Westeros is a continent made up of several extremes. Geographical regions include blistering deserts, frozen wastelands, and beautiful expanses of fertile forest land. Game of Thrones depicts citizens of harsh regions developing personalities to suit their environment. The bitter cold of the North forged its people into noble survivalists. The remote, lifeless rocks of Iron Island convinced its people to sail the high seas and fight to claim better land elsewhere.
A Song of Ice and Fire explores the Known World with plentiful details, but there are always new things to learn about the unique fantasy landscape. Some areas earn deeper dives than others. A healthy percentage of the drama takes place in King's Landing, the elegant metropolis built around the central Red Keep and its Iron Throne. Locations like the Iron Islands warrant less extensive depictions.
What are the Iron Islands?
The Kingdom of the Iron Islands is a cluster of seven islands that make up one of nine constituent regions of Westeros. The Iron Isles are the smallest section of the Seven Kingdoms. They're likely the second-least populous after Dorne. The Iron Islands are located in Ironman's Bay, off the western coast of Westeros. The bay's shape places them north of the Westerlands and south of the North. Each Iron Island is a small, infertile rock. The weather in the area tends to be consistently gray, overcast, and rainy. Fierce winds regularly assault the Iron Islands, blowing away most of the plant life that can survive the awful soil. Wildlife is rare on the islands, providing very few options for residents seeking food. The sea remains full of aquatic life, which provides for the limited population. The islands provide plentiful mines full of iron, tin, and lead. Most of them featured lush forests, but earlier citizens cleared them away to build ships. The main islands include:
- Pyke: The current seat of power among the isles sits on this land mass. It is otherwise unremarkable.
- Great Wyk: The largest island in the cluster is notable for many gigantic inland castles.
- Harlaw: The richest island sports the greatest concentration of people with its substantial trading profits.
- Old Wyk: The holiest iron island is said to have been built from the bones of the Nagga after the Grey King slayed it.
- Orkmont: The central island spawned two previous Iron Kings.
- Blacktyde: This island is named after the family that rules it.
- Saltcliffe: This island and Blacktyde rarely warrant mention in the books.
Who rules the Iron Islands?
House Greyjoy rules the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones. The seven Iron Islands spent generations as separate kingdoms, frequently fighting each other for land and limited resources. They first unified after several priests agreed that it was sinful for the ironborn to fight each other. In a rare case of democracy, the High Kings of the Iron Islands earn their place in a free and fair election called a kingsmoot. House Greyiron ruined this tradition by establishing a generational dynasty, which gradually fell apart through several civil wars during the Andal invasion. House Hoare picked up their dictatorship, which only ended with Aegon's Conquest. Aegon I Targaryen burned House Hoare's castle and wiped out the family.
The Dragon selected Vickon Greyjoy as the first Lord of the Iron Islands, allowing him to rule as a vassal of House Targaryen. Around 250 years later, Balon Greyjoy would attempt to reclaim independence, declaring himself King of the Iron Islands. He misjudged King Robert Baratheon, who summoned support from his brother Stannis, Eddard Stark, Tywin Lannister, and Barristan Selmy to crush Greyjoy's Rebellion. Balon maintained his lordship after bending the knee, handing his son Theon over to House Stark as a hostage. Balon's brother, Euron, quietly pushed Balon to his death. Euron claims the throne, killing anyone who disagrees. The books see him sail away to conquer Westeros. The show goes a bit further, seeing him briefly seduce Cersei Lannister before losing his fleet to Daenerys Targaryen's dragon and his life to Jamie Lannister. This leaves Yara Greyjoy to take the Salt Throne as Lady of the Iron Islands.
What is Ironborn culture like?
The Ironborn are self-sufficient, elitist, seafaring people. They see the residents of mainland Westeros as weak and soft. Their islands provide them with very little, forcing them to mount sailing expeditions to take what they need from the rest of the world. The Ironborn once believed in the "iron price," a system of reaving and pillaging peaceful people across the sea. House Hoare's regime reduced piracy and emphasized the importance of trade. The average ironman is ardent in his faith in the Drowned God, a cruel undersea deity who encourages violent confrontations in the open ocean. The Ironborn consistently fight each other over their methods. Many want to return to the olden days, rebuilding the Iron Fleet to assault Westeros and claim as much land as possible.
The Iron Islands are among the most cruel locations in Game of Thrones. The franchise routinely enforces the idea that culture evolves naturally through environmental factors. With that concept in mind, the Ironborn had no choice but to become brutal pirates. The Drowned God encourages every Ironborn to believe that "what is dead may never die." Living on the Iron Islands feels like death, so they're willing to take that chance.