Golden Company

Lore & Background

The Golden Company was founded by Bittersteel after the First Blackfyre Rebellion, uniting exiled nobles and soldiers loyal to the Blackfyre cause. They established themselves in Tyrosh, where they built a disciplined military force that outlasted all rivals. The company's culture emphasizes merit over birthright, yet their core mission has always been the restoration of House Blackfyre to the Iron Throne. Their reputation for honoring contracts—once signed, they see them through regardless of cost—made them the most expensive sellsword company in Essos. Their military structure consists of twenty companies: ten of infantry and ten of cavalry. Notably, they field war elephants, a rare sight in Westerosi warfare, which they successfully transported during their recent crossing.

In Their Own Story

For two hundred years, the Golden Company waited in Tyrosh for the moment to cross the sea and fulfill their founding purpose. When the call finally came, ten thousand veterans boarded ships, accompanied by war elephants, and set sail for Westeros. This crossing marked the end of their centuries-long vigil and a sudden shift in the balance of power, as they answered the call of a new claimant to the Iron Throne.

Reader's Guide

The Golden Company serves as the premier military force for hire in Essos, distinguished by its unwavering adherence to contracts and its deep historical ties to the Blackfyre pretenders. Their primary goal has historically been the restoration of House Blackfyre to the Iron Throne, a mission that has defined their existence since their founding by Bittersteel. The faction is composed of ten thousand elite soldiers, divided into twenty companies: ten of horse and ten of foot, including heavy cavalry, archers, and a rare contingent of war elephants. Unlike other sellsword companies that prioritize profit, the Golden Company values reputation and contractual integrity, making them a formidable and reliable ally or enemy. Their arrival in Westeros represents a critical variable in the broader conflict, bringing centuries of martial experience and a disciplined army that few other factions can match.

Did You Know?

• The Golden Company was founded by Aegor Rivers, known as Bittersteel, a bastard son of King Aegon IV Targaryen.
• The company consists of ten thousand soldiers divided into twenty companies: ten of horse and ten of foot.
• Their forces include war elephants, which they transported during their crossing to Westeros.
• The Golden Company waited two hundred years in Tyrosh before finally crossing the sea to Westeros.
• They are known for never breaking a contract, making them the most expensive sellsword company in Essos.