Battle of the Honeywine

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Revision as of 08:26, 11 August 2014 by Red Rabbit (talk | contribs) (References and Notes)
Jump to: navigation, search
Battle on the Honeywine
Conflict Dance of the Dragons
Date 130 AC
Place the banks of the Honeywine
Result Victory for the greens
Combatants
The greens The blacks
Commanders
Lord Ormund Hightower
Daeron Targaryen
Lord Thaddeus Rowan
Tom Flowers+
Ser Alan Beesbury
Lord Alan Tarly
Lord Owen Costayne+
Strength
thousands of foot soldiers (estimated)
Tessarion
a great host of mounted knights, thousands of foot soldiers (estimated)
Casualties
Unknown but heavy (estimated) Unknown but heavy (estimated)
Tom Flowers+
Ser Alan Beesbury (captured)
Lord Alan Tarly (captured)
Lord Owen Costayne+

The Battle on the Honeywine was one of many battles fought during the Dance of the Dragons, between the greens of Aegon II Targaryen and the blacks of Rhaenyra Targaryen for control of the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms after the death of their father, Viserys I Targaryen.[1]

Prelude

When Viserys I died in 129 AC there was an immediate question over the line of succession. Some lords favored Aegon II as the rightful heir in the Andal custom of male ascension over female in the line of succession. Other lords supported Rhaenyra Targaryen, as her father's wish was that she become queen after his death.[1]

Just prior to this battle was the Battle in the Gullet in which both sides suffered heavy losses, including Prince Jacaerys Velaryon and his dragon, Vermax. For that reason alone it was seen as a loss for the blacks.

The Battle

A fortnight later on the banks of the Honeywine in the Reach, Lord Ormund Hightower found himself caught between the forces of Lord Thaddeus Rowan and Tom Flowers, the Bastard of Bitterbridge, coming in from the northeast with a large host of mounted knights. From behind his retreat was cut off by Ser Alan Beesbury, Lord Alan Tarly and Lord Owen Costayne.[1]

Attacked from the front and the rear, Lord Hightower's lines were starting to crumble and defeat seemed all but a forgone conclusion. Just then, a massive shadow appeared in the sky above them, Prince Daeron Targaryen on his dragon, Tessarion. It was then that the battle turned to the favor of Aegon II's forces and the rout was underway with heavy losses in the retreat.[1]

Aftermath

This was the second defeat in a row for Rhaenyra Targaryen and her supporters, the blacks, at the hands of Aegon II and his supporters, the greens. These losses proved this would not be an easy war for either party and no quick end was in sight. Rhaenyra also lost many seasoned commanders in Tom Flowers, Ser Alan Beesbury, Lord Alan Tarly and Lord Owen Costayne. Both sides, however, suffered heavy casualties.[1]

Daeron Targaryen was hailed as a hero that day and knighted by Lord Ormund Hightower with the Valyrian steel longsword, Vigilance.[1]

Quotes

My Lord is kind to say so, but the victory belongs to Tessarion.[1]

Daeron Targaryen responding to Ormund Hightower's praises after the battle

References and Notes