Fall of Moat Cailin

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Battle of Moat Cailin
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Date 299 AL
Place Moat Cailin, the North
Result Greyjoy victory
Combatants
House Stark House Greyjoy
Commanders
unknown Victarion Greyjoy
Strength
unknown Most of the Iron Fleet
Casualties
unknown unknown

The Battle of Moat Cailin was a pivotal battle during the War of the Five Kings. Planned in secret by Balon Greyjoy, the battle, along with the capture of Winterfell, changed the tactical ambitions of Robb Stark and directly affected the outcome of the war.

Prelude

Robb Stark seeking allies, sent Theon Greyjoy as an envoy to his father to offer an alliance. Balon Greyjoy rejected the offer and instead intended to strike at the North, which was weakly defended with the Northern forces fighting in the south and the west. He sent Theon, his brother Aeron and Dagmer Cleftjaw to harry the Stony Shore in hopes that the remaining Northern lords would leave their castles and march. He sent his daughter Asha Greyjoy to seize Deepwood Motte and he sent Victarion Greyjoy with the majority of the Iron Fleet to seize Moat Cailin and prevent the Northern lords in the south from returning to their seats.[1]

Battle

Victarion and the Iron Fleet sailed up the Saltspear and the Fever River to the headwaters. From there Moat Cailin is a short twenty miles away and seized the lightly held fortifications.[1]


Aftermath

Theon changed the plan and captured Winterfell. The news of the seizure of Winterfell and Moat Cailin changed Robb Stark's plans and forced him to return to the North.

References and Notes