Tribes of the Vale - by Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games.
The mountain clans are a culture, divided into clans of varying size and strength, who live in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, in the Vale of Arryn. Descendents of the First Men,
Rise of the mountain clans of the Vale - by Skysoul Visual Art Studios. © Fantasy Flight Games.
The Mountains of the Moon are home to a population of people who have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and are independent from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms and its feudal society. They believe that every person's voice, regardless of gender, should be heard during councils. Some clans share close bonds. Conflicts between the clans are often resolved by payment of blood money and clansmen are quick to settle personal grievances through violence.
They are a poor people with poor quality of weapons and armor. They subsist by raiding local villages, small groups of travelers and will attack even the Lord of the Eyrie if he is not properly protected. They take all weapons, grain, and armor they can find, as well as all women, whether they are wedded or not. Some women participate in raids. However, it has been hundreds of years since the clansmen have threatened the Vale with anything more serious than raids.
The clansmen ride small horses that are suited to the narrow mountain paths.
Archmaester Arnel listed the most notorious mountain clans in his work *Mountain and Vale*. These include:
There are also smaller clans, but they are often assimilated into larger clans or destroyed by knights of the Vale.
During the Andal invasion of Westeros, Andals from Essos conquered the Vale of Arryn from the First Men. Some First Men submitted to and intermarried with Andals in the aftermath of the Battle of Seven Stars, but others refused to kneel. The First Men who fled from the fertile Vale proper into the Mountains of the Moon are the ancestors of the modern clansmen.
There is fierce enmity between the mountain clans and the knights of the Vale,
By the beginning of *A Game of Thrones*, there are at least three thousand warriors among the clans, but they have not been considered a significant threat for centuries.
Bronn, Tyrion Lannister, and Tyrion's clansmen - by Sir Heartsalot©
The clans have become more active since the death of Lord of the Eyrie, Jon Arryn.
While returning from King's Landing, Catelyn Stark considers visiting her sister Lysa at the Eyrie, but decides the passes through the Mountains of the Moon are too dangerous.
After Tyrion wins his trial by combat at the Eyrie through his proxy, Bronn, Lysa has them leave the Vale through the dangerous high road. Tyrion and Bronn encounter clansmen during their journey, however. In return for promising them the Vale, Tyrion enlists them to fight for House Lannister.
Serving as the acting Hand of the King, Tyrion brings the clansmen to King's Landing, where they reside in barracks below the Tower of the Hand.
After the Blackwater, red cloaks and Kingslanders prevents the clansmen from returning to the capital. Others are paid off by Tywin Lannister. Some return to the the mountains, while others remain in the kingswood.
Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane learn that the mountain clans in the Vale are bolder as of late and are carrying steel.
The mountain clans were lawless brigands, descending from the heights to rob and kill and melting away like snow whenever the knights rode out from the Vale in search of them.
- thoughts of Catelyn Stark
Why should we trust your word?… Lowland lords have lied to the clans before.”
– Chella, Daughter of Cheyk
He had more faith in their iron loyalties and sense of honor than in the greed of sellswords.
- thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Vale of Arryn
The Vale of Arryn and the location of the Vale proper
For the smaller valley from which the region takes its name, see Vale of Arryn (valley).
The Vale of Arryn or the Vale is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It was formerly a sovereign nation ruled by the Kings of Mountain and Vale before Aegon's Conquest. The Mountains of the Moon surround the smaller Vale proper,
The Vale is ruled by the Arryns from the castle known as the Eyrie. Notable houses of this region include Baelish, Belmore, Corbray, Egen, Grafton, Hersy, Hunter, Melcolm, Redfort, Royce, Templeton, and Waynwood. of noble origin raised in the Vale are given the surname Stone.
Map (click to zoom)
See also: Category:Places in the Vale
The borders of the Vale are held to be the Bite to the north, the Bay of Crabs to the south, the Mountains of the Moon and then the riverlands to the west, and the narrow sea to the east. The Vale consists of various regions: the Vale of Arryn itself; the Mountains of the Moon; the snakewood; the Fingers; and the islands of the Three Sisters, the Paps, and Pebble.
The Vale is located on the eastern shore of Westeros, a land of fertile soil, rivers, and lakes, protected by its largely impassable Mountains of the Moon. The Vale tends to be slightly isolated from the rest of Westeros. Its harsh winters make travel only possible through the mountains during warmer years, and rebellious mountain clans make travel even more dangerous. The Vale can be reached through the high road, which connects the Vale and the riverlands, and is protected by the Bloody Gate.
The mountainous border of the Vale of Arryn proper appears to include the Bloody Gate in the west and the Eyrie and Longbow Hall to the north. The fertile lands within the valley include Ironoaks, Old Anchor, Redfort, and a peninsula containing the city of Gulltown and Runestone. The town of Wickenden is located along the Bay of Crabs, in the mountains south of the valley. Castles north of the Vale proper in the valleys of the Mountains of the Moon and the snakewood forest
House Greyjoy men sailing up a river of the Vale - by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games
See also: Vale mountain clans
The Valemen,
Some of the people living in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and live by their own rules. These mountain clans, such as the Black Ears and the Burned Men, are descendants of the First Men who raid unwary travelers and skirmish with the knights of the Vale.
Wheat, corn, and barley is grown in the Vale. Not even in Highgarden do the pumpkins grow any larger nor is the fruit any sweeter. House Waxley is known for producing scented candles in Wickenden. The candles can be scented with nutmeg and other costly spices.
According to a semi-canon sources from 2005, the Vale can raise perhaps as many as forty-five thousand men.
The Vale also has a fleet. The Arryn fleet has fought in several more recent battles; however, it's current size is unknown.
House Stark men traveling through the Vale - by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games
During the Age of Heroes, the Vale was thinly populated and was ruled by a score of petty First Men kings. The Winged Knight is among the legendary heroes of the Valemen from thousands of years ago.
The Vale was where the Andals landed when they began their invasion of Westeros. Rather than unite against the newcomers, many of the First Men rulers sought alliances with the Andals, often with disastrous results.
Following the Rape of the Three Sisters two thousand years ago, the Vale warred with the north for a thousand years.
The Arryns bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror during House Targaryen's Wars of Conquest, bringing the Vale under the control of the Iron Throne.
Robert's Rebellion began in the Vale, when Lord Jon Arryn, Defender of the Vale, refused to surrender his wards, Lords Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark, to King Aerys II Targaryen. Defeating his royalist bannermen at Gulltown, Lord Arryn went on to help Robert secure the Iron Throne, and was named his Hand after the war. In Lord Arryn's absence, Nestor Royce governed as High Steward of the Vale.
Vale of Arryn by Ted Nasmith ©
After Lord Jon Arryn's sudden death, his widow Lysa flees with their son, Robert Arryn, from King's Landing to the Eyrie.
Lysa refuses to lend the Vale's strength to any side of the War of the Five Kings.
After the death of King Joffrey I Baratheon, Petyr Baelish helps Sansa Stark escape King's Landing
Petyr rules as Lord Protector of the Vale and the guardian of the orphaned Lord Robert, to the consternation of the Lords Declarant.
Lord Davos Seaworth washes up on Sweetsister, but Lord Godric Borrell allows Davos to continue to White Harbor instead of turning him over to Lord Triston Sunderland.
House Arryn of the Eyrie.
House Arryn of Gulltown.
House Baelish of the Fingers.
House Belmore of Strongsong.
House Borrell of Sweetsister.
House Coldwater of Coldwater Burn.
House Corbray of Heart's Home.
House Donniger.
House Egen.
House Elesham of the Paps.
House Grafton of Gulltown.
House Hardyng.
House Hersy of Newkeep.
House Hunter of Longbow Hall.
House Longthorpe of Longsister.
House Lynderly of Snakewood.
House Melcolm of Old Anchor.
House Moore.
House Pryor of Pebble.
House Redfort of Redfort.
House Royce of Runestone.
House Royce of the Gates of the Moon.
House Ruthermont.
House Shett of Gulltown.
House Shett of Gull Tower.
House Sunderland of the Three Sisters.
House Templeton of Ninestars.
House Tollett of the Grey Glen.
House Torrent of Littlesister.
House Upcliff of the Witch Isle.
House Waxley of Wickenden.
House Waynwood of Ironoaks.
House Wydman.
It stretched before them to the misty east, a tranquil land of rich black soil, wide slow-moving rivers, and hundreds of small lakes that shone like mirrors in the sun, protected on all sides by its sheltering peaks.
- thoughts of Catelyn Stark
My lords, with your leave, I propose to travel to the Vale and there woo and win Lady Lysa Arryn. Once I am her consort, I shall deliver you the Vale of Arryn without a drop of blood being spilled.
– Petyr Baelish to the small council
The lords of the Vale are numerous. As with any large group, their views vary.
Vale of Arryn
The Vale of Arryn and the location of the Vale proper
House Baratheon loyalists traveling through the Vale - by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games
An encampment in the Vale of Arryn - by Cristina Vela. © Fantasy Flight Games
The Vale of Arryn is a fertile valley bordered by the Mountains of the Moon in eastern Westeros.
The Vale proper is accessible by the high road, which passes through the formidable Mountains of the Moon, and the Bloody Gate.
The Vale is narrow at its western end near the Bloody Gate, no more than half a day's ride across, and the mountains tower above. The Gates of the Moon and the Eyrie are located in the west of the valley.
The Vale proper is bounded by a series of mountains which stretch northeast to the narrow sea and southeast to the Bay of Crabs. Longbow Hall is located in the hills of the northern border; north of these mountains are the Fingers. Redfort is located near the southern wing of mountains. Ironoaks is situated by a large lake in the middle of the Vale, while Old Anchor is located farther east along the sea. Gulltown and Runestone are located on a peninsula which extends east, south of which are the Bay of Crabs and Crackclaw Point.
According to *The Seven-Pointed Star*, Hugor of the Hill had a vision of a "golden land amidst towering mountains".
During Aegon's Conquest, Queen Regent Sharra Arryn fortified the Bloody Gate to block access to the Vale of Arryn. Visenya Targaryen flew on Vhagar to the Eyrie, however, and secured the submission of the Vale.
Catelyn Stark brings her captive, Tyrion Lannister, through the high road to the Bloody Gate and the Vale of Arryn.
Access to the Vale from the west is blocked by snow on the high road.
Their sheep are prettier than their women.
- Daemon Targaryen regarding the Valemen
Lady Valena Toland is the eldest daughter of the Lady Nymella Toland of Ghost Hill.
Valena is tall, beautiful and fierce, with a blaze of bright red hair tumbling about her shoulders.
She greets Arianne Martell and their companions when they arrive at Ghost Hill.
Prince Valerion Targaryen was the ninthborn child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen.
Valonqar is High Valyrian for "little brother". The term is used by Maggy, a maegi and fortune teller from Lannisport, when making a prophecy to Cersei Lannister in 276 AC.
And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.
– Maggy, to Cersei Lannister
Main article: Valonqar/Theories
Since hearing the prophecy, Cersei Lannister has become convinced that her youngest brother, Tyrion, is the valonqar. This caused her to despise and mistrust him even more than she already did before.
The identity of Cersei's prophecized valonqar has been heavily debated among the fans of *A Song of Ice and Fire* and numerous suggestions have been made thus far.
Cersei Lannister and Melara Hetherspoon visited the maegi Maggy at Lannisport in 276 AC, hoping to learn about their futures. To Cersei, Maggy predicted that she would die at the hands of "the valonqar".
Several possible identities for Cersei's valonqar have been suggested.
Cersei Lannister has become convinced that her youngest brother, Tyrion Lannister, is her valonqar. Maggy's prophecy, made three years after Tyrion's birth, has served to make Cersei despise and mistrust Tyrion even more.
Jaime Lannister, Cersei's twin brother, is most often identified as Cersei's valonqar by the fandom, based on a poll held in 2015.[N 1]
The following pieces of information can be considered supporting evidence for the theory:
The following pieces of information can be considered supporting evidence for the theory:
Sandor Clegane, the younger brother of Ser Gregor Clegane and a long time servant of House Lannister at King's Landing, has been identified as the most popular choice as Cersei's valonqar besides her two brothers, Jaime and Tyrion, in a poll held in 2015.[N 2] He served as sworn shield to Prince Joffrey Baratheon,[*citation needed] who named him to the Kingsguard after his own coronation.[citation needed] Sandor deserted the Lannisters during the Battle of the Blackwater and left King's Landing for the riverlands. There, he encountered Arya Stark until he was severely wounded and left behind.[citation needed] Brienne of Tarth later comes to believe that Sansa Stark, who she is searching for, had been carried off by Sandor, and begins to follow his trail. On Quiet Isle, she learns from Elder Brother that, not only had Sandor been with Arya instead of Sansa, "the man you hunt is dead".[citation needed*] However, fans have since theorized that, although his persona of "the Hound" has died, Sandor himself still lives on Quiet Isle and is in fact the gravedigger seen by Brienne on the isle. The theory that Sandor is Cersei's valonqar assumes that the gravedigger theory is correct.
The following pieces of information can be considered supporting evidence for the theory:
Tommen Baratheon is Cersei's youngest child, and the "little brother" of her two sons.
The following pieces of information can be considered supporting evidence for the theory:
Although the translation given for valonqar by Cersei's septa is "little brother", there are readers who have hypothesized that the valonqar could be a female.
As supporting evidence, a translation error discussed in *A Feast for Crows* is often cited. According to Maester Aemon, the prophecy about the prince that was promised, which thus far had been interpreted to indicate a man, could have been incorrectly translated. Aemon, because of this, comes to believe that the prophecy could refer to a woman, stating "The error crept in from the translation. Dragons are neither male nor female, Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame. The language misled us all for a thousand years.".[*citation needed*] Readers have taken this to indicate that the word used in the prophecy concerning the prince that was promised is gender-neutral, and thus, that there might be more gender-neutral words in the old Valyrian language, with "valonqar" being their candidate.
David Peterson, who created the High Valyrian used on HBO's *Game of Thrones, has commented on the assumption, claiming that "[Aemon's quote] says nothing whatever about the gender system of High Valyrian*". He stressed that Aemon, in A Feast for Crows, was speaking about biological gender (i.e., dragons being able to change their gender from male to female, or vice versa), not grammatical gender, and that grammatical and biological gender need not be tied to one another. To explain further, Peterson stated "English is a gender neutral language. We have gendered third person singular pronouns, but outside of that, English has no grammatical genders the way Spanish, French and Italian do. “Prince” is grammatically gender neutral. Semantically, though, it’s male, just as the words “man”, “bachelor”, “father” and “son” are. That these words exist says nothing about the grammatical gender system of English." According to Peterson, the High Valyrian word originally used in the prophecy that was translated as "prince" in the Common Tongue (i.e. English) can refer to both men and women, with Aemon's comment referring to the assumption, given the context, that the person prophesied must be male.
Despite this, and despite the fact that Maggy stated that the valonqar shall wrap "his" hands around Cersei's throat, several females have been suggested as the valonqar, with Arya Stark being mentioned the most frequently.[N 3]
Supporting evidence includes:
Valyria
Slaver's Bay and the location of Valyria
1: Ruined city 2: Lands of the Long Summer 3: Smoking Sea 4: Oros 5: Ruined city 6: Tyria 7: Ruined city 8: Ruined city 9: Summer Sea
Topless towers of Valyria, from *Game of Thrones*
Valyria, also called Old Valyria, is a ruined city in Essos. It is a long-dead city of wonderment, and was once the capital of a great empire called the Valyrian Freehold. It was destroyed by a cataclysmic event known as the Doom of Valyria a century before Aegon's Landing. It is the ancestral home of House Targaryen, House Celtigar, and House Velaryon.
Valyria was located on a peninsula of the same name extending into the Summer Sea.
Valyria is said to have had topless towers
A common racial characteristic among Valyrians appears to have been purple eyes and hair of silver-gold or platinum white. Valyria is said to still hold many treasures from before the Doom, such as Valyrian steel blades and items of magical power. It is said that the glass candles of Oldtown were brought there from Valyria a thousand years before the Doom.
Valyria was ruled by its dragonlords, led by two score rival houses that contested for power. House Targaryen, however, was not considered a powerful house.
The Valyrians' empire, the Valyrian Freehold, first conquered the Old Empire of Ghis to the east across Slaver's Bay, as well as the Ghiscari colonies in the Basilisk Isles and Sothoryos. Seeking slaves for Valyrian mines, they then conquered and established colonies to the west and north after defeating the Andals and the Rhoynar in Essos.
Four hundred years ago, however, Valyria and its peninsula were shattered by the Doom.
Some years ago Gerion Lannister journeyed to Valyria to try to recover Brightroar, the lost Valyrian steel sword of House Lannister, and any other treasures that might have survived the Doom. He did not return and was presumed lost at sea.
Euron Greyjoy claims to have visited Valyria and recovered the dragon horn Dragonbinder,
Petyr: Is there a man in your service that you trust utterly and completely?
Eddard: Yes.
Petyr: In that case, I have a delightful palace in Valyria that I would dearly love to sell you. The wiser answer was no, my lord, but be that as it may.
- Petyr Baelish and Eddard Stark
Euron: I am the storm, my lord. The first storm, and the last. I have taken the Silence on longer voyages than this, and ones far more hazardous. Have you forgotten? I have sailed the Smoking Sea and seen Valyria.
Rodrik: Have you?
Euron: Reader, you would do well to keep your nose in your books.
- Euron Greyjoy and Rodrik Harlaw
Moqorro: The sky is always red above Valyria, Hugor Hill.
Tyrion: Are we close?
Moqorro: Closer than the crew would like. Do you know the stories, in your Sunset Kingdoms?Tyrion: I know some sailors say that any man who lays eyes upon that coast is doomed.
– Moqorro and Tyrion Lannister
At its apex Valyria was the greatest city in the known world, the center of civilization. Within its shining walls, twoscore rival houses vied for power and glory in court and council, rising and falling in an endless, subtle, oftsavage struggle for dominance.
– writings of Yandel
It's safe to say that the Targaryens were the only nobles with dragons who escaped the destruction of Valyria.
Valyrian can refer to:
Valyrian - by Davis Engel © Fantasy Flight Games
The Valyrian is a great galleas
Ser Davos Seaworth spots the Valyrian anchored in the bay of Dragonstone when Stannis Baratheon is gathering his swords.
Davos sees the Valyrian in the harbor of Dragonstone when he returns from Blackwater Bay.
Salladhor Saan's pirate fleet, including his *Old Mother's Son* and Valyrian, tries to board a galley from Volantis near the Stepstones. They kill the captain, but the ship gets away. In Braavos, a mate from the galley tells Cat of the Canals about the incident.
Salladhor Saan and his fleet set sail from Eastwatch for White Harbor, to take Davos Seaworth as an envoy from King Stannis Baratheon to Lord Wyman Manderly. As a show of strength, Davos was to arrive on the great Valyrian, with the rest of the splendid fleet behind her. However, when much of his fleet is destroyed by storms, Salladhor loses heart and decides to abandon Stannis, sick of waiting for payment from the king. He refuses to take Davos to White Harbor, and instead sets him ashore on Sweetsister by rowboat.
Valyrians tamed and used dragons
The Valyrian Freehold was a great territory that spanned much of the continent of Essos, but has since fallen to ruin, approximately one hundred years before Aegon's Conquest, when it was brought down by a cataclysmic event known as the Doom of Valyria.
At its prime, the Valyrian Freehold encompassed most of the eastern continent and reached as far as the current Free Cities and the island of Dragonstone off the coast of Westeros. The Freehold was technically never an empire, however for ease of reference it tends to be referred to as one.
The Freehold was an advanced civilization, and the dominant military and cultural power of the known world. Its capital was the city Valyria. The Freehold was ruled by the lords freeholder, powerful noble families. The most powerful of these were the dragonlords.
Valyrians discover dragons lairing in the Fourteen Flames
According to a semi-canon source, ancient Valyria was a civilization of humble shepherds who discovered dragons in the Fourteen Flames, a ring of volcanoes on the Valyrian peninsula.
They began expanding their influence, establishing the Freehold with the city of Valyria as its capital. Magic flowered, topless towers
Some five thousand years ago, in the early days of Valyria, the Old Empire of Ghis dominated and controlled much of Essos. The Ghiscari attempted to stop Valyria's expansion and the burgeoning freehold was involved in a series of great wars against the Old Empire. The Ghiscari lockstep legions attacked Valyria five times, but they could never defeat them - with the help of dragons, Valyria was able to defend and emerge victorious each time.
Finally, in the last of the Ghiscari wars, the Valyrians marched on their capital, Old Ghis, razed it to the ground, and sowed its fields with salt, sulfur, and skulls,, and continued to conquer and colonize further.
The Valyrian Freehold continued to expand and conquer further west, capturing many slaves from conquered lands and using them to mine great wealth from the Fourteen Flames, as well as build great cities and roadways that led to Valyria.
For many years the Valyrians were at peace with the Rhoynar civilization of the Rhoyne, west of the Valyrian peninsula. From the colonial freehold of Volantis, the Valyrians instead crossed the Rhoyne and marched west to wage war on the Andals of Andalos. Rather than be enslaved by Valyria, the Andals crossed the narrow sea and invaded Westeros. The Valyrians overwhelmed the remaining Andals of western Essos and established colonies west of their peninsula.
The Valyrians are believed to have travelled as far as Oldtown, predating the arrival of the First Men and trading with the elder races, according to Jellicoe. Septon Barth also claimed Valyrians came to Westeros because their priests prophesied that the Doom of Man would come out of the land beyond the narrow sea.
Dragonlords with a hatchling dragon. Art by Magali Villeneuve
The Rhoynish Wars were a series of wars fought between the city-states of the Rhoynar and colonies of the Valyrian Freehold between ~950 BC and 700 BC.
The wars were concluded in the Second Spice War, when the Valyrian colony Volantis turned its eyes to the ancient and high civilization of the Rhoynar. Prince Garin of Chroyane led an army of a 250,000 men and defeated the Valyrian armies at Selhorys, Valysar, and Volon Therys, where they won their greatest victory by defeating an army of a hundred thousand men and killing two dragons in the process.
However, the Valyrians responded with an overwhelming force of three hundred dragons, capturing Garin the Great and burning the Rhoynish armies. Princess Nymeria of Ny Sar led the exodus of the remaining Rhoynar out of Essos, eventually arriving in Dorne. The singers say her ten thousand ships were filled with women and children, suggesting most of the men of fighting age had died in the conflict with the Freehold.
At the height of its power, the Freehold stretched over most of Essos west of the Bone Mountains. Many of the numerous cities were connected by dragon roads.
The Free Cities, the self-ruling daughters of Valyria, are spread throughout western Essos. Volantis
Other cities and towns founded or conquered by the Freehold were governed by archons from Valyria. The Valyrian peninsula contained Oros and Tyria..
The greatest remnants of the Old Empire of Ghis were Astapor, Meereen, and Yunkai. Other Ghiscari settlements were Ghozai on the Isle of Cedars, Ghardaq, and what are now Vaes Efe and Vaes Mejhah., owed allegiance to Valyria.
South of the Summer Sea, the Freehold controlled Gorgossos on the Isle of Tears
Valyrian cities of unknown location included Aquos Dhaen, Draconys, Mhysa Faer, and Rhyos.
Some two centuries before the Doom, the Valyrian Freehold colonized the island of Dragonstone in the narrow sea and established a citadel there, with ineffective resistance from the local lords of Blackwater Bay. The island was the westernmost outpost of the Freehold.
In 126 BC, Daenys Targaryen, the maiden daughter of Aenar Targaryen, had a vision of the destruction of Valyria. House Targaryen abandoned their homeland for Dragonstone, an act seen by other dragonlords as cowardice.
The shattered remains of the Valyrian peninsula after the Doom.
The Doom of Valyria was a cataclysmic event in 114 BC, after which the city Valyria was utterly destroyed and the Valyrian Freehold crumbled and was no more. The Doom fragmented the land surrounding the city itself into numerous smaller islands, creating the Smoking Sea between them.
With Valyrian leadership destroyed, the lands outside of the peninsula fell into chaos in the ensuing Century of Blood, which saw the rise of the Free Cities. Essaria, the "Lost Free City", was reduced to ruins by the Dothraki,
At its apex, the Freehold's capital, Valyria, was the greatest city in the known world, the center of civilization. Most of Valyria's culture, language, and craft was lost in the Doom, which was followed by the Century of Blood. Valyrian descendants scattered across the world, many across the surviving Valyrian colonies, the Free Cities, and across the cities of Slaver's Bay. Many of the surviving Valyrians intermarried and became mixed with other peoples. Their descendants speak in various local dialects of Valyrian.
Valyria is remembered for its ability to raise and command dragons and using them as weapons of war. This was demonstrated by the Targaryens, the last of the known Valyrian dragonlords, who used that knowledge to conquer and rule the Seven Kingdoms.
Daenerys Targaryen exhibits the classic Valyrian racial characteristics, purple eyes and silver-gold hair. by © Denkata5698
Valyrians are famous for having silver-gold hair and violet-purple eyes, characteristics not found amongst any other peoples of the world. This can vary from white to silver-gold to blond hair, and from lilac, to deep purple, and pale blue eyes. The most noble of Valyrians were considered strikingly, some say inhumanly,
The Valyrian nobility valued purity of blood. Therefore, the practice of incest was common in old Valyria, to keep the dragon bloodline pure.
The language Valyrians spoke was High Valyrian.
The Valyrians had a number of different gods, including Balerion, Meraxes, Vhagar, and Syrax.
According to some scholars, the dragonlords regarded all faiths as equally false, and looked down on clergy and temples as relics of more primitive times but useful to placate the lower classes with promises of a better life to come after death. Thus, they promoted religious tolerance in order to keep their subjects divided, and prevent them from unifying under the banner of a single god.
The people of Valyria were very strong in magic, and they would use their powerful wizards and their dragons in conjunction with their armies to conquer most of Essos west of the Bone Mountains. Dragons were controlled by whips, magic horns, and sorcery.
The Freehold of Valyria at the zenith of its power was neither a kingdom nor an empire, or at least it had neither a king nor an emperor. Instead, all freeholders, or freeborn landowners, had a say in its governance.
In practice, however, the Freehold was ruled by the lords freeholder, powerful noble families. They were forty families of great wealth, high birth, and strong sorcerous ability, those families which controlled and rode dragons in battle, who came to dominate, were known as dragonlords. were one of these dragon houses.
The Valyrians had great skill in shaping stone. It is often said that the old wizards of Valyria did not cut and chisel stone, but worked it with fire and magic as a potter might work clay, of Volantis.
One practice the Valyrians adopted from their wars with the Old Empire of Ghis was slavery.
Valyria was the last ember, and Valyria is gone.
—Luwin to Bran Stark
Old Ghis ruled an empire when the Valyrians were still fucking sheep, and we are the sons of the harpy.
All Valyrian sorcery was rooted in blood or fire. The sorcerers of the Freehold could see across mountains, seas, and deserts with one of these glass candles. They could enter a man's dreams and give him visions, and speak to one another half a world apart, seated before their candles.
—Marwyn to Samwell Tarly
The proudest city in all the world was gone in an instant, its fabled empire vanished in a day, the Lands of the Long Summer scorched and drowned and blighted. An empire built on blood and fire. The Valyrians reaped the seed they had sown.}
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
It is possible that the titanic clashes between Valyria and Old Empire of Ghis are inspired by the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage over control of the Mediterranean. Valyria's advanced technology and magic, as well as the Doom, may be inspired by the legends of Atlantis.
Location in Essos
The Valyrian peninsula is a large but shattered peninsula extending south from Essos into the Summer Sea. extend across the neck of the peninsula.
The peninsula was partially destroyed in the Doom of Valyria four hundred years ago. Many islands were formed and low-lying areas were flooded, creating the Smoking Sea:
Valyrian roads,
Valyrian roads ran across much of the Valyrian peninsula, connecting the cities of Valyria, Tyria, and Oros with outlying settlements. The peninsula and its cities were shattered in the Doom of Valyria, however. A road continues north from the ruins of Oros through the Lands of the Long Summer to Mantarys. The demon road runs from Meereen westward past Mantarys to Volantis on the Rhoyne; a branch of the demon road also runs south to Tolos near the Black Cliffs. A road continues north from Volantis to the ruins of Sar Mell.
In northern Essos, a Valyrian road runs east from Pentos on the narrow sea to the ruins of Ghoyan Drohe in the Velvet Hills. From Ghoyan Drohe it runs northeast to Norvos and then southeast to Qohor. From the latter city a road connects to the ruins of Ar Noy to the southwest. A road continues east from Qohor to the ruins of Vaes Khadokh (Essaria) and Vaes Khewo (Sarnath). Another road runs north from Vaes Khadokh to Saath on the Shivering Sea.
The dragonlords of Valyria used dragonfire to fuse stone, like the Black Walls of Volantis.
Daenerys Targaryen travels with the *khalasar* of Khal Drogo along Valyrian roads between Norvos and Qohor in the Free Cities.
At the start of his journey from Pentos to Volantis, Tyrion Lannister looks at the Valyrian road on which he and Illyrio Mopatis travel. It runs as straight as a spear to the horizon. It is a ribbon of fused stone raised half a foot above the ground to allow rainfall and snowmelt to run off its shoulders. Tyrion muses that unlike the muddy tracks that pass for roads in the Seven Kingdoms, the Valyrian roads are wide enough for three wagons to pass abreast, and neither time nor traffic mar them. They still endure, unchanging, four centuries after Valyria met its Doom.
Quentyn Martell does not want to take the demon road from Volantis to Meereen, as it is too dangerous and slow.
Valyrian sphinx beside a road - by Marc Fishman ©
A Valyrian sphinx is a mythical creature, with the body of an animal (most likely a dragon) and the head of a human. The Valyrians made statues of Valyrian sphinxes, some very large. Valyrian sphinxes are now relics, left over from Old Valyria, prior to the Doom. They are still seen in Essos and Westeros. They are still used as decoration and may be a sign of wealth and influence.[*citation needed*]
Whether they were made using advanced Valyrian techniques, such as spells and magic, or by more ordinary techniques is unknown.
The council chamber door of the Red Keep is flanked by Valyrian sphinxes, they have eyes of polished garnets smoldering in black marble faces.
Maester Aemon says to Samwell Tarly that "the sphinx was the riddle, not the riddler".
While travelling, Tyrion Lannister and Illyrio Mopatis come across a huge Valyrian sphinx crouched beside the road. It has a dragon's body and a woman's face. However her king is missing, dragged off by the Dothraki back to Vaes Dothrak on wooden wheels. Why the Dothraki did not take the queen sphinx is not mentioned. There is a smooth stone plinth where the king once stood, grown over with moss and flowering vines. Tyrion Lannister considers the queen sphinx a pleasant omen and her missing king being dragged back to Vaes Dothrak an omen too, but not as hopeful.
Valyrian steel was invented in Valyria, and was used to make weapons and various other items of unparalleled quality. Magic and spells play a role in its forging, which makes the steel special and gives it magical characteristics.
Valyrian steel, possibly forged with dragons,
Valyrian steel was always costly, but it became considerably more so when there was no more Valyria, the secret of its making lost with the Doom.
Lord Eddard Stark uses Ice to execute Gared, a deserter from the Night's Watch.
A catspaw tries to assassinate Bran Stark with a Valyrian steel dagger, but he is instead slain by Summer. Bran's mother, Catelyn Stark, show the dagger to Petyr Baelish, who claims to have lost the dagger in the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day.
In gratitude for having been saved from a wight, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont gives Longclaw to Jon Snow.
Ser Ilyn Payne uses Ice to execute Ned Stark in King's Landing.
Lord Tywin Lannister has Tobho Mott, a blacksmith trained in Qohor, reforge Ice into two new Valyrian blades..
Tywin gives the second blade to his son, Ser Jaime Lannister. Jaime then gives it to Brienne of Tarth for use in her quest to locate Sansa Stark, and he asks her to name it Oathkeeper.
When looking in the Night's Watch's archives, Samwell Tarly reads about dragonsteel, which he and Jon Snow think might have been Valyrian steel.
During the siege of Astapor, the sellsword Caggo fights with a Valyrian steel arakh.
Euron Greyjoy is seen by his captive brother, Aeron, in a suit of black scale armor which Aeron believes to be Valyrian steel. Aeron believes it would have cost a kingdom even before the Doom of Valyria.
Blades known to still exist:
Blades with known fates:
Blades with unknown fates:
"Ice," that sword was called. It was as wide across as a man's hand, and taller even than Robb Stark. The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel.
- thoughts of Bran Stark
I heard of a man who had a razor made of Valyrian steel. He cut his head off trying to shave.
Valyrian steel blades were scarce and costly, yet thousands remained in the world, perhaps two hundred in the Seven Kingdoms alone.
- thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
A man who bears Valyrian steel should use it for more than scratching his arse.
- Godry Farring to Jon Snow
Valyrian steel is a fantasy metal. Which means it has magical characteristics, and magic plays a role in its forging.
Valyrian steel was always costly, but it became considerably more so when there was no more Valyria, and the secret of its making were lost.
Dragonbone dagger. Illustrated by Sara Biddle. © Fantasy Flight Games.
An unnamed Valyrian steel dagger is used by a catspaw during an assassination attempt on Bran Stark.
King Robert I Baratheon won the dagger from Lord Petyr Baelish during the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day.
Petyr Baelish threatens Eddard Stark with the dagger. Illustrated by Lukasz Jaskolski. © Fantasy Flight Games.
A catspaw sets a fire in Winterfell's Library Tower as a distraction and then tries to assassinate the comatose Bran Stark. The boy's mother, Catelyn, fends off the assassin, however, and the direwolf Summer kills the catspaw. The blade cuts Catelyn's fingers almost to the bone.
Believing that House Lannister is to blame,
Tyrion is taken prisoner by Catelyn at the crossroads inn that he never owned the dagger.
After the death of King Robert, his widow, Cersei Lannister, gains the support of Littlefinger and Janos Slynt of the gold cloaks. Petyr takes the dagger from Ned when Lord Stark is taken captive in the throne room.
Tyrion, the acting Hand of the King for Joffrey I Baratheon, desires to confront Littlefinger about the dagger.
In Riverrun's dungeon, Jaime accepts responsibility for throwing Bran from Winterfell's Broken Tower but denies Catelyn's accusation he later hired the catspaw to kill Bran. The prisoner also insists that Tyrion would never have bet against him during Joffrey's tourney, contradicting Petyr's claim that Tyrion won the dagger from Littlefinger by betting on Loras instead of Jaime. The Kingslayer does recall the dagger changing hands, however, as a drunken Robert had displayed it at the tourney's feast.
While discussing the new swords made by Tobho Mott from Ned Stark's Valyrian sword, Ice, Lord Tywin Lannister tells his son Tyrion that Robert had left a hundred daggers in his armory, but that the only knife the king ever used was a hunting knife he received in his youth from Lord Jon Arryn.
After receiving Widow's Wail from Tywin as a wedding gift, King Joffrey claims that he is "no stranger to Valyrian steel" while destroying Tyrion's gift, *Lives of Four Kings*.
After Joffrey's death at his royal wedding, Cersei and Jaime discuss the assassination attempt on Bran. Jaime decides that Joffrey tried to have the crippled Bran killed as a misguided attempt to impress Robert.
At the Baelish tower in the Fingers, Littlefinger uses his dagger while eating fruit with Ned's daughter, Sansa Stark.
Petyr: Nothing holds an edge like Valyrian steel. Such sweet balance. You want to find the owner, is that the reason for this visit? You have no need of Ser Aron for that, my lady. You should have come to me.
Catelyn: And if I had, what would you have told me?
Petyr: I would have told you that there was only one knife like this at King's Landing. It's mine.
- Petyr Baelish and Catelyn Stark
It was not my dagger. How many times must I swear to that? Lady Stark, whatever you may believe of me, I am not a stupid man. Only a fool would arm a common footpad with his own blade.
- Tyrion Lannister to Catelyn Stark
He wondered which of them had sent the footpad to silence the Stark boy, and whether they had truly conspired at the death of Lord Arryn. If the old Hand had been murdered, it was deftly and subtly done. Men of his age died of sudden illness all the time. In contrast, sending some oaf with a stolen knife after Brandon Stark struck him as unbelievably clumsy.
- thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
The dagger had been Valyrian steel, and Valyrian steel bites deep and sharp.
- thoughts of Catelyn Stark
Joffrey: You and Lady Sansa owe me a better present, Uncle Imp. This one is all chopped to pieces.
Tyrion: Perhaps a knife, sire. To match your sword. A dagger of the same fine Valyrian steel ... with a dragonbone hilt, say?
Joffrey: You ... yes, a dagger to match my sword, good.
- Joffrey Baratheon and Tyrion Lannister
Cersei: Joffrey had no love for Robb Stark, but the younger boy was nothing to him. He was only a child himself.
Jaime: A child hungry for a pat on the head from that sot you let him believe was his father. Tyrion almost died because of this bloody dagger. If he knew the whole thing was Joffrey's work, that might be why ...
- Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister
Tyrion: Joffrey would have been a worse king than Aerys ever was. He stole his father's dagger and gave it to a footpad to slit the throat of Brandon Stark, did you know that?
Jaime: I ... I thought he might have.
Valysar
Western Essos and the location of Valysar
Valysar is a walled Volantene town in Essos. It sits on the western bank of the Rhoyne, to the north of Volon Therys and to the south of Selhorys.
Although it is larger than the cities of King's Landing and Oldtown in Westeros,
Valysar was founded as a colony of the Valyrian Freehold. It was taken by Garin the Great and the Rhoynar during the Second Spice War.
The town has been under the authority of Volantis since the Century of Blood, the years of expansion under the tigers.
The vanguard is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. According to George R. R. Martin,
The usage of a vanguard is varied... but most often, the vanguard or van was the foremost division (or "battle," as they were called) of a medieval army in the line of march. However, when the army actually deployed for battle, the van would generally be on the left. There are enough exceptions to this to make the issue confusing. Sometimes the van would be placed on the right rather than the left. If the host was attacking, the van would sometimes indeed be the shock unit, the first to smash into the enemy... but when the army was drawn up in a defensive array, that obviously did not apply. It also depended somewhat on the size of the army and how it was organized; i.e. how many "battles" or divisions.
Vanyon was a maester of the Citadel of Oldtown, who wrote *Against the Unnatural*.
Varamyr, better known as Varamyr Sixskins, is a member of the free folk, and a skinchanger who controls three wolves, a snow bear, a shadowcat, and an eagle.
See also: Images of Varamyr
Varamyr is small, grey-faced, and bald, with round shoulders. He wears a shadowskin cloak.
Varamyr Sixskins and his animals, by Elena María Vacas
The man who would eventually call himself Varamyr was born the second child of a wildling family beyond the Wall, and nicknamed "Lump" by his older sister Meha per wildling tradition. As he was born a month premature, and often ill, his mother waited until he was four to name him properly, by which time it was too late and everyone in his village only called him Lump. When Lump was six, he was jealous of his two-year-old brother Bump, who was much more vigorous and healthy, and skinchanged into one of his family's dogs (Loptail, Sniff, or Growler) to kill him. When Lump's father came upon Bump's body, the dogs were sniffing around it. Not knowing which dog had killed his son, he put down all three, killing them with an axe. Right before he split Loptail's skull, Lump slipped inside the dog's skin and felt his death. His reaction, a scream, informed Lump's parents that he was a warg.
Lump's father dragged him through the woods until he came to Haggon, an elderly warg who informed Lump that he belonged with his own kind. Haggon taught him how to skinchange properly and the rules of the ability, and introduced him to other skinchangers. He also instructed him on the strengths and weaknesses of different animals, and gave him rudimentary survival skills. Haggon often traded with the Night's Watch, and it was on one of those trips where Lump began to dream of living south of the Wall. He named himself Varamyr when he was ten years old.
When Haggon lay dying, Varamyr, resentful, stole his wolf, Greyskin, who Haggon had intended as his second life. At that point Varamyr was calling himself Varamyr Threeskins, and then Fourskins after taking Greyskin. Over the years, Varamyr died eight more times while wearing the skins of other creatures. However, his power grew and he was known to ride into battle on the back of a 13-foot tall female snow bear. He had a hall of moss, mud, and hewn logs, which had been Haggon's before he died. He became a lord, with a dozen villages paying him homage. When he wanted to have sex with a woman from the villages, he would send his shadowcat to stalk her until she came to him, whether she wanted to or not. A few of the women had relatives who would try to save them by slaying the warg; Varamyr killed them, but claimed not to harm the women, only taking a hank of hair from each. Some of the women became pregnant, but all of Varamyr's children were small and weak, and none had the ability to skinchange. Eventually Mance Rayder sought an alliance with Varamyr. Varamyr agreed and was a part of Mance's host beneath the Wall.
After the death of the skinchanger Orell, Varamyr takes control of his eagle, which still has a remnant of Orell's consciousness inside of it. Varamyr encounters Jon Snow in Mance Rayder's camp, and the part of Orell inside him hates the man who had killed him, so much that Varamyr hates Jon as well.
Varamyr uses Orell's eagle to scout Castle Black during the battle beneath the Wall. He takes early notice of Stannis Baratheon's arrival at the Wall thanks to the eagle.
After the defeat of the wildlings at the battle beneath the Wall, Varamyr has lost all his possessions in his madness from experiencing the eagle's death; he has also lost control of his snow bear and shadowcat, but his wolves remain. Varamyr flees together with a small group, hiding his real identity from them and calling himself Haggon. One by one they leave, until only the spearwife Thistle stays with him. Varamyr is stabbed by a boy when he attempts to take a squirrel-skin cloak off of the dead body of the boy's mother, and while Thistle treats his wound, he knows he is dying. He considers skinchanging into another human, taking over their body, but worries he does not have the strength. When Thistle comes to warn him that an army of Others and wights is near and they have to leave, Varamyr tries to take over her body. However, she reacts madly, screaming, tearing out her eyes and biting her own tongue off, expelling him from her mind. Varamyr's body dies, but his mind lives on in his wolf One Eye. From a distance away, he sees that Thistle has become a wight.
Once a horse is broken to the saddle, any man can mount him. Once a beast’s been joined to a man, any skinchanger can slip inside and ride him. Orell was withering inside his feathers, so I took the eagle for my own. But the joining works both ways, warg. Orell lives inside me now, whispering how much he hates you. And I can soar above the Wall, and see with eagle eyes.
—Varamyr, to Jon Snow
Mance should have let me take the direwolf. There would be a second life worthy of a king.
—Varamyr's thoughts
A vicious little runt.
Ser Vardis Egen is a knight of House Egen and captain of the household guard at the Eyrie. He has at least one young son.
See also: Images of Vardis Egen
Vardis is heavily built, with a square, plain face, and silver hair. He is humorless.
During Lord Jon Arryn's time at King's Landing as Hand of the King, Vardis served as his captain of the guards.[*citation needed*]
Ser Vardis greets Lady Catelyn Stark upon her arrival at the Eyrie.
Ser Vardis Egen, you were ever my lord husband's good right hand. You shall be our champion.
– Lysa Arryn, to Vardis
Vardis Egen on the Game of Thrones wiki.
Vargo Hoat, sometimes called the Goat, referred to as the "Bloody Mummers".
See also: Images of Vargo Hoat
Vargo is a tall and gaunt man.
Vargo is more cunning than he seems.
Vargo wears a chain of linked coins from all the places where he has fought. The coins are of every shape and size, cast and hammered, bearing the likenesses of kings, wizards, gods, demons, and all manner of fanciful beasts. Vargo rides a zorse. His coat of arms feature the Black Goat of Qohor and he wears a helm shaped as a goat's head.
Vargo and the Brave Companions were brought across the narrow sea by Lord Tywin Lannister.
After having caught a venereal disease, Vargo began sending women to be examined by Qyburn as a precautionary measure, before raping them.
As war breaks out in the Seven Kingdoms, Lord Tywin Lannister orders his brother, Ser Kevan Lannister, to have Ser Gregor Clegane, Ser Amory Lorch, and Vargo raid the riverlands with three hundred horsemen each.
Vargo Hoat, by C. Griffin © Fantasy Flight Games
The Mountain's men and the Brave Companions forage and raid near Harrenhal and the Gods Eye. Vargo's sellswords are said to have slain Lord Beric Dondarrion, although he has since been reported as alive.
There is tension between the Lannister forces and Vargo's men, leading to occasional violence. One incident starts with an archer from Lord Lewys Lydden's men taunting some Brave Companions over their failure to capture the brotherhood without banners and their leader, Beric, and leads to the death of Ser Harys Swyft's squire. After Tywin has the archer and two Brave Companions hanged, Vargo and Harys complete their reconciliation with a kiss.
When Tywin marches his troops out of Harrenhal to pursue Robb Stark, who has invaded the westerlands, he leaves Ser Amory Lorch behind as castellan of the castle. However, Amory and Vargo hate each other and Vargo soon decides to turn cloak. He leads the Brave Companions to Lord Roose Bolton's camp, where Vargo and Roose reach a deal: the Brave Companions arrange for Harrenhal to fall into the hands of the northmen, in exchange for which Vargo is promised the title of Lord of Harrenhal once Roose and his men leave the castle.
As a result of the agreement, together with some plunder that includes a huge caged bear, Vargo brings a group of northmen to Harrenhal, led by Robett Glover and Ser Aenys Frey. He claims they are captives the Brave Companions took when they repelled an attempt by Lord Bolton's forces to cross the Trident. As part of the feint, the northerners are chained, in ragged clothes and many fake injuries. Despite his displeasure with Vargo's assumed big catch, Amory falls for the trick and orders that the captives are brought to a dungeon, ignoring a protest by Robett that they have been promised honorable treatment by Vargo.
Before the Brave Companions can keep their side of the bargain of releasing the prisoners so that they can overpower the small force left to defend Harrenhal, Arya Stark, not realizing what is going on, organizes a successful liberation of the captives with the assistance of Jaqen H'ghar, Biter, and Rorge. The northmen and the Brave Companions, now joined by Biter and Rorge, then bring the castle under their control and the following evening Roose arrives to take his seat at Harrenhal. Vargo and Lord Bolton watch on as the Brave Companions parade a naked Amory through the yard and throw him into the bear pit.
The Brave Companions keep foraging for Lord Bolton with the additional assignment of rooting out Lannister forces they come across. Vargo splits up his group in four parties, the largest led by him, the others by his most trusted captains, so that they can visit as many villages as possible. In order to identify traitors, Vargo seizes people who had helped him while he was employed by Lord Tywin and confiscates the money they had received for their prior assistance. The Brave Companions often return to Harrenhal with bags full of silver.
Arya, serving incognito as the cupbearer Nan to Roose Bolton, finds out that he is going to eventually hand Harrenhal to Vargo and that she will stay behind when Roose leaves the castle. Arya flees from Harrenhal, taking Hot Pie and Gendry along.
Vargo Hoat, by acazigot
At least four Brave Companions are sent in pursuit of Arya Stark, but the sellswords are killed by a wolfpack.
In the aftermath of the Battle of the Blackwater, Vargo fears the vengeance of Lord Tywin Lannister and worries that Lord Roose Bolton will switch from House Stark to House Lannister.
After sending Jaime on to King's Landing in the company of Steelshanks Walton, Roose marches north to the Twins for the wedding of Lord Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.
Tywin intends to offer generous terms to rebels in the aftermath of the Red Wedding, with the exception of the Brave Companions.
At the Whispers, Timeon explains to Brienne of Tarth that Vargo's ear became infected, turning black and leaking pus. Urswyck and Rorge argued that the Brave Companions should leave Harrenhal, but Vargo, still believing he could be Lord of Harrenhal, ordered his men to defend it for him. Almost all Brave Companions abandoned their leader and dispersed, however, allowing Ser Gregor Clegane to easily capture the castle. Before leaving for King's Landing to fight at Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat for the death of King Joffrey I Baratheon, Gregor finished Vargo off.
When Ser Jaime Lannister returns to Harrenhal on his way to ending the siege of Riverrun, he commands that Vargo's head be shown to him. Although most of the flesh is gone and the lips, nose and ears have been sliced off, Jaime recognizes that it is Vargo's because of the distinctive goatee.
Kingthlayer ... You are my captifth
—Vargo to Jaime Lannister
Jaime: Lord Vargo, you were foolish to leave my father's service, but it is not too late to make amends. He will pay well for me, you know it.
Vargo: Oh yeth. Half the gold in Cathterly Rock, I thall have. But firth I mutht thend him a methage.—Jaime Lannister and Vargo
Thee'th worth a bag of thapphireth!
—Vargo to Rorge, Shagwell, and Zollo regarding Brienne of Tarth
How many monsters does Lord Tywin have?
—thoughts of Arya Stark
Shagwell: If Lord Bolton's goat eats the men who fed Lord Lannister's goat, how many goats are there?
Arya: One.
Shagwell: Now there's a weasel clever as a goat!—Shagwell and Arya Stark
I ought to write Robb Stark a stern letter. I understand his man Bolton is stabling goats in my high hall, it's really quite unconscionable.
—Petyr Baelish to the small council
He will be pleased to see you, I have no doubt, but I would not call him a goat to his face. Lord Vargo grows prickly about his dignity.
Roose: Do you know why Hoat cut off your hand?
Jaime: He enjoys cutting off hands. He enjoys cutting off feet as well. He doesn't seem to need a reason.
Roose: Nonetheless, he had one. Hoat is more cunning than he appears. No man commands a company such as the Brave Companions for long unless he has some wits about him.
Roose: After a war there is always a peace, and with peace there are pardons ... for the Robb Starks, at least. Not for the likes of Vargo Hoat. Both sides have made use of him, but neither will shed a tear at his passing. The Brave Companions did not fight in the Battle of the Blackwater, yet they died there all the same.
Brienne: You'll forgive me if I don't mourn?
Roose: You have no pity for our wretched doomed goat?
The goat is Lord of Harrenhal, and the Lord of Harrenhal does not haggle.
Varly is a guard sworn to House Stark.
Varly accompanies Lord Eddard Stark to King's Landing when Eddard is named Hand of the King.
Varlys and Jacks make up the escort for Eddard Stark when he visits the armorer Tobho Mott and discovers Gendry, one of King Robert I Baratheon's bastard children.
Varly's throat is slashed by Janos Slynt when Eddard is arrested.
Lord Varys, also known as "the Spider", is the master of whisperers on the small council of King Robert I Baratheon,
See also: Images of Varys
Varys is a plump, bald, and effeminate eunuch. He has soft white hands. He powders his face and smells of lavender, lilacs, and rosewater.
When at court, Varys wears rich silks, velvets, and damasks and soft slippers.
Secrets are Varys's trade, and his skill at acquiring them has earned him a reputation for being seemingly omniscient. Crucial to his trade is a spy network of children that he refers to as his little mice (in Pentos)
Varys's history of providing information to all sides, of aiding enemies, of pitting rivals against one another, and of manipulation to achieve his ends has earned him a reputation of being distasteful and untrustworthy among the nobles at court.
Lord Varys is not a true lord, having received the title as a courtesy for being a member of the small council. and gathering information on all that happens in the realm.
In Pentos, young Varys befriended a poor sellsword named Illyrio Mopatis - by Pojypojy ©
According to Grand Maester Pycelle, Varys was born as a slave in Lys.
Impoverished and despised in Pentos, Varys made an agreement with a poor sellsword, Illyrio Mopatis. Varys would steal objects from lesser thieves and Illyrio would get the objects back for their original owners for a small fee. Soon, everyone in Pentos who ever had valuables stolen from them knew who to ask to get their belongings back. Varys and Illyrio quickly grew rich. Realizing the value of information, Varys began training his spy network to acquire the information, letters, ledgers and charts of the wealthy and powerful. The little mice were agile orphans purchased by Varys.
Varys and the Iron Throne - by Mike Capprotti ©
These secrets increased Varys and Illyrio's wealth tenfold, and in time Varys became so infamous that word of his talents reached the ears of the Westerosi King Aerys II Targaryen across the narrow sea. In his growing paranoia, Aerys no longer trusted his son, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, his wife, Queen Rhaella Targaryen, or his Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister.
Following Rhaegar's defeat during the Battle of the Trident at the end of Robert's Rebellion, Varys counseled Aerys II Targaryen against opening the city gates
Varys whispers to Lord Eddard Stark © Mike Capprotti
One of Varys's spies, Ser Jorah Mormont, sends word from Essos that the exiled Princess Daenerys Targaryen has wed Khal Drogo. Varys sends a rider to inform King Robert I Baratheon, who is returning from Winterfell with his new Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark.
After the Hand's tourney, Varys disguises himself and comes to meet Eddard at his chambers. He warns Eddard that Queen Cersei Lannister is trying to kill King Robert. He sttes that his goal is peace and stability and professes to assist Lord Eddard in his investigations against House Lannister. Varys also reveals that the former hand, Lord Jon Arryn, was poisoned with the tears of Lys.
A disguised Varys meets Illyrio Mopatis to delay a war between Houses Stark and Lannister until the right time.
When King Robert is wounded while hunting in the kingswood, Eddard orders Varys to halt the attempts on Daenerys's life.
Varys and Petyr Baelish - by Eeba-ism ©
After Robert dies, Varys remains master of whisperers for the new king Joffrey I Baratheon. When Joffrey demands that someone take the blame for his father's death, Varys suggests Ser Barristan Selmy.
After Eddard is imprisoned, Varys visits him disguised as a gaoler. Varys persuades Ned that for the sake of his daughter, Sansa Stark, he must falsely confess to treason so Cersei will allow him to take the black, thus delaying a war between Stark and Lannister.
Varys gathering intelligence. © FFG
Tyrion Lannister acts as Hand of the King while his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, is on campaign during the War of the Five Kings. Varys helps Tyrion hide his lover, Shae, in King's Landing.
An uneasy alliance forms between Varys and Tyrion, with the master of whisperers providing the Hand with information. Varys assists Tyrion in gaining control of the City Watch of King's Landing and informs him that Ser Lancel Lannister was sleeping with his cousin, Queen Cersei.
Varys assists Tyrion in protecting Shae, setting a up a secret route through which he can visit her and keep her true identity secret from Tyrion's sister, Cersei.
Varys ushering someone into one of his clandestine entrances. © MarcSimonetti
After Tyrion Lannister's recovers from the Battle of the Blackwater, he resumes his alliance with Varys, which includes assistance in continuing Tyrion's trysts with Shae.
Tyrion is put on trial for the murder of King Joffrey I Baratheon at his royal wedding. Varys testifies against Tyrion, providing notes on conversations between the two and a great deal of seemingly-damning evidence.
After Tyrion is condemned to die, Varys is forced at swordpoint by Ser Jaime Lannister to release his brother, Tyrion. During the trip through the secret tunnels beneath the Red Keep, Varys leads Tyrion past a ladder that the dwarf recognizes as leading to the chamber of the Hand of the King. Tyrion ascends the ladder to kill his father, Tywin.
During the siege of Meereen, Ser Barristan Selmy reveals to Queen Daenerys Targaryen's horror that Ser Jorah Mormont has been spying on her on behalf of Varys and the small council for gold and in hopes of gaining a royal pardon. Barristan tells her that she is watched and since the day of her wedding to Khal Drogo there has been an informer at her side.
The Spider - by Amok ©
After Varys's part in Tyrion's escape and Tywin's murder, he vanishes without a trace. A dungeon turnkey named Rugen disappears as well.
Cersei, now ruling in King's Landing as Queen Regent to her son, King Tommen I Baratheon, appoints Qyburn to fill the position of master of whisperers. Qyburn notes that many of Varys's spies came to him with secrets to sell, reinforcing Cersei's belief that Varys had always oversold his value.
Varys has Tyrion Lannister smuggled across the narrow sea to Pentos, where Tyrion meets Varys's old friend, Magister Illyrio Mopatis.
Varys employs the secret passages of the Red Keep to enter the chambers of Grand Maester Pycelle and kill him. He then dispatches one of his little birds to fetch Ser Kevan Lannister, now Lord Regent after Cersei's disgrace, under the pretext that the Grand Maester has a message for him. Varys shoots Kevan with a crossbow, going on to apologize and note that his actions are not out of malice but rather because Kevan's competent leadership threatens to undo Cersei's follies and years of Varys's careful planning. Kevan's death will sow further dissent between the Lannisters and Tyrells, making the realm easy prey for Aegon to arrive and be proclaimed king, for the good of the realm. Varys then summons several of his little birds to end Kevan's suffering.
Varys employs the use of various disguises to go about unnoticed. These include:
As a stout man in a heavy brown robe in roughspun, with cracked, mud-caked boots smelling of sweat. His face is hidden by a cowl, and his hands are drawn up into voluminous sleeves. At first he speaks in a strange low voice. Eddard Stark notices Varys's usual cloying tones are gone and his voice is a thin and sharp as a whip.
As a begging brother in filthy patched robes, bare feet crusty with dirt, a bowl about his neck on a leather thong where a septon would have worn a crystal. He stinks and his mouth is full of rotted teeth.
As a plump, soft, matronly woman with a round pin moon of a face and heavy dark curls. Tyrion Lannister briefly thinks it is Lollys Stokeworth.
As Rugen, a dungeon turnkey.
A eunuch has no honor, and a spider does not enjoy the luxury of scruples, my lord.
– Varys to Eddard Stark
Eddard: Tell me, Lord Varys, who do you truly serve?
Varys: Why, the realm, my good lord, how ever could you doubt that? I swear it by my lost manhood. I serve the realm, and the realm needs peace.
– Eddard Stark and Varys
Why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones?
– Varys to Eddard Stark
The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling.
– Varys to Tyrion Lannister
Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less.
– Varys to Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion: Lord Varys, sometimes I feel as though you are the best friend I have in King's Landing, and sometimes I feel you are my worst enemy.
Varys: How odd. I think quite the same of you.
- Tyrion Lannister and Varys
Secrets are worth more than silver or sapphires.
– Varys to Illyrio Mopatis
Ser Kevan. Forgive me if you can. I bear you no ill will. This was not done from malice. It was for the realm. For the children ... There are many like you, good men in service to bad causes ...
– Varys to Kevan Lannister
He smelled as foul and sweet as flowers on a grave.
– Eddard Stark's thoughts
Lord Varys knows all.
- Petyr Baelish to Catelyn Stark
The title was but a courtesy due him as a council member; Varys was lord of nothing but the spiderweb, the master of none but his whisperers.
- thoughts of Catelyn Stark
But Varys has ways of learning things that no man could know. He has some dark art, Ned, I swear it.
– Catelyn Stark to Eddard Stark
The Lord Varys was born a slave in Lys, did you know? Put not your trust in spiders, my lord.
- Pycelle to Eddard Stark
Lord Varys, sometimes I feel as though you are the best friend I have in King's Landing and sometimes I feel you are my worst enemy.
– Tyrion Lannister to Varys
Birds are lost, messages stolen or sold ... there are things I might tell you of that eunuch that would chill your blood ...
– Pycelle to Tyrion Lannister
Shae: It's still him. Only dressed different.
Tyrion: A different look, a different smell, a different way of walking. Most men would be deceived.
Shae: And most women, maybe. But not whores.
- Shae and Tyrion Lannister
You think you're the only one he whispers secrets to? He gives each of us just enough to convince us that we'd be helpless without him.
– Cersei Lannister to Tyrion Lannister
Ser Barristan once told me the rot in King Aerys's reign began with Varys. The eunuch should never have been pardoned.
– Stannis Baratheon to Davos Seaworth
Vayon Poole is the steward of Winterfell under Lord Eddard Stark.
In Winterfell, Lord Eddard Stark used to reserve one place at his table so that each day he could invite a different servant to join him during the meal. When Vayon was sitting with him, the talk would usually be about money, stores and servants.
After Robert I comes north to name Eddard Stark the new Hand of the King, Vayon accompanies his liege lord south to King's Landing to set up his household. The position of steward at Winterfell is originally not filled again, because Lady Catelyn's thoughts are with Bran. After Maester Luwin urges action in this regard and concerning other matters, Robb assumes responsibility for this.
Vayon informs Lord Eddard that his daughter Arya has been found by Jory Cassel after a four-day search following her direwolf Nymeria hurting Prince Joffrey. When Vayon tells him that Arya has been brought directly to the king, Lord Eddard curses Queen Cersei and orders Vayon to find Sansa and bring her to the audience chamber as well.
The party arrives in King's Landing and Lord Eddard is immediately called to a meeting of the small council. He tells Vayon to bring Arya and Sansa to their new chambers in the Tower of the Hand.
When Arya arrives at the gate of the Red Keep after she found herself lost outside of it and the guards don't believe her that she is the Hand's daughter, she asks them to call Vayon Poole or Jory Cassel to identify her.
Lord Eddard tells Vayon to make all preparations for leaving for Winterfell after he has resigned as Hand. When Vayon informs him that it will take two weeks, Lord Eddard tells him that they don't have that much time. Lord Eddard decides that he and his daughters should go ahead and that Vayon and the others should follow them when all arrangements have been made. He warns Vayon not to talk about this with anyone other than Jory Cassel. He later orders Vayon to go to the docks and find him a ship passage.
Vayon is tending to Lord Eddard when he wakes up following his injury in a confrontation with Ser Jaime Lannister and his men. He tells Lord Eddard that he has been out for six days and that King Robert has left orders to call on him the moment Ned wakes up. He later guides King Robert and Queen Cersei to Ned's sickbed.
While King Robert is on the hunting trip on which he will be fatally wounded, Lord Eddard makes arrangements to send his daughters home on a ship before he confronts Robert about the illegitimacy of his children. On behalf of Lord Eddard, Vayon books a passage for Sansa and Arya on the *Wind Witch*, a ship that has arrived from Braavos.
Sansa is locked in with Jeyne Poole and the two have no direct information about what has been going on. Jeyne does nothing but cry for her father and Sansa tries to assure her that her father is well, assuming that nobody would want to harm an unarmed steward. When Sansa is summoned to the small council and inquires about Vayon, she receives no direct answer, but Queen Cersei commands that Jeyne be separated from Sansa and that Petyr Baelish should find new accomodations for the steward's daughter.
During the harvest feast at Winterfell, Bran Stark muses about how many new faces can be seen at the feast this year, filling the positions of those of the Stark household who went south with Lord Eddard Stark and died eventually. Bran recounts how even unarmed people like Vayon Poole and Septa Mordane have been killed.
Veil of tears can be an expressive way of referring to the living world. For example, in Westeros saying that someone has “passed from this veil of tears” means that that person has died.
Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Realm's Delight and Half-Year Queen, passed from this veil of tears upon the twenty-second day of tenth moon of the 130th year after Aegon's Conquest.
- Archmaester Gyldayn
The Veiled Lady is a courtesan in Braavos. She is beautiful though none but her lovers see her face. She has her own barge and servants to pole her to trysts.
Velos is a ruined city on the Isle of Cedars. It sits on the southern tip of the Isle of Cedars facing the Gulf of Grief.
It is said on the day of the Doom a wall of water 300 feet high descended on Velos, drowning hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children. None were left to tell the tale but some fisherfolk who had been at sea and a handful of Velosi spearmen posted in a stout stone tower on the island's highest hill, who had seen the hills and valleys beneath them turn into a raging sea. Fair Velos with its places of cedar and pink marble vanished in a heartbeat. On the north end of the Isle of Cedars, the ancient brick walls and steeped pyramids of the slaver port of Ghozai suffered the same fate.
Velvet Hills
Western Essos and the location of the Velvet Hills
The Velvet Hills are a series of low hills in Andalos in western Essos. They lie to the east of Pentos. The headwaters of the Little Rhoyne are found among the hills.
Illyrio Mopatis and Tyrion Lannister pass through the Velvet Hills on their way to Ghoyan Drohe.
Half the whores in Lannisport have breasts bigger than these hills. You ought to call them the Velvet Teats.
Vermax was a male dragon ridden by Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.
Vermax was thriving and growing larger every year.
When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon was young, there were rumours that he was a bastard, fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, instead of his mother Rhaenyra Targaryen's husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon. The rumours were spread by Queen Alicent Hightower and her followers at court. Those who doubted the paternity of Jacaerys and his brothers also doubted that the dragon eggs the boys had been given would ever hatch, but they were quickly disappointed, as each of the eggs soon hatched in turn. The hatchling that bonded with Prince Jacaerys was Vermax.
By the time the Dance of the Dragons began, Vermax was big enough to ride. Prince Jacaerys flew north on his back, as a messenger for his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, to treat with Lady Jeyne Arryn, Lord Manderly, and Lord Cregan Stark. The mission was a success.
Prince Jacaerys used Vermax in battle, during the Battle in the Gullet. There, Vermax attacked a fleet, but he flew too low and went crashing down into the sea. Differing tales are told of how and why the dragon fell. Jacaerys also perished.
The Vermillion Kiss is an ornate ship belonging to Xaro Xhoan Daxos.
Daenerys Targaryen spots the Vermillion Kiss unloading incense, saffron and pepper at the quay in Qarth.
Vermithor, called the Bronze Fury, was a male dragon once ridden by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
Vermithor was a bronze dragon with "great tan wings".
Vermithor was a fearsome beast.
Vermithor had accepted Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen as his rider by 48 AC, when Jaehaerys made his claim for the Iron Throne.
Vermithor became riderless when Jaehaerys died in 103 AC. Throughout the reign of Jaehaerys's successor, King Viserys I Targaryen, Vermithor had no new rider.
At some point, Vermithor and Silverwing became a mated pair. During the Dance of the Dragons, Vermithor and Silverwing were said to often coil about one another in the fields.
In 129 AC, after the start of the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon decided that his mother's faction needed more dragonriders. Many men attempted to claim a dragon of their own; Lord Gormon Massey attempted to approach Vermithor, who burned him to death. Eventually, Vermithor bent his neck to a blacksmith’s bastard called Hugh Hammer.}}
When King's Landing fell to Rhaenyra Targaryen's supporters, Hugh landed Vermithor upon the Hill of Rhaenys, outside of the Dragonpit. In the Dragonpit, Vermithor made a lair before flying off to battle. Hugh rode Vermithor into battle during the first battle at Tumbleton. Hugh and fellow dragonseed Ulf the White, who had claimed Silverwing, changed their allegiance, betraying Rhaenyra in favor of Aegon II Targaryen. Vermithor, Silverwing and Tessarion, the dragon of Aegon II's brother Prince Daeron, let loose their flames upon Tumbleton, which was savagely sacked.
As the Hightower host remained at Tumbleton, so did Hugh with Vermithor. With Aegon II missing and Prince Aemond Targaryen dead, Hugh Hammer decided to fulfill his wish for the crown and declared himself king, as he was the rider of the oldest and largest living dragon.
While Vermithor was only twenty feet above the field, Seasmoke slammed into him from above. The two dragons rolled over the field, so entangled that neither was able to break free. According to Lord Benjicot Blackwood, Seasmoke was no match for Vermithor on account of the older dragon's size and weight. Lord Blackwood believed that Vermithor would have torn Seasmoke into pieces if Tessarion had not entered the fight. The three dragons fought to the death. Vermithor killed Seasmoke when he locked his teeth into the latter's neck and ripped his head off. He attempted to take flight with his prize still in his jaws but his wings were tattered, causing him to be unable to bear the weight. After a moment he collapsed and died.
It is said that after dark Silverwing, who had fled into the sky when the battle began, descended to land beside the slain dragons. Later, the singers would tell of how she tried to lift Vermithor’s wing three times with her nose, as if to try and make him fly again. According to Archmaester Gyldayn this is most likely a fable.
Veron Greyjoy was a member of House Greyjoy and brother of "the Red Kraken", Lord Dalton Greyjoy.
When Dalton Greyjoy took Fair Isle and Faircastle, he claimed four daughters of Lord Farman as salt wives. A fifth daughter, whom Dalton considered "homely", was given to Veron.
For other uses, see Vhagar (disambiguation).
Vhagar was a dragon of House Targaryen. She was ridden by Queen Visenya Targaryen during Aegon's Conquest, alongside Aegon the Conqueror's Balerion and their sister Rhaenys's Meraxes.
Vhagar was named for one of the gods of Old Valyria.
See also: Images of Vhagar
The color of Vhagar's scales, horns, wings, wing bones, and spinal crest is unknown, as is the color of her flame.
According to Tyrion Lannister, Vhagar was large enough that one could ride a horse down her gullet.
By the time of the Dance of the Dragons, Vhagar was the hardened survivor of a hundred battles, had grown almost as large as Balerion, and was the oldest and largest of the dragons in Westeros. Her roar was so powerful that it could shake the very foundations of Storm's End. No living dragon could match her for size or ferocity.
Vhagar hatched from a dragon egg on Dragonstone during the Century of Blood.
At some point, Vhagar was claimed by Visenya Targaryen. Visenya first rode Vhagar, demonstrating she was a dragonrider, some time before she married her brother, Aegon.
Vhagar and her rider, Queen Visenya Targaryen.
By Silvaticus.
After Aegon landed on Westeros and began his conquest, Visenya flew Vhagar to Stokeworth, where crossbowmen loosed bolts until the dragon set the roofs of the castle keep ablaze.
Visenya then flew to Crackclaw Point with Vhagar, to accept many pledges of fealty from the local lords. She then flew Vhagar to Stoney Sept to link up with her siblings, their dragons, and Aegon's army. They advanced south, where all three dragons took part in the decisive Field of Fire – the only battle in which all three of the Targaryen dragons took to the sky at the same time during Aegon's Conquest. Together, Vhagar, Meraxes, and Balerion killed four thousand men, burning them alive. King Mern IX Gardener died, and with him House Gardener. The army was broken, and House Targaryen was victorious.
Visenya next flew Vhagar to the Trident in the riverlands, where she met with her brother and sister and their dragons, to face King in the North Torrhen Stark. Brandon Snow, the bastard brother of Torrhen, offered to sneak into the Targaryen camp at night to slay the dragons, but the northern king refused the attempt, and instead sent his brother as an envoy, eventually bending the knee to the Targaryens.
Afterwards, Visenya flew Vhagar back to the Vale, where she landed with her dragon in the inner courtyard of the Eyrie. When Dowager Queen Sharra Arryn reached the courtyard she found her young son, King Ronnel Arryn, sitting on Visenya's knee, staring with wonder at Vhagar. The young king begged his mother for a ride on Vhagar's back. Sharra bent her knee and surrendered, and Ronnel rode on Vhagar thrice about the summit of the Giant's Lance.
Following the deaths of Rhaenys and Meraxes in 10 AC at Hellholt in Dorne, Visenya and Aegon burned every Dornish stronghold at least once (except Sunspear and its shadow city) during a two-year period known as the Dragon's Wroth. The Dornish tell a tale that the Targaryens refused to attack Sunspear because they were afraid that Princess Meria Martell had purchased a device from Lys to slay Vhagar and Balerion, but Archmaester Timotty suggests the Targaryens intended to turn the other Dornish houses against the Martells.
When King Aegon I died in 37 AC, Vhagar supplied the flames to light the fire of his funeral pyre.
Later that year, when King Aenys arrived at Dragonstone, fleeing the first rebels in the Faith Militant uprising, Visenya asked him to grant her to leave to take Vhagar and burn the Starry Sept in Oldtown. Aenys refused. When the king died early in 42 AC, Visenya left Dragonstone within an hour of his death, and flew to Pentos, where her son Maegor lived in exile. After Maegor had claimed the crown on Dragonstone, Visenya accompanied him upon Vhagar and crossed Blackwater Bay to King's Landing. The return of both Vhagar and Balerion to King's Landing set off riots in the city.
Prior to Maegor's wedding to Tyanna of the Tower, Visenya flew upon Vhagar to Driftmark to convince Alyssa Velaryon to appear at the wedding.
In 43 AC,[N 1] Maegor and Visenya turned towards Oldtown, threatening to incinerate the Starry Sept in response to the High Septon's condemnation of his polygamous marriages. Only the mysterious death of the High Septon, which allowed Lord Martyn Hightower to open his gates before Balerion and Vhagar, saved the city from dragonflame.
Visenya died on Dragonstone in 44 AC, Vhagar became the last of the three Targaryen dragons who had fought in the Conquest.
Vhagar's next known rider was Lady Laena Velaryon, who had become a dragonrider before the age of twelve. According to the maester at Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon, Laena loved to fly. When Laena wed Prince Daemon Targaryen in 115 AC, they flew upon their dragons across the narrow sea to Pentos, Volantis, Qohor, and Norvos. Everywhere they went, huge crowds came to catch a glimpse of Vhagar and Caraxes, Daemon's dragon. After Laena gave birth in 116 AC, Daemon brought both his own dragon and Vhagar back to Westeros. Laena and Daemon grew close with Daemon's niece, Rhaenyra Targaryen, and the three often flew together upon their dragons, Vhagar, Caraxes, and Syrax.
Laena died early in 120 AC. It is said that Laena attempted to reach Vhagar in her final hour as to fly one last time, but she did not have the strength. Following Laena's funeral on Driftmark, the ten-year old prince Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar as his own dragon.
Main article: Dance of the Dragons
Aemond and Vhagar kill Lucerys and Arrax, illustrated by Chase Stone.
By 129 AC, Vhagar had grown nearly as big as Balerion had been during Aegon's Conquest, and had become the largest living dragon of her time.
Aemond would continue to fly Vhagar in battle during the civil war between King Aegon II and Queen Rhaenyra. During the battle at Rook's Rest, Vhagar and Aemond, and King Aegon and Sunfyre, ambushed the dragon Meleys and her rider Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. Meleys was an old and large dragon, and might have stood a chance against Vhagar alone, but died from the combined assault. Vhagar was the only dragon who left the battle reasonably unharmed.
The battle against Meleys left Aegon II severely injured, leaving him incapable of rule, and Prince Aemond was appointed regent. Aemond decided that the main threat in the war was Prince Daemon Targaryen, who was massing armies at Harrenhal. Aemond took Vhagar and most of the green forces from King's Landing north to attack Harrenhal, leaving King's Landing with very little defense. When Aemond and Vhagar arrived at Harrenhal, they found the castle undefended and empty, as Daemon had left some time before to attack King's Landing, after having lured Aemond and Vhagar away from the capital.
After the Fall of King's Landing, Prince Aemond and Hand of the King Criston Cole no longer agreed on how to proceed during the war. Aemond took Vhagar on a one-man war of revenge. They burned much of the riverlands, starting with every wooden structure in Harrenhal. Vhagar caused more destruction than an entire army, and severely harmed Rhaenyra's supporters in the riverlands - though Aemond's decision to abandon the army under Criston proved to a strategic blunder. Without Vhagar to protect them, Cole's army in the east was later surrounded and destroyed in the Butcher's Ball, leaving the east wide open to Rhaenyra's forces.
Aemond and Vhagar continued the destruction of the riverlands and they became the terror of the Trident. Daemon Targaryen, on his dragon Caraxes, and the dragonseed Nettles, on the dragon Sheepstealer, were sent to hunt Aemond. They were allowed to use Maidenpool as their base, as Lord Manfryd Mooton feared an attack from Vhagar, and found himself safer this way. Daemon and Nettles unsuccessfully searched together for Vhagar, who continued to terrorize the riverlands.
After the First Battle of Tumbleton, Daemon had word sent out that he and Caraxes would await Aemond and Vhagar at Harrenhal. On the fourteenth day of Daemon's vigil at Harrenhal, Vhagar appeared in the sky, carrying Aemond and his lover Alys Rivers. Aemond left Alys in the castle's yard, and both dragons and their riders launched into the air. All four were killed in the ensuing Battle Above the Gods Eye, when the dragons locked together, Caraxes's jaws closed around Vhagar's neck, Daemon leapt from his dragon to Vhagar to put Dark Sister through Aemond's eye, and the dragons crashed into the lake. Some years after the end of the Dance, Vhagar's body was recovered, with Aemond's armored bones still chained to the saddle. Vhagar was one hundred and eighty-one years old when she died, on the twenty-second day of the fifth moon of 130 AC.
Along with eighteen
In 299 AC, Daenerys Targaryen had the three ships sent to her by Illyrio Mopatis renamed Vhagar, Meraxes, and Balerion, to tell the world that the dragons had returned.
King Ronnel Arryn flew three circles around the summit of the Giant's Lance during Aegon's Conquest with Visenya on Vhagar's back.
Vhagar grows old, but her fires still burn hot.
The peril posed by Queen Visenya's mount could not be gainsaid.
That hoary old bitch.
Prince Aemond's mighty dragon Vhagar sensed his coming first. Guardsman walking the battlements of the castle's mighty curtain walls clutched their spears in sudden terror when she woke, with a roar that shook the very foundations of Durran's Defiance.
On the fourteenth day of the prince's vigil, a shadow swept over the castle, blacker than any passing cloud. All the birds of the godswood took to the air in fright, and a hot wind whipped the fallen leaves across the yard. Vhagar had come at last, and on her back rode the one-eyed prince Aemond Targaryen, clad in night-black armor chased with gold.
Vhagar's carcass plunged to the lake floor, the hot blood from the gaping wound in her neck bringing the water to a boil over her last resting place.
Vhagar, the greatest of the Targaryen dragons since the passing of Balerion the Black Dread, had counted one hundred eighty-one years upon the earth. Thus passed the last living creature from the days of Aegon's Conquest, as dusk and darkness swallowed Black Harren's accursed seat.
Vhagar was one of the many gods worshipped in Old Valyria.
Vhalaso was one of the ruling triarchs of the Free City of Volantis. He ordered the construction of the Long Bridge of Volantis, but did not live long enough to see it finished.
Vickon Botley is the fifth son of Lord Sawane Botley.
After the death of his father, his family line was dispossessed by Euron Greyjoy and the title and lands given to his uncle, Germund Botley.
Lord Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke was the first Lord of the Iron Islands after Aegon's Conquest.
Vickon Greyjoy was a famous captain who could trace his descent back to the Grey King. In 2 AC, King Aegon I Targaryen allowed the lords on the Iron Islands to choose their own lord paramount. They elected Vickon, the Lord Reaper of Pyke.
From the Seastone Chair, Vickon commanded that the practice of reaving be confined to distant waters, forbidding his men to reave the shores of the Seven Kingdoms. He also angered the priests of the Drowned God and many pious lords, when he allowed the septons and septas of the Faith of the Seven to return to the Iron Islands. Vickon paid them no heed, remaining his loyalty to King Aegon I. He counselled his son, Goren, that only a fool would rise against King Aegon and his dragons.
Vickon died in 33 AC and was succeeded by his son Goren.
Let them preach. We have need of winds to fill our sails.
– Lord Vickon, when told of the unrest among the followers of the Drowned God
Victaria Tyrell is the daughter of Ser Victor Tyrell and is a distant cousin of the main branch. She is the widow of Lord Jon Bulwer. They have one daughter, Alysanne.
Victarion Greyjoy is a member of House Greyjoy and is a younger brother of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. He is the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet,*.
See also: Images of Victarion Greyjoy
Victarion is a large and powerful man, with a bull's broad chest and a boy's flat stomach. His hair is flecked with grey.
Victarion is a capable commander and a fierce warrior in battle, but he has a calm demeanor outside of it, thinking of enemies who show bravery with great respect.
The Lord Captain's armor consists of boiled black leather, heavy grey chain mail, and lobstered plate, and his helm is in the shape of a kraken.
Victarion Greyjoy coming ashore leading his ironborn men - by Matt Olson ©
Victarion and his two eldest brothers, Balon and Euron, convinced their father Quellon, Lord of the Iron Islands, to join Robert's Rebellion, and they raided the Reach late in the war. After Quellon was killed in a battle at the Mander, however, the new Lord Balon returned to the Iron Islands with his younger brothers.
Victarion recognized the greatness of Balon and followed him loyally. He commanded the great fleet constructed by Balon, the Iron Fleet, during Greyjoy's Rebellion. During the rebellion, using a plan Euron had concocted, they sailed into Lannisport and burned the Lannister fleet at anchor..
Victarion has wed three times: his first wife died in childbirth, birthing a stillborn daughter; his second wife was stricken by a pox; his third wife was seduced and impregnated by his brother Euron, which drove Victarion to beat her to death to retain his honor. Only the taboo against kinslaying kept Victarion from doing the same to Euron. He has not married since, nor has he forgiven Euron, who was forced into exile by Balon in 297 AC.
In preparation for the invasion of the north planned by his brother, Balon Greyjoy, Victarion loans his steersman, Rymolf Stormdrunk, to his nephew, Theon Greyjoy. Victarion attends a feast at Pyke's Great Hall with his brothers, Balon and Aeron.
Robb Stark, the King in the North, is informed at Hag's Mire of Balon's death and the return of his exiled brother, Euron Crow's Eye. Robb thinks that Victarion will leave Moat Cailin to claim Balon's throne.
Victarion wears mail and leather day and night for protection from crannogmen. He leaves a token force to defend Moat Cailin under the command of Ralf Kenning and returns to the Iron Islands with his fleet to decide on the succession of the next iron king.
Victarion makes a claim to the Seastone Chair as Balon's brother and second-in-command. He refuses the offer of his niece, Asha Greyjoy, to share rule with him as king and her as his Hand.
Despite his hatred for Euron, Victarion's obedient and dutiful nature keeps him following his king's orders. Victarion leads the taking of the Shields, slaughtering unarmored sailors and winning a duel with Ser Talbert Serry, the son of Lord Osbert Serry, but his hand is wounded during the fight. After his victory, Victarion watches helplessly as Euron steals many of his trusted comrades away from him by giving them titles on the Shield Islands. Victarion also deplores the cruelty Euron displays toward the slain lords' women.
Apparently oblivious to Victarion's hatred, Euron summons Victarion to a private meeting in Lord Hewett's castle and asks him to find Daenerys Targaryen and deliver Euron's marriage proposal. The new king explains that Victarion will receive the Seastone Chair once Euron claims the Iron Throne. Victarion agrees, but secretly plans on courting Daenerys for himself.
Victarion in plate armor - by Amok ©
After the yielding of Moat Cailin, Ramsay Bolton executes the small garrison left behind by Victarion.
Victarion's Iron Fleet of over ninety ships splits into three squadrons and sets sail for Meereen. With him aboard Iron Victory is "the dusky woman", a gift of Euron's. She is comely but mute. On the journey, Victarion loses nearly half his ships, though he also gains some ships back by capturing and seizing several trading vessels and their cargo. Victarion's wounded hand continues to trouble him, and he suspects that Kerwin, the maester that Euron sent to accompany him, is poisoning him.
During the voyage, a red priest of R'hllor named Moqorro is discovered clinging to wreckage out at sea. The crew wants him killed, but Moqorro convinces Victarion to allow him to treat his wounded hand. Behind closed doors, Moqorro apparently uses magic on the lord captain; when Victarion emerges from his cabin, his hand is charred and blackened.
Moqorro, like Melisandre, can see the future in the flames, and uses the magic to aid Victarion in his quest. For instance, Victarion orders his crew to kill Kerwin, as Moqorro had a vision that the maester's death would bring the ship good winds.
Just as the second siege of Meereen resumes, Victarion and the Iron Fleet arrive in Meereen's bay.
Victarion fights Talbert Serry - by acazigot ©
Words are wind, and the only good wind is that which fills our sails.
—Victarion to his captains
When Balon was wed, it was me he sent to Harlaw to bring him back his bride. I led his longships into many a battle, and never lost but one. The first time Balon took a crown, it was me sailed into Lannisport to singe the lion's tail. The second time, it was me he sent to skin the Young Wolf should he come howling home. All you'll get from me is more of what you got from Balon.
—Victarion at the kingsmoot
A wolf is not a a kraken. What the kraken grasps it does not lose, be it longship or leviathan.
—Victarion to Asha Greyjoy
May he feast as he fought, in the Drowned God’s watery halls.
—Victarion's thoughts on Talbert Serry
Wizards may be well and good, but blood and steel win wars.
—Victarion to the dusky woman
There is no wine so sweet as wine taken from a foe. One day I shall drink your wine, Crow's Eye, and take from you all that you hold dear.
—Victarion's thoughts
I beat her to death with mine own hands, but the Crow's Eye killed her when he shoved himself inside her. I had no choice.
– Victarion's thoughts regarding his third wife
Euron: It is a fearsome thing to sail beyond Valyria.
Victarion: I could sail the Iron Fleet to hell if need be.—Euron Greyjoy and Victarion
The most beautiful woman in the world has urgent need of my axe.
—Victarion's thoughts on Daenerys Targaryen
Victarion Greyjoy - by Aurelien Hubert ©FFG
Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet, and a fearsome warrior. I have heard them sing of him in the alehouses.
—"Esgred" to Theon Greyjoy
Victarion is like some great grey bullock, strong and tireless and dutiful, but not like to win any races. No doubt he'll serve me as loyally as he has served my lord father. He has neither the wits nor the ambition to plot betrayal.
—Theon Greyjoy to "Esgred"
You ought to have no trouble catching our uncles. One is drunk on seawater, after all, and the other is a great grey bullock so dim he'll probably get lost.
The king must be Victarion, or the storm will slay us all.
—Aeron Greyjoy's thoughts
Victarion Greyjoy's third wife is thus far unnamed. Victarion has yet to mention her name when he thinks of her. He was not married to her for long, as he beat her to death. According to Victarion, she was a salt wife.. He is haunted by her memory.
At some point Victarion took a third wife. Shortly thereafter, Victarion’s new wife was seduced or raped by his brother Euron and she became pregnant with Euron’s child. Victarion beat her to death with his fists.
Years later, Victarion still thinks of her, the moment he confronted Euron and why he was motivated to kill his wife.
Had it been known, men would have laughed at me, as the Crow’s Eye laughed when I confronted him. "She came to me wet and willing," he had boasted. "It seems that Victarion is big everywhere but where it matters."
Their elder brother Lord Balon Greyjoy commanded them not to speak of it. Victarion would have killed Euron, too, but Balon would have no kinslaying in his hall. Balon sent Euron into exile, never to return while Balon lived. The day that Balon sent Euron off to sea, he reminded Victarion that the kinslayer is accursed in the eyes of gods and men. Afterwards, Balon refused to speak of her.
Victarion did not touch another woman after he gave his wife to the crabs until Euron returned and gave him the dusky woman.
Victarion leaves Moat Cailin and sails the Iron Fleet to Old Wyk for the kingsmoot. When his fleet arrives at Nagga's Cradle he sees the *Silence*. His hands close into fists and he thinks to himself that he had beaten four men to death with those fists, and one wife as well.
Hotho Harlaw offers Victarion his twelve-year-old daughter for a queen, describing the girl to Victarion. But when Victarion tries to picture her, he sees only the wife he had killed.
Prior to the kingsmoot, Asha Greyjoy talks with Victarion, reminding him that the "Crow’s Eye" killed Victarion's wife. Victarion responds:
He put a baby in her belly and made me do the killing. I would have killed him too, but Balon would have no kinslaying in his hall. He sent Euron into exile, never to return.
Later, in Lord Hewett's castle, Euron tells him that a king must have a wife and asks him, *"will you go to Slaver's Bay and bring my love to me?"* Victarion's thoughts turn to his third wife; *"I had a love once too"*. to bring her to him so he can wed her. Victarion agrees to go to Slaver's Bay and bring back the dragon woman. But thinks to himself, privately, for himself, not for Euron.
You stole my wife and despoiled her, so I’ll have yours.
In Slaver's Bay, Victarion stands at the prow of the *Iron Victory* watching Wulfe One-Ear's merchant ships vanish one by one into the west. He thinks that the Seastone Chair should have been his when Balon died, but his brother Euron had stolen it from him, just as he had stolen his wife many years before. He thinks to himself that Euron stole her and soiled her, but he left it for him to slay her.
"She gave me horns. I had no choice."
Ser Victor Tyrell was a knight of House Tyrell. He is a distant cousin of Lord Mace Tyrell. He had two children, Victaria and Ser Leo Tyrell.
Victor was slain by the Smiling Knight of the Kingswood Brotherhood.
Vigilance is a Valyrian steel longsword belonging to House Hightower.
Lord Ormund Hightower wielded the blade during the Dance of the Dragons fighting for king Aegon II. It is unknown what happened to Vigilance afterwards.
Vinetown is a town with a port that sits along the Redwyne Straits in the Arbor.
The town is conquered by the ironborn after the fall of the Shield Islands. The ironborn begin using it as one of their forward bases.
The Violande was a Bravosi merchantman during the Dance of the Dragons.
The Violande sailed Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her party to Dragonstone after she fled King’s Landing. Having no coin Rhaenyra was forced to sell her crown to pay for passage.
During the voyage strong winds pushed the Violande closer to the shores of Driftmark than the queen would have liked. It passed three times within hailing distance of Lord Corlys Velaryon's warships, but Rhaenyra took care to keep out of sight.
The Violande put to harbor below the Dragonmont on the eventide. The queen disembarked with her son, Prince Aegon the Younger, her ladies, and three Queensguard knights, Ser Harrold Darke, Ser Adrian Redfort, and Ser Loreth Lansdale. At the port she found a forty strong escort commanded by Ser Alfred Broome waiting for her, completing the fall of Dragonstone.
Violet was a widowed peasant woman.
Violet used to visit Riverrun in search of shoes that needed new soles. It has been many years since her last visit.
Visenya's Hill, illustrated by Franz Miklis © Fantasy Flight Games
Visenya's Hill is one of the three hills that lie within the city of King's Landing, the others being the Hill of Rhaenys and Aegon's High Hill. It is named after Visenya Targaryen, a sister-queen of King Aegon I Targaryen.
Atop Visenya's Hill lies the Great Sept of Baelor,
A grand sept was built on Visenya's Hill with funding from one of the High Septons during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen.
During the Faith Militant uprising, King Maegor I Targaryen raised the red dragon of House Targaryen atop Visenya's Hill to rally his supporters.
The child Gaemon Palehair, said to be a bastard of Aegon II Targaryen, was briefly acclaimed a king during the Dance of the Dragons and made his seat at the hill's House of Kisses.
Construction of the Great Sept began during the reign of Baelor I Targaryen.
As her walk of atonement, Cersei Lannister walks from the Great Sept of Baelor on Visenya's Hill to the Red Keep on Aegon's High Hill.
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Queen Visenya Targaryen was the older sister and wife of King Aegon I Targaryen, the first Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Her younger sister, Rhaenys, was married to Aegon as well. Visenya was a dragonrider, and rode the dragon Vhagar.
See also: Images of Visenya Targaryen
Like her siblings, Visenya possessed the classical Valyrian features: long, silver-gold hair, which she often braided or bound up in rings, and purple eyes.
Visenya was both a dragonrider and a warrior, comfortable in both silk and in ringmail.
Born on the island Dragonstone,
As expected, Visenya was wed to her brother Aegon following Valyrian custom. However, Aegon took their younger sister as a wife as well. People claimed that he had wed Visenya out of duty, and Rhaenys out of desire. Prior to her wedding, Visenya became a dragonrider, having bonded with the dragon Vhagar.
In her youth Visenya was reported to have visited the Citadel of Oldtown and Lord Redwyne of the Arbor together with her brother Aegon.
Visenya (left) with her brother Aegon I and younger sister Rhaenys.
Main article: Aegon's Conquest
When her brother Aegon began his conquest of the Seven Kingdoms, Visenya sailed with him from Dragonstone. Visenya subdued House Stokeworth and, following the defeat of House Darklyn in battle against Aegon and his bastard half-brother Orys Baratheon, did not hesitate to claim the riches of Duskendale, greatly swelling the coffers of House Targaryen. After having conquered a dozen houses, Aegon was crowned king. Visenya, now queen, placed a Valyrian steel circlet on Aegon's head while their sister Rhaenys hailed him as the new king of Westeros. Following the coronation, Visenya accompanied the Targaryen fleet to Gulltown and the Vale. When the Arryn fleet sunk a third of the Targaryen ships and captured many more, Visenya descended from the sky upon Vhagar, burning their ships.
Next, Visenya was sent to Crackclaw Point by Aegon. The local lords had learned of the faith that had befallen Harren Hoare at Harrenhal, and submitted quickly, swearing oaths of fealthy. Visenya took them as her own men, and from that day forth the lord owed their loyalty directly to the Iron Throne.
Visenya met Rhaenys, Aegon, and the Targaryen host at the Stoney Sept, from where they raced south. There, they met the combined hosts of the Reach and the westerlands in battle. Visenya and her siblings fought from dragonback, setting the dry grasses and stands of wheat on the battlefield afire. With more than four thousand men dead from the fire, and tens of thousands wounded by the flames, the battle became known as the Field of Fire. King Mern IX Gardener of the Reach died in battle and King Loren I Lannister of the westerlands fled, giving the Targaryens the victory.
Visenya had taken an arrow in the shoulder during the Field of Fire, but soon recovered. Following the surrender of King Loren, the three Targaryen siblings parted ways once more, but met soon again at the banks of the Trident, where they awaited the host of King Torrhen Stark. After Torrhen bent the knee, Visenya parted from her siblings and returned to the Vale, where House Arryn had strengthened their defenses. A strong host had been positioned at the Bloody Gate, and the garrisons of Stone, Snow, and Sky had been tripled. However, Visenya bypassed these hosts by flying up to the Eyrie upon Vhagar's back. She landed in the courtyard, where she was met by the boy-king Ronnel Arryn. Ronnel's regent and mother, Lady Sharra Arryn, surrendered the Eyrie to Visenya.
Visenya riding Vhagar into battle.
Main article: First Dornish War
Visenya fought alongside her siblings in the First Dornish War, which lasted from 4 AC to 13 AC. After Rhaenys died in Dorne in 10 AC, Visenya and Aegon, grief-stricken at her death, set every castle, keep, and holdfast in Dorne ablaze at least once, with the exception of Sunspear and it's shadow city. They also placed bounties on the heads of the Dornish lords. Although half a dozen and more of those lords were killed by assassins, only two of the killers lived to collect their reward. In retaliation, the Dornish lords hired catspaws themselves.
In 13 AC, Princess Deria Martell arrived in King's Landing in 13 AC with a delegation from Dorne to discuss a peace. With her, she brought the skull of Rhaenys's dragon, Meraxes, which was ill-received by Visenya.
The day-to-day governance of the realm was often left in the charge of Visenya and Rhaenys, and Aegon's councillors.
Rhaenys's death in Dorne in 10 AC shattered the health of her son Aenys, and people began to doubt as to whether he would live. As Visenya had not yet gotten pregnant by Aegon despite more than a decade of marriage, some had come to believe that she was barren, and even went as far as to suggest to Aegon that he should take a new wife. Although many young women were presented to Aegon, he refused to voice his opinion on the matter. In 11 AC, Visenya announced she was pregnant with a son, and the next year, she gave birth to Aegon's second son, Maegor
Queen Visenya, by Elia Fernandez.
In 23 AC, Aenys's first child, Princess Rhaena, was born.
Visenya's relationship with Aegon, which had never been a warm one, grew more distant. When Aegon in 35 AC had the Aegonfort torn down so they could start building the Red Keep, Visenya was left in charge of the construction. In his histories, Archmaester Gyldayn states that it was suggested at court that Aegon had left Visenya at King's Landing so that he would not have to endure her presence on Dragonstone.
When Aegon died, both Visenya and Maegor were present as his body was cremated and Aenys I Targaryen was crowned. Aenys gifted Maegor with Blackfyre saying he was more fit to wield it. Visenya Targaryen voiced the opinion that Aenys was unfit to rule, claiming that, by giving Blackfyre to Maegor, Aenys had admitted that he lacked the strength to rule.
In 39 AC, Visenya's son Maegor shocked the realm by taking a second wife and married Alys Harroway. Visenya officiated the wedding for lack of a septon. The outrage that followed resulted in Maegor being sent into exile.
When King Aenys abandoned King's Landing at the start of the Faith Militant uprising and fled to Dragonstone, Visenya counseled him to burn down the Starry Sept in Oldtown and the Sept of Remembrance in King's Landing. Aenys, incapable of making a firm decision, instead fell ill and chose not to heed her counsel. Visenya took over his care and for a time his health improved. Aenys suffered a collapse when he learned his son Aegon and daughter Rhaena were besieged in Crakehall, and he died three days later.
With Visenya's aid, Maegor claimed the Iron Throne. Visenya accompanied him to King's Landing, where she challenged anyone who denied Maegor's right to rule, which resulted in a trial of seven between Maegor and the Warrior's Sons. Though severely injured, Maegor was the only survivor.
In 42 AC, Visenya flew to Driftmark upon Vhagar to convince Aenys's widow, Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon, to leave her father's castle to where she had fled after her husband's death. At the royal court, it was said that Maegor's Hand of the King and council members enacted his will but did not have his ear - but instead, he was ruled by three queens: his mother Visenya, his paramour and second wife Alys Harroway, and his new third bride, the Pentoshi spymaster Tyanna of the Tower, a rumored sorceress. Visenya came to distrust Tyanna and a rivalry developed between them.
In 43 AC Visenya aided her son against those who refused his royal summons. Mounted upon her dragon Vhagar, she burned the seats of several houses in the riverlands, as once she had burned castles in Dorne: House Blanetree, Terrick, Deddings, Lychester, and Wayn.[N 1] Next Visenya and Maegor turned towards Oldtown, threatening to incinerate the Starry Sept in response to the High Septon's condemnation of her sons polygamous marriages. When the High Septon suddenly died, Lord Martyn Hightower opened the city's gates, saving Oldtown from the fire. Visenya watched as the new High Septon anointed her son as king.
After Maegors victory in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye, Visenya persuaded her son to spare the lives of several highborn rebels. After Prince Aegon's death, Visenya held Alyssa and her two youngest children, Jaehaerys and Alysanne, as her wards on Dragonstone.
By 44 AC - despite being healthy enough to ride her dragon to battle the year before - Visenya had grown thin and haggard, as the flesh had "melted" from her bones.
Visenya was cremated as per Targaryen custom. Her bones and ashes were interred beside those of her brother, King Aegon I Targaryen.
After Visenya's death, it was suggested that she had caused Aenys's sudden death, causing some to call her a kinslayer and kingslayer.
Your guards are slow and lazy.
– Visenya to her brother and husband, Aegon I Targaryen, after cutting his cheek to prove a point
For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.
Princess Visenya Targaryen was the daughter of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen labored for three days on Dragonstone. One month premature, Visenya was a stillborn. The labour had begun when Princess Rhaenyra heard the news from King's Landing, that her father, King Viserys I Targaryen, had died, and that her half-brother, Prince Aegon, had claimed the throne and had been crowned King, despite Rhaenyra having been Viserys' heir.
According to Mushroom, Princess Rhaenyra had cursed Visenya while giving birth, calling her a monster. Mushroom also claims that Visenya had dragon-like birth defects. He described her as having been twisted and malformed, with a hole in her chest where her heart should have been and a stubby, scaled tail.
Mushroom also claims that it had been him who brought Visenya to the yard of Dragonstone for burning.
Monster, monster, get out, get out, GET OUT!
— Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen