The Free Cities

The Free Cities are nine independent city-states on the western edge of the continent of Essos, across the Narrow Sea from Westeros. Most were founded as colonies of the Valyrian Freehold and won their independence after the Doom of Valyria shattered the empire that ruled them. Wealthy, cosmopolitan, and often rivals, the Free Cities dominate the trade and politics of western Essos.

The nine Free Cities are Braavos, Pentos, Myr, Lys, Tyrosh, Lorath, Norvos, Qohor, and Volantis. Each has its own character, government, and specialties, and they are frequently at war or in uneasy competition with one another, hiring sellsword companies and waging the endless squabbles known as the Disputed Lands.

The cities

Braavos is the northernmost and richest, founded by escaped slaves, home of the Iron Bank and the only Free City never settled by Valyria. Pentos is a city of trade and merchant princes, nominally forbidden to keep slaves or wage war by treaty with Braavos. Volantis, the oldest and proudest, claims to be the eldest daughter of Valyria and is ruled by triarchs; it lies far to the south at the mouth of the Rhoyne. Lys is a city of pleasure houses and beautiful slaves; Myr is famed for its lace, glass, and craftsmen; Tyrosh for its dyes and its sellswords. Norvos and Qohor lie inland along the Rhoyne, Qohor known for its dark sorcery and its smiths who work Valyrian steel. Lorath is the smallest and most isolated.

History

The Free Cities, save Braavos, were planted as Valyrian colonies during the long centuries of the Freehold's dominance. When the Doom of Valyria destroyed the dragonlords and their homeland, the colonies were cut loose and became independent, each going its own way. They inherited Valyrian blood, the Valyrian tongue (which has diverged into many bastard dialects), and a taste for trade and intrigue.

In the story

The Free Cities form the backdrop to much of the action in Essos. Daenerys Targaryen and Viserys live as exiles in Pentos under the magister Illyrio Mopatis, where Daenerys is wed to Khal Drogo. Arya Stark makes her way to Braavos. Tyrion Lannister flees across the Free Cities toward Volantis. The sellsword companies, the trade, and the politics of these cities shape the fortunes of exiles, claimants, and conquerors alike.