Many centuries before the Targaryen Conquest of Westeros, The Valyrian Freehold ruled much
of Western Essos. Expanding from the Valyrian Peninsula, they used their dragons to defeat
established civilizations and raise their own cities and colonies.
As they reached the Western coast of the continent, they established many of the settlements that
would came to be known as the Free Cities, which were administered, largely as independent
city-states, though still under the purview and protection Valyria.
In 114AC a terrible disaster known as the Doom of Valyria destroyed the ancient city
and broke apart the peninsula. Without a strong central government to keep the peace and provide
stability, the continent was engulfed in a hundred years of chaos and war.
The Century of Blood saw many former Valyrian territories at war, and saw the invasion of
the Dothraki horde, a wild, nomadic warrior race from the far east, migrating West and
rampaging through former Valyrian territories. Eventually, many of the surviving factions
achieved some level of peace aided by the defeat the Dothraki army in Qohor, halting
their western expansion. Among the cities to survive the Bleeding Years,
were the 9 Free Cities of Essos, many of whom would become trading partners to Westeros,
with political and military ties to the Seven Kingdoms.
Beginning in the North, there is the city of Braavos, originally founded by escaped
slaves of Valyria, who killed their masters, stole their ships and located an isolated
lagoon in the mountains to found their settlement. They outlawed slavery naming it the First
Law of Braavos, and kept their city secret from the rest of the world for a hundred years.
This canal city which built a great statue known as the Titan of Braavos at entrance
to their Harbor,* is ruled by a Sealord who holds the position for life, protected by
his champion, the First Sword of Braavos. The Sealord is chosen by the city’s magisters
and Keyholders, a powerful aristocratic ruling class within the city.
Braavos is known as place of religious diversity with many temples and shrines dedicated to
the many faiths of Essos and Westeros, including the infamous House of Black, where a group
of Assassins called the Faceless men worship Death, who they name the many faced god.
The richest and most powerful of the free cities, Braavos owes much it’s financial
success to the Iron Bank which loans money to foreign powers, and their robust trade
culture, which has Braavosi ships sailing as far east as Asshai. A coastal city, they
are known for trading in many varieties of fish, as well as oysters, eels, clams, rays,
crabs and crawfish. They are also known for producing a famous dark purple dye, found
only in Braavos. Known figure of Braavosi heritage include
Syrio Forel, a former First Sword and mentor to Arya Stark. And Tycho Nestoris, a representative
of the Iron Bank who makes a deal with Jon Snow of the Night’s Watch and King Stannis
Baratheon. Further East there is the city of Lorath,
located on the largest of 3 islands along the Northern coast. The smallest, poorest
and least populated of the free cities, they were once home to an ancient people known
as the Mazemaker, but were colonized in 1436 BC by Valyrian settlers who worshipped the
Blind God Boash, establishing a culture that denied the self, developing speech patterns
that referenced “A Man or a Woman” rather than I or You. In addition they considered
men and women completely equal and while the Boash religion has largely been abandoned,
these cultural influences remain. They were once ruled by A Harvest Prince,
Fisher Prince and Prince of the Streets, but are now governed by a council of magisters
made up of the local aristocracy. They trade in Salt cod, walrus tusks, sealskins
and whale oil, while also focusing on the production of rich velvet which they trade
for steel and other goods. The Steel they acquire is then traded along the Shivering
Sea for furs, ivory and obsidian. Known figures from Lorath, include Jaqen Hghar,
the faceless assassin who killed 3 men for Arya Stark and invited her to find the Temple
of Black and White in Braavos. The city of Norvos was founded by followers
of Bearded Priests, worshippers of a mysterious god whose name is only revealed to initiates
of the priesthood. They built their city in a location that was once occupied by a primitive
people who built small villages possibly related to the ancient Andals until they were driven
from their lands by invaders from the East known as the Hairy Men.
Norvos is also the site of an important battle, which saw Qarlon the Great, King of all the
Andals, defeat the Norvosi army twice on the field, then laying siege to the city. However
Norvos called on their allies in Valyria, who sent a hundred Dragon Lords to kill the
Andal King, destroy his army and ending the siege.
Their society and culture is largely based around the ringing of 3 bells which govern
every aspect of their day to day lives and are ruled by a council of Magisters chosen
by the Bearded Priests. They are known to produce beautiful tapestries,
engaging in heavy trade with Lorath, and are known to use fermented goat’s milk to make
a drink they call Nasha. Known figures from Norvos include the Dornish
warrior Areo Hotah and Doran Martell’s wife Lady Mellario, mother to his 3 children.
Moving to the Western Coast, there is the city of Pentos, a prosperous trade settlement
ruled by a group of rich merchants, who in turn choose a Prince as the figurehead of
their territory. The Prince lives a lavish lifestyle, however should the city suffer
a defeat in battle or famine, the Prince is sacrificed to the gods and a new ruler is
selected. They have also learned to avoid devastation
by establishing a relationship of tribute payments to several Dothraki Khalasars, paying
them handsomely in exchange for being sparred from the worst of their raiding.
Their economy is largely based off trade, moving spices and gemstones through their
harbors. They also once dealt heavily in Slavery but made the practice illegal after losing
a war to Braavos. Well known figures from Pentos include Illyrio
Mopatis, a friend to Varys the Spider and influential merchant in the city. As well
as the Tattered Prince, leader of the Windblown Mercenary Company.
The city of Qohor also known as the City of Sorcerers, was founded by followers of a dark
god they call the Black Goat who demands daily blood sacrifices, seeing the Qohori kill both
animals and humans in their religious rituals. After the Doom of Valyria, a dragon lord named
Aurion rallied 30 000 soldiers from Qohor and declared himself First Emperor of Valyria,
flying his dragon and army south to reconquer the Valyrian Peninsula. However after departing,
the dragon rider and his army were never heard from again.
During the century of blood, a Dothraki Khalasar of 50 000 warriors invaded the territory,
defeating their army and the sellsword companies hired to defend their lands. However before
the Dothraki could sack the city, an army of 3000 Unsullied warriors they had purchased,
arrived and defended their gates, repelling 18 charges by the Dothraki horde, and killed
approximately 12 000 of their warriors including their leader Khal Temmo.
Since their victory in the Battle of Qohor, the city has almost exclusively relied on
Unsullied warriors for their protection. The city has prospered over the years as a
trade gateway between the Free cities and the Dothraki sea, but they were much wealthier
before the fall of so many territories in the east, which were conquered by the Dothraki
during the century of blood. They are known to trade large amounts of lumber and produce
excellent tapestries and wood carvings. They are also known as expert armour and weaponsmiths,
now one of the only places in the world to still possess the knowledge to reforge Valyrian
Steel. Well known figures from Qohor include Vargo
Hoat, leader of the Brave Companions mercenary company, and Tobho Mott, the blacksmith hired
by Tywin Lannister to reforge the Valyrian steel sword Ice, creating Widow’s Wail and
Oathkeeper. Further south, there is the city of Myr, another
prosperous territory with a culture devoted to education and the arts, making them one
of the most advanced of the Free Cities. After the fall of Valyria, they were conquered by
the city of Volantis until eventually rebelling after a coalition rose to stop Volantine expansion.
Myr is known to have some of the finest artisans in the world, creating glassware, tapestries,
paintings and miniatures as well as producing firewine, pale green nectar wine, carpets,
blankets, screens, mirrors, and lace. Some notable Myrish figures including Thoros
of Myr, the red priest working with the Brotherhood without Banners in the Riverlands, and Lady
Serala, wife of Lord Denys Darklyn, who many say encouraged her husband to imprison King
Aerys II during the Defiance of Duskendale. Located on one of the islands of the Stepstones,
the city of Tyrosh was founded as a military outpost for Valyria, but grew into a proper
settlement, bolstered by the discovery of several snail species, which allowed them
to produce highly valued dyes for trade. After the fall of Valyria, Volantis attempted
to conquer the city but were repelled by an alliance of powers including Tyrosh, Pentos,
the Stormlands of Westeros and the Island of Dragonstone, seeing Aegon Targaryen riding
his dragon into battle, burning a Volatene fleet attacking Lys.
Many years later, Tyrosh became home to the Westerosi exiles of House Blackfyre and their
supporters, even participating in the 5th Blackfyre Rebellion, also known as the War
of the Ninepenny Kings. Tyrosh is heavily involved in the slave trade,
having developed a trade culture, also producing impressive armour pieces, highly prized dyes
and pear brandy. An example of a well known figure hailing
from Tyrosh is Daario Naharis, captain of the Stormcrow’s mercenary company and ally
to Daenerys Targaryen. Moving to another island city state, there
is the beautiful territory of Lys, where the blood of Old Valyria runs strong producing
silver-gold haired offspring with purple eyes. The city has become famous for its pleasure
houses, worshipping a goddess of love, and creating such a pleasurable environment they
became a resort location for the Dragonlords of Valyria.
After the Doom, Lys was conquered by Volantis, but they rebelled after an alliance of states
devastated the Volantine army and naval fleet. They are heavily involved in the slave trade,
producing some of the finest pleasure slaves in the world, also trading red and white wine,
fine tapestries, sweet perfumes and fine long dirks. They are also known to make powerful
poisons, including the strangler[16] and the tears of Lys.
Some well known figure from Lys include the Spymaster Varys the Spider, and the Pirate
Salladhor Saan. The cities of Myr, Tyrosh and Lys briefly
joined together from 96 AC to 130 AC, becoming known as the Triarchy, as well as the Kingdom
of the three Daughters. However, after several wars in the narrow sea the Triarchy dissolved
and the cities went to war with each other, fighting over the Disputed Lands for many
years to come. The Oldest of the Free cities, Volantis is
known as the First Daughter of Valyria, and grew prosperous as a trading post between
Old Valyria and the Rhoynar city states. Protected by great black walls, the city of Volantis
attempted to reconquer the lands of Valyria after the doom and fall of the Freehold, conquering
the cities of Lys and Myr. However they were eventually defeated by a Tyroshi alliance,
and the empire collapsed, returning to the protection of their walls.
The Volantine are known to have the blood of Old Valyria, with many families tracing
their lineage directly to the Freehold. This has created a prestigious aristocracy, creating
a deep political divide in the city between the old money noble class and new money merchant
class. Further displayed by the volatile political relationship between the competing parties
known as the Tigers and Elephants. The Volantine economy is largely based on
the slave trade, acting as a trade port between the Free Cities and Slaver’s Bay. And are
also a gateway to the Jade sea, seeing silk and spices pass through their harbor. They
also produce sweet beets and sweet red wine, and developed the game of cyvasse.
A notable figure from Volantis is the fool known as Patchface, a mentally impaired man
who may have the gift of prophecy, working as a servant of King Stannis Baratheon.
Nearing the southern continent of Sothoryos, the city of Gogossos was founded in the Basilisk
Isles by the Ghiscari empire, before becoming a penal colony for the Valyrian Freehold,
and then a pirate den after the doom. They grew rich off the slave trade during the century
of blood, and were considered by some as the tenth free city for a time, until they were
devastated by a plague known as the Red Death, seeing 9 of every 10 dying in agony.
Located in the Dothraki sea, the colony of Essaria was a newly formed Valyrian settlement
which became independent after the Doom. And while they prospered for a time bolstered
by their trade with the city of Sarnor, the territory was eventually destroyed by the
Dothraki during the Century of Blood, renamed Vaes Khadokh, meaning the city of corpses,
known to many as the lost Free City.