Game of Thrones: Families of Westeros

Everything in Game of Thrones centers on House Stark, which makes its home at Winterfell, situated in the harsh, snowy northern parts of the country. The house words of the Stark family, "Winter is coming," served as both a marketing and thematic hook for the show's first season, and their sigil is a grey direwolf, fitting since the story begins with each of Eddard Stark's children adopting a direwolf as a pet.

Even after Eddard's execution in Season One, Game of Thrones continues to focus on the Stark family, primarily the children, who in order of oldest to youngest are: Robb, Jon Snow, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon. Of these, all are the product of Eddard's marriage to Catelyn Stark, formerly a Tully, except for Jon, who was born out of wedlock and thus goes by the bastard surname of the north, Snow. In the first season, Jon goes to the Wall in the north, to protect Westeros from the savage Wildlings, while Robb assumes the mantle of Lord of Winterfell and King of the North following his father's execution.    

Game of Thrones begins with House Baratheon seated securely on the Iron Throne of Westeros. Robert Baratheon secured the title of King for himself by leading a successful rebellion against the ruling Targaryen family. His queen is Cersei Lannister, whose rich family serves to bankroll much of the kingdom's formidable expenses. Robert's two younger brothers are the severe Stannis and the young, lovable Renly.

Following Robert's death in Season One, Joffrey Baratheon takes the throne with his mother Cersei as his adviser and regent. Unbeknownst to Robert and the vast, vast majority of the kingdom, however, Joffrey wasn't his son, and isn't even a Baratheon...    

The Lannisters are the richest family in Westeros, making their primary home in Casterly Rock. They are led by Tywin Lannister, who was once the primary adviser to King Aerys Targaryen, and later helped conquer King's Landing for Robert Baratheon's rebellion. His three children are Cersei and her twin brother, Jamie, and the dwarf Tyrion, who is by far one of the richest, most interesting characters in a story chockfull of them.

As mentioned above, Cersei's son Joffrey, as well as the other Baratheon children, weren't actually fathered by King Robert. They are instead the product of an incestuous relationship between Cersei and her brother Jamie. While their relationship is certainly taboo and would result in the loss of the Iron Throne if it became common knowledge, incest amongst royal families has its precedent in Westeros, as it was practiced amongst the Targaryens for generations.

Unlike the other major families of Game of Thrones, the Targaryens aren't native to Westeros, and actually came to the continent hundreds of years ago from the city of Valyria. Their sigil, a three-headed dragon, is appropriate, as their command of the flying, fire-breathing beasts was what allowed them to completely conquer and unite the continent. After almost three hundred years of rule, however, the dragons have gone extinct and the house descended into decadence and madness, which led to Robert Baratheon's rebellion.

At the start of Game of Thrones, the only remaining members of the Targaryen family are Viserys and his sister Daenerys, as the rest of their family was put to death during the rebellion. In an attempt to marshal forces strong enough to retake his family's throne, Viserys marries his sister to Khal Drogo of the Dothraki on the continent of Essos. Viserys' cruelty and entitlement eventually becomes his undoing, however, as Khal Drogo puts him to death for his insolence, making Daenerys the sole remaining Targaryen.