Difference between revisions of "Battle in the Whispering Wood"

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*[[House Greenfield]]
 
*[[House Greenfield]]
 
*[[House Westerling]]
 
*[[House Westerling]]
| combatant2  = '''Robb Stark's Host:'''<br> [[North|The North]], led by [[House Stark]]
+
| combatant2  = '''Robb Stark's Host:'''<br> The [[north]], led by [[House Stark]]
 
*[[House Cassel]]
 
*[[House Cassel]]
 
*[[House Flint of Flint's Finger]]
 
*[[House Flint of Flint's Finger]]
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| strength2  = ~6,000 [[north]]men and [[riverlands|rivermen]] including forces of [[House Mallister]], [[House Frey]], and remnants of [[Edmure Tully|Edmure's]] host after the [[battle under the walls of Riverrun|battle at Riverrun]].
 
| strength2  = ~6,000 [[north]]men and [[riverlands|rivermen]] including forces of [[House Mallister]], [[House Frey]], and remnants of [[Edmure Tully|Edmure's]] host after the [[battle under the walls of Riverrun|battle at Riverrun]].
 
| casualties1 = Entire force killed or captured <br>
 
| casualties1 = Entire force killed or captured <br>
[[Jaime Lannister]] (captured)<br>
+
[[Quenten Banefort]]<br>[[Tytos Brax]]<br>[[Regenard Estren]]<br>[[Cleos Frey]]<br>[[Tion Frey]]<br>[[Garth Greenfield]]<br>[[Jaime Lannister]]<br>[[Willem Lannister]]<br>[[Mallor the Dornishman|Mallor]]<br>[[Gawen Westerling]]
[[Tytos Brax]] (captured)<br> [[Willem Lannister]] (captured) <br> [[Quenten Banefort]] (captured) <br> [[Gawen Westerling]] (captured)
 
 
| casualties2 = Not significant (~200) <br> [[Eddard Karstark]]†<br>[[Torrhen Karstark]]†<br>[[Daryn Hornwood]]†
 
| casualties2 = Not significant (~200) <br> [[Eddard Karstark]]†<br>[[Torrhen Karstark]]†<br>[[Daryn Hornwood]]†
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''battle in the Whispering Wood''',{{ref|ACOK|7}} often simply called  the '''Whispering Wood''' after its [[Whispering Wood|forested setting]],{{ref|ACOK|Appendix}} is a pivotal battle during the [[War of the Five Kings]]. The [[House Stark|Stark]] victory relieves [[Riverrun]] while shattering one of the [[House Lannister|Lannister]] armies in the [[riverlands]].{{Ref|aGoT|63}}
+
The '''battle in the Whispering Wood''',{{ref|ACOK|7}} often simply called  the '''Whispering Wood''' after its [[Whispering Wood|forested setting]],{{ref|ACOK|Appendix}} is a pivotal battle during the [[War of the Five Kings]]. The [[House Stark|Stark]] victory and ensuing [[Battle of the Camps]] shatters one of the [[House Lannister|Lannister]] armies in the [[riverlands]], allowing [[Riverrun]] to be relieved.{{Ref|aGoT|63}}
  
 
==Prelude==
 
==Prelude==
Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] grows overconfident after the easy victories in the [[riverlands]]. He smashes the river lords' forces at the [[Battle in the hills below the Golden Tooth|Golden Tooth]] and [[Battle under the walls of Riverrun|Riverrun]], capturing the heir to the riverlands, Ser [[Edmure Tully]], and many of his [[knight]]s, and forming a siege on its capital, Riverrun. The host of Jaime's father, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], holds the crossing in the east, essentially securing a Lannister victory in the riverlands. Of late, Jaime has been leading large parties to attack the scattered surviving riverlord forces at their own strongholds.
+
Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] smashes the river lords' forces at the [[Battle in the hills below the Golden Tooth|Golden Tooth]] and [[Battle under the walls of Riverrun|Riverrun]], capturing the heir to the riverlands, Ser [[Edmure Tully]], and many of his [[knight]]s.{{ref|AGOT|56}} Jaime besieges [[Riverrun]],{{ref|AGOT|56}} the capital of the [[riverlands]], while the host of his father, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], closes the [[kingsroad]] to the east{{ref|AGOT|55}} and methodically captures the castles of river lords.{{ref|AGOT|56}}
  
Unknown to Jaime, [[Robb Stark]] has forged an alliance with [[House Frey]] of the [[Twins]], securing him passage over the [[Green Fork]] of the [[Trident]]. Joined by additional soldiers from the Freys and [[House Mallister]] of [[Seagard]], Robb moves on Riverrun from the north in an attempt to outflank the unsuspecting Lannister forces and relieve the besieged forces at Riverrun. Robb manages to keep his march secret, thanks to the efforts of his great uncle, Ser [[Brynden Tully]], and his outriders, who are able to shoot down all of the Lannister [[raven]]s and any outriders screening the camps.
+
Unknown to Jaime, [[Robb Stark]] has forged an alliance with [[Walder Frey]], [[Lord of the Crossing]], securing passage over the [[Green Fork]] of the [[Trident]].{{ref|AGOT|59}} Joined by additional soldiers from [[House Frey]] of the [[Twins]] and [[House Mallister]] of [[Seagard]], Robb moves on Riverrun from the north in an attempt to outflank the unsuspecting Lannister forces and relieve the besieged forces at Riverrun. Robb manages to keep his march secret, thanks to the efforts of his great uncle, Ser [[Brynden Tully]], and three hundred picked outriders, who shoot down Lannister [[raven]]s and slay Jaime's scouts.{{Ref|AGOT|63}} Ser [[Marq Piper]] separately harries the Lannister supply trains with half a hundred men.{{Ref|aGoT|69}} Jaime leaves his camp at Riverrun three times to deal with raiders or stubborn holdfasts.{{ref|AGOT|63}}
  
 
==The Battle==
 
==The Battle==
Since his father [[Clement Piper]] lost to Jaime in the [[battle in the hills below the Golden Tooth]], Ser [[Marq Piper]] has been harrying the Lannister supply trains with half a hundred men.{{Ref|aGoT|69}} As Robb nears, he joins in these efforts. In an attempt to draw Jaime from his camp, Robb Stark sends a small force of a few hundred men carrying [[House Tully|Tully]] colors to lure him out. Jaime, who has been leading a party of few hundred men, is lured north, where the seasoned outriders and scouts under Ser Brynden Tully kill his own outriders. Instead of turning back after being blinded, Jaime strikes at the first enemies he encounters, entering a [[Whispering Wood|forested valley]] and right into the trap Robb set for him. When Jaime comes out, the raiders fall back to a point where the rest of the Stark force are waiting.  
+
Robb sends Brynden with a few hundred men carrying [[House Tully|Tully]] banners to raid and draw Jaime from his camp at Riverrun. Expecting to crush a small force, Jaime and most of his cavalry are lured north of the [[Tumblestone]] to a [[Whispering Wood|forested valley]] where the rest of Robb's men are hidden.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} Lady [[Maege Mormont]] and Lord [[Jason Mallister]] wait east of the valley, while Lord [[Rickard Karstark]] is to the north. West is Ser [[Stevron Frey]], and across a far ridge Lord [[Jon Umber|Greatjon Umber]]. Robb's mother, Lady [[Catelyn Stark]], waits high on a ridge under the protection of [[Hallis Mollen]].{{ref|AGOT|63}}
  
Forces of Lady [[Maege Mormont]] sound horns to signal the moonlit trap has been sprung. Lord [[Jon Umber|Greatjon Umber]], Lord [[Rickard Karstark]], Ser [[Stevron Frey]], and Lord [[Jason Mallister]] have subordinate commands. The outcome of the battle is a complete success for Houses Stark and Tully. According to [[Theon Greyjoy]], the Lannisters lose ten men for every one of Robb's that falls.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} When Jaime sees the battle is lost, he rallies his retainers and attempts to cut his way through the host to slay Robb Stark in single combat. He is halted, but not before [[Daryn Hornwood]], [[Eddard Karstark]] and [[Torrhen Karstark]] of [[Robb's personal guard]] are slain.
+
Once all of Jaime's unsuspecting men have entered the valley, the [[House Mormont|Mormonts]] sound horns to signal the moonlit trap has been sprung, followed by [[House Umber|Umbers]], [[House Mallister|Mallisters]], Freys, and [[House Karstark|Karstarks]]. Jaime's horsemen are attacked by bowmen hidden in the trees by Robb, and the Young Wolf and northern bannermen lead their own cavalry against the ambushed [[westermen]]. Robb is joined in the fighting by his [[direwolf]], [[Grey Wind]].{{ref|AGOT|63}}
  
Jaime is captured, along with near a hundred knights and a dozen lords bannermen including: Lord [[Gawen Westerling]], Lord [[Quenten Banefort]], Ser [[Garth Greenfield]], Lord [[Regenard Estren]], Ser [[Tytos Brax]], [[Mallor the Dornishman]], [[Willem Lannister]], and the Lannister cousins [[Cleos Frey]] and [[Tion Frey]].{{Ref|aGoT|63}}
+
When Jaime sees the battle is lost, he rallies his retainers and attempts to cut his way through the host to slay Robb in single combat. He is halted, but not before slaying [[Daryn Hornwood]], [[Eddard Karstark]] and [[Torrhen Karstark]] of [[Robb's personal guard]].{{Ref|aGoT|63}} Grey Wind howls as dawn breaks and the fighting winds down.{{ref|AGOT|63}}  
  
 
==Aftermath==
 
==Aftermath==
 
[[File:Chris Rahn The Battle of the Whispering WoodII.png|thumb|280px|Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] is captured © FFG]]
 
[[File:Chris Rahn The Battle of the Whispering WoodII.png|thumb|280px|Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] is captured © FFG]]
 
[[File:MathiaArkoniel_Jaime_capture.jpg‎|thumb|280px|[[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], [[Robb Stark|Robb]], the [[Jon Umber|Greatjon]], and [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] after the Whispering Wood - by Mathia Arkoniel©]]
 
[[File:MathiaArkoniel_Jaime_capture.jpg‎|thumb|280px|[[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], [[Robb Stark|Robb]], the [[Jon Umber|Greatjon]], and [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] after the Whispering Wood - by Mathia Arkoniel©]]
The capture of Ser Jaime leaves the Lannister army surrounding Riverrun leaderless, leading directly to its disintegration at the [[Battle of the Camps]] and leaving Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] and Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] despondent. Having Jaime as a hostage, and recognizing his value as a prisoner, the Starks gain enormous bargaining power. The deaths of Eddard and Torrhen Karstark by Jaime's hand plant a seed of vengeance in the heart of their father, Lord [[Rickard Karstark]], however.{{ref|AGOT|69}}{{ref|AGOT|71}}
+
According to [[Theon Greyjoy]], the Lannisters lose ten men for every one of Robb's that falls.{{Ref|aGoT|63}} Jaime is captured, along with near a hundred knights and a dozen lords bannermen including: Lord [[Gawen Westerling]], Lord [[Quenten Banefort]], Ser [[Garth Greenfield]], Lord [[Regenard Estren]], Ser [[Tytos Brax]], [[Mallor the Dornishman]], [[Willem Lannister]], and the Lannister cousins [[Cleos Frey]] and [[Tion Frey]].{{Ref|aGoT|63}}
 +
 
 +
The capture of Jaime leaves the Lannister army surrounding Riverrun leaderless, leading directly to its disintegration at the [[Battle of the Camps]] and leaving Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] and Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] despondent. Having Jaime as a hostage, and recognizing his value as a prisoner, the Starks gain enormous bargaining power. The deaths of Eddard and Torrhen Karstark by Jaime's hand plant a seed of vengeance in the heart of their father, Lord [[Rickard Karstark]], however.{{ref|AGOT|69}}{{ref|AGOT|71}} Gawen is taken to [[Seagard]], Quenten to [[Stone Hedge]], Garth to [[Raventree Hall]], and Regenard and Tytos to the [[Twins]]. Willem, Cleos, and Tion are held hostage at Riverrun.{{ref|ASOS|Appendix}}
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
Line 66: Line 67:
  
  
{{Quote|Some tried to flee, but we'd pinched [[Whispering Wood|the valley]] shut at both ends, and we rode out of the darkness with sword and lance. The [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] must have thought the [[Others]] themselves were on them when that [[Grey Wind|wolf of Robb's]] got in among them. I saw him tear one man’s arm from his shoulder, and their horses went mad at the scent of him. I couldn't tell you how many men were thrown...{{Ref|aGoT|71}}}}
+
{{Quote|[[Robb Stark|Your brother]] defeated my uncle [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]]. [[Cersei Lannister|My mother]] says it was treachery and deceit. She wept when she heard.{{Ref|aGoT|67}}}}
- [[Theon Greyjoy]] to [[House Tully guards|Riverrun's garrison]]
+
- [[Joffrey Baratheon]] to [[Sansa Stark]]
  
  
Line 74: Line 75:
  
  
{{Quote|[[Robb Stark|Your brother]] defeated my uncle [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]]. [[Cersei Lannister|My mother]] says it was treachery and deceit. She wept when she heard.{{Ref|aGoT|67}}}}
+
{{Quote|Some tried to flee, but we'd pinched [[Whispering Wood|the valley]] shut at both ends, and we rode out of the darkness with sword and lance. The [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] must have thought the [[Others]] themselves were on them when that [[Grey Wind|wolf of Robb's]] got in among them. I saw him tear one man’s arm from his shoulder, and their horses went mad at the scent of him. I couldn't tell you how many men were thrown...{{Ref|aGoT|71}}}}
- [[Joffrey Baratheon]] to [[Sansa Stark]]
+
- [[Theon Greyjoy]] to [[House Tully guards|Riverrun's garrison]]
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==
Line 83: Line 84:
 
   <ref name=directionEastWest>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 63|Catelyn Chapter 63]]: "To east and west, the trumpets of the [[Jason Mallister|Mallisters]] and [[Stevron Frey|Freys]] blew vengeance."</ref>
 
   <ref name=directionEastWest>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 63|Catelyn Chapter 63]]: "To east and west, the trumpets of the [[Jason Mallister|Mallisters]] and [[Stevron Frey|Freys]] blew vengeance."</ref>
 
   <ref name=directionNorth>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 63|Catelyn Chapter 63]]: "North, where the valley narrowed and bent like a cocked elbow, Lord [[Rickard Karstark|Karstark's]] warhorns added their own deep, mournful voices to the dark chorus."</ref>
 
   <ref name=directionNorth>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 63|Catelyn Chapter 63]]: "North, where the valley narrowed and bent like a cocked elbow, Lord [[Rickard Karstark|Karstark's]] warhorns added their own deep, mournful voices to the dark chorus."</ref>
   <ref name=directionridge>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 63|Catelyn Chapter 63]]: Across the valley to the far ridge, she ([[Catelyn Stark]]) saw the [[Jon Umber|Greatjon's]] riders emerge from the darkness beneath the trees.<</ref>
+
   <ref name=directionridge>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', [[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 63|Catelyn Chapter 63]]: Across the valley to the far ridge, she ([[Catelyn Stark]]) saw the [[Jon Umber|Greatjon's]] riders emerge from the darkness beneath the trees.</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 95: Line 96:
 
[[Category:House Greenfield battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Greenfield battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Hornwood battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Hornwood battles|Whispering Wood]]
 +
[[Category:House Karstark battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Lannister battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Lannister battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Mallister battles|Whispering Wood]]
 
[[Category:House Mallister battles|Whispering Wood]]

Revision as of 21:09, 22 November 2017

Battle in the Whispering Wood
Battle of the Whispering Wood.png [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Fan-made map of the battle
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Date 299 AC[6]
Place Whispering Wood
Result Stark victory
Combatants
Iron Throne/House Baratheon of King's Landing:

Westerlands, led by House Lannister

Robb Stark's Host:
The north, led by House Stark

Riverlands

Commanders
Ser Jaime Lannister Robb Stark
Ser Brynden Tully
Strength
~1,500-2,250 westermen ~6,000 northmen and rivermen including forces of House Mallister, House Frey, and remnants of Edmure's host after the battle at Riverrun.
Casualties
Entire force killed or captured
Quenten Banefort
Tytos Brax
Regenard Estren
Cleos Frey
Tion Frey
Garth Greenfield
Jaime Lannister
Willem Lannister
Mallor
Gawen Westerling
Not significant (~200)
Eddard Karstark
Torrhen Karstark
Daryn Hornwood

The battle in the Whispering Wood,[7] often simply called the Whispering Wood after its forested setting,[8] is a pivotal battle during the War of the Five Kings. The Stark victory and ensuing Battle of the Camps shatters one of the Lannister armies in the riverlands, allowing Riverrun to be relieved.[9]

Prelude

Ser Jaime Lannister smashes the river lords' forces at the Golden Tooth and Riverrun, capturing the heir to the riverlands, Ser Edmure Tully, and many of his knights.[10] Jaime besieges Riverrun,[10] the capital of the riverlands, while the host of his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, closes the kingsroad to the east[11] and methodically captures the castles of river lords.[10]

Unknown to Jaime, Robb Stark has forged an alliance with Walder Frey, Lord of the Crossing, securing passage over the Green Fork of the Trident.[12] Joined by additional soldiers from House Frey of the Twins and House Mallister of Seagard, Robb moves on Riverrun from the north in an attempt to outflank the unsuspecting Lannister forces and relieve the besieged forces at Riverrun. Robb manages to keep his march secret, thanks to the efforts of his great uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, and three hundred picked outriders, who shoot down Lannister ravens and slay Jaime's scouts.[9] Ser Marq Piper separately harries the Lannister supply trains with half a hundred men.[13] Jaime leaves his camp at Riverrun three times to deal with raiders or stubborn holdfasts.[9]

The Battle

Robb sends Brynden with a few hundred men carrying Tully banners to raid and draw Jaime from his camp at Riverrun. Expecting to crush a small force, Jaime and most of his cavalry are lured north of the Tumblestone to a forested valley where the rest of Robb's men are hidden.[9] Lady Maege Mormont and Lord Jason Mallister wait east of the valley, while Lord Rickard Karstark is to the north. West is Ser Stevron Frey, and across a far ridge Lord Greatjon Umber. Robb's mother, Lady Catelyn Stark, waits high on a ridge under the protection of Hallis Mollen.[9]

Once all of Jaime's unsuspecting men have entered the valley, the Mormonts sound horns to signal the moonlit trap has been sprung, followed by Umbers, Mallisters, Freys, and Karstarks. Jaime's horsemen are attacked by bowmen hidden in the trees by Robb, and the Young Wolf and northern bannermen lead their own cavalry against the ambushed westermen. Robb is joined in the fighting by his direwolf, Grey Wind.[9]

When Jaime sees the battle is lost, he rallies his retainers and attempts to cut his way through the host to slay Robb in single combat. He is halted, but not before slaying Daryn Hornwood, Eddard Karstark and Torrhen Karstark of Robb's personal guard.[9] Grey Wind howls as dawn breaks and the fighting winds down.[9]

Aftermath

Ser Jaime Lannister is captured © FFG
Catelyn, Robb, the Greatjon, and Jaime after the Whispering Wood - by Mathia Arkoniel©

According to Theon Greyjoy, the Lannisters lose ten men for every one of Robb's that falls.[9] Jaime is captured, along with near a hundred knights and a dozen lords bannermen including: Lord Gawen Westerling, Lord Quenten Banefort, Ser Garth Greenfield, Lord Regenard Estren, Ser Tytos Brax, Mallor the Dornishman, Willem Lannister, and the Lannister cousins Cleos Frey and Tion Frey.[9]

The capture of Jaime leaves the Lannister army surrounding Riverrun leaderless, leading directly to its disintegration at the Battle of the Camps and leaving Lord Tywin Lannister and Queen Cersei Lannister despondent. Having Jaime as a hostage, and recognizing his value as a prisoner, the Starks gain enormous bargaining power. The deaths of Eddard and Torrhen Karstark by Jaime's hand plant a seed of vengeance in the heart of their father, Lord Rickard Karstark, however.[13][14] Gawen is taken to Seagard, Quenten to Stone Hedge, Garth to Raventree Hall, and Regenard and Tytos to the Twins. Willem, Cleos, and Tion are held hostage at Riverrun.[15]

Quotes

My lady, the realm has not seen such a victory since the Field of Fire. I vow, the Lannisters lost ten men for every one of ours that fell.[9]

- Theon Greyjoy to Catelyn Stark


Your brother defeated my uncle Jaime. My mother says it was treachery and deceit. She wept when she heard.[16]

- Joffrey Baratheon to Sansa Stark


How could it happen? Ser Jaime taken, the siege broken ... this is a catastrophe![13]

- Harys Swyft to Tywin Lannister's war council


Some tried to flee, but we'd pinched the valley shut at both ends, and we rode out of the darkness with sword and lance. The Lannisters must have thought the Others themselves were on them when that wolf of Robb's got in among them. I saw him tear one man’s arm from his shoulder, and their horses went mad at the scent of him. I couldn't tell you how many men were thrown...[14]

- Theon Greyjoy to Riverrun's garrison

References and Notes

  1. A Game of Thrones, Catelyn Chapter 63: To the left (which probably corresponds with west) Robb Stark's force.
  2. A Game of Thrones, Catelyn Chapter 63: "Here was the call of Maege Mormont's warhorn, a long low blast that rolled down the valley from the east."
  3. A Game of Thrones, Catelyn Chapter 63: "To east and west, the trumpets of the Mallisters and Freys blew vengeance."
  4. A Game of Thrones, Catelyn Chapter 63: "North, where the valley narrowed and bent like a cocked elbow, Lord Karstark's warhorns added their own deep, mournful voices to the dark chorus."
  5. A Game of Thrones, Catelyn Chapter 63: Across the valley to the far ridge, she (Catelyn Stark) saw the Greatjon's riders emerge from the darkness beneath the trees.
  6. See the The War of the Five Kings calculations.
  7. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  8. A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 63, Catelyn X.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
  11. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 55, Catelyn VIII.
  12. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, Catelyn IX.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
  14. 14.0 14.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  15. A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
  16. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 67, Sansa VI.