Game of Thrones Season 7 Alliances: Which Houses Are Working Together?
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In the Game of Thrones, you win or you die, and you aren't going to be very successful working alone, which is why alliances are of the utmost importance to whomever claims the Iron Throne.
Over the seasons, alliances have been fluid, with some houses choosing to cast their lots with whichever leader seems to have the most power — though some bannermen, which is a smaller house that owes military service to its leader according to the feudalism of Westeros, have remained loyal to their original lord no matter the circumstances.
There were originally nine Great Houses on Game of Thrones: Arryn, Baratheon, Greyjoy, Lannister, Martell, Stark, Targaryen, Tully and Tyrell. While they all still exist, only three are still standing as having enough power, soldiers, and influence to make a bid for the Iron Throne. The other Great Houses have had to choose sides, giving the three main players stronger allies beyond the small houses already pledged to them.
Here's where things stand in Game of Thrones season seven.
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House Stark
This Northern house is one of the last of the Great Houses of Westeros to still have followers, land, and power — and it isn't even led by a true heir, as Jon Snow is a bastard. But the houses of the North don't care that their king isn't a full-blooded Stark (and won't they all be surprised when Jon's true parentage is revealed).
Stark Allies:
The Free Men
The wildlings are no one's bannermen — hence the name, Free Men. But they have come to realize, especially after the bloodbath at Hardhome, that they have to fight alongside the people of Westeros if anyone stands a chance of defeating the Night King and his undead army.
The Vale
After Lysa's untimely death, little Robin may be Lord of the Vale, but it is really his stepfather, Petyr Baelish, who is pulling the strings. He convinces the Knights of the Vale to ride to House Stark's side during the Battle of the Bastards, so for now, the houses of the Vale have thrown in with the North.
However, Baelish has designs on ruling Westeros himself — and he also thinks Sansa Stark is the rightful ruler of the North, so this may be one alliance that is short-lived.
The smaller houses
The smaller houses in the North number in the dozens, though the houses most often mentioned on the show are House Mormont, House Karstark, House Umber, House Manderly, House Reed, and House Glover. Most of them never waivered in their loyalty to the Starks, and the region is still repairing its alliances after some houses had chosen to support Ramsay Bolton as King in the North. Houses Umber and Karstark have since chosen to repledge their loyalty to House Stark now that the Boltons are no longer in power.
The Night's Watch
Like the Free Men, the men of the Night's Watch have no banners or lords. But also like the Free Men, the Night's Watch knows firsthand what is currently marching on Westeros from beyond The Wall, so the men in black will stand alongside their former leader Jon Snow to defeat the White Walkers.
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House Lannister
The Lannisters are the second of three remaining Great Houses on Game of Thrones. Once a formidable power that boasted many allies, the Lions can now count their allies on one hand (which is helpful for Jaime).
In fact, other than a few small houses never even mentioned on the show that presumably make up the Lannister army, their allies mostly come in the form of individuals.
Lannister Allies:
House Greyjoy
Great House Greyjoy now stands starkly divided, with King of the Iron Islands Euron throwing his power and army behind House Lannister — Euron even wants to marry Cersei (shudder). But a good portion of House Greyjoy has chosen another leader to rally behind.
House Clegane
The house that bore The Mountain and The Hound is a Lannister ally, with The Mountain serving as Cersei's main bodyguard and champion for several seasons now. But his brother? Not so much.
House Tully
This former Great House was once joined with the Starks by marriage, as Catelyn Stark was Catelyn Tully before she was married. But the Lannisters and Freys conquer House Tully in season six, with Catelyn's brother Edmure still a Lannister prisoner. So they haven't so much chosen to align with the Lannisters as they have been forced into it.
House Frey
Speaking of the Freys, they're the Lannisters' greatest ally . . . oh, wait. They were the Lannisters' greatest ally. Now they're all dead, courtesy of Arya Stark, angel of vengeance.
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House Targaryen
This last of the three remaining Great Houses is shoring up allies left and right. Daenerys, who has just now stepped foot on Westeros for the first time in years, gathered armies of Unsullied and Dothraki across the narrow sea. But she has also recently managed to win over . . .
Targaryen Allies:
A Lannister
While the Lion house may not support the Targaryen heir, arguably the smartest Lannister has figured out where his loyalties lie. Tyrion is Hand to the queen, having realized the only hope for a prosperous, peaceful Westeros lies with Daenerys.
House Greyjoy
While one half of House Greyjoy is off trying to woo Cersei Lannister, the other faction has had some luck with Daenerys, pledging her loyalty and a fleet of ships in exchange for letting the Iron Islands remain autonomous once Daenerys claims the throne. The Greyjoy revolt is led by Balon's children, Yara and Theon.
Varys, Master of Whispers
Varys belongs to no house, hailing from Lys, one of the Free Cities. But he has thrown his considerable power and influence behind Daenerys, leading to an alliance with two very powerful southern houses.
House Tyrell
House Tyrell was once a Great House, but its heirs are wiped out in the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor. As such, matriarch Olenna has aligned with House Targaryen at Varys's urging in order to oust the Lannisters from King's Landing.
Though really, Olenna is the baddest of them all and should totally be the one sitting on the Iron Throne.
House Martell
Like House Tyrell, House Martell is out for vengeance against House Lannister for killing its leader. Ellaria Sand and her Sand Snakes now rule House Martell, and they're readying to back up Daenerys's bid for the Iron Throne.
Jorah Mormont
While House Mormont may be firmly behind House Stark, Jorah has always been loyal to Daenerys. He is currently in isolation at the Citadel after contracting greyscale, but the fact that the show hasn't simply killed him off probably means he still has an important part to play in getting his queen on the throne.
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Not Allied Yet
The Brotherhood Without Banners
The brotherhood is a group of outlaws protecting the commoners from the Lannisters in the name of Eddard Stark, who basically founded the group. So while the brotherhood pledges no official loyalty to anyone, they will most likely fight alongside the Starks, especially against the Night King and his army.
The Hound
The brotherhood recently gained a new member in Sandor Clegane, aka The Hound. He has always been loyal mostly to himself, but you can tell he developed a bit of affection for Arya Stark, which should make it easier for him to fight with the Starks as a member of the brotherhood.