The Iron Throne is the highest seat of power in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. It's sat by the king of Westeros as they rule the Seven Kingdoms. Aside from it being the name of the seat itself, the Iron Throne also refers to the kingship and monarch of Westeros. It's since been the cause of countless strife throughout the kingdom. A lot of people, from kings and nobles to servants and knights have died for the sake of this throne and what it ultimately represents.
Since the release of the first season of Game of Thrones in 2011, the Iron Throne has become an iconic image in pop culture. The throne itself has almost become synonymous with the series it belongs to. It's been referenced in other franchises so much that those who haven't seen the show at least know of the Iron Throne. As known as the throne is, there are also a lot of aspects of it a lot of fans don't know about.
6 The Creation Of The Iron Throne
The Iron Throne was created after Aegon I Targaryen conquered six of the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Aegon's conquest was highly bloody and several knights and warriors fell to the might of the Targaryens and their dragons. By the end of it, Aegon had an abundance of swords that belonged to his fallen enemies.
He amassed over a thousand of these swords. With them, he had workers forge the Iron Throne with the dragonflame of Balerion and place it in the throne room in King's Landing. Several Westerosi historians have also proclaimed that the Iron Throne may have been created by armorers. Either way, the Iron Throne was created and House Targaryen has ruled from this seat for over two and a half centuries.
5 George's Iron Throne
When the image of the Iron Throne for Game of Thrones was shown prior to its released, a lot of fans of the books were baffled by how different it looked from how George R.R. Martin described it in his books. The Iron Throne is meant to be tall and massive and has a flight of steps leading toward the seat itself. Hundreds of swords protrude from each side of the steps and around the throne.
The Iron Throne as depicted in House of the Dragon is a closer resemblance to the Iron Throne in the books. However, it's still somewhat different from how George envisioned the throne to look. The depictions from comic books and video game spin-offs of the series have also failed to capture George's intentions. To this day, the most accurate representation of George R.R. Martin's Iron Throne is the one done by a French artist named Marc Simonetti. This work was included in George's book The World of Ice and Fire.
4 It's Meant To Be Uncomfortable
The Iron Throne is said to be incredibly uncomfortable to sit on. The chair has a twisted sword behind it, which makes it impossible to lean back while sitting. The throne's arm rest is also plagued by sharp edges and twisted steel. During the events of Game of Thrones, 300 years after the throne was created, the swords on the Iron Throne still remain sharp enough to cut flesh.
This is supposed to be an intended design on Aegon I Targaryen's part. According to the conqueror, he meant for the throne to be uncomfortable because a king shouldn't sit easy. Perhaps Aegon took this a bit too far as the throne isn't only uncomfortable, it's also outright deadly.
3 Cursed Wounds
Because of how the throne is designed, several kings and aspirants have suffered injuries and cuts from sitting on the throne. This is the catalyst of the death of king Viserys I Targaryen and was highly emphasized in the first season of House of the Dragon.
However, these wounds carry a darker implication. It's said that those cut by the Iron Throne are fated to doom, or that they're unfit to rule. For example, Rhaenyra Targaryen, though she was wearing armor at the time, suffered multiple cuts on her legs and left hand when she sat on it for the first time. Those who witnessed this believe this is a sign of her being rejected by the Iron Throne.
2 A Mystical Throne Capable Of Killing
While the Iron Throne is often seen for its majesty and royalty, there are instances where the Iron Throne can be outright terrifying. Aside from cutting and wounding several kings and aspirants, there's one instance where it is believed that the Iron Throne had actually killed that person sitting on it. Such an instance is the death of king Maegor Targaryen.
Maegor I Targaryen, also known as Maegor the Cruel, was found dead while sitting on the Iron Throne with several cuts and stabbed through the neck. At this point during his reign, Maegor had made several enemies and had done countless terrible acts. Therefore, it isn't unthinkable to deduce that Maegor has been murdered. There are many, however, who believed that Maegor was killed by the Iron Throne itself.
1 Those Who Can Sit On The Throne
Aside from the King, the only figure allowed to sit on the throne is the Hand of the King. A Hand can only do so when a King is absent or is unfit due to sickness. Sitting on the throne with no authority is often seen as a treasonous act. Even regents, queens, and heirs aren't allowed to sit on the throne.
The only exceptions to this are king Aegon I Targaryen's sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys. The queens would govern whenever Aegon was absent, or whenever necessary, and sat on the Iron Throne freely.