A Clash of Kings

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, rape, and death.

While the Seven Kingdoms employ a monarchic system of leadership based on heredity and lines of succession, the War of the Five Kings is the closest that the realm ever gets to a democratic election. The conflict between the five kings can be read as a debate between five different leadership styles. Although essentially a referendum on who would be best suited to lead Westeros, Martin also uses the juxtaposition of these approaches to drive a larger question about the characteristics needed to qualify a leader as “good.”

Joffrey Baratheon rules Westeros through fear and the power of his heritage. As the traditionally recognized Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, son of King Robert and his wife Cersei, Joffrey relies on the recognition of his status as the sitting king to wield power over armies and the realm. To maintain his grasp on both the city and the court around him, Joffrey rules by fear, quoting his mother to illustrate his leadership philosophy: “Fear is better than love” (489). Joffrey illustrates this leadership philosophy when the riot breaks out after the farewell to Myrcella: His first instinct is to send his enforcer to punish the common folk.