House Baratheon of Dragonstone

House Baratheon of Dragonstone
Coat of arms	A crowned black stag within a flaming red heart on a bright yellow field; (Or, a heart gules enflamed proper charged with a stag sable crowned of the field)
Seat	Dragonstone
Head	King Stannis I Baratheon
Regions	Crownlands; Stormlands;
Titles	Lord of Dragonstone; Lord of Storm's End (disputed); King of Westeros (disputed);
Heir	Princess Shireen Baratheon
Overlord	None; sovereign (disputed by House Baratheon of King's Landing)
Founder	Stannis Baratheon
Founded	284 AC

House Baratheon of Dragonstone is a cadet branch of House Baratheon of Storm's End. Its seat is Dragonstone, the island castle that sits off the mainland to the northeast of King's Landing, and the Great House commands the allegiance of the lords of the narrow sea.^[1] Its founder and current head is Lord Stannis Baratheon, who seized the island at the end of Robert's Rebellion and received it as a reward from his brother, King Robert I Baratheon.

History

House Baratheon of Dragonstone was formed in 284 AC after Robert's Rebellion when the new king, Robert I Baratheon, named his younger brother, Stannis, Lord of Dragonstone.^[2] Stannis took the title as a slight,^[3] since he would have preferred the richer lands of Storm's End, the ancestral Baratheon castle, but Robert wanted a strong leader in the old seat of House Targaryen. Robert instead awarded Storm's End to the youngest brother, Renly.^[2]

Around 287 AC, Lord Stannis took Selyse Florent to wife. During Greyjoy's Rebellion in 289 AC, Stannis, as Robert's master of ships, led the Baratheon fleets to victory in a sea battle off Fair Isle. Since then Stannis and Selyse have conceived their daughter, Shireen, although their marriage remains loveless.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Lord Stannis Baratheon is the first to suspect that Queen Cersei Lannister's children are not also those of King Robert I Baratheon.^[4] While investigating the matter with the Hand of the King, Lord Jon Arryn,^[5] Stannis agrees to foster Jon's son, young Robert Arryn, on Dragonstone.^[6] Neither this nor the moment of revealing the information to Robert Baratheon arrives, however. Lord Arryn is poisoned and Stannis retreats to Dragonstone shortly after the king leaves to offer the position of Hand to Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell.^[7]

Before Stannis can return to King's Landing, King Robert dies and the realm poises for war. Stannis, his wife Selyse, and daughter Shireen are mentioned among the nobles that Cersei's eldest child, Joffrey I Baratheon, commands to do him fealty or be named traitors.^[8] While Stannis's intentions are unknown, it is reported that he has been gathering ships, sellswords, and a shadowbinder to his island.^[9]

A Clash of Kings

Stannis Baratheon by John Goodenough © Fantasy Flight Games

Sending letters throughout the realm, Stannis proclaims himself the rightful King of Westeros over Queen Cersei's baseborn abominations.^[10] He is advised by Melisandre of Asshai, a red priestess of R'hllor, the Lord of Light. Originally, Stannis uses the crowned stag of the Baratheons as his sigil, but during the War of the Five Kings, he takes for his personal banner a crowned stag enclosed within a red heart surrounded by a blaze of orange fire on a field of sun yellow.^[4]

Although the poor lands of Dragonstone allow for little support for his claim, the religion and magic of Melisandre has given focus to Stannis's cause, allowing for the assassination of his brother Renly and the defection of most of Renly's bannermen at Storm's End.^[11]^[12]

The red religion has become a point of conflict among the house's sworn swords and lords bannermen, with its supporters and fervent believers labeled queen's men, and those who cleave to the Faith of the Seven called king's men. The house's subsequent contest against House Baratheon of King's Landing is denied in the Battle of the Blackwater,^[13] and Ser Justin Massey and Ser Richard Horpe convince Stannis to retreat to Dragonstone.^[14]

A Storm of Swords

After the Blackwater, Stannis's total strength is between thirteen hundred^[15] and fifteen hundred^[16] men on Dragonstone (more than half of them Florents)^[16] and three hundred men at Storm's End.^[15]

Queen Selyse and Melisandre burn the traitors Guncer Sunglass, Alester Florent, and the sons of Hubard Rambton, sacrifices to the Lord of Light.^[17]^[18]

The support of Selyse's family, House Florent, has been important for Stannis, but he resents their meddling. He travels to the Wall with most of his men and wins the battle beneath the Wall, beginning his campaign to win the north.^[19] By this time Stannis has apparently joined his fiery heart sigil with the traditional banner of House Baratheon, a black stag on "a sheet of beaten gold".^[20]

A Feast for Crows

Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon, by Bella Bergolts ©

Lord Paxter Redwyne commands most of the Redwyne fleet at the siege of Dragonstone, which is held by Ser Rolland Storm on behalf of Stannis.^[21] Ser Loras Tyrell, who takes command when the siege takes too long, is said to have been gravely wounded during his bloody conquest of Dragonstone.^[22]

Lords Mace Tyrell and Mathis Rowan lead half of House Tyrell's strength to Storm's End, which is held by Ser Gilbert Farring for Stannis.^[23] The rest of the Redwyne fleet blockade Shipbreaker Bay to prevent the castle from being resupplied.^[21] Mace leaves this siege of Storm's End when he hears that his daughter, Queen Margaery, has been arrested by the High Sparrow.^[24]

A Dance with Dragons

Aegon Targaryen and the Golden Company invade the stormlands and also threaten Storm's End.^[25]

Stannis marches from Castle Black, enlists the aid of the northern mountain clans, and liberates Deepwood Motte from Asha Greyjoy's ironborn.^[26] His march on Winterfell, which is held by House Bolton, is slowed in the wolfswood by a fierce blizzard.^[27]^[28]

Queen Selyse remains at the Wall, where she engages in marrying her knights to various wildlings.^[29] Ser Axell Florent calls himself the Queen's Hand.^[30] Princess Shireen is intrigued by the giant at Castle Black, Wun Wun.^[31]

House Baratheon of Dragonstone at the end of the third century

The known Baratheons of Dragonstone during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

King Stannis I, self-proclaimed King of Westeros.
- Queen Selyse of House Florent, his wife.
  - Princess Shireen Baratheon, his only child.

Various
women

Margaery
Tyrell^[32]

Margaery
Tyrell^[32]

Unknown
twins

9 Others

Household

The King's main household

Lady Melisandre of Asshai, called the Red Woman, a priestess of R'hllor, his main counselor. Currently at Castle Black.
Lord Davos Seaworth, called the 'Onion Knight', now the 'Onion Lord', and 'Davos Shorthand', Lord of the Rainwood, Admiral of the Narrow Sea, and Hand of the King. Believed dead, actually en route to Skagos on a mission for Lord Wyman Manderly.
- His wife, Marya, at Cape Wrath.
- {Dale}, captain of the Wraith; {Allard}, captain of the Lady Marya; {Matthos}, second of Black Betha; {Maric}, oarmaster of Fury; Davos's sons. Perished at the Battle of the Blackwater.
- Devan, his oldest living son, squire to King Stannis, currently at Castle Black.
- Stannis and Steffon, his youngest sons. Currently at Cape Wrath.
{Bryen Farring}, squire to King Stannis. Succumbed to cold and hunger in the march to Winterfell.
Patchface, also called 'Patches', a lackwit fool and former slave from Volantis. Princess Shireen's companion. Currently at Castle Black.

The King's captives and guests

Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, King Stannis's captive. Supposedly imprisoned at Winterfell.
- Dalla, his late wife. Died in childbirth
- Val, the 'wildling princess', Dalla's sister, also a prisoner.
- The 'wildling prince', his yet unnamed son. Smuggled to safety under orders of Jon Snow. Currently at Oldtown.
  - Gilly, the boy's wet nurse, a wildling woman. Currently at Oldtown.
    - her son, known as 'the abomination' and 'Monster', fathered by Craster. Currently at Castle Black under Val's care.
Prince Theon Greyjoy, called 'Theon Turncloak', a captive of King Stannis.
Princess Asha Greyjoy, also a captive of King Stannis.
- 'Qarl the Maid' and Tristifer Botley. Captive alongside Asha.
Tycho Nestoris, an emissary of the Iron Bank of Braavos, en route back to the Wall.
'Arya Stark', actually Jeyne Poole, rescued from Winterfell.

The King's knights and sworn swords marching to Winterfell

Lord Robin Peasebury, Lord of Poddingfield, Ser Richard Horpe, Ser Godry Farring, called 'Giantslayer', Ser Clayton Suggs and Ser Corliss Penny, queen's men accompanying Stannis on the march to Winterfell.
Ser Justin Massey, queen's man, escorting Tycho Nestoris to Castle Black.
Lord {Harwood Fell}, Lord of Felwood and a queen's man. Perished during the march to Winterfell.
Ser Ormund Wylde and Ser Harys Cobb, knights sworn to King Stannis. Accompanying him on the march to Winterfell.

The King's knights and sworn swords at Castle Black

Ser Axell Florent, castellan of Dragonstone, uncle to Queen Selyse, self-appointed 'Hand of the Queen'.
Ser Narbert Grandison, Ser Benethon Scales, Ser Dorden the Dour, Ser Malegorn of Redpool, Ser Lambert Whitewater, Ser Perkin Follard, Ser Brus Buckler, queen's men and sworn swords of Queen Selyse.
Ser {Patrek of King's Mountain}, a queen's man and sworn sword of Queen Selyse. Killed by Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun
Ser Willam Foxglove and Ser Humfrey Clifton, knights sworn to King Stannis.
Morgan and Merrel, two drunken queen's men. Melisandre's guards.

The King's household at Dragonstone

Ser Rolland Storm, called 'the Bastard of Nightsong', Lord of Nightsong and Lord of the Marches, castellan of Dragonstone. Fate unknown following the siege of Dragonstone.
Maester {Cressen}, healer and tutor, an old man. Poisoned himself in an attempt to murder Melisandre.
- Maester Pylos, his young successor. Fate unknown.
Lord {Alester Florent}, Lord of Brightwater Keep and Hand of the King, uncle to Queen Selyse. Imprisoned for treason and burned alive by Melisandre.
{Jate Blackberry}, captain of the gate on Dragonstone. Killed at Blackwater.
Ser {Hubard Rambton}, a knight sworn to Lord Sunglass. Killed defending the sept at Dragonstone from being burned.
- {His three sons}. One killed alongside Ser Hubard, the remaining two burned alive by Queen Selyse.
Septon Barre, keeper of the sept at Dragonstone. Imprisoned.
"Porridge" and "Lamprey", two gaolers. Fate unknown.

The King's household at Storm's End

Ser Gilbert Farring, castellan of Storm's End.
- Lord Elwood Meadows, Ser Gilbert's second.
- Maester Jurne, Ser Gilbert's counselor and healer.
- Ser Lomas Estermont, the king's maternal uncle, garrisoned at Storm's End.

The King's bannermen at their seats

Lord Monterys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark, a boy of seven years.
Lord Lucos Chyttering, called Little Lucos, a youth of seventeen.
Lord Lester Morrigen, Lord of Crow's Nest.

The King's men across the narrow sea

Edric Storm, the King's nephew, bastard son of the late King Robert by Delena Florent. Smuggled for safety to the Free Cities. Currently in Lys.
- Ser Andrew Estermont, his cousin. Smuggled Edric Storm to the Free Cities.
  - Ser Gerald Gower, Ser Triston of Tally Hill, Omer Blackberry, Lewys the Fishwife, king's men sworn to King Stannis. Edric's guards and protectors.

The King's imprisoned knights

Ser Parmen Crane, called 'Parmen the Purple', imprisoned at Highgarden.
Ser Erren Florent, the queen's younger brother, imprisoned at Highgarden.

Sellsails

Salladhor Saan, named Lord of Blackwater Bay and self-fashioned Prince of the Narrow Sea, a sellsail and master of a fleet of galleys. Abandoned Stannis's cause.
- Meizo Mahr, a eunuch in Salladhor's service.
- Khorane Sathmantes, a Lyseni sellsail and captain of the Shayala's Dance
Morosh the Myrman, a Myrish admiral. Fate unknown.