King's Landing

The capital of the Seven Kingdoms and seat of the Iron Throne.

King's Landing is the capital, and largest city, of the Seven Kingdoms and the later Six Kingdoms. Located on the east coast of Westeros in the Crownlands, just north of where the Blackwater Rush flows into Blackwater Bay, King's Landing is the site of the Iron Throne and the Red Keep, the seat of the King of the Andals and the First Men. It enjoys a warm climate and life there is luxurious for those that can afford it, although it is not without its slums such as Flea Bottom. The city is overpopulated and dangerous at the best of times, despite being policed by the City Watch.

Quick Facts

Type: Capital city
Region: Crownlands, east coast of Westeros
Location: Where the Blackwater Rush flows into Blackwater Bay
Founded by: Aegon I Targaryen
Landmarks: The Iron Throne, the Red Keep
Notable district: Flea Bottom

Facts from the source article.

Background

King's Landing was founded by King Aegon I Targaryen, King of the Andals and the First Men. He established a small wooden fort atop the hill, named the Aegonfort in his honor, where his ships first landed from Dragonstone, and used this as a base for his campaign to conquer the continent. Having achieved his goal, he established the new capital on the site of his original fort. The city expanded rapidly under his descendants. By the time of Robert's Rebellion, the city had a population of approximately half a million people.

King's Landing has suffered occasional attacks during its existence, most notably during the civil war known as Robert's Rebellion, when Lord Tywin Lannister betrayed King Aerys II Targaryen and ordered his army to brutally sack the city before turning it over to Robert Baratheon as a sign of fealty.