Battle of the Fords

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Revision as of 15:56, 15 March 2011 by Azza65 (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
Battle of the Fords
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Place Red Fork of the Trident
Result Tactical Tully victory
Strategic Stark Failure
Combatants
House Tully House Lannister
Commanders
Ser Edmure Tully Lord Tywin Lannister
Strength
8000 Foot
3000 Horse
20,000
Casualties
unknown Leo Lefford+

The Battle of the Fords was a series of engagements fought between the forces of House Tully and House Lannister during the War of the Five Kings.

Lord Tywin Lannister was attempting to stop the pillaging and burning of the Westerlands by returning to the west and confronting the force under King Robb Stark. In order to do so, he had to cross the Red Fork of the Trident. Ser Edmure Tully learned of Lord Tywin's advance and called his banners in preparation of preventing them from crossing the river.

The Battle

Ser Edmure organized his forces so that every crossing both north and south of Riverrun was defended by a strong force. Lord Jason Mallister was commanded with the defense of four fords, while Lord Karyl Vance commanded the defense of fords to the north of Riverrun. The west bank of the Red Fork is higher than the east and wooded. The defenders used those trees to hide archers and placed scorpions as support. Ser Edmure kept his best knights as a reserve, to ride where they were needed most.

Lord Tywin sent forth his scouts first, testing the defenses, attempting to find an unguarded ford. Ser Flement Brax was sent south to attempt a breach there, and there was fighting to the north of Riverrun too. At Stone Mill, the fiercest assault was made under the command of Ser Gregor Clegane. Ser Gregor and his men managed to gain the west bank with terrible losses, but Ser Edmure smashed him with his reserve. Ser Addam Marbrand was thrown back three times, Lord Leo Lefford drowned and Ser Lyle Crakehall was taken captive. In the end, Lord Tywin's army did not cross and marched southeast.[1]

Aftermath

A loss at the Fords allowed Lord Tywin to learn of Stannis Baratheon's attack on King's Landing and he turned his army south in time to take Stannis's army in the rear. The victory by Ser Edmure destroyed Robb Stark's plans of forcing Tywin to return to the west and penning him within his own lands.

References and Sources