I was just wondering which of the cities mentioned across the Narrow Sea are actually the 9 free cities, and which are other cities. Because there is Bravos, Myr, Narvos, Mereen, Astapor, Yunki, Pentos, Naith, Tyrosh, Lys, Lorath, Volantis, making 12. I might have forgotten some (excuse the spelling I've been listening to the audio books lately cause my mom barrowed my books so I haven’t actually looked at the spelling in a long while). But anyway, are some of these the 9 free cities (if so which are the 9), or are the nine a different place on its own in addition to all these? Does that say what I'm trying to ask?
9 Free Cities???
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Boaz
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Braavos, Myr, Narvos, Pentos, Tyrosh, Lys, Lorath, and Volantis are eight of the nine. Iirc, Naith is the ninth. These cities were all founded as colonies of Valyria, iirc. Mereen Astapor, and Yunkai were all cities of Old Ghis, the Ghiscari Empire.
the smiling weirwood
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Do you mean Nath? I thought Qohor was the ninth. Nath is an island in Slaver's Bay.
Frozeninja
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I thought Braavos was the "******* son of the free cities" (or something similar, it's been a while) and not actually one of the free cities itself?
the smiling weirwood
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It was the ******* child that ran away, and it is the premier free city.
Dolorous Edd
Ever the optimist
Boaz said:
Is that available in T-shirt from boaz dude? I'd buy it!
Culhwch
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Yunkai, Astapor and Meereen are all slaver cites on Slaver's Bay, which I think is fairly removed from the Free Cities and the Narrow Sea. Dany and the horse boys (my memory has deserted me) crossed the grasslands and a desert to reach them from Pentos, or wherever she started, I thought....
Werthead
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The Nine Free Cities
Braavos - The northern-most of the Free Cities and the most powerful. It is located due east of Crackclaw Point, spanning over a hundred islands in a huge lagoon encircled by protective mountains rising out of the sea. The only access channel is protected by the Titan of Braavos. It was founded 800 years ago by refugees fleeing the Valyrian invasion of the western part of the continent and was known as the Secret City. It only became well-known 400 years ago after the Doom of Valyria. It is ruled by the Sealord. It is sometimes called the ******* Son of Valyria as it was not directly founded or conquered by the Valyrians. Braavos is home to hundreds of temples, but the most notable are the Moonsingers (who guided the refugees to the site of Braavos). Braavos is also home to the infamous Faceless Men, a group of religious-inspired assassins.
Pentos - Located south of Braavos, probably east or south-east of King's Landing, Pentos is ruled by a Prince elected by the merchant oligarchs and magisters of the city. Pentos has the misfortune of lying near a gap in the mountains protecting the coast from the Dothraki, so Pentosi lords keep the Dothraki on side by holding feasts for them whenever their khals demand tribute. The Hills of Andalos, from whence the Andals came and where the gods of the Seven allegedly appeared in human form, lie south-east of Pentos.
Norvos - Norvos lies inland, east of Pentos, amidst rolling countryside and hills. Like Pentos, the Norvosi pay tribute to the passing Dothraki and seems to be controlled by a merchant council of oligarchs under the rule of a religious sect who do not discuss their god with outsiders.
Qohor - Qohor lies east of Norvos near the vast Forest of Qohor and the Dothraki sea. Unlike Norvos and Pentos, Qohor has no worry from the Dothraki due to its large garrison of Unsullied troops (the Unsullied decimated a much larger Dothraki force outside Qohor 400 years ago and were honoured and respected by the Dothraki afterwards). The Black Goat is the principle god of the city.
Lorath - Lorath lies on a group of islands in the middle of the Narrow Sea. Little is known about it, save that it seems to lie fairly northerly as the weather is not as clement as the southern Free Cities.
Tyrosh - A port city south of Pentos. Tyrosh is ruled by merchant factors and overseen by the Archon. Tyrosh is often (unwillingly) drawn into the wars between Myr and Lys over the nearby Disputed Lands. It probably lies due east of the Stormlands, in the vicinity of the River Rhoyne. Tyrosh was conquered in the War of the Ninepenny Kings by Alequo Adarys in alliance with Maelys Blackfyre, who claimed the throne of Westeros. Maelys the Monstrous was killed on the Stepstones by Ser Barristan Selmy. Adarys was deposed from Tyrosh six years later.
Myr - Myr is a mainland city, probably a port, near or in the Disputed Lands. Myr is ruled by a council of magisters and famed for its lenses, craftsmen and deadly crossbows.
Lys - Lys is located on several islands in the Narrow Sea at the eastern end of the Stepstones, off the coast of the Disputed Lands. Lys is one of the most heavily-populated Free Cities. The dominant temple is dedicated to R'hllor, Lord of Light. Lyseni warships and pirates patrol the Stepstones, making the crossing from the Narrow Sea into the Summer Sea fairly hazardous.
The Disputed Lands - An area of territory lying between Tyrosh, Myr and Volantis, with Lys just off the coast. Lys and Myr war frequently for control of the Disputed Lands, sometimes drawing in Tyrosh and Volantis as well. The Disputed Lands are probably located on the peninsular that bulges out towards Dorne (the eastern part of the Arm of Dorne that was shattered). The Stepstones, the island remains of the Arm of Dorne, are often counted as part of the Disputed Lands, although Lyseni naval superiority seems to keep them largely under Lyseni control. The Disputed Lands are bordered to the east by the River Rhoyne, a major waterway of the eastern continent whose great cities were annihilated by the Valyrians a thousand years ago, sparking the Rhoynar flight to Dorne.
Volantis - Volantis is the most south-easterly of the Free Cities and retains much Valyrian culture. Volantis is a major trade hub between the other Free Cities and Slaver's Bay (which is located possibly more than three thousand miles to the south-east).
Braavos - The northern-most of the Free Cities and the most powerful. It is located due east of Crackclaw Point, spanning over a hundred islands in a huge lagoon encircled by protective mountains rising out of the sea. The only access channel is protected by the Titan of Braavos. It was founded 800 years ago by refugees fleeing the Valyrian invasion of the western part of the continent and was known as the Secret City. It only became well-known 400 years ago after the Doom of Valyria. It is ruled by the Sealord. It is sometimes called the ******* Son of Valyria as it was not directly founded or conquered by the Valyrians. Braavos is home to hundreds of temples, but the most notable are the Moonsingers (who guided the refugees to the site of Braavos). Braavos is also home to the infamous Faceless Men, a group of religious-inspired assassins.
Pentos - Located south of Braavos, probably east or south-east of King's Landing, Pentos is ruled by a Prince elected by the merchant oligarchs and magisters of the city. Pentos has the misfortune of lying near a gap in the mountains protecting the coast from the Dothraki, so Pentosi lords keep the Dothraki on side by holding feasts for them whenever their khals demand tribute. The Hills of Andalos, from whence the Andals came and where the gods of the Seven allegedly appeared in human form, lie south-east of Pentos.
Norvos - Norvos lies inland, east of Pentos, amidst rolling countryside and hills. Like Pentos, the Norvosi pay tribute to the passing Dothraki and seems to be controlled by a merchant council of oligarchs under the rule of a religious sect who do not discuss their god with outsiders.
Qohor - Qohor lies east of Norvos near the vast Forest of Qohor and the Dothraki sea. Unlike Norvos and Pentos, Qohor has no worry from the Dothraki due to its large garrison of Unsullied troops (the Unsullied decimated a much larger Dothraki force outside Qohor 400 years ago and were honoured and respected by the Dothraki afterwards). The Black Goat is the principle god of the city.
Lorath - Lorath lies on a group of islands in the middle of the Narrow Sea. Little is known about it, save that it seems to lie fairly northerly as the weather is not as clement as the southern Free Cities.
Tyrosh - A port city south of Pentos. Tyrosh is ruled by merchant factors and overseen by the Archon. Tyrosh is often (unwillingly) drawn into the wars between Myr and Lys over the nearby Disputed Lands. It probably lies due east of the Stormlands, in the vicinity of the River Rhoyne. Tyrosh was conquered in the War of the Ninepenny Kings by Alequo Adarys in alliance with Maelys Blackfyre, who claimed the throne of Westeros. Maelys the Monstrous was killed on the Stepstones by Ser Barristan Selmy. Adarys was deposed from Tyrosh six years later.
Myr - Myr is a mainland city, probably a port, near or in the Disputed Lands. Myr is ruled by a council of magisters and famed for its lenses, craftsmen and deadly crossbows.
Lys - Lys is located on several islands in the Narrow Sea at the eastern end of the Stepstones, off the coast of the Disputed Lands. Lys is one of the most heavily-populated Free Cities. The dominant temple is dedicated to R'hllor, Lord of Light. Lyseni warships and pirates patrol the Stepstones, making the crossing from the Narrow Sea into the Summer Sea fairly hazardous.
The Disputed Lands - An area of territory lying between Tyrosh, Myr and Volantis, with Lys just off the coast. Lys and Myr war frequently for control of the Disputed Lands, sometimes drawing in Tyrosh and Volantis as well. The Disputed Lands are probably located on the peninsular that bulges out towards Dorne (the eastern part of the Arm of Dorne that was shattered). The Stepstones, the island remains of the Arm of Dorne, are often counted as part of the Disputed Lands, although Lyseni naval superiority seems to keep them largely under Lyseni control. The Disputed Lands are bordered to the east by the River Rhoyne, a major waterway of the eastern continent whose great cities were annihilated by the Valyrians a thousand years ago, sparking the Rhoynar flight to Dorne.
Volantis - Volantis is the most south-easterly of the Free Cities and retains much Valyrian culture. Volantis is a major trade hub between the other Free Cities and Slaver's Bay (which is located possibly more than three thousand miles to the south-east).
Boaz
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Wert, hey! I thought these forums were for speculation. Why all the documentation? We really don't need all that factual stuff... well, I suppose it's okay for noobs... but the real veteran prognosticators, bluffers, loons, prats (my thanks to my UK friends for expanding my vocabulary) and conspiracy theorists have no use for posts like yours.
Seriously, excellent post! Where did you get this wealth of information?
Seriously, excellent post! Where did you get this wealth of information?
TK-421
I Do Not Sow
Wow. That post expanded my knowledge of the Free Cities considerably. Now, I understand that GRRM will include a more detailed map of this area in the next book.
Werthead
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A lot of it comes from the books. We visit Braavos in AFFC and Pentos in AGoT. Volantis is mentioned a few times in ASoS. A lot of the other information comes from Martin's own comments in interviews and at cons. Also, the Game of Thrones Roleplaying Game has a lot of info on the Free Cities not in the novels (GRRM provided a ton of notes to the RPG designers, in particular on the Free Cities and for the history section).
Winters_Sorrow
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Hmmm, possibly very obvious question this but does that mean that "Valar Morghulis" is a Faceless Man quote? As I think Arya is in Braavos training at the moment.
And do we know how the "Sorrowful Men" fit in? (The ones who apologise before they kill you )
And do we know how the "Sorrowful Men" fit in? (The ones who apologise before they kill you
)
the smiling weirwood
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the sorrowful men are from Qarth, which makes sense because all Qartheen are pussycats, and have it out for Dany
