what are the seven kingdoms of westeros
The phrase “Seven Kingdoms of Westeros” is a bit misleading: politically there are nine regions, but the name comes from the seven independent realms that existed before Aegon’s Conquest.
In-universe, the Seven Kingdoms usually refers to these major realms of Westeros (pre‑conquest kingdoms that gave the name):
- The North – ruled historically by House Stark from Winterfell.
- The Mountain and the Vale (often just “the Vale”) – ruled by House Arryn from the Eyrie.
- The Isles and the Rivers – the combined kingdom of the Iron Islands and the Riverlands under House Hoare before Aegon.
- The Rock – the Westerlands, ruled by House Lannister of Casterly Rock.
- The Reach – ruled by House Gardener of Highgarden before the Targaryens; later by House Tyrell.
- The Stormlands – ruled by the Storm Kings of House Durrandon from Storm’s End (later House Baratheon).
- Dorne – in the far south, ruled by House Martell, which kept more autonomy and joined by marriage rather than outright conquest.
After Aegon united Westeros, the realm was reorganized into nine regions (North, Vale, Riverlands, Iron Islands, Westerlands, Reach, Stormlands, Dorne, Crownlands), but the old label “Seven Kingdoms” stuck as a traditional name.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.