49. King's Landing

First Appeared: A Game of Thrones (1996)
Founding Father: George R. Martin
Notable Residents: Aegon

It's actually a dirty, smelly city, no place you'd look forward to traveling to, but it is the home of Aegon and his castle, the Red Keep, where he sits on his throne made from the blades of his defeated enemies. He keeps them as sharp as he wishes so as to always be on guard as a ruler, and it serves as a litmus test for would-be kings. Those who are cut by the throne are considered unfit to rule and sent out. All of this is impossibly badass.