In Season 1, House Baratheon controls Westeros. Yet, coming into Season 7, they still have a large battle hardened army and more gold than the other Houses in Westeros.

After Tywin’s death and the death of Cersei’s children (Baratheon in name, Lannister in blood), as well as Kevan Lannister’s explosive demise at the Sept of Baelor, House Lannister have lost their aura of invincibility. However, through an alliance with House Frey and House Bolton, the Lannister’s finally one their victory at the Red Wedding. During the War of the Five Kings, they suffered defeats to House Stark and House Tully. Linked to the throne through marriage, House Lannister are also the wealthiest House in the land and the one that commands the largest army. House Lannister were arguably the most powerful house in Westeros at the beginning of Game of Thrones. As such, they are a House on the up, despite the fact that their forces have been greatly reduced through repeated war and conquest. Yet, with Jon Snow’s victory over Ramsey Bolton, House Stark once again controls the North. Eddard, Catelyn, Rob and Rickon are all dead, leaving Bran, Ayra and Sansa as the only surviving heirs. However, after six seasons, it’s fair to say that House Stark is a shadow of its former self. This places them in a position of power, something that their dominion of the North reinforces. Wardens of the North and one of the oldest Great Houses in Westeros, the Starks are allied with the throne through Lord Eddard Stark’s friendship with King Robert of the House Baratheon. So, without further rambling, let us reflect!Īt the beginning of Game of Thrones, we are introduced to House Stark.

Whilst there are actually eight main Great Houses at the beginning of Game of Thrones, this post will focus on five that have been prominent throughout all the seasons. It also made me reflect on how the fortunes of those houses have changed over the past six seasons. Fighting for dominion of Westeros and Essos brought me back to the early seasons of Game of Thrones, when the Great Houses were strong and the outcome of war still uncertain.

Houses of the north westeros