Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Trident"

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(Royal Army)
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| combatant1 = Rebel army of <br> [[The North]] <br> [[The Riverlands]] <br> [[The Vale]] <br> [[The Stormlands]]
 
| combatant1 = Rebel army of <br> [[The North]] <br> [[The Riverlands]] <br> [[The Vale]] <br> [[The Stormlands]]
 
| combatant2 = Royal army of <br> [[King's Landing]] <br> [[Dragonstone]] <br> [[Dorne]] <br> Loyalist Riverland Houses (Darry, Mooton, Ryger)
 
| combatant2 = Royal army of <br> [[King's Landing]] <br> [[Dragonstone]] <br> [[Dorne]] <br> Loyalist Riverland Houses (Darry, Mooton, Ryger)
| commander1 = [[Robert Baratheon]] <br> [[Eddard Stark]] <br> [[Jon Arryn]]
+
| commander1 = [[Robert Baratheon]] <br> [[Eddard Stark]] <br> [[Jon Arryn]] <br> [[Hoster Tully]]
| commander2 = [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] + <br> [[Lewyn Martell]] +
+
| commander2 = [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] + <br> [[Lewyn Martell]] + <br> [[Barristan Selmy]] <br> [[Jonothor Darry]] +
 
| strength1 = 35,000
 
| strength1 = 35,000
 
| strength2 = 30,000<br>10,000 [[Dornishmen]]
 
| strength2 = 30,000<br>10,000 [[Dornishmen]]

Revision as of 14:17, 30 August 2012

Battle of the Trident
War of the Usurper.png
Location 4, Factions:Baratheon. Stark. Tyrell. Lannister. Targaryen.
Conflict Robert's Rebellion
Date 283 AC
Place The Trident
Result Rebel victory
Combatants
Rebel army of
The North
The Riverlands
The Vale
The Stormlands
Royal army of
King's Landing
Dragonstone
Dorne
Loyalist Riverland Houses (Darry, Mooton, Ryger)
Commanders
Robert Baratheon
Eddard Stark
Jon Arryn
Hoster Tully
Rhaegar Targaryen +
Lewyn Martell +
Barristan Selmy
Jonothor Darry +
Strength
35,000 30,000
10,000 Dornishmen
Casualties
Unknown Unknown, but larger than the Rebel's

The Battle of the Trident was the battle that ultimately determined the outcome of Robert's Rebellion. The battle was fought between Rebel and Royal troops at the Green Fork of the Trident, across what would thereafter be known as the Ruby Ford. It ended in a victory for the rebels.

Background

After the defeat at Stoney Sept, King Aerys II had at last realized that the Rebellion was a major threat to the Targaryens, perhaps the greatest threat to the dynasty since Daemon Blackfyre. The rebel forces were assembled on the east banks of the Green Fork and once the Tully and Arryn were joined by the Starks and Baratheons, they had sufficient strength to threaten King's Landing, commanded by Robert Baratheon they marched south along the Kingsroad to the main crossing point over the Trident.

By this time, Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had reappeared to take command of the royalist army. King Aerys has gracelessly reminded the Martells that Princess Elia was in his power and dispatched her uncle, Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard, assume command of 10,000 Dornish troops marching up the Kingsroad, and joined them to Rhaegar's royalist army at the Trident. At the same time Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jonothor Darry were sent to rally the scattered forces of Lord Jon Connington and joined them to Rhaegar's army as well. Additionally, Rhaegar persuaded his father to ask Tywin Lannister for help.

Though a significant army and navy under command of loyalist lords Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne was laying siege to Storm's End, none of the southron levies were called upon to march north. Finnaly the royal army, under command of Rhaegar, numbering some 40,000 men, marched up the kingsroad to the main crossing point over the Trident, as is was the route most likely to be taken by the rebels.

Opposing armies

Battle of the trident by Abe Papakhian

Rebel army

The army of the rebels consisted of:

  • All the forces of the North
  • Almost all forces of the Vale, though a few houses had remained loyal to the Targaryens
  • Forces of the Riverlands. The Riverlands had been deeply divided during the war. House Tully and many subject lords had taken the side of the rebels, while other houses, such as Houses Darry, Mooton and Ryger, some with personal ties to the Targaryens, had taken up the royal cause.[1] House Frey, the largest of the banner houses to House Tully, had not committed either way.
  • Some Stormlords. Though Robert Baratheon was lord of Storm's End and a central figure of the rebellion, most of the Stormlords were trapped in the south, and badly bloodied by battles at Ashford and the siege of Storm's End. As such, their contribution to the battle in the north was limited.

Total: Approximately 35,000.

Royal Army

The army of the royalists consisted of:

  • 10,000 men of Dorne
  • Survivors of the Battle of the Bells (This consisted of loyal Riverlands, Stormlands and Vale Houses)
  • All houses of the Crownlands
  • Several hundred levies from the Reach.

It was said that the royal army was larger, but that the rebels were more battle hardened. It was near 40,000 men, with a tenth of that knights. The rest were archers, freeriders, and foot soldiers. The infantry consisted of both spearmen and pikemen. [2]

The Battle

Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar Targaryen, by M.Luisa Giliberti

The Battle took place at the crossing of the Green Fork of the Trident that would later be known as the Ruby Ford. The Dornishmen, under the command of Prince Lewyn Martell was threatening Robert's left flank. Ser Lyn Corbray, picking up his wounded father's sword, led a charge and broke the Dornishmen. During the charge Ser Lyn encountered Prince Lewyn, who was already injured. In the ensuing fight, Ser Lyn killed Prince Lewyn.[3] During the battle, Ser Barristan killed several men[4]and Robert himself joined the fighting and met Rhaegar in single combat.

Though many great lords and knights either lost their lives or made names for themselves in the fighting, the battle was decided when Robert killed Rhaegar with a blow of his warhammer. The blow was so hard that the rubies adorning Rhaegar's armor were shattered free to litter the river, giving the Ruby Ford its name.[5] Leaderless, the Royal army broke and fled.[2]

Notable Casualties

Aftermath

The victory was the decisive engagement of the war. The way to King's Landing was now open for the rebels, with the only significant loyalist force left was invested in the Siege of Storm's End and Lannister reinforcements moving toward King's Landing. Robert had been wounded during the battle, so Eddard Stark led the rebel army straight down the Kingsroad towards the capital, racing to reach it before the Lannister reinforcements.[6]

Ser Barristan was close to death when he was brought before Robert. Though he was counseled to kill him, Robert spared his life and sent his own maester to tend to his wounds.[4]

References and Notes