House Baratheon

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire

House name House Baratheon

Coat of Arms	A crowned black stag on a field of gold
Words	"Ours is the Fury"
Seat	Storm's End Kingslanding Dragonstone
Current Lord	Robert Baratheon
Region	The Stormlands Kingslanding Dragonstone
Title	King
Heir	Joffrey Baratheon
Overlord	none, sovereign
Cadet branch(s)	Possibly: House Bolling House Wensington
Founder	Durran or Orys Baratheon

House Baratheon is the principal house in the Stormlands. Its seat is Storm's End. Its sigil is a crowned black stag on a field of gold, and its words are "Ours is the Fury."

Contents 1 History 2 House genealogy 3 Current members 3.1 Robert 3.2 Cersei Lannister 3.3 Joffrey 3.4 Myrcella 3.5 Tommen 3.6 Renly 3.7 Stannis 4 Past and historic members 4.1 Lyonel 4.2 Gowen 4.3 Steffon 4.4 Harbert 5 Sworn houses 5.1 Sworn directly to King's Landing 5.2 Sworn to Dragonstone 5.3 Sworn to Storms End 6 Notes 7 References and Sources

[edit] History

Baratheon was the youngest of the original great houses, tracing its descent from Orys Baratheon, one of Aegon I's fiercest generals, and rumored to be his bastard brother. Through the female line, the Baratheons are descended from the Storm Kings, as Orys slew Argilac the Arrogant, last of the Storm Kings, and married his daughter. Orys adopted the sigil and words of his wife's ancestral line. The line of the Storm Kings dates back to the Age of Heroes when their kingdom was founded by King Durran I "Godsgrief", a legendary hero. After the War of the Usurper, the house claimed the Iron Throne in King's Landing and the Isle of Dragonstone, with the support of House Stark, House Tully, House Arryn, and, eventually, House Lannister.

[edit] House genealogy

Aegon V Targaryen

Unknown Baratheon

Rhaelle Targaryen

Jaehaerys

Steffon

Cassana Estermont

Aerys II

Rhaella

Various woman

Robert

Cersei Lannister

Stannis

Selyse Florent

Renly

Rhaegar Targaryen

Elia Martell

Viserys

Daenerys Targaryen

Mya Steen

Joffrey

Myrcella

Tommen

Shireen

Edric Storm

Gendry

Others

[edit] Current members

[edit] Robert

Main article: Robert Baratheon

Robert Baratheon was a powerful and charismatic warrior in his youth. After Rhaegar Targaryen stole away his fiance, Lyanna Stark and caused a scandal, Robert joined with his friends and allies in Robert's Rebellion and toppled the Targaryen dynasty. He took the Iron Throne and began the Baratheon dynasty. His rule was plagued by overspenfing and drunken excess before he died during a hunt.

[edit] Cersei Lannister

Cersei Lannister is the wife of King Robert and mother of the royal children. She despised her husband and bore children only through her secret love, her brother Jaime Lannister.

[edit] Joffrey

Joffrey Baratheon is the eldest of the royal Baratheon children, and Robert's heir. He is 12 years old at the beginning of the series. Joffrey was strong-willed already as a child and has an uncontrollable temper not unlike his mother's and an unchecked sadistic streak. Like his Lannister relatives, he is tall, blonde, and handsome.

Along with the rest of the royal family, Joffrey made the trip to Winterfell after Jon Arryn's death. There he began to court the pretty Sansa Stark, Eddard's daughter to whom he was betrothed. After an altercation with the fiery young Arya Stark, his true personality showed through his polished manners, which earned him Arya's hatred.

Acting as the new Hand of the King, Eddard Stark discovered that Joffrey, along with his siblings, were actually bastards born of incest between Cersei and Jaime. Cersei protected her children's secret by arranging for Robert's death and then arresting Eddard. Joffrey took the Iron Throne as Robert's heir, and Sansa pleaded with him to spare her father's life. Joffrey gently promised Sansa that he would be merciful, but Joffrey's mercy turned out to be Eddard Stark's quick public beheading before Sansa's own eyes. This rash act was against his mother's wishes and was the major trigger that plunged Westeros into the devastating War of the Five Kings. Joffrey ruled with whim and caprice, proving difficult for even his mother to control. Sansa became imprisoned to his will, and he frequently had his guards beat her for his amusement. When he tried to have her stripped, his uncle Tyrion stopped him, and he never tried it again, although he was determined to eventually have Sansa in his bed whether he married her or not. His cruelty made him an unpopular king, and he was nearly killed in a riot sparked by his temper. Acting as his temporary Hand, only Tyrion stood up to Joffrey's authority, and Joffrey developed a special hatred for his uncle.

After House Tyrell allied itself to his reign, Joffrey discarded Sansa and married Margaery Tyrell, but decided that he would conduct an affair with Sansa later. During his wedding feast Joffrey drank poisoned wine and died while the entire court looked on. Cersei blamed the deed on Tyrion and his newly-wedded bride Sansa, but it is later hinted that the plot may have been orchestrated by Olenna Tyrell.

It is later revealed that Joffrey was himself responsible for the attempt on Bran's life in A Clash of Kings. Over-hearing his mother express her concern, and ever eager to please, Joffrey stole a dagger from his "father's" (King Robert's) collection and paid a man to kill Bran. Catelyn mistakenly traced the dagger back to Tyrion, which led her to take him hostage and inevitably caused even more animosity and blood shed between House Stark and House Lannister.

[edit] Myrcella

The second oldest of the royal Baratheon children, Myrcella Baratheon is delicate, beautiful and courteous. For her age, she displays courage, a strong will, and high intelligence. She is eight at the beginning of the series.

Like her siblings, Myrcella is the product of incest between Cersei and Jaime Lannister. She was sent to Dorne as part of an agreement with House Martell to ensure their support of Joffrey during the War of Five Kings. She is betrothed to marry Prince Trystane when they come of age, and by all reports the two get along well. Arianne Martell schemed to make Myrcella queen after Joffrey's death, as befit the laws of Dorne, but the plan went awry. During the chaos, Ser Gerold Dayne attempted to kill Myrcella, slashing her across the face. She survived, but lost an ear and received a hideous facial scar.

[edit] Tommen

The youngest of the royal Baratheon children, Tommen is seven years old at the beginning of the series. His plumpness, sweet disposition, and weak will are all marked contrasts to his fiery older brother.

Tommen was crowned after Joffrey's death, and married Margaery in his brother's stead. A submissive child, he did everything Cersei bade him, being more interested in his kittens and games than in the realm. Tommen's pliability worked both ways, however, and he was soon influenced by Margaery to resist his mother's commands. After Cersei was arrested, Tommen continued to sign everything his advisors set in front of him. One of his favorite activities as king was to stamp his seal on official documents.

[edit] Renly

The younger of Robert's brothers, the Lord of Storm's End, and Master of Laws on Robert's small council. He is a handsome and charismatic man, winning friends easily, but also strikes some people as frivolous.

Though Renly is Robert's younger brother, Robert gave the Baratheon seat of Storm's End to him rather than Stannis. The lands of Storm's End are considerably larger and richer than those of Stannis's Dragonstone, giving Renly more power than his older brother. While Robert lay dying, Renly approached Eddard Stark and suggested they seize control of the Iron Throne before Cersei Lannister could strike. Eddard refused the offer, and Renly left the city. After Robert's death, Renly declared himself king. Through his charisma and familiarity with the Baratheon bannermen, he managed to win support from many houses, despite his brother having the better claim. Renly also won the support of the Tyrells through a love affair with Loras and a marriage to Margaery.

He spent a great deal of time moving slowly through the south, gaining support and men while waiting for the right moment to strike. He hosted tournaments for his men while the Lannisters and Starks wore each other down. This plan went awry, however, when his brother Stannis marched against him. He met Stannis' much smaller force and refused to back down from his claim. While preparing for battle with his brother's forces, Renly was slain by Stannis' magic shade. Garlan Tyrell later wore Renly's armor in the Battle of the Blackwater to make it appear that Renly's ghost had returned for vengeance against the kinslaying Stannis.

[edit] Stannis

Main article: Stannis Baratheon

Stannis Baratheon is the elder of Robert's two younger brothers. Stannis's hard and unyielding personality make it difficult for him to persuade others to accept his claim to the Iron Throne after Robert's death.

[edit] Past and historic members

[edit] Lyonel

Ser Lyonel was the heir to Storm's End 1, called “The Laughing Storm” for the booming laugh he would issue during tilts, and a famous knight. He was one of the attendees at the Ashford Tourney c. 208 AL. He fought for Dunk in the Trial of Seven.

[edit] Gowen

Gowen Baratheon was a third son who married Lady Tya of House Lannister c. 207 AL. Their only issue was a black haired boy who died in infancy.

[edit] Steffon

Lord Steffon Baratheon was the father of Robert, Stannis, and Renly. He perished at sea with his wife, Cassana, in sight of Storm's End, on their return from a trip to the Free Cities. Aerys II had sent Steffon, his first cousin, to the Free Cities to find a bride for Rhaegar.

[edit] Harbert

An uncle of Steffon, Ser Harbert was master-at-arms of Storm's End and frequently served as castellan while the lord was away. After Steffon's death, Harbert remained castellan until Robert came of age to rule. He is long dead by the beginning of A Game of Thrones.

[edit] Sworn houses

[edit] Sworn directly to King's Landing

• House Blount. Ser Boros of House Blount is one of the Kingsguard.
• House Chelsted. A member of House Chested was for a short time the Hand of King Aerys II. The House may be extinct.
• House Hayford.
• House Hogg of Hogs Sow.
• House Kettleblack. The Kettleblacks are a family of sellswords and hedge knights who serve several masters. Osmund is a member of the Kingsguard, while his brothers Osfryd and Osney are officially retainers of Cersei Lannister. Their father, Oswell, is a retainer of Petyr Baelish.
• House Massey of Stonedance.
• House Rosby of Rosby.
• House Rykker of Duskendale. The Rykkers were given the lordship of Duskendale after the Defiance of Duskendale and the subsequent execution of all members of House Darklyn of Duskendale.
• House Stokeworth of Stokeworth.
• House Thorne.
• House Darklyn. An extinct House.

[edit] Sworn to Dragonstone

• House Bar Emmon of Sharp Point.
• House Celtigar of Claw Isle.
• House Rambton are vassels of Lord Sunglass.
• House Sunglass of Sweetport Sound.
• House Velaryon of Driftmark. The Velaryons are Valyrian in origin and have intermarried with House Targaryen. Lord Velaryon is given the title Lord of the Tydes.

Houses from the Blackwater Bay
Overlords:	Baratheon
Noble houses:	Mainland: Buckwell | Hayford | Rosby | Stokeworth Narrow Sea: Bar Emmon | Celtigar | Sunglass | Velaryon
Extincted houses:	Blackfyre | Darklyn
Exiled royal line:	Targaryen

[edit] Sworn to Storms End

• House Cafferen of Fawonton.
• House Caron of Nightsong. The Lord of House Caron is given the title of Lord of the Marches.
• House Connington of Griffins Roost. After Lord Jon
• House Dondarrion of Blackhaven. The first Dondarrion was given a lordship by a Storm King for delivering an important message. The house sigil of a forked, purple lightning bolt commemorates a lucky lightning strike that saved the messengers life. The Dondarrions are marcher lords.
• House Errol of Haystack Hall.
• House Estermont of Greenstone. Lord Estermont is maternal grandfather to King Robert Baratheon; his mother, Lady Cassana was the daughter of Lord Estermont.
• House Fell of Fellwood.
• House Gradison of Grandview.
• House Penrose of Parchments.
• House Seaworth.
• House Selmy of Harvest Hall.
• House Swann of Stonehelm. The Swanns are marcher lords.
• House Tarth of Evenfall Hall. The Tarths rule the island of Tarth, situated at the edge of Shipbreaker Bay. Lord Selwyn is called the Evenstar. His only daughter and heiress is Brienne, a POV character
• House Toyne. This house fell into disgrace when a Toyne of the Kingsguard was executed for sleeping with Aegon IV's mistress. His two brothers tried to avenge him by murdering the king, but Aegon was saved by his brother Aemon the Dragonknight, who died defending him. Simon Toyne, of a later generation, became an infamous outlaw, leading the Kingswood Brotherhood before being killed by Barristan Selmy,
• House Trant of Gallowsgrey.
• House Wylde of Rain House.

Houses from the Stormlands
Overlords:	Baratheon
Noble houses:	Buckler | Caron | Chyttering | Dondarrion | Errol | Estermont Fell | Morrigen | Penrose | Staedmon | Swann | Tarth
Knightly Houses:	Connington

[edit] Notes

1 Ser Lyonel is styled heir to Storm's End in the heraldry section at the end of the graphic novel adaptation of The Hedge Knight.

[edit] References and Sources

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at House Baratheon. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of House Baratheon. As with the A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.