Every Game of Thrones Organization Explained in 11 Minutes

Summary

This script delves into the intricate world of Westeros, highlighting key organizations such as the Night's Watch, the Small Council, the King's Guard, the Maesters, the Iron Bank of Braavos, and others. Each group plays a pivotal role in the governance, protection, and economic stability of the Seven Kingdoms, with unique histories and responsibilities that add depth to the Game of Thrones universe. The video invites viewers to explore these organizations further and ponder their favorite aspects of this richly detailed world.

Takeaways

• 🛡️ The Night's Watch is an ancient organization over 8,000 years old, established to protect the Seven Kingdoms from threats beyond the Wall, including the White Walkers.
• 🏰 The Wall was built by Bran the Builder to safeguard the kingdoms, and the Night's Watch members serve a life-long commitment, renouncing personal ties and wealth.
• 📜 Members of the Night's Watch are divided into three orders: stewards, builders, and rangers, each with its own commanding officer appointed by the Lord Commander.
• 📯 The Night's Watch has a specific duty to monitor the Wall and sound a horn to signal different threats: returning rangers, wildlings, or the White Walkers.
• 🏛️ The Small Council is an advisory group to the king, traditionally consisting of seven members including the Hand of the King and other key advisors in various fields.
• 👑 The King's Guard, or 'white cloaks,' are the royal bodyguards, sworn to lifelong service and absolute loyalty to the king and his family.
• 🔮 The Order of Maesters is a scholarly organization with members serving as healers, scientists, and advisors, trained at the Citadel and bound by strict ethical codes.
• 🤴 The Elders of Braavos, known as 'the 13,' are a powerful group of merchant princes controlling the city's affairs, including magic practitioners from the House of the Undying.
• 🏹 The Brotherhood Without Banners is an outlaw group formed to protect the common folk from the ravages of war, operating independently of any king or faction.
• 👮‍♂️ The City Watch of King's Landing, or 'gold cloaks,' are the law enforcement dedicated to maintaining order in the capital, loyal only to the Iron Throne.
• 💰 The Iron Bank of Braavos is a powerful financial institution known for its discretion, lending to kings and supporting new rulers to ensure debt repayment.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the Night's Watch?

The primary purpose of the Night's Watch is to protect the Seven Kingdoms from threats beyond the Wall, which historically included the White Walkers and currently includes wildlings.

Who built the Wall and for what purpose?

The Wall was built by Bran the Builder with the goal to protect the Seven Kingdoms from the threats beyond it.

How has the perception of serving on the Wall changed over time?

Initially, serving on the Wall was an honorable duty with many taking the black voluntarily. However, over time it has become more of a punishment, with criminals and undesirables serving there.

What happens when a man breaks his vows to the Night's Watch?

If a man breaks his vows to the Night's Watch, he is sentenced to death for attempting to leave.

What are the three different orders within the Night's Watch and their roles?

The three orders are the stewards who supply the watch, the builders who maintain the Wall and castles, and the Rangers who defend the Wall from threats.

What is the role of the Lord Commander in the Night's Watch?

The Lord Commander oversees everything within the Night's Watch and is appointed by the brothers of the watch to serve until death.

What is the function of the Small Council in the Seven Kingdoms?

The Small Council functions as a group of advisers to the lord of the Seven Kingdoms on matters of policy, consisting traditionally of seven members, including the Hand of the King and other key advisors.

What is the role of the King's Guard and their vows?

The King's Guard serves as the royal bodyguards of the Iron Throne, sworn for life to protect the king and royal family, obeying his commands, and keeping his secrets.

What is the significance of the white cloak in the King's Guard?

The white cloak is a symbol of their vows and commitment to the King's Guard, received from the king or the Lord Commander during a formal ceremony.

What is the role of the maesters in the realm and their training?

Maesters are scholars, healers, messengers, and scientists who complete their training at the Citadel, serving lords and providing counsel and knowledge.

What is the Iron Bank of Braavos and its influence?

The Iron Bank of Braavos is a powerful financial institution known for lending money to various entities, including the lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and having a reputation for ensuring repayment of debts.

What is the Brotherhood without Banners and their mission?

The Brotherhood without Banners is an outlaw group formed to protect the small folk from forces preying on them, originally following orders from Eddard Stark but later fighting for the welfare of commoners.

What is the City Watch of King's Landing and their loyalty?

The City Watch of King's Landing, also known as the gold cloaks, are the law enforcers sworn only to the Iron Throne, maintaining peace and order in the city.

What is the significance of the Iron Bank's saying 'the Iron Bank will have its due'?

The saying signifies the Iron Bank's relentless pursuit of debt repayment and its influence in supporting new rulers who will honor previous debts as a condition for financial support.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ The Knights Watch: Protectors of the Realm

The Knights Watch is an ancient organization in the Seven Kingdoms, established over 8,000 years ago to combat the White Walkers, also known as the Others, during the Long Night. They are responsible for safeguarding the lands south of the Wall from external threats, primarily wildlings in modern times. The Wall, constructed by Bran the Builder, serves as a bulwark against these dangers. The Knights Watch is composed of three orders: stewards, builders, and rangers, each with its own commanding officer appointed by the Lord Commander. Recruits can leave during training, but once vows are taken, they are bound to lifelong service, absolving them of past crimes and debts. Members are forbidden from owning land, marrying, or having children and must sever familial ties. The organization has evolved from a prestigious voluntary service to a refuge for criminals and outcasts. Despite a decline in numbers from 10,000 during Aegon's Conquest to less than 1,000 in the present, the Knights Watch remains a vital and complex institution.

05:01

🏛️ Institutions of Power: The Small Council, King's Guard, and Beyond

The Small Council is an advisory group to the lord of the Seven Kingdoms, traditionally consisting of seven members including the Hand of the King, the Grandmaster, the Master of Coin, the Master of Laws, the Master of Ships, the Master of Whisperers, and the Lord Commander of the King's Guard. These members, appointed by the king, provide expertise in various areas of governance. The King's Guard, also known as the white cloaks, are the royal bodyguards, sworn to lifelong service and forbidden from personal entanglements. They are considered the finest knights and are tasked with protecting the king and his family. The order of the maesters, a scholarly and scientific organization, is based at the Citadel in Oldtown. Maesters serve lords throughout the realm, providing knowledge and counsel. The Iron Bank of Braavos, a powerful financial institution, lends money to various entities, including the Seven Kingdoms, and is known for its ruthless debt collection practices. The Brotherhood without Banners is an outlaw group formed to protect the common folk, operating outside traditional allegiances during the War of the Five Kings. The City Watch of King's Landing, or the Gold Cloaks, maintain law and order in the capital, loyal only to the Iron Throne. These organizations contribute to the intricate tapestry of power and governance in the realm.

10:02

💰 The Iron Bank of Braavos: Financial Power and Influence

The Iron Bank of Braavos is the preeminent financial institution in the Known World, renowned for its wealth, discretion, and influence. It operates independently, not bound by loyalty to any kingdom or ruler, and is solely focused on financial gain. The bank is known for its strict enforcement of debt repayment, often supporting new rulers who will honor existing debts and repay loans. It was founded by a group of 23 individuals who became the key holders, and their descendants now form a significant part of the bank's governance. The Iron Bank's reputation is such that it can topple rulers who fail to repay their debts, and it currently holds a substantial claim over the Crown, which owes it a vast sum of gold dragons. The bank's practices and power are central to the economic and political dynamics of the world.

Keywords

💡Knights Watch

The Knights Watch is one of the oldest organizations in the Seven Kingdoms, established over 8,000 years ago. They are credited with defeating the White Walkers, also known as the Others, and have since protected the realms south of the Wall from various threats. In the script, the Knights Watch represents a military order that has evolved from an honorable service to a form of punishment for criminals and outcasts, yet still maintains its sacred duty to guard the Wall and the realm.

💡Long Night

The Long Night refers to a period of extended darkness and cold that occurred in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, during which the White Walkers first appeared. It is a significant historical event that sets the stage for the formation and purpose of the Knights Watch, as they were established at the end of this era to protect the realm from such threats.

💡Wall

The Wall is a massive fortification built by Bran the Builder with the goal of protecting the Seven Kingdoms from the threats beyond it. In the context of the video, the Wall serves as the primary duty station for the Knights Watch, symbolizing both a physical barrier and a metaphorical divide between civilization and the unknown dangers to the north.

💡Lord Commander

The Lord Commander is the leader of the Knights Watch, chosen by its members to oversee everything and serving until death. The role is central to the organization's structure and is mentioned in the script as a position of authority and responsibility, highlighting the democratic aspect of the Knights Watch's leadership selection.

💡Night's Watch Vows

The Night's Watch Vows are sacred oaths taken by the members of the Knights Watch, signifying their commitment to serve for life, renouncing personal ties, land ownership, marriage, and progeny. The vows are a key element in the script, emphasizing the lifelong dedication and sacrifice required of those who join the order.

💡Orders of the Knights Watch

The Knights Watch is composed of three different orders: the Stewards, the Builders, and the Rangers, each with its own commanding officer. These orders represent the various functions and responsibilities within the organization, as described in the script, and contribute to the maintenance and defense of the Wall.

💡Small Council

The Small Council is a group of advisers to the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, consisting of seven members including the Hand of the King, the Grandmaster, the Master of Coin, and others. The council plays a crucial role in the governance of the realm, as depicted in the script, and is responsible for making decisions on policy and other matters of state.

💡King's Guard

The King's Guard, also known as the White Cloaks, are the royal bodyguards of the Iron Throne, sworn for life to protect the king and his family. They are considered the best knights in the realm and are forbidden from owning lands, marrying, or fathering children. The script discusses their formation, duties, and the significance of their loyalty to the crown.

💡Maesters

Maesters are scholars, healers, messengers, and scientists who have completed their training at the Citadel. They serve the lords of the realm, providing counsel and expertise. The script explains their role, the process of becoming a maester, and the importance of their service to the realm.

💡Iron Bank of Braavos

The Iron Bank of Braavos is a powerful financial institution known for its wealth, discretion, and influence. It lends money to various entities, including the lords of the Seven Kingdoms, and is notorious for its ruthless debt collection practices. The script mentions the bank's role in the political landscape and its impact on the stability of kingdoms.

💡Brotherhood Without Banners

The Brotherhood Without Banners is an outlaw group formed to protect the common folk from the depredations of the war of the Five Kings. Initially following the orders of Eddard Stark, they evolved to serve no king and fight only for the welfare of the common people. The script describes their formation, goals, and the moral ambiguity of their actions.

Highlights

The Knights Watch is an ancient organization over 8,000 years old, credited with defeating the White Walkers and protecting the Seven Kingdoms from threats beyond the Wall.

The Wall was built by Bran the Builder to protect the Seven Kingdoms, and the Knights Watch has its own Lord Commander elected for life.

Initially an honorable service, the Knights Watch now often consists of criminals and undesirables serving as a form of punishment.

Knights who take the black vow for life, cannot own land, marry, or father children, and are bound to the watch until death.

The Knights Watch is divided into three orders: stewards, builders, and rangers, each with its own commanding officer appointed by the Lord Commander.

The Small Council is a group of seven advisors to the lord of the Seven Kingdoms, including the Hand of the King and other key positions.

The Small Council meets in the council chamber in the Red Keep, with the Hand of the King taking the king's place in his absence.

The Sworn Brotherhood of the King's Guard, also known as the white cloaks, are the royal bodyguards of the Iron Throne, forbidden from owning land or marrying.

The King's Guard are considered the best knights and are appointed by the king, with the Lord Commander of the King's Guard serving on the Small Council.

The Order of the Maesters is a scholarly organization with members serving as healers, scientists, and advisors in castles across the realm.

Maesters are trained at the Citadel, put aside their house names, and are appointed to serve lords, with archmaesters teaching at the Citadel.

The Iron Bank of Braavos is a powerful financial institution known for lending money to kingdoms and enforcing debt repayment.

The Iron Bank supports new rulers who will honor previous debts, using its influence to ensure repayment and stability.

The Brotherhood Without Banners is an outlaw group formed to protect the small folk from the ravages of war, fighting for the common people.

The City Watch of King's Landing, known as the gold cloaks, are law enforcers sworn only to the Iron Throne, maintaining peace in the capital.

The 13, or Elders of Braavos, are a group of merchant princes controlling the city, including members from the deposed royal lineage.

The Warlocks of Braavos hold a seat in the 13, adding a magical element to the political and economic power of the group.

Transcripts

the knights watch is one of the oldest

organizations in the Seven Kingdoms

dating back to over 8,000 years ago at

the end of the long night they are to be

credited for defeating the others also

known as the White Walkers and for

thousands of years since they protect

everyone south of the wall from the

threats that are Beyond it which in the

modern day is mostly just the wildlings

the wall was apparently built by bran

the Builder with the goal to protect the

Seven Kingdoms and since then the

brothers of the knights watch have

chosen their own Lord commander who

oversees everything serving until they

die and then being replaced by a new

worthy leader at one point serving on

the wall was in honor with many Knights

Nobles and honorable men taking the

black voluntarily now it is more of a

way to avoid punishment where many of

the men serving are criminals bastards

or just unpleasant people all around any

man who came to the wall voluntarily may

leave any time during training but after

one says their sacred vows they may

never leave and if they attempt to they

will be sentenced to death once a man

says his vows all their crimes and debts

are forgiven and they are to serve the

watch for life after saying their vows

no man at the watch can own any land

marry or father children and they're

encouraged to sever any ties left with

their families the knights watch is made

up of three different orders the

stewards who are the ones that Supply

the watch with food clothing and every

other need the builders who tend to the

wall and castles and the Rangers who

defend and protect the wall from

anything up north each of these orders

have their own commanding officer those

being known as the Lord Steward the

first Builder and the first Ranger and

all three are appointed by the Lord

Commander there are also recruiters

which are called wandering crows who go

down south to gather men to serve in the

wall wall also has septons maesters and

at the most eastern Castle East watch

Sailors one duty for certain men at the

watch are to literally watch out for

anyone or anything approaching the wall

and there to blast a horn with one horn

signifying returning Rangers two being

wildlings and three being the others

during aegon's Conquest the watch had

about 10,000 members but as of now there

are only less than 1,000 in which 600 of

them are stationed at Castle black 200

at the shadow Tower and even less at

eastwatch there are a total of 19

castles but due to the lack of people

only the three I mentioned are man

there's a lot of information to discuss

about this legendary military force

especially the history of it and it

without a doubt is one of the most

wellth thought out and intriguing

aspects to this world the small council

is a group of advisers who Aid the lord

of the Seven Kingdoms on matters of

policy in their area of expertise

traditionally it consists of seven

members the hand of the king who is the

chief adviser of the king and the second

most powerful man in the realm The

Grandmaster who is a representative from

The Citadel advising the King on any

matter concerning governance the master

of coin who is the head of the treasury

and finances of the Kingdom the master

of laws who is an expert in the laws of

the realm the master of ships who is the

commander of the royal Fleet the master

of Whisperers who is the Spy master and

gatherer of information and finally the

Lord commander of the King's Guard the

members of the small Council are

typically appointed by the king and the

King himself typically participates in

the small Council meetings in which he

is also able to bring in additional

members known as advisers although not

as common Queens have also attended

Council meetings in the past the council

is headed by the king who is the person

who has the fin final say in every

matter that is discussed that is if they

are at least 16 years old otherwise the

small Council has some more power until

they become of age the small Council

meets privately in the council chamber

which is located in the red keep when

the king is not in attendance the hand

can sit in the king's place they are

trusted with handling day-to-day

governance to the kingdom and that's

especially the case with certain

monarchs who may be uninterested in

smaller matters that they might not want

to spend their time on even if the

councilors are not members of nobility

they can still be referred to as Lords

the small Council was originally created

by Aon the conqueror but it wouldn't

become as formal as we know it until the

reign of his grandson Jaris the small

Council consists of some of the most

powerful men and women in all westros as

the lives of every person in the

continent is decided by the decisions

the councilors make the sworn

Brotherhood of the King's Guard also

known as the white cloaks are the Royal

Bodyguards of the Iron Throne the Kings

guard are sorn for life regardless of

their age and are forbidden from owning

lands marriage or fathering children

they are regarded as the best knights in

the Seven Kingdoms and are sworn to

protect their King obeying his every

command keeping his secrets and

counseling when requested as well as

keeping silent when not the king can

also decide to extend the protection

onto others such as their wives children

and other relatives as well as some

Kings extending this protection to their

lovers Mistresses and even bastards the

King's Guard are sworn to protect the

queen as well although they cannot

protect her from anything the king might

do and they are also sworn to never harm

any member of the royal family in order

to protect the king and royal family at

any given moment they have to rely on

each other they meet at the white sword

Tower to discuss any matters which is

located at the red key keep and the Lord

commander of the King's Guard who is the

most senior sworn brother serves on the

King's small Council the Lord commander

of the king's guard's Duties are to

command the other six Knights and they

are appointed by the king himself with

experience and ability both being

factors in the selection typically they

are also tasked with updating entries in

the white book which records the Deeds

of every member who has ever served in

the history of the King's Guard when the

small council is in session one of the

King's Guard always stands guard outside

the council chambers the way in which a

new member for the King's Guard is

selected can vary but often times it can

be a formal event where the Knight knels

making his vows before the king and then

receiving the white cloak from the hand

of the king or the Lord Commander

himself the King's Guard was originally

founded during the reign of aegon the

Conqueror after he was nearly

assassinated in the streets of King's

Landing the vows of the King's Guard

were specifically modeled after the

ancient vows of the knights watch and

although in my opinion they are not as

interesting as the knights watch the

Kings guard is still a really cool

concept adding more depth into this

incredible world the order of the

maesters consists of Scholars healers

Messengers and scientists every maester

has completed their training at the

Citadel which is located in Oldtown

serving as the central home for the

order of the maesters after their

training at the Citadel they are then

appointed to a lord meaning maesters are

only found in castles and if a lord

doesn't have a maester they are looked

at as unimportant Lords pay the Citadel

for a maer's service and when they take

their vows they are to put aside their

house's name and serve the house they

are assigned to loyally archmasters are

those who have shown Mastery of a

particular subject and they teach the

students at the Citadel in their subject

of expertise and they the judge of

whether a student has shown enough

knowledge on their subject to receive

receive a link for their chain the chain

around every maer's neck is intended to

remind them of the realm they serve and

they Forge their chain through every

link they collect at the Citadel once

they complete it they never take it off

even when sleeping and it is considered

a great shame if a maester surrenders

their chain The Citadel can decide if a

maer should have their chain stripped or

not which would mean that they are

exiled from The Citadel and usually this

is a punishment for any maester who

takes part in cutting open living people

practicing necromancy or other

unforgivable acts Grand mters were

created during the reign of aegon the

Conqueror and they are sworn to serve

the entire realm sitting on the small

Council acting as a royal adviser they

are the citadel's representative at the

Royal Court of the iron throne and they

are selected by the conclave which is

the governing body of the Citadel all

members of the conclave which consists

of archmasters are confidential and

conducted in secret the ca who chosen

from among the archmasters is charged

with the governance of the Citadel and

they are appointed yearly the origins of

the Citadel and merss are disputed but

the high towers are considered to be

very important in its creation maesters

date back thousands of years in the past

even at one point often traveling to

valyria when it was alive and thriving

seeking answers to questions they had

the order of the MERS has a lot of depth

and thought put into it and it without a

doubt is one of the most interesting

aspects of this world the 13 also known

as the Elders of karth are a prominent

group of merchant princes located within

the OS city known as karth most of its

members come from the pureborn who are

descendants of the deposed Kings of

karth and long ago the citizens of the

city rebelled against the king resulting

in an aligar forming which is a small

group of people having control rather

than just one this is how the 13 formed

and they basically have control over the

city itself the warlocks of karth who

are a group of magic practitioners based

in the house of the undying also hold a

seat in the 13 every other member is a

merchant invited by the council and

remains there as long as they are

powerful and feared enough to not be

replaced by another candidate because of

this the members of the 13 of course

have the goal of continuing to get

wealthier but also they try to appear

wealthy to the other members the 13 are

a mysterious and cunning group of

individuals attempting to manipulate

anyone they can to get whatever they

want the Brotherhood without banners or

simply referred to as the Brotherhood is

an outlaw group working against the

Lannister interests with the goal of

protecting the small folk from any Force

praying on them it was formed by edart

Stark who at the time was the hand of

the king to Robert Baratheon in which he

charged Lord bedrick dond Daran with

bringing the king's Justice onto sir

Gregor clean after reports that he was

terrorizing the riverlands although

originally following ard's orders

bedrick alongside thoros ofir began to

feel that none of the factions in the

war of the five Kings were truly looking

out for the welfare of the commoners

from their perspective both Starks and

Lannisters would burn farms in the

riverlands just to deny the other the

use of their crops over time they

started to fight with no Banner serving

no King and fighting only to defend the

common people against soldiers who prey

on the weak from both sides of the war

some Stark and barathan deserters ended

up joining the Brotherhood over time as

well as commoners who just wanted to

defend their homes although it is a rag

tag team it consists of dangerous

individuals who rob from the rich and

give to the poor the city watch of

King's Landing also known as the gold

cloaks are the Defenders of King's

Landing and they are the enforcers of

the law sworn only to the Iron Throne

this organization was EST established

under the reign of King megor I and

their salaries are paid by the crown but

unlike many organizations in the Seven

Kingdoms these soldiers swear no

Allegiance except to the king they are

forly trained and well equipped although

they are more so trained to keep the

peace rather than battle as King's

Landing rarely had any major attacks

especially in recent times until during

and after Robert's Rebellion the leader

of the city watch is referred to as the

Lord Commander when they are born of

noble birth but only Commander if they

are not although it is mostly effective

at keeping the peace members of the city

watch are notoriously known to give into

corruption with many commanders in the

past being very corrupt themselves with

that being said they are ultimately

loyal to the king or queen of the Iron

Throne the iron bank of braavos or

simply referred to as the iron bank is

the main bank of braavos being one of

the wealthiest banks of the Known World

arguably the most powerful of them all

combined they often lend money to

Outsiders one of these Outsiders being

the lord of the Seven Kingdoms they are

famous for their discretion and secrecy

and not loyal to anyone at all only

working for the sake of gaining more

money for themselves a common saying for

the bank to remind its clients who fail

to repay their loans is the iron bank

will have its due as they have a

fearsome reputation when it comes to

collecting debts when princes or Kings

do not pay their debts the iron bank

will support new princes or Kings in

which these new ones will honor the

previous debt along with paying back the

money that the bank loan them and they

do this in thanks to the iron bank

giving them the ability to claim the new

power that they have received if these

new princes or Kings fail to pay the

debts as well they will inevitably fall

to someone else according to an arch

maer the iron bank was founded by 16 men

and seven women who hid valuables in an

iron mine shortly after Bravos was found

founded as the Mind continued to get

more Treasures a bank was formed to

utilize the wealth each of the 23

members had a key to these vaults and

their descendants which now number to at

least a thousand are known as the key

holders in the main series The Crown

owes around 2 million gold dragons to

the iron bank a tremendous debt which

currently seems impossible to pay so in

the books there's a possibility

something might happen with this if

nothing is done about it thank you very

much for watching this video and if you

enjoyed please leave a like comment down

below which of the organizations I

discussed in this video are your

favorite and let me know if you would

like to see a part two where I discuss

even more thank you again and goodbye