Not all of Westeros’ greatest tragedies were fought on the battlefield. Some came silently, spreading across cities and kingdoms without warning. Among these, none was more devastating than the Great Spring Sickness, a plague that swept through the Seven Kingdoms and reshaped the course of history.
Occurring in the years between the Blackfyre Rebellions and the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg, the Great Spring Sickness weakened the realm, killed thousands, and altered the line of succession to the Iron Throne.
Its impact would be felt long after the disease itself disappeared.
What Was the Great Spring Sickness
The Great Spring Sickness was a deadly epidemic that spread rapidly across Westeros, particularly affecting densely populated areas such as King’s Landing.
Unlike wars or rebellions, the sickness offered no enemy to fight. It moved silently through the population, infecting both nobles and commoners alike. The disease is believed to have spread quickly due to trade and travel, reaching the capital and overwhelming the city.
Descriptions of the sickness suggest a fast-moving illness that caused severe weakness and death in a short period of time.
The Devastation of King’s Landing
The city hit hardest by the plague was King’s Landing, the political heart of the Seven Kingdoms.
At the time, the Iron Throne was held by King Daeron II Targaryen, the same ruler who had defeated the Blackfyre Rebellion. The plague struck the royal court with devastating force.
Among those who died were:
• King Daeron II Targaryen
• Several members of the royal family
• Countless nobles and smallfolk within the capital
The death of the king alone was enough to destabilize the realm, but the scale of the losses made the situation even more severe. The Red Keep itself became a place of fear and uncertainty.
A Sudden Shift in Power
The Great Spring Sickness did more than take lives. It changed the political structure of Westeros almost overnight. With the death of Daeron II, the throne passed to his son Aerys I Targaryen, a king known more for his scholarly interests than his leadership.
During this time, much of the real power in the realm was held by Brynden Rivers, also known as Bloodraven, who served as Hand of the King. Bloodraven’s influence grew even stronger in the aftermath of the plague, as he worked to maintain stability and prevent further unrest.
At the same time, the surviving members of the Blackfyre line continued to pose a threat, meaning the realm remained fragile despite the end of the epidemic.
A Realm Left Weakened
Even after the sickness faded, its consequences remained. The population of King’s Landing was drastically reduced. Entire noble families were weakened or wiped out. Trade and agriculture suffered as the workforce declined.
The Seven Kingdoms entered a period of instability where political tensions, economic struggles, and lingering fear shaped daily life. This weakened state made it easier for future conflicts and conspiracies to emerge, including further Blackfyre plots.
The Great Spring Sickness and the Dunk and Egg Era
By the time the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms take place, the Great Spring Sickness is already part of recent history. However, its effects are still felt across the realm.
The political landscape that Dunk and Egg travel through was shaped in part by the aftermath of the plague:
• A weakened nobility
• Increased reliance on figures like Bloodraven
• Ongoing instability tied to Blackfyre supporters
The world may appear quieter than during the great wars, but beneath the surface, the scars of recent tragedy remain.
One of Westeros’ Greatest Tragedies
The Great Spring Sickness stands as a reminder that not all threats to the Seven Kingdoms came from armies or dragons. It was an invisible enemy that reshaped the realm just as dramatically as any war.
By altering the line of succession, weakening the population, and strengthening political figures like Bloodraven, the plague played a crucial role in shaping the era that followed. For anyone exploring the history of Westeros, the Great Spring Sickness remains one of the most important and often overlooked events in the timeline of the Seven Kingdoms.
