City Watch of King's Landing

The City Watch of King's Landing, also known as the gold cloaks, are the defenders of the city of King's Landing (including the Red Keep) and the enforcers of the law, sworn only to the Iron Throne. The Watch presumably falls under the bailiwick of the master of laws. They are not as well trained as the City Watch of Lannisport.

There are three sets of barracks for the City Watch: the East Barracks by the Dragon Gate, the West Barracks near Cobbler's Square and the Gate of the Gods, and one beneath the Tower of the Hand in the Red Keep.

## Appearance

The City Watch wear cloaks, usually made of heavy wool, dyed gold. They are equipped with mail armor, iron cudgels, iron spears, dirks, and occasionally longswords. Their armor, boots, and gloves are black. The officers (such as the captains of the gates of the city) wear black breastplates ornamented with four golden disks. They can be used as guards, foot soldiers, or in some cases, as mounted lancers. Nonetheless, the watchmen are not true soldiers.

## History

### Establishment

The City Watch was established under the Targaryen dynasty as early as the reign of Maegor I Targaryen. After Maegor's death, Prince Jaehaerys arrested the Commander of the City Watch. Command of the City Watch was later given to Lord Qarl Corbray. At the command of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, the City Watch combed Flea Bottom in search of Tom the Strummer to make him the court singer. Lord Qarl later succumbed to the Shivers in 59 AC, with many of the City Watch stricken as well, leading to the streets of King's Landing falling into anarchy.

### Daemon and the Dance of the Dragons

Prince Daemon Targaryen commanded the watch from 104–105 AC. He instituted their uniform use of equipment, including the golden cloaks from which they get their name. The weapons he issued were dirk, short sword, and cudgel. There were two thousand gold cloaks at the time.

During the Dance of the Dragons, the officers of the City Watch were loyal to Queen Alicent Hightower and the greens, but the rank-and-file gold cloaks supported their former commander, Daemon, a leader of the blacks. Ser Luthor Largent was appointed commander at the start of the war, but Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, named his son Ser Gwayne as Luthor's second. During the fall of King's Landing, Luthor led a coup in support of the blacks and personally killed Gwayne Hightower.

After Luthor was killed during the riots in King's Landing, Ser Balon Byrch became the new commander. The "Mudfoot" garrison, stationed at the River Gate or "Mud Gate", joined the hedge knight and would-be kingmaker Perkin the Flea, declared their allegiance to Trystane Truefyre and flew his banner above the River Gate. The garrison stationed at the Gate of the Gods was overwhelmed by Perkin's men. Twenty gold cloaks accompanied Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen when she fled the capital, but half of them deserted her on the Rosby road and the remainder stayed at Duskendale when she sailed for Dragonstone. Perkin became commander of the City Watch after a pardon from King Aegon II.

Many gold cloaks died during the Winter Fever and the Moon of Madness, so Lord Unwin Peake added five hundred of his own men to the City Watch. During the Lysene Spring, George Graceford admitted that Ser Lucas Leygood, the gold cloaks' commander, and six of the seven gate captains had conspired against King Aegon III Targaryen and Prince Viserys Targaryen (later King Viserys II).

### Dragonless Targaryens

The reputation of the City Watch hit an all time low during the reign of King Aegon IV Targaryen. Aegon promoted his lickspittles within the Watch and used them as go-betweens to make sure the brothels were available for his lusts. It took more than a year for Aegon's son and sucessor, Daeron II Targaryen, to repair the City Watch after Aegon's death.

### House Baratheon

When the Targaryens were overthrown during Robert's Rebellion, the new king, Robert I Baratheon, continued the institution of the gold cloaks. Janos Slynt became their commander after the death of Manly Stokeworth. During his rule as commander of the gold cloaks, Janos was known for taking bribes and selling positions and promotions. By the end of his tenure, over half the officers were paying him part of their salaries. Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, discovered this, and had two men who were willing to come forward to testify against Janos, but both were found dead a short time later. Robert recognized Janos's corruption, but allowed him to remain in his position, arguing his successor might be worse. The king's brother, Lord Stannis, felt Lord Petyr Baelish had convinced Robert to retain Janos.