Valyrian Freehold

The Valyrian Freehold is a great territory spanning the western part of Essos. Ruled from the city of Valyria, in the eponymous peninsula on the south of Essos, encompassing the Eight Free Cities in the west, the slaver cities to the east, Essaria to the north, and Gogossos to the south.

Unusually to the men of the west and far east, Valyria is not a monarchy. Instead, every free citizen, known as a freeholder, has a say in governance. The most powerful of the lords freeholder are the dragonlords, of which there are forty families.

History
Long ago, the Valyrians were considered a humble shepherd people, until they learned the art of taming dragons -- although the particulars of this event is shrouded in propaganda and mystery, lost to time immemorial. After taming dragons, Valyrians managed to work magic, creating extraordinary building materials and weapons. Their peninsula was unified under a decentralized Freehold.

Over four thousand years ago, Valyria warred against the Ghiscari Empire five times, destroying the capital of Ghis and incorporating their colonies into the Freehold. Due to dating inconsistencies with early Valyria, this event marks the beginning of dating systems in the Freehold and in Westeros, being perpetrated as an academic standard by the Citadel.

After the fall of Ghis, Valyria adopted their custom of slavery in order to expand their empire, and established colonies -- some at the will of the Freehold, others founded by religious groups in search of a new home. Of these cities, eight were given privileges of complete autonomy (which also applies to a ninth city - Essaria - although it is not traditionally counted as a Free City), while others had governors directly appointed by Valyria.

However, the Valyrians did not always desire conquest. In their early history, they made treaties with the Rhoynar people, and instead focused their attentions on the hills of Andalos, forcing them into the west.

Three hundred years ago, the Second Spice War was fought when Valyrian dragonlords joined their Volantene colonists in seizing the lands of the Rhoyne. The Rhoynish princes fell to the dragonlords of Valyria; some going west to Dorne, others becoming slaves in the Freehold.

Government
Every landowner in Valyria is considered a freeholder, and is entitled to representation in government, be it in the form of local councils, or say in the grand councils of the freehold.

However, true power lies in the hands of the forty families. Only they can ride dragons. Members of the forty make up the High Council of Valyria, of which there are forty lords freeholder. Often, an Archon is selected to be the chair of the council. The Archon is considered a representative of the city of Valyria, and of the freehold, but is formally only the first among equals.

Valyria often delegates to its daughter-cities to make its own decisions, and appoints governors to the smaller cities, as well as the Slaver Cities of the former Ghiscari Empire.

Culture
Among high society, men and women are considered near equals in Valyria, as both can be dragonriders.

Religion
Valyrians are extremely tolerant of all religions. They do have their own native religion, made up of dragonpriests, but they do not expect non-Valyrians to follow their ways.

Economy
Valyria is an extremely rich land, sitting at the crossroads between east and west. Its exports include magical goods, such as the famous Valyrian steel. It trades with all Eight Kingdoms of Westeros to an extent, as well as the Summer Isles, Qarth, Yi Ti, the cities of the Bone Mountains, Sarnor, Ibben, and Asshai.

Houses
Sphinxes


 * House Binoreon
 * House Embaryen
 * House Galareon
 * House Gelenkys
 * House Haedaryen
 * House Illigreon
 * House Ilvonys
 * House Iperys
 * House Jaedorys
 * House Kastaryon
 * House Nuquiris
 * House Orbareon
 * House Qelbareon
 * House Vaezerys

Young Dragons
 * House Belaerys
 * House Boniryen
 * House Ellineon
 * House Grivetheon
 * House Haerynion
 * House Hestyrion
 * House Jelmazeon
 * House Lynoris
 * House Masnareon
 * House Molerys
 * House Ondoreyn
 * House Persareon
 * House Qupeneon
 * House Qyrmion
 * House Rathlarys
 * House Sorerys
 * House Sucherys
 * House Sylvilar
 * House Syzeon
 * House Targaryen
 * House Tichumeon
 * House Tressys
 * House Tyvarys
 * House Ulblezeon
 * House Vasugeon
 * House Volaeneon

Other Valyrian Houses
 * House Celtigar
 * House Qoherys
 * House Velaryon

Valyrian Free Holders

Other Free Holders

Characters
(Open)

Territories

 * Valyrian Peninsula
 * Valyria
 * Oros
 * Tyria
 * Lands of the Long Summer


 * Slaver Cities
 * Astapor
 * Belmoros (Vaes Efe; City of Shackles)
 * Ghardaq
 * Hazdahn Mo
 * Ilibios (Vaes Mejhah; City of Whores)
 * Meereen
 * Yunkai


 * Free Cities
 * Essaria (unofficial)
 * Lorath
 * Lys
 * Myr
 * Norvos
 * Pentos
 * Qohor
 * Tyrosh
 * Volantis
 * Selhorys
 * Volon Therys


 * Sothoryos
 * Gogossos


 * Westeros
 * Driftmark (nominal)