Difference between revisions of "Landing of the Golden Company"

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*[[File:Golden Company.svg|20px]] [[Marq Mandrake]]
 
*[[File:Golden Company.svg|20px]] [[Marq Mandrake]]
 
| commander1 = Unknown
 
| commander1 = Unknown
| strength2 = 10,000 originally
+
| strength2 = 10,000
 
| strength1 = Unknown
 
| strength1 = Unknown
 
| casualties2 = 4 dead <br> 5,000 men (half the company) are MIA
 
| casualties2 = 4 dead <br> 5,000 men (half the company) are MIA

Revision as of 14:20, 27 May 2018

Landing of the Golden Company
Aegon Targaryen Diego Gisbert LlorensII.jpg
Aegon Targaryen, flanked by the men of the Golden Company.
© FFG
Date 300 AC
Place Stormlands and Stepstones
Result Golden Company victory
Combatants
Joffrey sigil coat.png Iron Throne/ House Baratheon of King's Landing:

Stormlands

House Targaryen.svg House Targaryen:
Golden Company.svg Golden Company
Commanders
Unknown House Connington.png Jon Connington
House Targaryen.svg Prince Aegon VI Targaryen
Golden Company.svg Harry Strickland
Strength
Unknown 10,000
Casualties
Heavy 4 dead
5,000 men (half the company) are MIA

The landing of the Golden Company occurs when the Golden Company invades the stormlands with the intent to place Aegon Targaryen upon the Iron Throne and make him Aegon, the Sixth of his Name.

Background

The timing for the invasion is ideal, as the Iron Throne is massively indebted thanks to the late King Robert Baratheon's spending, which is made worse by Queen Cersei Lannister's refusal to pay back the Iron Bank of Braavos. Thus the Iron Throne is unable to afford sellswords or to try and buy off the Golden Company. The Iron Throne is also preoccupied with ironmen in the Reach, and Stannis Baratheon in the North. Additionally, nearly all the Great Houses but House Arryn in the Vale and House Martell in Dorne have suffered significant losses in the War of the Five Kings. Jon Connington hopes to win Dorne to Aegon's cause.

Invasion

The ten-thousand-strong sellsword company known as the Golden Company sails from Volon Therys with all their weapons, horses and elephants aboard Volantene ships. In King's Landing, King Tommen I Baratheon's small council receives reports that sellswords have landed all over the south, including Tarth, the Stepstones, and Cape Wrath. Tommen's regent, Ser Kevan Lannister, mistakenly believes that Stannis Baratheon has hired the sellswords.[1]

Actually, the Volantene fleet carrying the Golden Company is scattered by a great storm after Lys. Six of the ships carrying nearly half of the strength of the company arrive at a designated landing site in Cape Wrath near Griffin's Roost and the rainwood; the Volantenes tell Jon Connington the other four ships will eventually turn up.[2]

Jon leads a quarter of the available strength in reclaiming Griffin's Roost, House Connington's ancestral seat, which he once held before being exiled.[2] Ser Tristan Rivers and Laswell Peake, each with comparable forces, take Crow's Nest[3] and Rain House,[4] respectively. The final quarter encamps at the arrival site under Gorys Edoryen to protect Aegon Targaryen and await stragglers. Marq Mandrake leads five hundred men from other ships in taking Greenstone on Estermont.[2] In order to confuse the Iron Throne, the sellsword commanders are instructed not to show their banners. Jon Connington intends to first seem like he merely intends to take back his lands to create uncertainty.

Aftermath

The company is planning on next taking Storm's End and raising Aegon's banner upon its battlements. To Jon Connington's surprise, Aegon intends to lead the attack.

Meanwhile in the Red Keep, Varys slays Grand Maester Pycelle and Kevan Lannister. He does so in order to keep the realm in the chaotic state that Cersei Lannister had brought it to - which will work in Aegon's favour.[5]

Quotes

Doubt, division, and mistrust will eat the very ground beneath your boy king, whilst Aegon raises his banner above Storm's End and the lords of the realm gather round him.

- Varys, to the dying Ser Kevan Lannister

References