Does Westeros Have 7 Kingdoms or 9? Egg Is Right and Wrong

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“Everyone knows there are seven kingdoms,” the man said.

“Actually, that’s not right,” the boy replied.

“Do you want me to hit you?” the man threatened.

“There are nine kingdoms: the Crownlands, the Westerlands, the Stormlands, the Riverlands, the Iron Islands, the North, the Reach, the Vale of Arryn, and Dorne.”

Did Egg accurately predict events in the first season finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? It’s complicated. Mostly, no, because Westeros is a notoriously strange and complex land. And it raises a question: if not seven or nine, how many kingdoms actually exist? Prepare for a debate – the answer is less a clear solution and more like a lively discussion you’d have in a tavern.

The question of who ruled Westeros first is surprisingly complicated. The history of royalty stretches back 12,000 years, long before the Targaryens arrived. In the beginning, Westeros wasn’t one kingdom, but a collection of many small, warring ones – an era George R.R. Martin calls the “Age of the Hundred Kingdoms.” Over time, families like the Starks gained power and united larger areas, forming the kingdoms we see in Game of Thrones. The arrival of the Andals adds even more layers to this history, so it’s easier to focus on the more recent past – the time when Westeros was known as “the Seven Kingdoms.”

When Aegon took control of Westeros, there were seven kingdoms. Six of these kingdoms were largely as viewers of the HBO series see them: the North, ruled by the Starks; the Vale of Arryn, ruled by the Arryns; the Reach, ruled by the Gardeners; the Westerlands, ruled by the Lannisters; the Stormlands, ruled by the Durrandons; and Dorne, ruled by the Martells.

There’s a significant point to consider with that number six, but it’s not the one you might be thinking of. It has to do with Dorne: you could argue it wasn’t a true kingdom, but a principality, since its rulers – the Martells – were called Princes and Princesses instead of Kings and Queens. It’s a matter of wording, yes, but Egg is the one stretching the definition of ‘kingdom,’ not us.

And there’s a major point to remember: Aegon the Conqueror never actually conquered Dorne. It wasn’t officially part of the Seven Kingdoms under Targaryen rule for over 187 years. It was King Daeron II, Aegon’s grandson, who finally negotiated Dorne’s inclusion, sealing the deal by marrying Myriah Martell – which explains why his son, Baelor Breakspear, had dark hair. Until Dorne pledged its allegiance, the so-called Seven Kingdoms were more like six powerful kingdoms.

When Aegon Targaryen began his conquest, the Iron Islands formed one of the seven kingdoms. However, King Harren the Black, of House Hoare, ruled not only the Iron Islands but also the Riverlands. He was famously the builder of the great castle, Harrenhal, but his reign ultimately ended in disaster.

Long ago, the Riverlands were ruled by their own kings. However, for the four hundred years before Aegon’s conquest, the area was constantly contested, changing hands between the kings of the Iron Islands and the Storm Kings from Storm’s End.

Before Aegon’s conquest, Westeros was divided into seven major kingdoms. However, he only managed to conquer six of them. Of those six, three ended up with new ruling families. He destroyed the ancient House Gardener of the Reach and replaced them with House Tyrell, who had previously served as their stewards. House Baratheon took over from House Durrandon, securing their claim by marrying the late king’s daughter and adopting their motto and symbol. Aegon’s dragons wiped out House Hoare, and he then appointed House Tully as the new rulers of the Riverlands, effectively splitting the former kingdom of Harren in two. Finally, Aegon allowed the people of the Iron Islands to choose their own lord, and they selected House Greyjoy. (It was arguably a poor choice.)

Aegon essentially created an eighth kingdom out of the Riverlands, but it didn’t exist as one when he first arrived, nor was it recognized when he was crowned King of Westeros. This highlights how Aegon was partially correct in his thinking. If you define a “kingdom” under the Targaryens simply as a “region” or “territory,” then he’s right. However, words matter, Prince Aegon, and have specific meanings. This also applies to his claim of a “ninth” kingdom, the Crownlands.

The Crownlands didn’t exist until King Aegon Targaryen created them. Before that, it was a sparsely populated area that the Iron Islanders and Storm Kings would occasionally fight over – though they valued the Riverlands much more. When Aegon arrived, both kingdoms controlled pieces of what would become the Crownlands, including the future site of King’s Landing. However, even though the Targaryens ruled from this land, it wasn’t ever a kingdom in its own right.

You could even say that Dragonstone felt more like a kingdom than just a home, especially considering its history. While part of Westeros, Dragonstone operated independently for a long time. It eventually became part of the Crownlands when the Targaryens took over, but before that, it was an outpost of the Valyrian Freehold, and House Targaryen governed it for centuries before Aegon the Conqueror looked towards the west.

So, while there are officially seven kingdoms, Westeros is divided into nine or even ten regions – and possibly more. Some areas have a fuzzy relationship with the established powers. Take Skagos, a large island off the northern coast. It’s considered part of the North and under House Stark’s control, but it’s a strange, isolated place. Rumors say the inhabitants are cannibals, so House Stark keeps its distance. This hands-off approach means Skagos functions almost independently, with only a weak connection to the North – unlike Bear Island, which is firmly part of the North.

The Three Sisters remind me a lot of Skagos – both are technically under House Arryn’s control in the Vale, but they pretty much do their own thing, sticking to their own gods and traditions. Even after the Arryns swore fealty, Aegon still needed the Starks to handle the Three Sisters. They weren’t a proper kingdom, not really, but it’s a complicated region, and if you’re a detail person like me, it’s hard to neatly categorize. Honestly, I blame Aegon – he acted so sure of himself while talking to that poor guy, and it just created a mess!

Someone from Westeros is really upset that I questioned whether the Three Sisters are truly part of the Vale. They insist the Sistermen consider themselves loyal to House Arryn. But let’s be real – no one actually visits those islands because of their reputation for wickedness and greed. That says it all, doesn’t it?

You know, we haven’t even gotten to The Gift yet, and as a huge fan, it’s a fascinating piece of Westeros history! Basically, it’s this area south of the Wall that Bran the Builder – the first Stark – gifted to the Night’s Watch way back when. It’s protected by both the Starks and the Watch, and while it’s definitely in the North, it’s not actually part of Winterfell’s territory. It’s kind of its own thing. King Jaehaerys and Queen Alyssane even added to it later – they called it the New Gift. And here’s the interesting part: it wasn’t a kingdom before or after Aegon’s conquest, just like the Riverlands or the Crownlands. But Aegon still included those areas when he listed out everything he controlled, so it makes you wonder why The Gift is often left out of the discussion!

When Aegon became the first ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, he actually only controlled six. However, he governed eight distinct regions. Over time, House Targaryen expanded its rule to nine regions, always including the area known as the Gift, though its status was a bit unclear. Aegon definitively controlled Dragonstone, regardless of whether it was officially considered a kingdom. The status of places like Skagos and the Three Sisters, along with other territories, remains uncertain – there’s no definitive answer to how many regions they truly ruled.

This is a fun discussion best enjoyed with a drink or two. And honestly, Dunk shouldn’t worry about not knowing how many kingdoms are in Westeros – his smart squire gets it wrong too, just like most people.

Mikey Walsh writes for TopMob and generally enjoys the show “Seven Kingdoms.” You can find him on Bluesky at @burgermike, and he’s always participating in discussions about ranking the Targaryen kings.

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2026-02-25 21:35