all chronicles and court records.

### Blackfyre pretenders

* Daemon I Blackfyre, the first of the Blackfyre Pretenders, tried to claim the throne during the First Blackfyre Rebellion.
* Daemon II Blackfyre plotted to claim the throne during the Second Blackfyre Rebellion. The second of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
* Haegon I Blackfyre tried to claim the throne during the Third Blackfyre Rebellion. The third of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
* Daemon III Blackfyre tried to claim the throne during the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. The fourth of the Blackfyre Pretenders.
* Aegon Blackfyre

### Brightflame pretenders

* Aelor Brightflame plotted to seize the throne after the death of King Aegon V. The plan was foiled which resulted in his arrest and execution by Queen Rhaenys I Targaryen.
* Baelon Brightflame