House Sparr of Great Wyk is an ironborn noble house on the island of Great Wyk in the Iron Islands. Their lands are about six leagues from Hammerhorn. House Sparr's lord is known as the Sparr.
According to semi-canon sources House Sparr blazon their arms with oak saltire on blue.
The Sparrs are among the bannermen of Balon Greyjoy that Theon Greyjoy sees in the halls of Pyke preparing for war.
The Sparr and his son, Steffarion, bring news of the death of King Balon to his brother, Aeron Greyjoy.
Rodrik Sparr presents the wizard Moqorro to Victarion Greyjoy.
The known Sparrs during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Spicer is a minor noble house of the westerlands. They blazon their arms with three black pepperpots on a saffron bend, across a field of green and silver stripes.
House Spicer is a newer house founded by a petty lord, a wealthy merchant elevated by Lord Tytos Lannister.
House Spicer's wealth led the founder's daughter, Sybell Spicer,
After Ser Jaime Lannister escapes from Riverrun, Ser Samwell Spicer is among the men sent by Lord Tywin Lannister to discreetly search for the Kingslayer.
Ser Rolph Spicer serves as castellan of the Crag, where his sister, Sybell Spicer, is lady of the castle. With Sybell's husband, Lord Gawen Westerling, a captive at Seagard,
Rolph accompanies Sybell and her children when they travel with Robb to Riverrun. Catelyn Stark is distrustful of Rolph because Grey Wind behaves aggressively towards him.
Robb is betrayed and killed by Houses Frey and Bolton at the Red Wedding.
After the siege of Riverrun, Sybell is upset when Jaime informs her that Tywin intended for her son, Ser Raynald Westerling, to marry a bastard, Joy Hill. Sybell reveals that per her arrangement with Tywin, she took measures to prevent Jeyne from becoming pregnant with Robb's child.
The known Spicers during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
Tyrion: Could the Westerlings and Spicers be such great fools as to believe the wolf can defeat the lion?
Tywin: The greatest fools are ofttimes more clever than the men who laugh at them.
House Stackhouse is a noble house from the Reach. Their lands border those of House Webber.
Lord Stackhouse coveted the Horseshoe Hills that belonged to House Webber.
The known Stackhouses during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Stackspear is a noble house of the westerlands sworn to Casterly Rock.
Neither their arms or their motto appear in the books. They blazon their arms with two crossed black spears on checkered silver and gold.
According to a semi-canon source,.
Ser Alyn Stackspear is with Lord Tywin Lannister's army at Harrenhal, and Arya Stark hears rumours that he might be responsible for the gaoler's wife being with child.
A banner of House Stackspear is among those gathered to escort the corpse of Tywin back to Casterly Rock. Ser Jaime Lannister spots Alyn riding at a quintain in the yard of the Red Keep after the funeral procession departs.
The known Stackspears during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Staedmon of Broad Arch is one of the noble houses from the Stormlands sworn to the Baratheons of Storm's End. Their castle is Broad Arch.
Neither their arms or their motto appear in the books. In a semi-canon source they blazon the arms as a black dagger piercing a red heart on white de sang within an undulating red border.
Presumably the Staedmons declare first for Renly Baratheon, then for Stannis Baratheon. Lord Alesander Staedmon is one of the prisoners captured in the Battle of the Blackwater who are brought to King Joffrey Baratheon for judgment. He swears fealty to Joffrey.
The known Staedmons during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Stane of Driftwood Hall is a noble house from Driftwood Hall on the isle of Skagos in the north. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with a driftwood tree, bare and brown, on pale green.
In the *Annals of the Black Centaur* by Septon Jorquen, a Stane rose to the position of First Ranger of the Night's Watch, but died shortly thereafter.
The known Stanes during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Stark of Winterfell is one of the Great Houses of Westeros and the principal noble house of the north. In days of old they ruled as Kings of Winter, but since Aegon's Conquest they have been Wardens of the North and ruled as Lords of Winterfell. Their seat, Winterfell, is an ancient castle renowned for its strength.
Their sigil is a grey direwolf racing across a field of white. Their words are "Winter is Coming", one of only a few house mottoes to be a warning rather than a boast.* are members of House Stark.
Aside from the Karstarks of Karhold, the Starks of Winterfell may have other, distant relatives in the north. White Harbor and Barrowton are considered to be likely options.
The Starks have a reputation for long faces,
In the current generation of Starks, several members (e.g., Arya and Bran Stark and Jon Snow) have the ability to enter the minds of their direwolf pets as wargs, giving them the ability to experience the senses of their direwolves
House Stark traditionally buries deceased members of their family in the crypts below Winterfell.
House Stark traditionally follows the old gods.
The Starks have traditionally been friends of the Night's Watch.
Stark cavalry, Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games
The Starks are an ancient house of First Men descent.
The ancient Starks gradually defeated rival kings, such as the Barrow Kings to their south and the Red Kings to their east.
When Andals attempted to conquer the north, King Theon Stark made common cause with House Bolton and defeated Argos Sevenstar in the Battle of the Weeping Water, after which he raised a fleet and sailed to Andalos. There he took revenge by sacking and putting hundreds to death. He later conquered the Three Sisters, and battled against the ironborn, driving them away from Cape Kraken and Bear Island and slaying Ravos Hoare. Both places were later taken back by King Loron Greyjoy, and King Rodrik Stark took Bear Island back after Loron's death. It is said that he did so by winning a wrestling match, though some scholars doubt the truth of this tale.
House Stark attempted to conquer the Three Sisters, which began a conflict between the Starks and House Arryn from the Vale. In response to the Rape of the Three Sisters, the Sistermen asked for help from Mathos II Arryn, King of Mountain and Vale. This conflict, the War Across the Water, lasted for a thousand years, during which time the Starks thrice landed on the Fingers.
Several centuries before Aegon's Conquest,[N 1] House Manderly was driven into exile from the Mander by Lord Lorimar Peake during the reign of Perceon III Gardener, King of the Reach.
Possibly around 700 BC,[N 2] Karlon Stark, a younger son of Winterfell, helped crush a rebel lord. As a reward, he was granted lands on which he built a keep named Karl's Hold. Over time, the keep became known as Karhold and Karlon's descendants became House Karstark.
King Brandon the Shipwright attempted to sail across the Sunset Sea, but never returned back home. His son, also named Brandon, burned the northern fleet in his grief.
The Starks helped repel several major wildling invasions, such as when they and their Umber bannermen defeated the brother Kings-Beyond-the-Wall Gendel and Gorne three thousand years ago.
Stark loyalist, by Katherine Dinger © Fantasy Flight Games
During Aegon's Conquest, King Torrhen Stark raised thirty thousand northmen and marched south. With the burning of Harrenhal and the Field of Fire in mind, however, Torrhen submitted without battle to Aegon I Targaryen. but it is unknown whether a rebellion took place.
During the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Lord Stark[N 3] donated land, which was renamed the New Gift, to the Night's Watch. While in current times it is said that Lord Stark was glad to do so, he in truth had been forced to do so by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne. Lord Stark's brother sent letters to the Citadel, asking for precedents against forced donation of property. As such, it was said at the time that the Starks were bitter about having been forced to part with the land, and Maester Yandel believes that this might have been the reason why Lord Ellard Stark supported the claim of Laenor Velaryon over the claim of Prince Viserys Targaryen during the Great Council of 101 AC.
In 129 AC, as the Dance of the Dragons began, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon recruited Lord Cregan Stark's aid for his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, known as the Pact of Ice and Fire,
Cregan's heir, Rickon, fought in the conquest of Dorne during the reign of King Daeron I Targaryen. He died during one of the final battles outside of Sunspear.
In 226 AC, Raymun Redbeard, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, led a wildling invasion. Lord Willam Stark of Winterfell and Lord Harmond Umber of Last Hearth met the wildling host in battle on the shores of Long Lake. Although Willam was killed by Raymun, his younger brother, Artos, avenged him by slaying the King-Beyond-the-Wall.
Eddard Stark by John Picacio ©
Lord Rickard Stark, urged on by his maester, Walys, allegedly sought to further southron alliances.
In 282 AC, Brandon Stark was at Riverrun when the date of his wedding to Catelyn Tully was announced. Petyr Baelish, Lord Hoster's ward, had been in love with Catelyn for years, and challenged Brandon to a duel for Catelyn's hand. Brandon won.
Eddard travelled made an arduous journey through the Vale of Arryn and the Bite to call his banners in the north..
Ned arrived at the capital after the Sack of King's Landing by Lord Tywin Lannister, however, and Lord Stark found Aerys II dead and Ser Jaime Lannister sitting on the Iron Throne.
Eddard returned from the war with his bastard son, Jon Snow,
Rickon, Bran, Arya, Sansa, Jon, and Robb, by enife ©
Following the death of his Hand of the King, Lord Jon Arryn, King Robert I Baratheon journeys to Winterfell to offer Lord Eddard Stark the office.
Near the ruby ford and the crossroads, Arya defends her friend Mycah from the aggressions of Prince Joffrey Baratheon, upsetting Sansa.
In King's Landing, Eddard is outraged to find that the crown is heavily in debt (largely to Robert's goodfather, Lord Tywin Lannister) and that the king intends to throw a lavish tourney in his honor.
Ned investigates the death of Jon Arryn, determining that he was looking into the king's bastard brood. When Robert holds a small council meeting to arrange the death of the exiled Daenerys Targaryen, who has wed Drogo, a mighty *khal* of the Dothraki, Ned refuses to condone the assassination and resigns as Hand.
On the Wall, Jon Snow deals with the cruel tutelage of Ser Alliser Thorne while making friends such as Samwell Tarly and learning lessons from his elders.
Eventually, Ned arrives at the same conclusion at which Jon Arryn did: that Queen Cersei's children are not Robert's, but bastards born of incest between the Lannister twins, and determines that it is this secret for which Jon was murdered. He approaches Cersei with this truth, warning her to flee the city.
Robb Stark, upon hearing this news, calls the banners of Winterfell and marches south to rescue his father and sisters.
Ned initially refuses to name Joffrey as the true king, but in the end agrees in order to ensure the safety of Sansa.
Benjen has gone missing beyond the Wall, and Jon Snow, after briefly deserting the Watch to join his half-brother's army, rides as part of the great ranging meant to determine his fate and the threats of the Others and wildlings.
Robb Stark invades the westerlands, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games
Robb, King in the North and King of the Trident, invades the westerlands, winning a string of victories against Lannister bannermen.
Arya journeys north with Yoren and his new recruits for the Night's Watch, including King Robert's bastard Gendry,
At Winterfell, Bran enjoys titular reign and hosts two Frey wards, Big Walder and Little Walder.
Benjen remains lost beyond the Wall. Jon Snow joins Qhorin Halfhand on a scouting mission in the Skirling Pass, during which he refuses an order to execute a spearwife named Ygritte.
The Freys murder Robb Stark and sew his wolf's head on his body, by Zippo514 ©)
With Stannis Baratheon's power broken by the Battle of the Blackwater and the Tyrells and Martells allied with the Lannisters, the Stark-Tully forces stand alone against their foes in the south, and the Greyjoys threaten the north.
Having been informed of Bran's and Rickon's alleged deaths, Catelyn frees Jaime Lannister in a desperate attempt to trade him for her daughters, sending Brienne to accompany him to King's Landing. Catelyn is put under house arrest at Riverrun.
Lord Walder Frey accepts Robb's offer to forgive his breach of marriage contract by having Robb's uncle, Edmure Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Trident, stand in the king's place.
In preparation for the siege of Moat Cailin, Robb's host reconvenes with Lord Roose Bolton's thirty-five hundred men at the Twins. Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King to Joffrey I Baratheon, has been conspiring with Roose and Walder, however. Despite guest right, Robb, Catelyn, and many of their bannermen are murdered or taken captive in the Red Wedding.
Bran journeys north with Hodor, Jojen and Meera Reed, and his direwolf Summer.
Further north, Jon Snow ingratiates himself with the free folk, beginning a romance with Ygritte and befriending Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall, and other wildling leaders.
The Hound brings Arya toward the Eyrie in an attempt to ransom her to her aunt, Lady Lysa Arryn, but they are halted by snow in the Mountains of the Moon.
Sansa's engagement to King Joffrey is ended by his betrothal to Margaery Tyrell. She begins to mingle with the Tyrell women in King's Landing and is nearly betrothed to Willas Tyrell.
With Bran and Rickon thought dead and Sansa and Arya missing, House Stark is all but extinguished in the eyes of the world. The Iron Throne names Roose Bolton as Warden of the North and legitimizes his son Ramsay, and most rivermen return to the king's peace.
The small council of Queen Cersei Lannister, the regent for King Tommen I Baratheon, believes that northmen will accept Bolton control and rule by the Iron Throne once the ironborn are expelled from the north.
Sansa remains in the Vale of Arryn, where she takes on a maternal role for her young cousin, Lord Robert Arryn, and she presents herself as Alayne to Nestor Royce
Arya arrives in Braavos, where she takes up training at the House of Black and White to become a Faceless Man.
Soldiers bearing the colors of House Stark have washed up on the shores of the Quiet Isle. According to the Elder Brother, they are buried alongside their enemies.
Lord Commander Jon Snow begins an uneasy alliance with the free folk, executes the recalcitrant Janos Slynt, and tactfully deals with the imperious Stannis Baratheon. While refusing the king's offer to be legitimized as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and wed the "wildling princess", Val, Jon offers Stannis advice that helps him in his campaign against the Boltons and Greyjoys.
At Winterfell, Sansa's friend Jeyne Poole is wed to Ramsay Bolton in the guise of "Arya Stark" in an effort to legitimize Bolton overlordship, with Ramsay claiming to be Lord of Winterfell.
Bran arrives at the cave of the three-eyed crow, where he meets the last greenseer and children of the forest and begins perfecting the advanced arts of greensight.
The known Starks during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
No precise lineage of House Stark is known before approximately 100 AC, but the individuals listed below are supposed to be in rough chronological order.
The following is a possible chronology of known Kings in the North; no precise lineage is known and some published information may be contradictory.
Antiquity
Wolf's Den
Centuries before the Conquest
Uncertain era
Possible members
Brandon the Daughterless, his daughter, and his grandson are mentioned in the wildling legend of Bael the Bard,
Crypts
Traveling in the crypt of Winterfell in Chapter 66 of *A Game of Thrones*, Bran Stark sees the statues of Kings Jon, Rickard, Theon, Brandon the Shipwright, Brandon the Burner, Rodrik, and Torrhen. It is unconfirmed if this is a chronological listing.
While leaving the crypt in Chapter 69 of *A Clash of Kings*, Bran sees the statues of Kings Torrhen, Edwyn, Theon, Brandon the Burner, Brandon the Shipwright, Jorah, Jonos, Brandon the Bad, Walton, Edderion, Eyron, Benjen the Sweet, Benjen the Bitter, and Edrick. It is unconfirmed if this is a reverse chronological listing.
In Chapter 41 of *A Dance with Dragons*, Theon Greyjoy recalls the names of some statues in the crypt, mentioning Kings Edrick, Brandon the Shipwright, and Theon.
The winters are hard, but the Starks will endure. We always have.
- Eddard Stark to Robert Baratheon
I should have thought that heat ill suits you Starks. Here in the south, they say you are all made of ice, and melt when you ride below the Neck.
- Petyr Baelish to Eddard Stark
Tyrion: You Starks are hard to kill.
Robb: You Lannisters had best remember that.
– Robb Stark to Tyrion Lannister
As the Starks are wont to remind us, winter is coming.
- Roose Bolton to one of his men
Liddle: When there was a Stark in Winterfell, a maiden girl could walk down the kingsroad in her name-day gown and still go unmolested, and travelers could find fire, bread, and salt at many an inn and holdfast. But the nights are colder now, and doors are closed ... It was different when there was a Stark in Winterfell. But the old wolf's dead and young one's gone south to play the game of thrones, and all that's left us is the ghosts.
Jojen: The wolves will come again.
– a Liddle and Jojen Reed
Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is STARK.
– Lyanna Mormont to Stannis Baratheon
Maester Theomore, tell them! A thousand years before the Conquest, a promise was made, and oaths were sworn in the Wolf's Den before the old gods and the new. When we were sore beset and friendless, hounded from our homes and in peril of our lives, the wolves took us in and nourished us and protected us against our enemies. The city is built upon the land they gave us. In return we swore that we should always be their men. Stark men!
– Wylla Manderly to the Merman's Court
The Starks may have been inspired by the House of York.
Guarding Winterfell by artist Thomas Denmark © Fantasy Flight Games
House Stark guards are guardsmen and men-at-arms
Lord Eddard Stark's guards in King's Landing wear silver mail,
Before the outbreak of Robert's Rebellion, Lord Rickard Stark went south to King's Landing with two hundred of his best men
Winterfell Honor Guard by artist Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games
Jory Cassel serves as the captain of Lord Eddard Stark's household guard.
The bones of Lady are brought to Winterfell by guards.
Ned has twenty Stark guards under the command of Alyn assist the gold cloaks in keeping order in King's Landing.
After Jory is killed while fighting red cloaks in the streets of King's Landing,
In the aftermath of King Robert I Baratheon's death, Fat Tom and the other Stark guards in King's Landing are killed when Janos Slynt's gold cloaks and Lord Petyr Baelish ally with Cersei Lannister instead of Ned.
When Robb leads the northern host south from Winterfell in response to Ned's imprisonment, Hal Mollen wields the Stark banner on a standard of grey ash.
When Robb sends Ser Cleos Frey to King's Landing with his peace offer, among his demands are the return of the remains of Ned and his father's slain guards.
Hallis commands the Winterfell men who are part of Catelyn's escort when she travels to Renly Baratheon's camp at Bitterbridge.
Bran, the Stark at Winterfell while Robb is away, notices a number of new men at Winterfell during the harvest feast.
Harwin recounts to Arya how Alyn and many others from Beric's party were killed by the Mountain's men during the battle at the Mummer's Ford.
Robb and most of his host are killed during the Red Wedding.
The Starks look for courage and loyalty and honor in the men they choose to serve them.
– Tyrion Lannister to Bronn
House Staunton of Rook's Rest is a noble house from Rook's Rest in the Crownlands. Neither their arms nor their motto have appeared in the books, but according to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with two black wings upon a white fess on checkered black and grey.
The Stauntons supported the blacks and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's claim to the Iron Throne during the Dance of the Dragons. Lord Staunton was killed by the greens during the Battle of Rook's Rest, and his head was taken to King's Landing.
Ser Joffrey Staunton served in the Kingsguard during the reign of Aegon III Targaryen.
Septon Sefton was the brother of Ser Simon Staunton, the third husband of Lady Rohanne Webber. Sefton served at the Great Sept of Baelor and at Coldmoat.
Lord Symond Staunton served as Master of Laws for Aerys II. He unsuccessfully tried to persuade the King to prohibit tourneys and inflamed the King's suspicions against their son Rhaegar Targaryen.
The maester of the Dun Fort tells Brienne of Tarth that smallfolk believe the Defiance of Duskendale could have been avoided if Lord Denys Darklyn had married a Staunton or a Stokeworth instead of Serala of Myr.
The known Stauntons during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Stokeworth of Stokeworth is a noble house from the Crownlands. Sworn to King's Landing, they live at nearby Castle Stokeworth north of the capital.
They blazon their arms with a white lamb holding a golden goblet on a green field.
House Stokeworth ruled over Castle Stokeworth since at least the time of Aegon's Conquest. Stokeworth and Rosby were the first castles that Aegon I Targaryen's army encountered as it marched north, after landing at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush. At Stokeworth a few crossbowmen loosed some arrows at Vhagar, but after the dragon set the roofs of the castle ablaze, the Stokeworths surrendered.
Lord Alyn Stokeworth was named Hand of the King in 34 AC. When Aegon ordered the Aegonfort torn down and a stone castle to be built in its place in 35 AC, he assigned the task to Lord Alyn and Queen Visenya Targaryen.
Lady Falena Stokeworth was the first of King Aegon IV Targaryen's mistresses.
In 193 AC, Lord Stokeworth was overthrown in a melee at King's Landing by Ser Arlan of Pennytree.
When Lord Brynden Rivers marched on Whitewalls to quash the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, House Stokeworth marched with him in support.
Manly Stokeworth was a Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing. Upon his death Janos Slynt was made the new commander.
Lord Petyr Baelish, known as Littlefinger, is often invited to dine with Lady Tanda Stokeworth and her daughters. Littlefinger thinks she hopes to marry him to Lollys Stokeworth. Tanda is considered by Littlefinger as a possible ally for him and Lord Eddard Stark to depose the Lannisters from power, just after King Robert Baratheon's death.
From the time Tyrion Lannister arrives at King's Landing, Lady Tanda invites him to several banquets, hoping to arrange a marriage with Lollys.
During the riot of King's Landing the day Myrcella Baratheon departs to Dorne, Lollys is knocked from her saddle and left behind. She is found walking naked after being raped by half a hundred men, who have left her pregnant.
Falyse Stokeworth arrives the day before the battle of the Blackwater with a small troop of men from Castle Stokeworth. Lady Tanda, Falyse and Lollys spend the battle holed up in Maegor's Holdfast.
Lady Tanda offers Lollys to Lord Tywin Lannister as a possible wife for Tyrion. Tanda gave a pair of leather boots to King Joffrey I Baratheon as a wedding present. Tanda flees from the Red Keep when Joffrey chokes to death at his wedding feast.
After being knighted, Ser Bronn of the Blackwater accepts to wed Lollys.
After being forbidden by Cersei Lannister to name Lollys's son Tywin, Bronn decided to name him Tyrion in a move that is considered by many a defiance of the Lannisters.
Should Lord Gyles Rosby die, according to Falyse, Rosby would come to Stokeworth, since Lady Tanda was an aunt to Lord Gyles's second wife and is a third cousin herself.
Cersei enlists the help of Falyse and her husband Ser Balman Byrch in eliminating Bronn. However, the plan goes awry; Bronn kills Balman and orders Falyse to leave the castle. She flees back to Cersei begging for men to retake Stokeworth from Bronn, who claims to be Lord Stokeworth. Cersei refuses Falyse and instead gives her to Qyburn for use in his experiments.
The known Stokeworths during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Stonehouse of Old Wyk is a noble house from Old Wyk, one of the Iron Islands. They are one of the main houses sworn to Pyke.
Neither their arms or their motto appear in the books. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with a black brazier on a grey masonry field.
When Theon Greyjoy arrives at Pyke, Aeron Greyjoy tells him that Dagmer Cleftjaw has gone to Old Wyk to summon the Stonehouses and the Drumms.
Red Ralf Stonehouse is one of the captains under the command of Lord Captain Victarion Greyjoy at Moat Cailin. He urges Victarion to make a claim on the Seastone Chair after Balon's death.
The Stonehouse, head of House Stonehouse, attends the kingsmoot. He wears ragged sealskins.
Red Ralf leads a squadron of the Iron Fleet toward Slaver's Bay, but he goes missing off the coast of Sothoryos.
The known Stonehouses during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch there are also:
House Stonetree of Harlaw is a house of the Iron Islands located on the island of Harlaw. They swear allegiance to House Harlaw. They have large holdings on the island and have a decorated history.
They blazon their arms with a bare stone tree, grey on black. Their words are not known.
Lord Quellon Greyjoy's first wife was a member of House Stonetree. They had three sons, Harlon, Quenton and Donel Greyjoy.
Asha Greyjoy spots the stone tree of the Stonetrees among the banners in the hall at Ten Towers.
Some Stonetrees gather on Old Wyk to wish Victarion Greyjoy well during the kingsmoot. Sigfry Stonetree attends the kingsmoot.
The known Stonetrees during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Stout of Goldgrass is a petty noble house from the north who have a modest keep near the eastern gate of Barrowton.
Ser Wynton Stout was almost made Lord Commander of the Night's Watch thirty years before the War of the Five Kings. He has been a ranger in the Night's Watch for over eighty years.
Ser Wynton Stout is among those left behind at Castle Black when Lord Commander Jeor Mormont leads the great ranging beyond the Wall in search of Benjen Stark and Mance Rayder. Bowen Marsh makes Wynton castellan of Castle Black when he leaves to investigate wildling incursions.
Lord Roose Bolton leaves a strong force of Stout and Cerwyn men to bolster the defense of the Trident under the command of Ser Kyle Condon and Ronnel Stout.
Harwood Stout is a petty lord in Barrowton who hosts a feast for Ramsay Bolton upon his return to the town, as Lady Barbrey Dustin has barred Ramsay from Barrow Hall. while at Winterfell.
The known Stouts during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
With unknown relationship to the main branch there are:
House Strickland was a noble house. The House is now in exile.
Lord Strickland rose in rebellion with Daemon Blackfyre during the First Blackfyre Rebellion. After the defeat of the rebels at the Battle of the Redgrass Field, he fled across the narrow sea with Bittersteel and the other exiles. Four generations of Stricklands have served in the Golden Company.
Harry Strickland is the company commander of the Golden Company.
House Strong of Harrenhal was a noble house in the riverlands. Their main seat was Harrenhal. Like the other families who have been in possession of Harrenhal, their family died out,
During Aegon's Conquest, House Strong followed House Tully in rebelling against Harren Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers, supporting instead House Targaryen.
Ser Osmund Strong was named Hand of the King during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen and oversaw the construction of the wall around King's Landing.
During the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Ser Lucamore Strong was elevated to the Kingsguard. He was however caught breaking his vows after fathering sixteen children. He was gelded and sent to join the Night's Watch. There is a song about Lucamore.
Lyonel Strong was awarded the great castle Harrenhal after House Towers died out during the reign of Jaehaerys I.
Lyonel's powerful son, Ser Harwin Strong, was rumored to have been the true father of Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon, the children of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Laenor Velaryon. Lyonel and Harwin died in a fire at Harrenhal in 120 AC, however, and Lyonel's younger son Larys succeeded as lord.
At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, the House's wealth was "not-inconsiderable" according to Archmaester Gyldayn. Lord Larys "Clubfoot" sat on the green council of King Aegon II Targaryen as master of whisperers, while his castellan and kinsman Ser Simon held Harrenhal against the blacks of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Simon and his grandsons were taken captive by Rhaenyra's second husband, Prince Daemon Targaryen, when he captured their castle during the civil war.
Aegon II refused to surrender to the riverlands army led by young Lord Kermit Tully, who had defeated the last green army in the Battle of the Kingsroad, and the king was poisoned shortly after. During the Hour of the Wolf, Larys was accused of betraying his king and he chose death over the Wall. He was executed by Lord Cregan Stark, Hand for the newly-crowned Aegon III, thus ending the main branch of House Strong in 131 AC. It is unknown if other branches of the Strongs have survived to the present day.
Petyr Baelish uses the extinction of House Strong as an example of the fate of those who claim to own Harrenhal.
Denys Strong and Duncan Strong are members of the Golden Company. It is unknown if they actually descend from House Strong, as men of the free companies can take any name they want.
The mysterious Ser Robert Strong is added to the Kingsguard of Tommen I Baratheon and is to serve as the champion of Cersei Lannister.
The known Strongs during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Suggs is a house in Westeros. Their sigil is a flying pig.
The known Suggs during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Sunderland of the Three Sisters rules the Three Sisters, three islands located in the Bite. They reside in Sisterton,.
House Sunderland blazons their arms with three women's heads, white with black hair, on barry wavy blue and green. Their motto does not appear in the books.
While Aegon the Conqueror was invading the Seven Kingdoms, the Three Sisters rebelled against King Ronnel Arryn and named as their queen Marla Sunderland.
During the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon gained Houses Borrell and Sunderland for the blacks during his visit to Sisterton.
Lord Sunderland led the Sistermen fighting for House Blackfyre during the First Blackfyre Rebellion in 195-196 AC. He attended the Whitewalls tourney in 211 AC that was to launch the Second Blackfyre Rebellion.
Lord Triston Sunderland is recalled by Lord Godric Borrell as having bemoaned the high cost of purchasing destriers for his seven sons, all of whom are determined to become knights.
The only known Sunderlands during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Sunderly of Saltcliffe is one of the main nobles houses from the Iron Islands
Neither their arms or their motto appear in the books. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with a drowned man, pink and pale, floating upright in a blue-green sea, his hair streaming upwards, as fish nibble at his limbs.
The mother of Balon, Euron, Victarion, Urrigon and Aeron Greyjoy was a Sunderly.
Theon Greyjoy spots members of House Sunderly in the great hall of Pyke when Balon Greyjoy calls his banners.
The known Sunderlys during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Sunglass of Sweetport Sound is a noble house sworn to Dragonstone. The location of Sweetport Sound in the crownlands has not been stated.
Their blazon is composed by seven golden seven-pointed stars in a ring on white. Their motto does not appear in the books.
Lord Guncer Sunglass answers the summons of Stannis Baratheon when he calls his banners against King Joffrey I Baratheon. Guncer is seen wearing moonstones at throat and wrist and finger by Maester Cressen at Dragonstone.
After Melisandre's profaning of the sept of Dragonstone and the deaths of his Rambton bannermen, pious Lord Sunglass declares to Stannis that he no longer supports his claim, which leads to his imprisonment.
Three galleys belonging to House Sunglass—*Piety, *Prayer, and *Devotion*—are seized by Stannis for his royal fleet. They take part in the Battle of the Blackwater.
During the Battle of the Blackwater, Melisandre and Queen Selyse Florent burn the prisoners in Dragonstone's dungeons, including Lord Guncer, as a sacrifice to R'hllor.
The gaoler of Dragonstone, Lamprey, wears a soiled white doublet with the seven golden stars of House Sunglass embroidered on it.
The known Sunglasses during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Swann of Stonehelm is one of the primary noble houses of the stormlands.
House Swann is an old noble house, regarded as proud, powerful and cautious.
During the Dance of the Dragons, Ser Byron Swann was killed by Syrax or Vhagar.
Lord Swann's fool was the one who named Matarys Targaryen "the even younger Prince". Lord Gawen Swann competed in the tourney at Ashford Meadow as an old man, losing to Prince Valarr Targaryen. Gawen ignored Dunk's direct request to join him in the trial of seven. Ser Eustace Osgrey boasted that in the past members of important families married Osgreys, citing the Swanns as one of the examples.
Ser Barristan Selmy squired for Ser Manfred Swann as a boy. Barristan later rescued Lady Jeyne Swann and her septa from the Kingswood Brotherhood.
Ser Balon Swann, the second son of Lord Gulian, is one of the outstanding knights in the Hand's tourney, defeating Alyn of Winterfell but later being unhorsed by Ser Gregor Clegane. He is among the three finalists at the archery competition of the tourney, losing to a commoner from the Dornish Marches named Anguy. Balon is among the party that accompanies King Robert Baratheon to hunt, but he returns to King's Landing before Robert's hunting accident with the boar in the kingswood.
Lord Gulian is one of the few storm lords that agrees to receive Davos Seaworth, and even breaks bread with him. He does not respond to Stannis Baratheon's demands, however. In the War of the Five Kings, Gulian pleads illness and takes no part. Having participated in Robert's Rebellion, Gulian has no intention to committing more lives to future wars. His sons represent Stonehelm in several causes, however.
The heir to the house, Ser Donnel, is first with Renly Baratheon and then with Stannis, and is wounded in the Battle of the Blackwater. He yields to Ser Elwood Harte and is ransomed afterward, before swearing fealty to King Joffrey I Baratheon.
After the downfall of Lord Eddard Stark, Sansa Stark sees Ser Balon whispering some words to drunken Ser Dontos Hollard, possibly recommending him to refrain from hailing her. Balon defends the royal party in the riot of King's Landing. After the riot, Balon is named to the Kingsguard to replace Ser Preston Greenfield. In this capacity, Balon fights on Joffrey's side at the Blackwater.
Ser Balon is the first to appear at Tyrion's trial after the death of King Joffrey. He states Tyrion is a brave man and that he cannot believe Tyrion could have poisoned Joffrey.
Ser Balon Swann is sent by Queen Cersei Lannister to Dorne to deliver Gregor Clegane's head. Prince Doran Martell orders his bannermen to delay Balon's arrival with lavish feasts. When Balon arrives in Sunspear, the Martells disguise Arianne's abortive attempt to crown Princess Myrcella Baratheon. Balon, under orders from Cersei, invites the Martells to the capital to lure them into an ambush for which Cersei can frame Tyrion. Doran fails to take the bait, instead claiming Balon's sworn brother, Ser Arys Oakheart, was killed by Ser Gerold Dayne, known as Darkstar. Obara Sand joins Balon in the hunt for Darkstar.
Clifford Swann is listed as Lord of Stonehelm. has changed Gulian's name, or if Clifford has succeeded Gulian even though Donnel had been described as Gulian's son and heir.
The known Swanns during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch there are also:
House Sweet is a noble house of the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Sweet supports Stannis Baratheon,.
Lord Sweet accompanies King Stannis Baratheon to Castle Black.
The known Sweets during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Swyft of Cornfield is a knightly house from Cornfield in the westerlands. They are among the principal houses sworn to House Lannister of Casterly Rock.
Their arms depict a blue bantam rooster on yellow.
Ser Addison Hill, the Bastard of Cornfield, was a legendary brother of the Kingsguard during the reign of Aegon I Targaryen, who eventually rose to the position of Lord Commander.
During the Dance of the Dragons, House Swyft was apparently a full-fledged noble house. [Lord Swyft](https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?title=Lord_Swyft_(Dance_of_the_Dragons&action=edit&redlink=1) fought for the greens and died in the Battle by the Lakeshore.
Ser Harrold Swyft participated in the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC.
Tyrion Lannister sees the bantam rooster of House Swyft among Lord Tywin Lannister's army. Cornfield men form part of the Lannister right during the battle on the Green Fork, with heavy lancers under command of Ser Addam Marbrand.
Tyrion is upset at Ser Harys Swyft for criticizing Ser Jaime Lannister's tactics during the siege of Riverrun, and considers Harys a craven lickspittle whose greatest accomplishment was marrying his daughter Dorna to Ser Kevan Lannister.
Arya Stark overhears in Harrenhal that the cooks despise Ser Harys and spit in all his food. Arya spots the bantam rooster in Tywin's army leaving Harrenhal. Harys's squire is stabbed to death in a quarrel with the Bloody Mummers in Harrenhal.
During the Battle of the Blackwater, Harys becomes trapped beneath his dying horse until a grizzled man-at-arms in his service named Willit pulls him out and defends him against a dozen attackers.
Ser Harys is among the nobles gathered to greet the Dornish party headed by Prince Oberyn Martell when they arrive at King's Landing.
Jocelyn Swyft is one of Queen Regent Cersei Lannister's ladies in-waiting. Cersei considers her a slow-witted fool. Ser Humfrey Swyft is seen by Jaime scoring a solid hit while training at the Red Keep.
Ser Harys is named Hand of the King by Cersei Lannister. While she does not have a high opinion of him, she chooses him due to the fact that he does not argue with her and can be used as a hostage against his son in-law and her uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister. Harys is later demoted to master of coin after the death of Gyles Rosby; he is replaced as Hand by Lord Orton Merryweather.
Ser Steffon Swyft is part of Jaime's army recruited to resolve the Siege of Riverrun. He is entrusted with the task of protecting the baggage train.
After Cersei is seized in the Great Sept of Baelor, Ser Harys takes the reigns of the Seven Kingdoms along with Grand Maester Pycelle. They invite Kevan Lannister to become Lord Regent.
Harys continues to serve as master of coin, attempting to deal with the debt issues created by Queen Cersei. Kevan suggests that Harys travel to Braavos and meet with the Iron Bank.
The known Swyfts during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
With unspecified familial relationship to the main branch there are also:
House Swygert is a noble house from the Stormlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with a white scroll with gold knobs on purple within a white tressure.
The known Swygerts during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Tallhart of Torrhen's Square is a noble house from the north and is among the principal houses sworn to House Stark.
Their arms show three green sentinel trees, over a brown field.
According to a semi-canon source, the Tallharts descend from the First Men.
After getting indications that the Lannisters were involved in the murder attempt on Bran Stark, Lord Eddard Stark tells his wife Catelyn to send word to Ser Helman Tallhart and Galbart Glover to raise a hundred bowmen and fortify Moat Cailin.
The banners of House Tallhart are seen by Bran at Winterfell when Robb Stark calls the northern banners after Eddard's arrest in King's Landing.
Leobald Tallhart, whose wife is the sister of the late Lord Halys Hornwood, brings up his son Beren as a possible heir to the Hornwood inheritance. Benfred Tallhart raises a company of young men who call themselves the Wild Hares, and ride through the northern countryside with rabbit skins, trying to emulate the Young Wolf, Robb.
Leobald sends his nephew Benfred to deal with the raiders pillaging the Stony Shore, who turn out to be ironborn led by Theon Greyjoy. Benfred is captured during the harrying of the Stony Shore, however, and is drowned at sea under the supervision of Aeron Greyjoy.
Ser Edmure Tully orders Helman to leave the Twins and assist Lord Roose Bolton in taking Harrenhal.
After defeating the ironborn in the fight at Torrhen's Square, Leobald joins Ser Rodrik Cassel to take back Winterfell from Theon's ironborn.
Helman is slain during the battle at Duskendale.
Tallhart troops are slain in the Red Wedding.
Maester Aemon sends a raven to Torrhen's Square in a plea for help to defend Castle Black from the wildlings.
Dagmer keeps the surviving Tallhart family hostage at Torrhen's Square.
While the ironborn at Moat Cailin
Tallhart men join Roose Bolton, the new Warden of the North, at Barrowton and Winterfell. However, Roose does not believe he can rely on their loyalty.
Tallhart survivors from the battle at Winterfell rally to the side of King Stannis Baratheon after the fight by Deepwood Motte.
The known Tallharts during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
House Tarbeck of Tarbeck Hall was a noble house from Tarbeck Hall near the Crag in the westerlands.
Before marrying King Maegor I Targaryen, Lady Jeyne Westerling was wed to Lord Alyn Tarbeck. The Lord of Tarbeck Hall was killed fighting for Prince Aegon Targaryen during the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye, however.
Ser Adrian Tarbeck led a Lannister host in the Dance of the Dragons.
Ser Eustace Osgrey recalled that scions of House Osgrey married Tarbecks, and that during the First Blackfyre Rebellion the Tarbecks supported both sides.
By the reign of King Aegon V Targaryen, House Tarbeck was an old but impoverished line who had been in a slow decline for centuries.
Together with House Reyne, the Tarbecks became the most powerful vassals of the Lannisters, but they were also defiant and disorderly. When Tywin Lannister was only ten, Ellyn Tarbeck laughed when the marriage of Genna Lannister and Emmon Frey was announced by Tywin's father, Lord Tytos.
When the sons of Tytos came back from the War of the Ninepenny Kings, Ser Tywin began demanding repayment for all the gold that had been lent out. The confident Lord Walderan was imprisoned by Tywin at Casterly Rock. In retaliation, Ellyn imprisoned two Lannisters of Lannisport, as well as Stafford Lannister, whose sister Joanna was betrothed to Tywin. Tywin counseled that Lord Walderan should be returned to his wife in three pieces, but Lord Tytos agreed to the exchange of hostages at Castamere, seat of House Reyne.
Less than a year later in 261 AC, however, Tywin sent for ravens to Castamere and Tarbeck Hall, demanding that they answer for their crimes. Instead of doing so, both houses rose up in open revolt which started the Reyne-Tarbeck rebellion. After Tywin quickly defeated Walderan's host, he ordered the beheadings of Lord Tarbeck and his supporters. Ellyn and Tion the Red were killed during Tywin's assault on Tarbeck Hall; Tywin supposedly smiled when Tarbeck Hall collapsed with Lady Ellyn within.
House Targaryen is a noble family of Valyrian descent who once ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The Targaryen sigil is a three-headed dragon breathing flames, red on black.
The only family of dragonlords who survived the Doom of Valyria, the Targaryens left the Valyrian Freehold twelve years before the Doom. They resided for more than a century at Dragonstone on the island of the same name, until Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, began the first of the Wars of Conquest in 2 BC.
Following the conclusion of Aegon's Conquest in 1 AC, they built the Aegonfort in the new capital city of King's Landing. The Aegonfort was later torn down and replaced by the Red Keep, which remained their main seat for the duration of their dynasty, and which housed the Iron Throne. Their original castle was almost always given to the heir to the throne, the Prince of Dragonstone. The Targaryens eventually built the summer residence Summerhall, which has been given to several younger sons of the family over time.
House Targaryen ruled as the Kings of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms, and the Great House of the crownlands for nearly three hundred years. Seventeen male Targaryens ruled from the Iron Throne.[N 1] The dynasty ended with the death of Aerys the Mad King during Robert's Rebellion, in which the Targaryens were overthrown and replaced by House Baratheon. The two surviving children of Aerys II, Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen, fled into exile, and have resided in the Free Cities of Essos ever since.
The phrase "blood of the dragon" refers to the Valyrian descent of the Targaryens, and more specifically to the fact that they were one of forty dragonlord families of Valyria.
The Targaryens can tolerate a bit more heat than most ordinary people; However, they are not immune to fire.
Another trait typical to Targaryens is the ability to have premonition-like dreams.
The Targaryens are seen as prone to madness, presumably caused by their inbreeding.
House Targaryen's words are "Fire and Blood.".
Although the Targaryen kings took their seat at King's Landing, the place where Aegon and his army first landed in Westeros and made their first fort, replaced by the Red Keep later on, their earlier seat of Dragonstone remained in their possession as well.
House Targaryen historically followed the gods of Valyria. Sometime before Aegon's Conquest, the Targaryens abandoned the Valyrian gods and converted to the Faith of the Seven, the predominant religion in Westeros. marriage, wedding brother to sister, cousin to cousin, uncle to niece and aunt to nephew, holding themselves apart from and above the noble Westerosi families.
Deceased Targaryens are traditionally cremated.
See also: Dragons, and Dragon egg
As one of the forty dragonlord families of Valyria, the Targaryens were closer to dragons than other men. Aenar Targaryen brought five dragons with him when he moved from Valyria to Dragonstone, and Aegon I Targaryen and his sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya rode them to battle during the Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms in 2 BC - 1 BC.
The Targaryens housed their dragons in an immense domed structure in King's Landing, the Dragonpit, which was constructed during the reign of Maegor I Targaryen.
At some point, it became tradition to gift a newborn child with a dragon's egg in the cradle.
Aegon the Conqueror, the greatest of the Targaryens, upon Balerion, the Black Dread by Jordi Gonzalez ©.
A complete history of House Targaryen is planned for *Fire and Blood*,
House Targaryen was one of the forty ancient noble houses known as dragonlords who ruled the Valyrian Freehold, a great empire spanning much of Essos. The Targaryens were not one of the most powerful houses, however. The family resided in Valyria until Daenys Targaryen, also known as Daenys the Dreamer, the daughter of Lord Aenar Targaryen, had visions of a cataclysm that would come over Valyria. Aenar sold his estates in Valyria and moved his wives, children, other relatives, slaves, wealth, and five dragons (including Balerion) to Dragonstone, an island at the entrance of Blackwater Bay and the westernmost outpost of Valyrian influence, where he took possession of a castle of the same name, in 126 BC. Twelve years later the Doom descended on the city of Valyria, leading to the collapse of the Freehold. The Targaryens were the only dragonriders of Valyria to survive. In the century that followed, four of the five dragons of House Targaryen died, with only Balerion surviving. Two more dragons, Vhagar and Meraxes, were hatched from eggs on Dragonstone, however.
During the century after the Doom, which became known as the Century of Blood due to the violent struggles for power in Essos, Volantis attempted to seize power over Valyria's colonies. Most of the other Free Cities rebelled against against Volantis, and towards the end of the Century of Blood, the young Lord Aegon Targaryen, rider of the dragon Balerion, was approached by Pentos and Tyrosh to form an alliance. Aegon, mounted on his dragon Balerion, flew first to Pentos to meet its prince, and then to Lys, where he set the Volantene fleet aflame. With Volantis's rule at an end, he returned to Dragonstone, and focussed his attention to the lands west, which had always been of interest to him.
Main articles: Aegon's Conquest, and First Dornish War
Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, aspired to unite the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros under one ruler. Slightly more than a hundred years after the Doom of Valyria, in 2 BC, he began his conquest, in which he was aided by his two sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya. All three were dragonriders, and used their dragons, Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar in battle. Aegon's Conquest lasted for two years. It began with Aegon's landing at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with a small force, and ended when Aegon was anointed king by the High Septon in Oldtown. In total, he had managed to conquer six of the seven kingdoms, with only Dorne remaining defiant. During the war House Gardener, which had ruled the Reach, and House Hoare, which had ruled the Iron Islands and the riverlands, were extinguished, while House Durrandon, which had reigned over the Stormlands, was continued through the female line..
In 4 AC, Aegon's wars of conquest continued with the First Dornish War, during which he and Rhaenys attempted to bring the dornish under Targaryen rule as well.
Main article: Faith Militant uprising
Aegon I Targaryen died in 37 AC, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Aenys I Targaryen. Almost immediately, Aenys faced four rebellions which had grown out of dissent, dreams of the old days or of vengeance, and of the fact that Aenys and his younger brother, Maegor, had both been born from incestuous marriages. A bandit named Harren the Red, claiming to be a grandson of Harren the Black, took Harrenhal and killed Lord Gargon Qoherys. In the Vale, Lord Ronnel Arryn and his family were taken hostage by his younger brother, Jonos Arryn. On the Iron Islands, a man claimed to be the priest-king Lodos, finally returned from visiting his father after more than three centuries. And in Dorne, the Vulture King raised thirty thousand followers against the Targaryens.
The next challenges Aenys faced came from the Faith of the Seven. Even though the Targaryens had been followers of the Faith of the Seven since before the Conquest, the Targaryens held themselves apart from the laws of gods and men. By marrying both his sisters, Aegon I had continued both the Valyrian practice of incestuous marriage, which was considered a sin in the eyes of the Seven, as well as the more rarely practised custom of polygamy, even though the Faith of the Seven considered marriage only possible between one man and one wife.
Maegor I Targaryen and Balerion burn down the Sept of Remembrance.
The Faith remained discontent. Though they had not objected to Aenys's own marriage in 22 AC, to his cousin Alyssa Velaryon, new troubles arose in 41 AC when Aenys married his eldest daughter, Rhaena, to his eldest son and heir, Prince Aegon. The uproar this marriage caused led to the start of the Faith Militant uprising.
Maegor's reign was a cruel one. He finished the construction of the Red Keep, which had begun in 35 AC, during his reign,
See also: Dance of the Dragons
King Viserys I's reign had troubles of its own. By his first wife, Lady Aemma Arryn, to whom he had been married since 93 AC, he had one surviving daughter, Rhaenyra. Aemma died in 105 AC in childbed, as did her son, Baelon, after which Viserys officially declared Rhaenyra to be his heir, having the lords of the realm swear fealthy to her. Though Viserys remarried in 106 AC, and had three sons, Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron, and one daughter, Helaena, by his new wife, Queen Alicent Hightower, he insisted that Rhaenyra remained his heir. Rivalry between Rhaenyra and Alicent resulted in two fractions being formed at court, called the blacks and the greens. Alicent's three sons loathed Rhaenyra's three eldest sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon, all three rumored to have been bastards fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, as they considered themselves to have been robbed of their birthright: the Iron Throne.
Both Rhaenyra and her uncle, Prince Daemon, the younger brother of Viserys I, had been married into House Velaryon, and both had children by their respective spouses. When both Rhaenyra's husband Laenor and Daemon's wife Laena died in 120 AC, they married each other, and had three more children (Aegon the Younger, Viserys, and the stillborn Visenya. Meanwhile, King Viserys's son Aegon and daughter Helaena had been married as well, with three children resulting from their marriage (Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor).
When Viserys died in 129 AC, his widow, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower, and the Lord Commander of his his Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole, defied Viserys's last will, and crowned Viserys's son Aegon II while Rhaenyra, unaware of her father's death, resided on Dragonstone. Unwilling to submit to her brother, Rhaenyra declared war, and the resulting conflict over the succession, called the Dance of the Dragons (129–131 AC), divided the kingdom. During this bloody war, thousands died, as did most of the Targaryen dragons. Rhaenyra herself was devoured by Sunfyre, Aegon II's dragon, in late 130 AC while her son Aegon the Younger looked on.
With the war at an end, the eleven-year old Aegon the Younger ascended the throne as Aegon III Targaryen. Until Aegon reached the age of sixteen, the realm was ruled by a regency. Aegon's younger brother Viserys, formerly thought to have died during the Dance, returned to Westeros, married to Lady Larra Rogare. Viserys served as his brother's Hand of the King towards the end of his reign. The Targaryen dragons had been greatly diminished in numbers because of the war, and when the last dragon died in 153 AC, Viserys convinced Aegon to sent for nine mages from Essos, to allow them to use their arts to hatch a clutch of dragon eggs. Sadly, their attempt failed.
Main article: Conquest of Dorne
When Aegon III Targaryen died in 157 AC from consumption, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Daeron I Targaryen, born to him by his second wife, Queen Daenaera Velaryon (his first marriage having ended both quickly and childless with the death of Queen Jaehaera in 133 AC).
However, Daeron's conquest did not last. The smallfolk rebelled, and though Lord Tyrell attempted to fight back, travelling from holdfast to holdfast, the rebels always struck back.
Though in King's Landing Prince Viserys argued for the execution of the dornish hostages, the new King Baelor I decided to free them instead. He walked barefoot from King's Landing to Sunspear, escorting the hostages home, and met with the Prince of Dorne. They forged a peace, and Baelor agreed to betroth his cousin, Prince Daeron (his uncle Viserys's grandson), to the eldest child of the Prince of Dorne, Princess Mariah Martell. During his journey back home, Baelor passed by Wyl, where he freed his cousin Aemon, though he was bitten by veneomous snakes in the process. When he finally returned to King's Landing, Baelor convinced the High Septon to dissolve his marriage to his sister, Daena, whom he had wed in 160 AC, as it had never been consummated. He then locked Daena and her sisters Rhaena and Elaena in the Maidenvault, to "preserve their innocence". Baelor I was focussed mostly on the Faith of the Seven, and even took a septon's vows, ensuring he would never father heirs. His edicts became more focussed on spiritual matters as his reign continued, causing unease among the highborn. Baelor began the construction of a new sept, though it would not be completed until after his death. Baelor also began to fast more frequently and for longer periods of time towards the end of his reign. And when his sister and former wife Daena, who had escaped the Maidenvault on several occassions during Baelor's reign, gave birth to a bastard son she named Daemon Waters in late 170 AC, Baelor began a forty-day fast (even though another lengthy fast several years before had nearly killed him). Baelor was found collapsed on the forty-first day, and died soon after, in 171 AC.
As the next male in line, Prince Viserys, who had served as Hand of the King for Aegon III, Daeron I, and Baelor I, ascended the throne after Baelor's sisters were passed over.
See also: Blackfyre Pretenders
Daemon I Blackfyre fighting in the Battle of the Redgrass Field
Viserys II was succeeded by his eldest son, Aegon IV, who was rumored to have had a hand in his father's death.
Aegon was very promiscuous, both before and during his reign. He had bastard children by several women, though he only acknowledged those fathered upon his nine official mistresses, with one exception: his cousin Daena's son, Daemon Waters. In 182 AC, Aegon openly recognized the boy as his own son
Aegon IV's relationship with his trueborn heir was more troublesome. Once he was old enough to voice his own opinions, Prince Daeron and Aegon IV quarreled more often, and towards the end of Aegon's reign, Daeron became his chief obstacle. When Aegon attempted to invade Dorne with wooden dragons and a fleet in 174 AC, the homeland of Daeron's wife, Mariah Martell, rumors were heard for the first time that Daeron had been fathered by Aegon's brother Aemon instead of Aegon. Though Aemon defeated Ser Morgil Hastwyck in a trial by combat when he accused Naerys of adultery, the rumors remained, and it was believed that they had originated with King Aegon himself, though he denied it. Following the death of both Aemon and Naerys, Aegon began more openly to refer to Daeron's illegitimacy, though he never disowned him. Finally, on his death bed in 184 AC, Aegon IV legitimized all of his bastards.
Daeron II began his reign by negotiating with his brother-in-law, Maron Martell, who had inherited the rule of Dorne. He arranged a marriage between Maron and his sister, Daenerys, which occurred in 187 AC. Following the wedding, Dorne officially joined the realm, and did fealthy to the Iron Throne. However, while the Seven Kingdoms were now finally united, dissatisfaction grew with the concessions that Dorne had won, as well as the growing Dornish influence at Daeron's court. Daeron II's heir, Prince Baelor, favored his dornish mother in his physical appearance, and more and more lords began to wish for "the old days", when the dornish had been the enemy in battle, and not rivals for power at court.
These lords looked at Daemon Blackfyre, and saw in him a warrior, tall and powerful, with the hallmarks of Old Valyria (deep purple eyes, silver-gold hair down to his shoulders), who was described as having had an "almost inhumane beauty", being "half a god among mortal men".
The remainder of Daeron II's reign was peaceful. However, in its final year, 209 AC, problems began when Daeron's heir and Hand of the King, Prince Baelor, died when defending a hedge knight called Duncan in a trial of seven at the tourney at Ashford Meadow.
Not long after the death of Baelor, the Great Spring Sickness began. Thousands died as a result, and among the victims were Daeron II and his two most immediate heirs, Baelor's two sons Valarr and Matarys.
In addition to the two Blackfyre Rebellions, Aerys's reign knew multiple other troubles, including the plague and drought, dwindling trade, rising banditry, and the reaving of Dagon Greyjoy.
Maekar succeeded Aerys I in 221 AC, and reigned for twelve years.
A Great Council was called by Brynden Rivers, who had served as Maekar's Hand of the King. The council passed over Daeron's daughter and Aerion's infant son, and because of the dislike some had for Maekar's youngest son, the crown was quietly offered to Aemon first. Following Aemon's refusal, they crowned Maekar I's youngest son as Aegon V. Aegon V became known as "The Unlikely", as he had been the fourth son of a fourth son.
The reign of Aegon V began troubled. He felt forced to arrest Brynden Rivers, who had served both Maekar I and Aerys I as Hand, after Brynden, who had offered safe passage to Aenys Blackfyre, the fifth son of the late Daemon I Blackfyre, from Tyrosh to King's Landing, so Aenys could present his own claim during the Great Council, betrayed Aenys by arresting and executing him upon arrival. Rivers was sent to the Wall and joined the Night's Watch. Aegon V's brother Aemon accompanied Rivers, intent on joining the Night's Watch as well so his claim to the throne could not be used against the king.
Aegon spend much of his reign in battle. When winter ended in 236 AC, Daemon III Blackfyre and Aegor Rivers crossed the narrow sea to begin the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. They were supported by few, however, and Daemon III was eventually slain by a knigth of Aegon V's Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall.
Further opposition came from the lords of Aegon V's realm, as many disagreed with his policies, or distrusted and hated him, as they felt that his wanderings with the hedge knight Duncan had left him "half a peasant".
A major rebellion in 239 AC was caused by Aegon's eldest son. Aegon V had five children, Duncan, Jaehaerys, Shaera, Daeron, and Rhaelle, and for the eldest four betrothals had been arranged to several great Houses (House Baratheon, Tully, Tyrell and Redwyne respectively). When Duncan, in 239 AC, broke his betrothal to a daughter of Lord Lyonel Baratheon to marry Jenny of Oldstones, going as far as to renounce his rights to the throne for her, Lord Lyonel declared the independence of the Stormlands in response. Only after his defeat in a trial by combat against the Lord Commander of Aegon's Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall, and the promise of the hand of Aegon V's daughter Rhaelle in marriage to Lyonel's heir, Ormund Baratheon, did Lyonel join the King's peace again.
Towards the end of his reign, Aegon V began to dream of dragons with whom he could bend the lords of Westeros to his will. As several Targaryen kings had tried before him, seems to have attempted to hatch dragon eggs at Summerhall, where he had gathered those closest to him to celebrate the upcomming birth of his first great-grandchild in 259 AC. However, in a great tragedy occurred, causing the death of Aegon V, Prince Duncan, and many more. Though the survivors would not speak of what had happened, the histories of Archmaester Gyldayn, the last maester to serve as the castle, speaks of seven eggs and pyromancers.
Aegon V's second son Jaehaerys II Targaryen ascended the throne in 259 AC following the Tragedy of Summerhall, and was immediately faced with a threat from the east when the Band of Nine conquered first Tyrosh and then the Stepstones.
To face the "Ninepenny Kings", as Prince Duncan Targaryen had named them before his death,
In total, Jaehaerys II only reigned for three years, and died after a short sickbed in 262 AC. He was succeeded by his only son, Aerys II Targaryen.
See also: Defiance of Duskendale, Tourney at Harrenhal, and Robert's Rebellion
While the reign of King Aerys II Targaryen began with much promise, his would become the reign which ended the Targaryen Dynasty. Upon ascending the throne, he replaced all of his father's elderly councillors with younger men, and appointed a friend from his youth, the twenty-year old Tywin Lannister, as his Hand of the King. While Aerys had great plans for his realm, his attention span was short and most plans were quickly forgotten. While Tywin would be Aerys II's Hand for nineteen years, tensions between the two friends began early in Aerys's reign. Aerys grew increasingly jealous of Tywin and over time began to insult him, while the deaths of several of his children contributed further to his madness. When in 276 AC, after three miscarriages, two stillbirths, and three deaths in the cradle, Prince Viserys was born, Tywin hosted a tournament in honor of Viserys's birth at Lannisport, which Aerys II and Rhaegar attended.
Aerys's jealousy for Tywin increased further when he learned of the saying that Tywin was the true ruler of the kingdom, making his suspicious of his subjects at court. His jealousy and desire to show himself as a leader led to his rash action of accepting the invitation of Lord Darklyn to travel to Duskendale, as to discuss Darklyn's petition. Aerys went to Duskendale with only a small escort, and was captured upon arrival. This revolt, known as the Defiance of Duskendale, lasted for half a year, during which time Aerys II was kept in the dungeons, while Lord Tywin besieged the city. Though he was eventually freed, the last of Aerys's sanity had died during his captivity. He became increasingly suspicious everyone, including his own heir, Rhaegar, and refused to leave the Red Keep for four years. Tensions between Aerys and Rhaegar grew, moreso after Rhaegar and his new bride Elia Martell moved to his seat of Dragonstone in 280 AC. In 281 AC, Aerys appointed Tywin's heir, Ser Jaime Lannister, to his Kingsguard, leaving Tywin with a dwarf for an heir. Tywin resigned as Hand and left King's Landing. Convinced that his son Rhaegar planned to gather as much lords as possible to dispose Aerys at the Tourney of Harrenhal held later that same year, Aerys personally attended the tourney. When the victorious Prince Rhaegar passed by his own wife, Elia, and named Lyanna Stark, the betrothed of his cousin Robert Baratheon, as his queen of love and beauty, it caused fury and tensions among those present, and inflammed Aerys's council against Rhaegar further.
The next year, Rhaegar left his wife and newborn son Aegon on Dragonstone and went on a journey. Ultimately, he ended up in the riverlands where he disappeared with Lyanna Stark. Lyanna's brother Brandon went to King's Landing, threatening Prince Rhaegar's life. Though Rhaegar was not present, King Aerys had Brandon arrested, and summoned his father, Lord Rickard, for a trial. At the "trial", Aerys had both men killed, after which he demanded the heads of Lord Robert Baratheon, Lyanna's betrothed, and Eddard Stark, Lyanna's younger brother. Their foster father, Lord Jon Arryn, refused Aerys's commands and raised his banners, thereby starting a civil war.
Towards the end of the war, Lord Robert Baratheon proclaimed his intend to claim the Iron Throne.
The war was at an end, and on the mainland the final opposition to the reign of Robert I Baratheon was resolved. On Dragonstone, however, the last Targaryens held their last stronghold. Dowager Queen Rhaella crowned her son Viserys,
And so, following two hundred and eighty-three years of rule, the Targaryen Dynasty ended in 283 AC with the death of Aerys II and the exile of his young son Viserys.
Daenerys Targaryen and her three fledgling dragons - © 2012 John Picacio
Across the narrow sea, the Aerys II Targaryen's surviving son is claiming legitimacy as "Viserys III". He and his sister, Daenerys Targaryen, having wandered the Free Cities for years seeking aid from various merchant princes to restore House Targaryen to the throne, have been taken in by Illyrio Mopatis, a magister of Pentos.
King Robert I Baratheon promises a lordship to whoever manages to kill Daenerys, her unborn child, or Viserys.
At the Wall in Westeros, the hundred-year-old Maester Aemon, brother to the late King Aegon V, still resides at Castle Black. Aemon intervenes when a new recruit, Jon Snow, asks for his help with a fellow recruit, Samwell Tarly, naming Sam his personal servant to prevent him from remaining in training, which would have meant his death.
Daenerys has named her three dragons Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, after her late husband and brothers.
After having been denied help by the Pureborn of Qarth, Daenerys decides to request aid from the warlocks.
On route to Pentos, Daenerys is convinced by Jorah Mormont to change course towards Astapor, one of the three Slaver Cities in Slaver's Bay.
Daenerys marches on Yunkai, where she faces the slave soldiers of Yunkai, and two sellsword companies, the Second Sons and the Stormcrows. Daenerys defeats the Yunkish soldiers, while the Stormcrows join her cause., the last of the slaver cities.
Daenerys conquers Meereen with the help of the city's slaves, whom she frees. After she learns how the council she had created to rule Astapor had been replaced by the butcher Cleon, who now rules Astapor as its king and has enslaved all the nobility in the city, Daenerys decides to prevent Meereen from the same fate. Believing she needs to learn how to rule before conquering Westeros, Daenerys decides to remain in Meereen and rule as its queen.
Ben Plumm, who is chosen as the leader of the Second Sons following the disappearance of Mero at the battle near Yunkai, claims to have Targaryen ancestry, as his ancestor Ossifer Plumm was married to Elaena Targaryen.
At Castle Black, Maester Aemon believes Jon Snow when he claims he was ordered to join the wildlings by Qhorin Halfhand.
Lord Commander Jon Snow, fearing that the priestess Melisandre will wish to sacrifice Aemon to R'hllor for his king's blood, orders Aemon to travel to Oldtown, accompanied by Samwell Tarly, singer Dareon, wildling Gilly, and Mance Rayder's son.
Daenerys rules Meereen, but meets with resistance from several parties. A resistance group of Ghiscari noblemen, the Sons of the Harpy, engage in a shadow war against her,
Hizdahr aids Daenerys by negotiating a peace with Yunkai, in which their marriage plays a large role.
Meanwhile, Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, has sent his son Quentyn to Essos to find Daenerys.
On the Rhoyne, Jon Connington, a friend of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen who had faked his death in exile, has secretly been raising Rhaegar's son Aegon, who is believed to have died during the Sack of King's Landing. Instead, it is revealed that Varys had switched Aegon with another child, who had died in his place.
Beyond the Wall, the three-eyed crow who has been appearing to Bran Stark in his dreams is revealed to be none other than Bloodraven, Brynden Rivers, kept alive by sorcery and living in a cave.
The known Targaryens during the timespan of the events described in *A Song of Ice and Fire* are:
King {Viserys III}, called "the Beggar King", Khal Rhae Mhar (the Sorefoot King), and Khal Rhaggat (the Cart King). Self-proclaimed King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, in exile. Fatally "crowned" in Vaes Dothrak.
Queen Daenerys I, called Daenerys Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, sister of Viserys and last known Targaryen heir. Self-proclaimed Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Shackles/Chains, Queen of Meereen.
Maester {Aemon}, sworn to the Night's Watch. Great-granduncle to the Mad King. Died of a chill at sea, at the age of one hundred and two.
Prince Aegon, Rhaegar's son. Believed to have died at Gregor Clegane's hand in the Sack of King's Landing, but is purported by some to be alive under the identity of Young Griff and with the Golden Company.
The Sons of the Dragon
Era of the Old King
Descendants of King Viserys I Targaryen
After the Dragons Danced
The Good
Descendants of King Aegon V Targaryen
The Last Dragons
Treachery was a coin the Targaryens knew well.
I will kill every Targaryen I can get my hands on, until they are as dead as their dragons, and then I will piss on their graves.
What did any Targaryen ever know of honor? Go down into your crypt and ask Lyanna about the dragon's honor!
Like their dragons the Targaryens answered to neither gods nor men.
—Catelyn Stark's thoughts
Every child knows that the Targaryens have always danced too close to madness.