The City Watch

The City Watch of King's Landing, also known as the gold cloaks, are the defenders of the city of King's Landing (including the Red Keep) and the enforcers of the law, sworn only to the Iron Throne. The Watch falls under the bailiwick of the master of laws.

There are three sets of barracks for the City Watch: the East Barracks by the Dragon Gate, the West Barracks near Cobbler's Square and the Gate of the Gods, and one beneath the Tower of the Hand in the Red Keep.

Appearance
The City Watch wear cloaks, usually made of heavy wool, dyed gold. They are equipped with mail armor, iron cudgels, iron spears, dirks, and occasionally longswords. Their armor, boots, and gloves are black. The officers (such as the captains of the gates of the city) wear black breastplates ornamented with four golden disks. They can be used as guards, foot soldiers, or in some cases, as mounted lancers. Nonetheless, the watchmen are not true soldiers.

Establishment
The City Watch was established under the Targaryen dynasty as early as the reign of Maegor I Targaryen. After Maegor's death, Prince Jaehaerys arrested the Commander of the City Watch. Command of the City Watch was later given to Lord Qarl Corbray. At the command of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, the City Watch combed Flea Bottom in search of Tom the Strummer to make him the court singer. Lord Qarl later succumbed to the Shivers in 59 AC, with many of the City Watch stricken as well, leading to the streets of King's Landing falling into anarchy.

Daemon and the Dance of the Dragons
Prince Daemon Targaryen commanded the watch from. He instituted their uniform use of equipment, including the golden cloaks from which they get their name. The weapons he issued were dirk, short sword, and cudgel. There were two thousand gold cloaks at the time.

During the Dance of the Dragons, the officers of the City Watch were loyal to Queen Alicent Hightower and the greens, but the rank-and-file gold cloaks supported their former commander, Daemon, a leader of the blacks. Ser Luthor Largent was appointed commander at the start of the war, but Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, named his son Gwayne as Luthor's second. During the fall of King's Landing, Luthor led a coup in support of the blacks and personally killed Gwayne Hightower.

Recent Events
Presently, the Commander of the City Watch is Princess Viserra Targaryen. The Captain of the Iron Gate is Haegon Rivers.