Sete Reinos

Os Sete Reinos são uma nação localizada no continente de Westeros, governada pelo Rei que ocupa o Trono de Ferro na cidade capital, Porto Real. O nome tem origem na época em que Aegon, o Conquistador decidiu unir os sete reinos do continente sob um único monarca. Hoje, há nove regiões distintas.

Origin

When Aegon used dragons to conquer the seven individually ruled kingdoms that existed on the mainland and forged a huge, strong empire. The Kingdoms were: The Kingdom of the North, the Kingdom of Vale and Sky, the Kingdom of the Isles and Rivers, Kingdom of the Rock, Kingdom of the Reach, Kingdom of the Stormlands and Dorne.

Aegon managed to conquer only six of the seven kingdoms, consolidating them under the rule of House Targaryen and the Iron Throne. Dorne was joined to the realm only two centuries later through diplomatic means, after a few hurdles on the way, thus making the name somewhat inaccurate.

Governo

For most of their history the regions of Westeros were independent kingdoms. The number of these kingdoms and their borders have changed many times. Following a successful conquest of all the lands of Westeros south of the Wall but Dorne, and their consolidation under the rule of the Iron Throne, Aegon established his new empire's capital on the spot of his landing, for which it was known as King's Landing.

Due to the vast size of the new Kingdom, in each region Aegon raised 'great houses' who swore fealty to him. The lords were granted a degree of autonomy and granted authority over their minor lords and small folk. In the original six kingdoms House Baratheon married into the Targaryens and were awarded the Stormlands, after the defeat of King Argilac the Arrogant; the House Tyrell was granted over-lordship over the Reach, while House Lannister was allowed to keep their family holdings after they bent the knee, following the defeat at the Field of Fire; House Stark chose to submit and was confirmed as overlords over the North. House Greyjoy was granted the Iron Islands after the defeat of King Harren the Black. For supporting Aegon against Harren, House Tully of Riverrun was awarded over-lordship of the Riverlands.

Regiões e Territórios

The Seven Kingdoms are divided into nine administrative regions, seven of which, O Norte, As Ilhas de Ferro, O Vale, As Terras Ocidentais, A Campina, As Terras da Tempestade e Dorne, were independent kingdoms at the time of conquest. As Terras Fluviais had been independent before, but had fallen to the Reis da Tempestade and more recently to the ironborn. They regained independence after the local lords rebelled against Harren, o Negro and swore fealty to Aegon during the conquest. The area around Porto Real, which had also been a battleground between several kingdoms, constituted the royal demesne and became known as the as Terras da Coroa. The island stronghold of Pedra do Dragão, ancient seat of the Targaryens, was successively granted to heirs apparent to the throne.

The realm's territory includes all but the northernmost tip of the continente, where the Muralha defines its northern border. The king on the Iron Throne also controls the many islands off the coast of Westeros, such as Tarth, Greenstone, and Pedra do Dragão. It is occasionally drawn into conflicts over the Degraus off its southeastern coast, but it has rarely controlled a significant portion of them.

População

The population of the Seven Kingdoms numbers in the millions. It is sparsely populated in the vast regions of the North and the deserts of Dorne, and mostly densely populated in the fertile lands of the Reach. The kingdoms are speckled with villages and holdfasts and a few large townships, but only five settlements can be called cities, their population numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Listed in decreasing order of size, they are:

• Porto Real, a capital dos Sete Reinos, com uma população de meio-milhão de pessoas.
• Vilavelha, localizada na Campina. A mais antiga cidade do continente, lar da Torralta, da Cidadela e dos meistres.
• Lannisporto, localizado nas Terras Ocidentais.
• Vila Gaivota, localizada no Vale.
• Porto Branco, localizado no Norte

O restante dos Sete Reinos é essencialmente rual, com a rara exceção das vilas portuárias, por causa de sua importâncias econômica.

Cultura

O povo dos Sete Reinos são uma mistura de diversos grupos étnicos que migraram ao continente e miscigenaram-se no passar dos séculos. Desta forma, estas etnias originais são dissolvidas, não unidades políticas fortes. Hoje, são principalmente identificadas pelo lugar em que residem, já que cada reino antigo mantém uma essência única.

A influência dos Ândalos é mais forte no sul, enquanto os Nortenhos ainda seguem muitos dos antigos costumes dos Primeiros Homens. Os Dorneses são muito influenciados pela migração em massa dos Roinares. Pequenos grupos, como os Homens de Ferro e os clãs das montanhas, mantém culturas muito diferentes do resto do reino, apesar de não serem originários de etnias especificamente distintas.

Esta sociedade feudal é baseada no modelo dos antigos reinos sobre os quais a dinastia Targaryen foi construída, com cada região mantendo alguma autonomia e governada por um Alto Lorde que responde apenas ao Rei.

Comércio e Moeda

Most transactions in Seven Kingdoms involve currency. The coinage is minted by the Mestre da Moeda appointed by the Rei no Trono de Ferro. There are golden Dragons, silver Stags and copper Stars. Golden Dragons are worth the most and have a dragon stamped on one side and a Kings face on the other. Golden Dragons are worth the most. Most plebeus would never own a gold Dragon, using mostly copper Stars for their needs.

Trade within the Seven Kingdoms is quite vigorous, as the products of Dorne are very different from those of the Norte. However, long distance trade is almost entirely in luxuries, as transport is very expensive, not to mention dangerous. Transport by land is around ten times as expensive as transport by navios, which means that almost all goods travel by river or coastal ship for at least part of their journey. Furs from the Norte, silks and gems from the south, fine craft work from anywhere these are the items that are gathered at great markets. Grain, meat, and fish are also found there, but they have almost exclusively come from nearby areas.

Há comércio regular com Essos e com as Ilhas de Verão.

Religião

O povo dos Sete Reinos seguem diversas crenças diferentes. A Fé dos Sete é a principal religião do reino; as únicas regiões em que não é praticada são as Ilhas de Ferro, devotos do Deus Afogado, e o Norte, onde a devoção dos Antigos Deuses das Florestas permanece forte.

• Os Sete Deuses, a religião oficial dos Sete Reinos, trazida ao continente pelos Ândalos, milhares de anos antes da formação da nação. A Fé idolatra os Sete, uma única divindade com sete aspectos distindos: a Mãe, o Pai, o Guerreiro, o Ferreiro, a Donzela, a Velha e o Estranho (a morte).

• Os Deuses Antigos, fé do Norte e das terras além da Muralha. Fé dos Filhos da Floresta, que habitavam o continente milhares de anos atrás, que idolatra diversos não nomeados deuses das florestas, que estão sempre observando através dos rostos esculpidos nos troncos das antigas árvores de represeiro. Atualmente, é pouco difundida ao sul do Gargalo.

• O Deus Afogado, dura divindade nativa das Ilhas de Ferro, que recompensa aqueles que saqueiam em seu nome.

• O Deus Vermelho, R'hllor é um deus popular em Essos; apesar de pouco conhecido em Westeros, vem ganhando popularidade. Os seguidores de R'hllor afirmam que sua divindade é o Lorde da Luz, que irá enfrentar o Grande Outro, deus da escuridão e do frio, numa guerra que está por vir.