Tower of the Hand

The Tower of the Hand is the official residence and seat of power for the Hand of the King within the Red Keep of King's Landing. It is a central location for political intrigue, strategic planning, and the exercise of royal authority throughout the War of the Five Kings. The tower is destroyed by wildfire during the Battle of the Blackwater, an act that symbolizes the violent upheaval of the Lannister regime and the fragility of power in the capital.

Location and Function

The Tower of the Hand is one of the principal towers of the Red Keep, the royal castle in King's Landing. It serves as the private residence and official workspace of the King's Hand, the chief advisor and second-most powerful person in the Seven Kingdoms. Within its walls, the Hand conducts the daily business of governing the realm, meeting with petitioners, holding council with the king's small council, and planning military campaigns. The tower's proximity to the throne room and the royal apartments underscores its occupant's central role in the administration of the Iron Throne.

Destruction During the Battle of the Blackwater

During the Battle of the Blackwater, the Tower of the Hand is destroyed by wildfire. The conflagration is part of the larger devastation wrought by the explosion of the wildfire caches placed beneath the city by the pyromancers on the orders of Tyrion Lannister, who was acting as Hand of the King. The tower's destruction is a dramatic and violent event, marking a turning point in the battle and symbolizing the collapse of the established order within the capital. The burning of the tower is a direct consequence of the war and the desperate measures taken to defend the city.

Aftermath and Rebuilding

Following the battle, the Tower of the Hand lies in ruins. Its destruction leaves the position of Hand without a formal seat, a physical manifestation of the political instability that follows the war. In the aftermath, Lord Mace Tyrell, the new Hand of the King, announces plans to rebuild the tower. He boasts that the new structure will be twice as tall as the one that was burned, a statement that reflects both his ambition and the Tyrells' growing influence at court. The rebuilding of the tower is a political act, intended to project power and stability, but it also serves as a constant reminder of the violence that had recently consumed the city.