What happened to the kingdoms after Bran became king in Game of Thrones?
Game of Thrones
Updated Aug 30, 2026
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Contains spoilers: Major series-ending spoilers
Direct answer
Westeros became Bran Stark’s "Six Kingdoms," governed from King’s Landing by a newly elected monarchy, while the North left the realm and became an independent kingdom under Queen Sansa Stark. The show gives only a snapshot of the other regions: they appear to remain under Bran’s crown, but their long-term politics are mostly unexplained.
## The new political order
After Daenerys’s death, the Great Council elects Bran Stark—"Bran the Broken"—as king. Tyrion says future monarchs will be chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros rather than automatically inheriting the throne. This replaces the old Targaryen-style hereditary monarchy, at least in principle. The series never explains the voting rules, constitutional limits, or how stable this system proves to be.
## The North became independent
Sansa Stark refuses to have the North rejoin the southern realm, arguing that Northerners fought for their freedom. The council accepts this. Sansa is crowned Queen in the North at Winterfell, with Northern lords swearing allegiance to her. The North is the only region explicitly shown becoming fully independent.
## Bran ruled the remaining Six Kingdoms
Bran’s realm is called the "Six Kingdoms," with King’s Landing remaining its capital. The old label "Seven Kingdoms" was partly historical and never a precise modern political map; after the North’s departure, the show explicitly uses "Six Kingdoms" but does not formally list every constituent territory.
## What became of the other regions
The Vale, Riverlands, Stormlands, Iron Islands, Dorne, Reach, Westerlands, and Crownlands appear to remain within Bran’s political order, represented at the Great Council or implied by Tyrion’s description. However, the finale does not detail their local laws, autonomy, borders, or reactions to Bran’s election. Yara Greyjoy does not win the Iron Islands’ independence, and Dorne’s unnamed new prince also remains part of the council arrangement.
## Known regional rulers and offices
Gendry Baratheon is Lord of Storm’s End and the apparent ruler of the Stormlands. Robin Arryn remains Lord of the Vale. Edmure Tully is apparently restored as Riverrun’s lord and represents the Riverlands. An unnamed prince represents Dorne. Bronn is named Lord of Highgarden and Master of Coin, making him the apparent new lord paramount of the Reach, although the show does not depict a formal Reach settlement or its other nobles’ response.
## Rebuilding King’s Landing
Bran begins ruling from the ruined capital with a new small council: Tyrion Lannister as Hand of the King, Davos Seaworth as Master of Ships, Brienne of Tarth as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Samwell Tarly as Grand Maester, and Bronn as Master of Coin. Their first scene focuses on rebuilding the city and restoring administration after the war.
## The armies left behind by Daenerys
Grey Worm says the Unsullied are sailing for Naath, ending their role as a Westerosi occupying force. Jon Snow is sent to the Night’s Watch and is later shown traveling north with the Free Folk. The show does not clearly establish what happens to the Dothraki or provide a complete accounting of every surviving military force.
After Daenerys’s death, the Great Council elects Bran Stark—"Bran the Broken"—as king. Tyrion says future monarchs will be chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros rather than automatically inheriting the throne. This replaces the old Targaryen-style hereditary monarchy, at least in principle. The series never explains the voting rules, constitutional limits, or how stable this system proves to be.
## The North became independent
Sansa Stark refuses to have the North rejoin the southern realm, arguing that Northerners fought for their freedom. The council accepts this. Sansa is crowned Queen in the North at Winterfell, with Northern lords swearing allegiance to her. The North is the only region explicitly shown becoming fully independent.
## Bran ruled the remaining Six Kingdoms
Bran’s realm is called the "Six Kingdoms," with King’s Landing remaining its capital. The old label "Seven Kingdoms" was partly historical and never a precise modern political map; after the North’s departure, the show explicitly uses "Six Kingdoms" but does not formally list every constituent territory.
## What became of the other regions
The Vale, Riverlands, Stormlands, Iron Islands, Dorne, Reach, Westerlands, and Crownlands appear to remain within Bran’s political order, represented at the Great Council or implied by Tyrion’s description. However, the finale does not detail their local laws, autonomy, borders, or reactions to Bran’s election. Yara Greyjoy does not win the Iron Islands’ independence, and Dorne’s unnamed new prince also remains part of the council arrangement.
## Known regional rulers and offices
Gendry Baratheon is Lord of Storm’s End and the apparent ruler of the Stormlands. Robin Arryn remains Lord of the Vale. Edmure Tully is apparently restored as Riverrun’s lord and represents the Riverlands. An unnamed prince represents Dorne. Bronn is named Lord of Highgarden and Master of Coin, making him the apparent new lord paramount of the Reach, although the show does not depict a formal Reach settlement or its other nobles’ response.
## Rebuilding King’s Landing
Bran begins ruling from the ruined capital with a new small council: Tyrion Lannister as Hand of the King, Davos Seaworth as Master of Ships, Brienne of Tarth as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Samwell Tarly as Grand Maester, and Bronn as Master of Coin. Their first scene focuses on rebuilding the city and restoring administration after the war.
## The armies left behind by Daenerys
Grey Worm says the Unsullied are sailing for Naath, ending their role as a Westerosi occupying force. Jon Snow is sent to the Night’s Watch and is later shown traveling north with the Free Folk. The show does not clearly establish what happens to the Dothraki or provide a complete accounting of every surviving military force.