Balon Greyjoy
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Balon Greyjoy was a member of House Greyjoy. He was lord of the Iron Islands and proclaimed himself king twice. He was a follower of the old custom of the Ironborn and tried to bring them back to prominence. In 289 AL he proclaimed their independence but was defeated. During the War of the Five Kings he rebelled again and attacked the North. In 300 AL he was killed when he walked a bridge during a storm and fell to his death.
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[edit] Life
Balon was the eldest surviving son of Quellon Greyjoy and a woman of House Sunderly. It is not clear when he was born. He learned to sail when still young and was a very skilled captain. Later he often went raiding and was known for his fierceness and fearlessness.
He succeeded his father as Lord of the Iron Islands when the latter died during a raiding journey. When he returned to Pyke he found out his younger brother Urrigon had died of gangrene after being injured in the finger dance. The maester had tried to save the hand of the boy but his potions had failed and Urrigon (14 years old) lost his life instead. Balon commanded the same treatment be used on the maester, who died along with Balon's stepmother.
Balon married with Alannys Harlaw who gave him three sons and a daughter:
Later they grew apart.
In the past the Ironborn had the habit of raiding their neighbors. They used to attack, kill the men, take the woman as thralls and leave before an army could assemble. An Ironborn man took pride in not having to pay for jewelery but taking it from those too weak to hold it ("Paying the Iron price")
In those days Ironborn had ruled large parts of Westeros, including the Riverlands, Bear Island and the Arbor. After Aegon's Conquest they had lost their independence and were not allowed to raid other territories of the Kingdom.
Balon wished a return to those customs which he considered a better way for the Ironborn.
[edit] First Rebellion
- Main article: Greyjoy Rebellion
In 289 AL Balon rebelled. Because Robert Baratheon had gotten the throne through conquest, Balon thought he would not have the same support as his Targaryen predecessors and thus would not be able to offer much resistance.
The Ironborn had some success when they attacked Lannisport and destroyed a number of ships, but eventually they were defeated. Balon's elder sons Rodrik and Malon were killed during this conflict and his third son, Theon, was taken hostage by Eddard Stark.
In 297 AL Balon's brother Euron seduced the wife of Victarion another brother of Balon. To prevent bloodshed between the brothers Balon sent Euron to exile and swore he would be killed if he returned. To keep up his honour Victarion killed his wife.
[edit] Second Rebellion
A new chance to rebel came after Robert Baratheon's death. Balon assembled his fleet and ordered all ships who visited the Iron Island to remain so he would have the element of surprise.
Robb Stark had offered to ally with Balon against the Lannisters but Balon spurned Robb Stark's offer. Instead he declared himself King of the Iron Islands and the North, taking the Neck thereby cutting off Robb's army who was campaigning in the Riverlands and in the Westerlands. Then the Ironborn went ravaging the coastline of the Stark-held North.
His forces were able to conquer a number of castles because most soldiers had left with Robb to fight in the south. Amongst those were: Deepwood Motte, Torrhen's Square and the houseseat of the Starks: Winterfell.
[edit] Death and succession
Balon died in a fall while crossing a bridge during a storm. Some portents and the timely return of his brother Euron lead to speculation that Balon may have been murdered by an assassin at Euron's command.
After his death, his daughter Asha and his brothers Victarion and Euron were among candidates to succeed him. Theon had been taking prisoner by the Boltons and was not able to press his claim. The matter was decided during a Kingsmoot organised by Aeron Greyjoy another brother of Balon. Euron, Balon's eldest brother was chosen as his successor after he promised to conquer the whole of Westeros with the power of dragons.
