For thousands of years as humans migrated into the continent of westeros, war was an
ever present danger, with warchiefs, Lords, princes and Kings struggling against each
other, often for increased political authority or control of resources.
In the face of so much conflict the noble families of Westeros implemented a military
and political hierarchy based on the Feudal traditions of the ancient Andals, to ensure
an organized system for the recruitment of soldiers in the event of war.
After the conquest of House Targaryen, and the eventual unification of the Seven Kingdoms,
this hierarchy adapted to include the King as a central authority in all matters, allowing
him to assemble the armies of Westeros at a single command.
Should the ruler deem it necessary to take his people to war, he may call upon
His Vassal Lords.
Eight leaders of great Houses, sworn to administer a large territory, the borders of which are
often determined by historical precedent.
These nobles are sworn to the King, charged with settling local disputes, keeping the
peace and collecting taxes.
In the event of war, Vassal Lords must raise their own forces as well as call upon the
armies of their Bannerman.
Bannerman, are regional Lords who have sworn oaths of fealty to the Vassal Lord of the
larger territory.
In the event of war, Bannermen must raise their own forces as well as call upon the
armies of any Lesser Lords, sworn to their service.
These Lesser Lords or petty Lords, are charged with the administration of a small area on
behalf of their Regional Lord.
In the event of war, they must organize any knights or soldiers under their command and
raise local peasant forces if necessary.
Despite the varying levels of responsibilities among the noble classes, all these men share
the rank of Lord, and earn their income off the lands they hold, than allocate a portion
of that to raising and maintaining armies and naval fleets.
While costly, the most prominent houses also employ large numbers of knights, lesser nobles
who are considered among the greatest soldiers of Westeros.
The title of Knighthood is bestowed upon a warrior who proves himself before another
Knight, being granted the title Ser, which often brings a higher level of respect from
both commoners and nobility.
Highest among their ranks, are Landed Knights who have been rewarded for their service to
a Lord and granted lands with peasants to work the field and a keep.
Some Landed Knights can even rival and surpass the wealth of lesser Lords, able to raise
and maintain their own armies.
However the rank of Knight makes them unable to administer justice, forced to call upon
their local Lord for settlement of a dispute.
In the event of war, Landed Knights are sworn to raise their armies and follow their local
Lord into battle.
There are also Household knights, who have pledged themselves to a single Master and
Hedge Knights, landless warriors with no permanent allegiance, often travelling to tournaments
for coin, or else contracting with a lord and serving in their army for a time.
Knights who earn a valiant reputation, and follow the code of chivalry associated with
their rank, are often referred to as True Knight.
While those who turn to theft and raiding, are known as Robber Knights.
With this political and military hierarchy set in place, each of the nine territories
of the Seven Kingdoms are capable or raising armies, however just how many soldiers they
can raise and how quickly, varies depending on the size of the territory, the harshness
of the environment and the density of the population.
Starting in the South, there is Dorne, the last realm of Westeros to join the Seven Kingdoms,
successfully resisting House Targaryen during the Conquest and maintaining their independence
until joining through a marriage alliance under King Daeron II.
They are ruled by House Martell, who kept the titles Prince and Princes of Dorne, in
the traditions of their Rhoynar ancestors.* According to King Daeron I who invaded and
briefly occupy the territory in the war he called the Conquest of Dorne, the Dornish
were able to raise 50,000 men in the conflict.
Yet this number was likely exaggerated; in order to make the Targaryen victories in the
early part of the war seem more impressive.
Although the Dornish nobles were largely defeated, the small folk refused to yield, continuing
the war and eventually driving the Royal forces out of the territory.
The Martells of Dorne who returned to power, never bothered to correct the number of 50,000,
happy to be perceived as a larger threat.
Dorne is however, able to raise a large number of men, often compared in power to the North
and Vale, with a Dornish warchief known as the Vulture King having once raised a rebel
army of 30,000 men.
*Rhoynar history migartion In the years before the Andal Migration into
Westeros, when First Men ruled the continent, stories say King Ferris Fowler raised an army
of ten thousand and them marched into the Reach only to be turned back by King Garth
Gardener VII.
Many years later after joining the Seven Kingdoms, House Martell of Dorne maintained strong ties
to the royal House Targaryen, and so fought with the loyalist forces during Robert's
Rebellion, with Prince Lewyn Martell leading 10 000 soldiers to join prince Rhaegar Targaryen's
host, totalling 40,000 in the Battle of the Trident.
In 298 AC, following the death of King Robert Baratheon and the outbreak of the War of the
Five Kings, Dorne chose to stay out of the initial conflict, carefully weighing their
options and allowing their rival Houses to exhaust their resources.
Moving on, the fertile fields and lush valleys of the Reach, are some of the most prosperous
and wealthy areas of Westeros, believed to be capable of raising between 80 and 100 000
soldiers, and even maintain a strong naval fleet of 200 ships in the Arbor, and another
smaller fleet near the Shield Islands.
During the Conquest of Westeros, House Gardiner of the Reach raised 30,000 men alongside their
allies in House Lannister of the Westerlands who raised an additional 15,000, to resist
Aegon the Conqueror.
However they were soundly defeated in the field of Fire, where 4,000 men were burned
alive, leading to their surrender and the fall of House Gardener, replaced as rulers
of the Reach by House Tyrell who swore fealty to the Targaryens.
During Robert's Rebellion, the Reach remained loyal to the Targaryens, and saw an army commanded
by the Tyrell bannerman Randyll Tarly, defeat Robert Baratheon at the battle of Ashford
before laying siege to Storm's End.
When violence again erupted in Westeros during the war of the five kings, they initially
sided with King Renly Baratheon, until he was assassinated, then formed an alliance
with King Joffrey and House Lannister, marrying a daughter of their House to the crown.
With an abundant supply of silver and gold mines, the Westerlands developed into the
richest territory of the Seven Kingdoms, ruled by House Lannister of Casterly Rock.
Many believe the Westerlands capable of raising up to 50,000 soldiers, however given their
wealth, they can also increase their numbers through the hiring of sell swords.
They are also known to maintain a naval fleet at Lannisport.
While they initially resisted the Targaryen conquest, joining the Reach to raise 55 000
men, they were ultimately defeated, and bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror.
During Robert's Rebellion, they remained neutral for most of the war, only joining
the rebels when their victory became inevitable.
To gain the favor of the future king, Tywin Lannister led 12,000 soldiers into King's
Landing and sacked the city, with Tywin's son Jaime of the Kingsguard betraying his
oath to kill the Targaryen King, while Tywin's men murdered Rhaegar's wife Princess Elia
and their children.
After the war, King Robert Barathon married Tywin's daughter Cersei and united the realm
under their rule.
Years later, during the War of the Five Kings, the Lannisters defended King Robert's heir
Joffrey Baratheon, eventually allying with the Tyrells of the Reach.
Initially Tywin gathered an army of 20,000, while Jaime commanded another of roughly 14
to 15000 with Ser Stafford Lannister left to raise a third army, however both Stafford
and Jaime's forces were defeated by the Northmen following Robb Stark.
Tywin then took his army south to defend King's Landing, choosing to deal with the Northerners
in another way, by organizing the betrayal of the Bolton's and Frey's at the Red
Wedding.
Moving eastward there are the Stormlands, once ruled by the mighty Storm Kings of House
Durrandon, until conquered by the Targaryens.
Orys Baratheon, the possible half-brother of Aegon the Conqueror, then married the daughter
of the defeated king, adopting their words and sigil to establish House Baratheon.
This territory is believed to have the capability of raising 30 000 soldiers, many of who joined
the efforts of Lord Robert Baratheon, when he rebelled against House Targaryen, defeating
them and taking the Iron Throne.
After the death of King Robert, the Stormlands were split, with most supporting Robert's
youngest brother Renly Baratheon until he was assassinated, then switching over to Robert's
eldest brother Stannis Baratheon, rightful heir to the Iron Throne.
It is estimated that roughly 20,000 men joined Renly Baratheon, and about 15,000 later switched
over to Stannis.
With his army now numbering roughly 20,000 Stannis attacked King's Landing but was
defeated at the Battle of the Blackwater, retreating to Dragonstone.
Although he knew it meant leaving his lands vulnerable, Stannis then took his army north
to help the Night's Watch, leaving a garrison at Dragonstone and Storm's End.
However both were eventually lost, with the Lannisters and Tyrells taking Dragonstone,
while a young man named Aegon Targaryen, claiming to the be the son of Rhaegar, invaded with
the Golden Company, capturing Storm's End and much of the Stormlands.
After the war of Conquest, the crownlands were formed, reserved as the area directly
administered by the King.
For centuries this region was governed by House Targaryen, until their defeat in 283
AC, when House Baratheon added these lands to their holdings.
It is believed the Crownlands can raise 10 to 15 000 soldiers, while the Gold Cloaks
garrisoned at King's Landing have been known to number between 2 and 6 000.
The island of Dragonstone, which also falls under the Crownlands, can then raise additional
soldiers, with the Targayens having once raised an army with reports of their numbers ranging
from less than 1600 to as high as 3000.
These forces however were gathered not only from Dragonstone, but from those allied to
the Targaryens in Driftmark, Claw Isle, Sharp Point and Stonedance.
During the reign of King Aenys and Maegor the Cruel, a rebellion led by the Faith of
the Seven, saw the rise of the Faith Militants, gathering much support from the crownlands,
leading to several confrontations, including the Battle at the Great Fork, which saw 13000
poor fellows, supported by hundreds of knights from the warrior's sons.
Their forces were defeated however by the Targaryen King.
During Robert's Rebellion, the soldiers of the Crownlands, King's Landing and Dragonstone
fought for House Targaryen, until they were defeated, and their loyalty shifted to House
Baratheon.
During the War of the Five Kings, most of the crownlands remained loyal to the idea
of House Baratheon, by siding with King Robert's heir Joffrey.
Yet in truth they became servants of House Lannister, who truly controlled the throne.
Dragonstone however remained loyal to King Stannis Baratheon, who was Lord of the island.
Driftmark and claw isle, the traditional allies of Dragonstone, also sided with the Elder
baratheon when the legitimacy of Robert's children came into question.
In the mountainous realm of the Vale, House Arryn has held power for thousands of years,
a prosperous territory protected by their natural fortification, they are believed capable
of raising up to 45 000 warriors.
The Vale is also home to various independent factions of Mountain Tribesmen, descended
from the First Men who once ruled the territory, and who fled into the Mountains choosing to
live as outlaws rather than kneel to the Andal conquerors.
During Robert's Rebellion, House Arryn of the Vale followed Robert Baratheon to victory
and after the war, Lord Jon Arryn was named Hand of the King.
After the death of Jon Arryn, King Robert and the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings.
The Vale choose to remain neutral under Lady Lysa Arryn and her son Robert Arryn.
In this way they were kept strong, sparring their resources, while others weakened.
However, the independent mountain clansmen did participate, with roughly 300 of their
warriors hired to fight alongside Lannister forces.
When Lady Lysa Arryn died, Petyr Baelish was left as Lord Protector of the Vale, and was
confronted by 6 powerful nobles of the territory, who were able to raise 20,000 men on their
own.
Yet tensions eventually subsided, and Littlefinger was allowed to remain in his role as ruler
of the Vale on behalf of Lord Robert Arryn who was still a child.
In the Riverlands, House Tully has ruled since Aegon's Conquest, when House Hoare was defeated
and Kingdom of Isles and rivers broken apart.
They are believed capable of raising 45 000 soldiers, and have often found themselves
as a battleground for the various wars of the continent given their central location,
connecting so many powerful realms.
During Robert's Rebellion they allied with the rebels, establishing an alliance through
marriage with the Vale of Arryn and the North.
This alliance continued into the War of the Five Kings, which saw them support King Robb
Stark until the betrayal at the Red Wedding.
And while men like the Brynden the Blackfish continue to fight for the Stark-Tully cause,
the Riverlands were devastated by the war, with the Frey-Lannister alliance ruling much
of the territory,
Further west, there are the Iron Islands where House Greyjoy has ruled since Aegon's conquest,
continuing the traditions of their people by focusing on reeving, naval warfare, and
the worship of the drowned god.
The Ironborn are estimated to be capable of raising 20 000 warriors, while the actual
Ironfleet consists of 100 ships 3 times larger than longships, comparible in strength to
the Royal and Redwyn fleets.
In addition the Lords of the islands are capable of launching roughly 100 ships each.
They remained neutral for much of Robert's Rebellion, though they did join the rebels
at the end, even attacking the reach with their ships.
However years later, Balon Greyjoy rose up and proclaimed himself King of the Iron Islands
in the greyjoy Rebellion.
Yet they were soundly defeated by House Baratheon and the Royal fleet.
During the War of the Five Kings, Balon Greyjoy once again rebelled, this time declaring himself
King of the Isles and the North, uniting his people behind an invasion of Stark lands.
However after some initial success, they found it difficult to keep the territories they
captured and so retreated to the Iron Islands, where the elected Euron Greyjoy as their King
after the death of his brother Balon.
Euron promised an alliance with the Dragon Queen Daenerys Targaryen, and an invasion
of the Seven Kingdoms, and began with raids against the Reach.
In king's Landing, they reported that Euron attacked the shield islands with a thousand
ships, though other believed it likely closer to half that number.
After the Ironborn victory, Euron's brother Victarion was sent with the Ironfleet to Slaver's
bay where they are to present themselves to Daenerys.
However many of these ships are destroyed during the voyage, with Victarion capturing
others to compensate, ending up with 61 ships as they sailed towards Meereen.
In the North of Westeros, where the First Men held off the Andal invaders, House Stark
ruled as Kings of Winter, from the ancestral home of Winterfell for thousands of years.
During the War of Conquest, King Torrhen Stark raised an army of 30,000 but decided to kneel
before the Targaryen conquerors, rather than risk their destruction.
The Starks were then allowed to remain as Lords of the territory.
It is believed they can raise about 45 000 soldiers including thousands of Strong Northern
Cavalry, a rank roughly equivalent to the Knights of the South, though less prestigious.
Due to the size of their territory, harsh terrain, and spread out population, they are
slow in gathering together their forces, but once assembled, the armies of the North are
famed for their ferocity and strength.
During the Dance of the Dragons civil war, 2000 Northmen, known as the Winter Wolves
went south in support of Queen Rhaenyra, while Lord Cregan Stark remained in the north gathering
a larger host for the war.
In the end Cregan marched south with a massive army, only to learn that King Aegon II had
been killed, and Rhaenyra's son Aegon III was crowned king, ending the war before the
northmen could fight.
During Robert's rebellion, The Starks supported the rebels, entering into a marriage alliance
with House Tully, creating a friendship that would endure beyond the death of King Robert
and into the War of the Five Kings, when the Riverlands declared for Robb Stark as King
of the north and the Trident.
Robb originally gathered 12,000 men at Winterfell, then adding to his numbers as he marched toward
Moat Cailin, totalling roughly 19,500 warriors.
Although some were left behind to protect the north, many followed Robb south, adding
another 4,000 soldiers from House Frey and more from others, as they made their way through
the Riverlands.
And while Robb Stark proved an excellent commander, never losing a battle, he was betrayed and
killed at the Red Wedding.
The Lordship of the North was then usurped by the Boltons while the Riverlands were left
for the Freys and Lannisters.
However many of the Houses of the North were appalled by the betrayal of the Starks and
so the territory fractured, with some choosing to support Stannis Baratheon against the Bolton
traitors.
Among those supporting King Stannis, are the Mountains Clans of the North, who were loyal
to the Starks and can roughly raise 3,000 men to war.
Further North there is the Night's Watch, men who have taken oaths to guard the Wall
against any threat to the Southern realms.
They are sworn not to participate in the politics of the Seven Kingdoms and over the years raised
19 castles and at the time of the Targaryen Conquest, had 10 000 men in their ranks.
However by the time of the War of the Five Kings their numbers had dwindled to less than
a 1000 men manning only 3 castles.
Beyond the Wall, the Free Folk, also known as Wildlings live independent of the Seven
Kingdoms.
Descended from the First Men, these people live in small clans struggling to survive
and are treated as an invading force by the Night's Watch when they attempt to migrate
to warmer conditions.
This has sometimes led them to unite under a King beyond the Wall to battle the Night's
Watch in hopes of crossing into the south.
During the War of the five kings, in 299 AC, King Mance Rayder led an army estimated between
30 and 40 thousand; however many of these people were women, children and the elderly.
And while they may have stood a good chance against the minor forces protecting the wall,
Stannis Baratheon soon arrived with a proper southern army, and defeated the wildlings,
taking Mace Rayder as a captive.
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