George R.R. Martin didn't just sit down and write a story about dragons and frozen zombies. He built a thousand-year graveyard first. If you’ve ever felt a bit lost watching the show or reading A Song of Ice and Fire, it’s probably because the game of thrones background isn’t just flavor text—it’s the actual engine driving every betrayal and alliance you see on screen. Most people think the story starts with Ned Stark heading south. It doesn’t. It starts centuries ago with a bunch of magical mishaps and a very messy family tree.
History in Westeros isn't linear. It’s a circle. Characters are constantly trying to live up to—or run away from—the ghosts of their ancestors. You’ve got the First Men, the Andals, and the Valyrians all smashed together on one continent, and honestly, they’ve never really gotten along.
The Age of Heroes and the Messy Foundations
Before there was a Red Wedding or a Battle of the Bastards, there was the Age of Heroes. This is the bedrock of the game of thrones background. We’re talking about figures like Bran the Builder and Lann the Clever. These aren't just names; they are the reasons the Great Houses exist. Bran supposedly built the Wall and Winterfell using magic and giants. Is it true? Maybe. But the Northmen believe it with a religious fervor that dictates their entire political identity.
Then you have the Long Night. This wasn't just a bad winter. It was a generational catastrophe. The White Walkers first appeared thousands of years ago, and the only reason they were defeated—the first time—was a shaky alliance between the Children of the Forest and the First Men.
This alliance is crucial. It’s why the Starks keep the Old Gods. While the rest of the south prays to the Seven (brought over by the Andal invaders later), the North stays rooted in this ancient, weirwood-tree-worshipping past. That cultural divide is the secondary "Wall" that keeps the kingdoms from ever truly being one people.
Aegon’s Conquest: When the Dragons Changed the Rules
You can't talk about the game of thrones background without Aegon Targaryen. Before him, Westeros was seven separate kingdoms constantly hitting each other over the head. Aegon showed up with two sisters (who were also his wives, because Targaryens) and three massive dragons.
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Balerion the Black Dread was the largest. Imagine a shadow that could cover an entire city. That’s what Aegon had.
He didn't just conquer; he unified. He took the swords of his defeated enemies, melted them down with dragonfire, and made the Iron Throne. It’s supposed to be uncomfortable. Aegon believed a king should never sit easily. But the real kicker is why he did it. In the books and the House of the Dragon series, it’s hinted that Aegon had a vision—the "Song of Ice and Fire"—a prophecy that a Targaryen needed to be on the throne to save the world from the darkness in the North. He wasn't just a tyrant; he was a guy trying to save the world through fire and blood.
The Targaryen dynasty lasted nearly 300 years. It wasn't all sunshine. They had civil wars like the Dance of the Dragons, which basically killed off the family’s greatest weapons. By the time we get to the main story, the dragons are gone, and the Targaryens are just people with silver hair and a tendency toward madness.
Robert’s Rebellion: The "Recent" History
Everything in the first season of the show is a direct result of Robert’s Rebellion, which happened about 15-17 years before the start of the series. This is the game of thrones background that the characters actually remember.
Rhaegar Targaryen, the crown prince, allegedly kidnapped Lyanna Stark. Robert Baratheon was betrothed to her. Ned Stark was her brother. When Ned’s father and other brother went to King Aerys II (The Mad King) to demand her back, Aerys burned them alive.
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That was the spark.
But here’s the thing: history is written by the winners. Robert claimed he fought for love, but he was also a man who loved the fight itself. The rebellion ended at the Trident where Robert crushed Rhaegar’s chest with a warhammer. It ended in King’s Landing where Jaime Lannister stabbed his own king in the back.
The Secret Truths of the Rebellion
- Lyanna wasn't kidnapped; she went willingly with Rhaegar.
- Jon Snow is the product of that union, making him the "Ice" and "Fire" of the prophecy.
- The Lannisters stayed neutral until they knew who would win, then sacked the city.
Why the Geography Dictates the Politics
Westeros is huge. It’s roughly the size of South America, though the climate is all over the place. The North is a frozen wasteland. The Reach is a lush breadbasket. Dorne is a desert.
This matters because the game of thrones background is built on resource management. The Tyrells are powerful because they have the most food. The Lannisters were powerful because they had the most gold (until the mines ran dry, anyway). The Iron Islanders are raiders because their rocks can't grow anything.
When you understand that the Greyjoys have to steal to survive, their "We Do Not Sow" motto stops sounding like a cool catchphrase and starts sounding like a desperate economic policy.
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The Magic That Never Really Left
People in the "modern" era of Westeros think magic is dead. They think the Maesters at the Citadel explained it all away with science and logic. They’re wrong.
The game of thrones background is soaked in blood magic and prophecy. From the Valyrian steel blades that can kill White Walkers to the shadow-babies birthed by Melisandre, the supernatural is just waiting for the right moment to come back. The return of the dragons didn't cause magic to return; the return of magic allowed the dragons to hatch. It’s a subtle difference, but an important one.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Writers
If you want to truly master the lore or apply these world-building techniques to your own projects, focus on these three things:
- Trace the Grudges: Don't just look at who is fighting; look at why their grandfathers hated each other. In Westeros, the Blackwood-Bracken feud has lasted for thousands of years over land rights and religious differences.
- Follow the Money (and Food): Political power in this universe is directly tied to geography. A house's location determines its military style, its diet, and its diplomatic leverage.
- Question the Narrative: Always remember that the "history books" in the series (like those written by Maesters) are biased. What the characters believe to be true about the game of thrones background is often a lie or a half-truth designed to keep the current power structure in place.
To get the full picture, look into the Fire & Blood history book or the World of Ice and Fire compendium. They provide the "primary sources" that flesh out these events beyond the whispers and rumors heard in the main storyline. Understanding the past is the only way to predict who survives the future in Westeros.