Difference between revisions of "House Bracken"

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'''House Bracken of Stone Hedge''' is an old house from [[Stone Hedge]] in the [[Riverlands]], sworn to [[House Tully]].  They once ruled the Riverlands as kings during the [[Age of Heroes]].<ref>"Riverlands" entry in ''[[A World of Ice and Fire]]''</ref> They blazon their arms with a red stallion upon a golden escutcheon on brown.{{Ref|AFFC|33}}<ref>The Citadel. Heraldry: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/Heraldry/Houses/4/ Houses in the Riverlands]</ref> Their words do not appear in the books.
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'''House Bracken of Stone Hedge''' is an old house from [[Stone Hedge]] in the [[Riverlands]], one of the main familes sworn to [[House Tully]].  They once ruled the Riverlands as kings during the [[Age of Heroes]].<ref>"Riverlands" entry in ''[[A World of Ice and Fire]]''</ref> They blazon their arms with a red stallion upon a golden escutcheon on brown.{{Ref|AFFC|33}}<ref>The Citadel. Heraldry: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/Heraldry/Houses/4/ Houses in the Riverlands]</ref> Their words do not appear in the books.
  
 
The Bracken lands lie along the [[Red Fork]] of the [[Trident]].{{Ref|ASOS|1}}
 
The Bracken lands lie along the [[Red Fork]] of the [[Trident]].{{Ref|ASOS|1}}

Revision as of 19:57, 27 June 2014

House Bracken of Stone Hedge
Bracken sigil coat.png
Coat of arms Or, a stallion rampant to sinister gules within a bordure tenné
Seat Stone Hedge
Head Jonos Bracken
Region the Riverlands
Overlord House Baelish of Harrenhal
Founded Age of Heroes

House Bracken of Stone Hedge is an old house from Stone Hedge in the Riverlands, one of the main familes sworn to House Tully. They once ruled the Riverlands as kings during the Age of Heroes.[1] They blazon their arms with a red stallion upon a golden escutcheon on brown.[2][3] Their words do not appear in the books.

The Bracken lands lie along the Red Fork of the Trident.[4]

History

The Brackens have the blood of the First Men in their veins and were kings of the Riverlands during the Age of Heroes. They have an old and bitter feud against their neighbors, the Blackwoods. According to the Brackens, the Blackwoods were vassals who betrayed the Brackens and usurped their crown.[5] The feud has continued throughout the years, aided by House Bracken's change to the Faith of the Seven after the Andal invasion.[6] The Blackwoods believe the Brackens poisoned the weirwood at Raventree Hall.[5] Battle Valley and the village of Blackbuckle are part of the disputed land. There have been numerous peaces between the Brackens and Blackwoods, many sealed by marriage, but the feud always restarts.[5]

House Bracken aided Aegon the Conquerer during his War of Conquest and rebelled against King Harren the Black of Harrenhal.[7] A Bracken fought a duel with a Blackwood over Rhaenyra Targaryen in 112 AC, but the princess eventually wed Ser Laenor Velaryon.[8]

According to Ser Eustace Osgrey, Lord Bracken was to sail with Myrish crossbowmen to aid Daemon Blackfyre during the Blackfyre Rebellion, but was delayed by storms.[9] Ser Otho Bracken slew Lord Quentyn Blackwood at a tourney in King's Landing, reinvigorating the feud. Three years later Otho and some Blackwoods participated at the Tourney of Ashford.[10] Ser Steffon Fossoway considered convincing Otho or the Blackwoods to fight for Dunk at his trial of seven, but decided it would be impossible to make them fight on the same side.[10] When Lord Bracken lay dying, Septon Sefton explained that Otho would inherit and the Blackwoods would not suffer him, meaning war. Lord Bracken's eldest son died in the Great Spring Sickness. The then-Hand of the King, Lord Bloodraven, was half-Blackwood, so he was unlikely to stop it.[9]

Lords Bracken and Blackwood came to Riverrun when Lysa Tully was young to put their feud before Lord Hoster Tully's judgment.[11] Hoster attempted to marry Ser Brynden Tully to Lord Bracken's daughter.[12] The daughter of Elys Waynwood was on her way to marry a Bracken when she was kidnapped by the Burned Men and not heard from again.[13]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Three Bracken men-at-arms, Kurleket, Lharys and Mohor, assist Catelyn Tully in arresting Tyrion Lannister at the inn at the crossroads.[14] The three die during the trek to the Vale of Arryn, slain by mountain clansmen.[15]

After the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings, Ser Gregor Clegane burns out the Brackens, laying waste to their fields, slaughtering their smallfolk and leaving Stone Hedge a smoking ruin. Lord Jonos Bracken is listed among the nobles Joffrey commands to do him fealty or be declared traitors.[16] Lord Jonos arrives at Riverrun after the Battle of the Camps. At the war council at Riverrun, Jonos suggests to pledge fealty to King Renly Baratheon, perhaps only to contradict Lord Tytos Blackwood's previous statement. After Greatjon Umber speaks, Jonos joins the other river lords in declaring Robb Stark to be King in the North.[17]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Jonos recovers Stone Hedge from the Lannisters, but he is wounded and his nephew Hendry is killed in the fighting.[18]

A Storm of Swords

Lord Quenten Banefort is held captive by House Bracken.[19] Among those claimed to have been murdered by the Lannisters by the Brotherhood Without Banners was the Harry Rivers, the Bastard of Bracken.[20] Brienne of Tarth, Cleos Frey, and Jaime Lannister find the bodies of tavern wenches hanged for associating with Lannister troops while traveling through Bracken lands.[4] Lord Jonos is among the seven nobles who launch Lord Hoster Tully's funeral boat.[21]

Following the death of King Robb Stark in the Red Wedding, Jonos surrenders to the Iron Throne and receives a royal pardon.[22] The Brackens then fight House Blackwood, who remain loyal to House Stark, on behalf of House Baratheon of King's Landing.[23]

A Feast for Crows

Dead soldiers bearing the colors of House Bracken have washed up on the Quiet Isle. According to the Elder Brother, they are buried next to their Blackwood enemies.[24] The Brackens besiege the Blackwoods at Raventree Hall.[25]

A Dance with Dragons

Lord Tytos Blackwood refuses to surrender to Jonos Bracken, leading Jaime Lannister to attempt to resolve the siege of Raventree. Jonos desires to gain the east bank of the Widow's Wash, from Crossbow Ridge to Rutting Meadow, Grindcorn Mill, Lord's Mill, Muddy Hall, the Ravishment, Battle Valley, Oldforge, Buckle, Blackbuckle, Cairns, Claypool, Mudgrave, Waspwood, Lorgen's Wood, Greenhill, Barba's Teats, and Honeytree. However, Tytos only agrees to transfer Woodhedge, Crossbow Ridge, Buckle, Lord's Mill, and Honeytree. Jaime orders Jonos to send one of his daughters to serve Queen Regent Cersei Lannister in King's Landing.[5]

House Bracken at the end of the third century

The known Brackens during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch of the house there is also:

  • Harry Rivers, the Bastard of Bracken, the natural son of a member of House Bracken, claimed to be Lord Jonos's son.
  • Lord Bracken's daughter. One of the possible matches for Brynden Tully in his youth. Possibly a sister of Lord Jonos.[17]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jonos
 
 
 
Unknown
second wife
 
 
 
 
 
Sibling(s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
first wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Bracken
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harry
Rivers
 
Barbara
 
Jayne
 
Catelyn
 
Bess
 
Alysanne
 
Hendry
 


Historical Members

Quotes

We've had a hundred peaces with the Brackens, many sealed with marriages. There's Blackwood blood in every Bracken, and Bracken blood in every Blackwood. The Old King's Peace lasted half a century. But then some fresh quarrel broke out, and the old wounds opened and began to bleed again. That's how it always happens, my father says. So long as men remember the wrongs done to their forebears, no peace will ever last. So we go on century after century, with us hating the Brackens and them hating us. My father says there will never be an end to it.[5]

- Hoster Blackwood to Jaime Lannister

References and Notes