Difference between revisions of "Robert's Rebellion"

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{{Infobox Military Conflict
 
{{Infobox Military Conflict
| conflict_name          = <center>Robert's Rebellion<br>War of the Usurper</center>
+
| conflict_name          = Robert's Rebellion
 
| part_of                =
 
| part_of                =
 
| image                  = [[File:Roberts Rebellion.jpg|350px]]
 
| image                  = [[File:Roberts Rebellion.jpg|350px]]
| image2                =
+
| caption                =  
| caption                =
+
| date                  = {{Date|282}} - {{Date|283}}
| date                  = {{Date|282}}-{{Date|283}}
 
 
| location              = [[Westeros]]
 
| location              = [[Westeros]]
| battles                = [[Battle of Gulltown (Robert's Rebellion)|Battle of Gulltown]]<br />[[Battle of Summerhall]]<br />[[Battle of Ashford]]<br />[[Battle of the Bells]]<br />[[Battle of the Trident]]<br />[[Sack of King's Landing]]<br />[[Siege of Storm's End]]<br />[[Showdown at the Tower of Joy|Tower of Joy]]<br />[[Assault on Dragonstone]]
+
| battles                = [[Taking of Gulltown]]<br>[[Battles at Summerhall]]<br>[[Battle of Ashford]]<br>[[Battle of the Bells]]<br>[[Battle of the Trident]]<br>[[Battle at the Mander]]<br>[[Sack of King's Landing]]<br>[[Siege of Storm's End]]<br>[[Combat at the tower of joy|Tower of Joy]]<br>[[Assault on Dragonstone]]
| result                = Decisive victory for the rebel forces;<br />  
+
| result                = Decisive victory for the rebel forces;<br>  
[[House Baratheon]] becomes new royal line
+
The end of the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen Dynasty]] and the start of the [[House Baratheon of King's Landing|Baratheon Dynasty]]
<!-- combatant 1 -->
+
<!-- combatant 1 -->  
| combatant1            = The Rebels
+
| combatant1            = '''[[Iron Throne]]:'''/[[House Targaryen]] and Royalist houses
:[[House Baratheon]]
 
:[[House Stark]]
 
:[[House Arryn]]
 
:[[House Tully]]
 
:[[House Lannister]] (late war)
 
 
| commander1            = Gulltown
 
| commander1            = Gulltown
 +
:[[Marq Grafton]]
 +
Summerhall
 +
:[[House Fell|Lord Fell]]
 +
:Lord Cafferen
 +
:Lord Grandison
 +
Ashford
 +
:[[Randyll Tarly]]
 +
Storm's End
 +
:[[Mace Tyrell]]
 +
:[[Paxter Redwyne]]
 +
Bells
 +
:[[Jon Connington]]
 +
<br>
 +
<br>
 +
<br>
 +
The Trident
 +
:[[Rhaegar Targaryen]]
 +
:[[Barristan Selmy]]
 +
:[[Lewyn Martell]]
 +
:[[Jonothor Darry]]
 +
<br>
 +
<br>
 +
<br>
 +
King's Landing
 +
:[[Aerys II Targaryen]]
 +
:[[Rossart]]
 +
:[[Jaime Lannister]]
 +
Storm's End
 +
:Mace Tyrell
 +
:Paxter Redwyne
 +
Tower of Joy
 +
:[[Gerold Hightower]]
 +
| strength1              = Trident: 40.000
 +
<br>King's Landing: several thousand{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 +
| losses1                =
 +
<!-- combatant 2 -->
 +
| combatant2            = Rebels
 +
| commander2            = Gulltown
 
:[[Jon Arryn]]
 
:[[Jon Arryn]]
 
Summerhall
 
Summerhall
 
:[[Robert Baratheon]]
 
:[[Robert Baratheon]]
 +
<br>
 +
<br>
 
Ashford
 
Ashford
 
:[[Robert Baratheon]]
 
:[[Robert Baratheon]]
 
Storm's End
 
Storm's End
 
:[[Stannis Baratheon]]
 
:[[Stannis Baratheon]]
 +
<br>
 
Bells
 
Bells
 
:[[Eddard Stark]]
 
:[[Eddard Stark]]
Line 35: Line 70:
 
:[[Eddard Stark]]
 
:[[Eddard Stark]]
 
:[[Hoster Tully]]
 
:[[Hoster Tully]]
 +
The Mander
 +
:[[Quellon Greyjoy]]
 
King's Landing
 
King's Landing
 
:[[Tywin Lannister]]
 
:[[Tywin Lannister]]
:[[Jaime Lannister]]<br /> (changed side)
+
:[[Jaime Lannister]] (changed side)
 +
:[[Eddard Stark]] (aftermath)
 +
Storm's End
 +
:[[Eddard Stark]]
 +
<br>
 
Tower of Joy
 
Tower of Joy
:[[Eddard Stark]]
+
:Eddard Stark
 
Dragonstone
 
Dragonstone
 
:[[Stannis Baratheon]]
 
:[[Stannis Baratheon]]
| strength1             =
+
| strength2             = Trident: less than 40.000
| losses1                =
+
King's Landing: 12.000 (westerlands){{Ref|aGoT|12}}
<!-- combatant 2 -->
 
| combatant2            = The Royalists
 
:[[House Targaryen]]
 
:[[House Tyrell]]
 
:[[House Martell]]
 
:[[House Darry]]
 
:[[House Ryger]]
 
:[[House Mooton]]
 
:[[House Goodbrook]]
 
:[[House Connington]]
 
:[[House Cafferen]]
 
:[[House Fell]]
 
:[[House Grandison]]
 
:[[House Grafton]]
 
| commander2            = Gulltown
 
:[[Marq Grafton]]
 
Summerhall
 
:[[House Fell|Lord Fell]]
 
Ashford
 
:[[Randyll Tarly]]
 
Storm's End
 
:[[Mace Tyrell]]
 
Bells
 
:[[Jon Connington]]
 
The Trident
 
:[[Rhaegar Targaryen]]
 
:[[Barristan Selmy]]
 
:[[Lewyn Martell]]
 
:[[Jonothor Darry]]
 
King's Landing
 
:[[Aerys II Targaryen]]
 
:[[Owen Merryweather]]
 
:[[Jon Connington]]
 
:[[Qarlton Chelsted]]
 
:[[Jaime Lannister]]
 
Tower of Joy
 
:[[Gerold Hightower]]
 
| strength2              =
 
 
| losses2                =
 
| losses2                =
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''Robert's Rebellion''', also known as the '''War of the Usurper''',<ref>The Siege of Storm's End [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1043/]</ref> was a rebellion against [[House Targaryen]], primarily instigated by [[Eddard Stark]], [[Jon Arryn]], and [[Robert Baratheon]], for whom it is named. It lasted "close to a year"{{Ref|aGoT|12}} and resulted in the end of the Targaryen dynasty in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] and the beginning of Robert Baratheon's reign.
+
'''Robert's Rebellion''',{{Ref|ASOS|2}}{{Ref|ASOS|22}}{{ref|affc|21}}<ref name=rr/> also known as the '''War of the Usurper''',<ref name=rr>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1043/ The Siege of Storm's End (July 18, 1999)]</ref> was a rebellion against [[House Targaryen]], primarily instigated by [[Eddard Stark]], [[Jon Arryn]], and [[Robert Baratheon]], for whom it is named. It lasted "close to a year"{{Ref|aGoT|12}} and resulted in the end of the Targaryen dynasty in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] and the beginning of Robert Baratheon's reign.
  
==Background==
+
==Prelude==
 
===Tourney at Harrenhal===
 
===Tourney at Harrenhal===
In {{Date|281}}, a grand [[Tourney at Harrenhal|tourney]] was held by Lord Whent at [[Harrenhal]].{{Ref|aGoT|58}} Many nobles from all over the Seven Kingdoms came down to the [[Riverlands]] to take part in the festivities. Amongst them were the heir to [[Winterfell]], [[Brandon Stark]], and his younger siblings, [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]].{{Ref|aSoS|24}}
+
In {{Date|281}}, a grand [[Tourney at Harrenhal|tourney]] was held by Lord [[Walter Whent]] at [[Harrenhal]].{{Ref|aGoT|58}} Many nobles from all over the Seven Kingdoms came to the [[riverlands]] to take part in the festivities. Amongst them were the heir to [[Winterfell]], [[Brandon Stark]], and his younger siblings, [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]].{{Ref|aSoS|24}}
  
 +
The most prominent visitor of the tourney was King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], however. Aerys had not left the [[Red Keep]] for many years, ever since his half-year capture during the [[Defiance of Duskendale]] in {{Date|277}},{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} but was inspired to come to the tourney by words from his [[master of whisperers]], the eunuch [[Varys]].{{Ref|aDwD|67}}
  
The most prominent visitor of the tourney was King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], however. Aerys hadn't left the [[Red Keep]] for many years, ever since his half-year capture during the [[Defiance of Duskendale]], but was inspired to come to the tourney by words from his [[Master of Whisperers]], the eunuch Varys.{{Ref|aDwD|67}}
+
The tourney was cause for great celebration, as spring had come to Westeros, or so men thought.<ref>{{date|281}} is called "the year of the false spring", showing that it had been winter previously. The term "false spring" shows that the warmer weather had only been for a short period of time, and that winter weather thus returned shortly thereafter.</ref> In addition, all of the [[Kingsguard|White Swords]] had gathered to welcome their newest member, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]]. However, the tourney's ending was less joyful. After winning the final tilt, Crown Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] was to crown the new [[queen of love and beauty]]. Instead of crowning his wife, the Dornish princess [[Elia Martell]], Rhaegar rode past her and crowned Lyanna Stark of Winterfell instead. Eddard Stark would later recall this moment as "the moment when all smiles died".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
 
 
 
 
The tourney was cause for great celebration, as spring had come to Westeros, or so men thought.<ref>281AC is called "the year of the false spring", showing that it had been winter previously. The term "false spring" shows that the warmer weather had only been for a short period of time, and that winter weather thus returned shortly thereafter.</ref> In addition, all of the [[Kingsguard|White Swords]] had gathered to welcome their newest member, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]]. However, the tourney's ending was less joyful. After winning the final tilt, Crown Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] was to crown the new Queen of Love and Beauty. Instead of crowning his wife, the Dornish Princess [[Elia Martell]], Rhaegar rode past her and crowned [[Lyanna Stark]] of Winterfell instead. [[Eddard Stark]] would later recall this moment as "the moment when all smiles died".{{Ref|aGoT|58}}
 
  
 
===Abduction of Lyanna Stark===
 
===Abduction of Lyanna Stark===
An unknown amount of time later, [[Lyanna Stark]] was seemingly abducted by Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. Her brother, [[Brandon Stark]], was on his way to [[Riverrun]] to wed [[Catelyn Tully]], when the news reached him. Brandon rode at once to [[King's Landing]] with his companions, [[Ethan Glover]], who was Brandon's squire, [[Elbert Arryn]], nephew to Lord [[Jon Arryn]] and the heir of the [[Eyrie]], [[Kyle Royce]], and [[Jeffory Mallister]].{{Ref|aCoK|55}} Brandon rode for the [[Red Keep]], and outside it's gates, not knowing that Rhaegar was not present, shouted for Prince Rhaegar to come out and die. This lead to King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] to arrest Brandon and his companions on the charge of plotting the murder on the crown prince.{{Ref|aCoK|55}}
+
An unknown amount of time later, [[Lyanna Stark]] was seemingly abducted by Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]. Her brother, [[Brandon Stark]], was on his way to [[Riverrun]] to wed [[Catelyn Tully]], when the news reached him. Brandon rode at once to [[King's Landing]] with his companions: [[Ethan Glover]], Brandon's squire, [[Elbert Arryn]], nephew to Lord [[Jon Arryn]] and the heir of the [[Eyrie]], [[Kyle Royce]], and [[Jeffory Mallister]].{{Ref|aCoK|55}} Brandon rode for the [[Red Keep]], and outside its gates, unaware that Rhaegar was not present, shouted for Rhaegar to come out and die. King [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys II]] had them all arrested for plotting the murder of the crown prince, and summoned the fathers of all those who stood accused to court.{{Ref|aCoK|55}} Lord [[Rickard Stark]], who had been on his way south with the wedding party for Brandon's wedding,{{Ref|AWOIAF| Catelyn Tully}} went to King's Landing with two hundred men.{{Ref|AGOT|53}} None of the returned north. In King's Landing, all of those who stood accused were executed,{{Ref|AGOT|53}} with the sole exception of [[Ethan Glover]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
  
Aerys summoned the fathers of those who stood accused to court. All of them, and their sons, were killed, with only Ethan Glover as survivor. [[Rickard Stark]] arrived with two hundred of his best men, yet none of them would ever return north. Rickard demanded a trial by battle, a request that the King granted him. Aerys declared fire to be the champion of [[House Targaryen]], and had Rickard, who had dressed in his armor, suspended from the rafters in the throne room. Next, the king had his pyromancers, [[Rossart]] amongst them, kindle a blaze beneath the Lord of Winterfell.{{Ref|aCoK|55}}
+
King Aerys did allow for trials, of a sort. Lord Rickard Stark demanded a [[trial by battle]], and the king granted his request. Rickard dressed for battle, but Aerys declared fire to be the champion of [[House Targaryen]]. He had Rickard suspended from the rafters in the throne room, where his [[pyromancers]], [[Rossart]] amongst them, kindled a blaze beneath the Lord of Winterfell. Brandon Stark was brought in as well, and placed in a [[Tyrosh]]i strangling device, while a longsword was placed just outside his reach. Brandon was allowed to try and free his father, but the more he struggled to reach the sword, the tighter the cord around his neck became. Brandon strangled himself in an attempt to reach the sword and save his father, while Lord Rickard cooked in his armor.{{Ref|aCoK|55}}
  
Brandon Stark was brought in as well, and placed in a [[Tyrosh|Tyroshi]] strangling device. A longsword placed just outside of his reach, Brandon strangled himself in an attampt to reach the sword and safe his father, while Lord Rickard cooked in his armor.{{Ref|aCoK|55}}
+
Next, Aerys demanded Lord [[Jon Arryn]] to send him the heads of Lord [[Robert Baratheon]] of [[Storm's End]], Lyanna's betrothed,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} and [[Eddard Stark]], now the Lord of Winterfell after the deaths of his father and older brother.{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} Robert and Eddard were in the Eyrie, however, and Jon Arryn refused to oblige. Instead, he raised his banners in revolt.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} This act is seen as the start of the war,{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} which would last "close to a year".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 
 
 
 
Next, Aerys called for the heads of [[Robert Baratheon]], Lyanna's betrothed,{{Ref|aGoT|4}} and [[Eddard Stark]], now the Lord of Winterfell, after the deaths of his father and older brother. Robert and Eddard were in the [[Eyrie]], however, and [[Jon Arryn]] refused to oblige. Instead, he raised his banners in revolt.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} This act is seen as the start of the war, which would last "close to a year".{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 
  
 
==The Rebellion==
 
==The Rebellion==
 
[[Image:War of the Usurper.png|thumb|350px|Overview of the war:
 
[[Image:War of the Usurper.png|thumb|350px|Overview of the war:
 
<!--  arranged for better readability
 
<!--  arranged for better readability
-->'''1''' [[Battle of Summerhall|Summerhall]], <!--
+
-->'''1''' [[Battles at Summerhall|Summerhall]], <!--
 
-->'''2''' [[Battle of Ashford|Ashford]], <!--
 
-->'''2''' [[Battle of Ashford|Ashford]], <!--
 
-->'''3''' [[Battle of the Bells]], <!--
 
-->'''3''' [[Battle of the Bells]], <!--
Line 119: Line 117:
 
-->The colors represent faction amies:
 
-->The colors represent faction amies:
 
<font color="#008000">Baratheon</font>. <font color="#808080">Stark</font>. <font color="#8B4513">Tyrell</font>. <font color="#ff0000">Lannister</font>. <font color="#000000">Targaryen</font>.]]
 
<font color="#008000">Baratheon</font>. <font color="#808080">Stark</font>. <font color="#8B4513">Tyrell</font>. <font color="#ff0000">Lannister</font>. <font color="#000000">Targaryen</font>.]]
 +
===Taking of Gulltown===
 +
:{{main|Taking of Gulltown}}
 +
The fighting of the rebellion began in the [[Vale of Arryn]]. Though [[Jon Arryn]] called for all his banners, not all of his bannermen sided with him.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} There were those who sided with the king, chief among them [[Marq Grafton]]. Grafton called the other loyalists to aid him in barring the rebels from entering the port of [[Gulltown]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}} With the port blocked, [[Eddard Stark]] decided to make his own way back to the [[north]] by crossing the [[Mountains of the Moon]] to the [[Fingers]], where he would need to find a fisherman to carry him across the [[Bite]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}} Once north, Eddard could call his banners.
  
And so, the fighting of the Rebellion began in the [[Vale]]. Though Jon Arryn called for all his banners, not all of his bannermen sided with him. There were those who sided with the king, chief among them [[Marq Grafton]]. Grafton called the other loyalists to aid him in barring the rebels from entering the port of [[Gulltown]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}} With the port blocked, Eddard Stark decided to make his own way back to the North by crossing the mountains, all the way to the [[Fingers]], where he would need to find a fisherman to carry him across the [[Bite]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}} Once north, Eddard could call his banners.
+
Gulltown's defenses eventually fell after an unknown amount of time, with Robert Baratheon slaying Marq Grafton in the [[taking of Gulltown]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}} Robert sailed to [[Storm's End]] to call his own banners as well.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}
 
 
Gulltown's defenses eventually fell after an unknown amount of time, with Robert Baratheon slaying Marq Grafton in the [[Battle of Gulltown (Robert's Rebellion)|Battle of Gulltown]].{{Ref|aDwD|9}} Robert then departed for [[Storm's End]] to call his banners as well.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 
  
===Battle of Summerhall===
+
===Battles at Summerhall===
:{{main|Battle of Summerhall}}
+
:{{main|Battles at Summerhall}}
Just as not all the lords in the Vale had sided with Jon Arryn, not all the lords in the [[Stormlands]] sided with Robert Baratheon. The first major battle in the Stormlands took place at [[Summerhall]].{{Ref|aSoS|54}}
+
Just as not all the lords in the Vale had sided with Jon Arryn, not all the lords in the [[stormlands]] sided with Robert Baratheon. The first major battle in the stormlands took place at [[Summerhall]]. They were [[battles at Summerhall|three battles]] (1 on the map), in truth, all fought on one day. Lords [[Lord Grandison|Grandison]], [[Lord Cafferen|Cafferen]], and [[Lord Fell|Fell]] had gathered their hosts and planned to join forces at [[Summerhall]]. From there, they would march on Storm's End. However, thanks to an informer, Robert learned of their plans and rode with his knights and squires to Summerhall, where he attacked each host in turn.{{Ref|ASOS|54}} Robert killed Lord Fell in battle.{{Ref|aSoS|54}}
The '''Battle of Summerhall''' (1 on the map) actually consists out of three battles, all fought on one day. Lords [[House Grandison|Grandison]], [[House Cafferen|Cafferen]], and [[House Fell|Fell]] planned to join their hosts at [[Summerhall]] and march on Storm’s End, but Robert Baratheon had learned of their plans and struck first, attacking each army individually as they arrived. Lord Fell died in the battle and Robert's forces captured his son, Silveraxe.
 
  
 +
Lord Cafferen and Grandison,{{ref|asos|36}} as well as Lord Fell's son, [[Silveraxe]],{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} were taken captive and brought to [[Storm's End]] when Robert's returned there after the battles, for unknown reasons.{{Ref|aSoS|36}} There, Robert turned his enemies into friends, as both Lords Grandison and Cafferen, as well as Silveraxe would later be loyal to Robert.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|ASOS|36}}
  
After this battle, Robert returned to [[Storm's End]] for unknown reasons.{{Ref|aSoS|36}} There, Robert turned his enemies into friends, as he managed to get Lords Grandison and Cafferen, both loyalist commanders, over to the rebel side, as well as [[Silveraxe]], the son of the late lord Fell.
+
Following his victory at Summerhall, Robert was now free to march north, to join up with Jon Arryn and the northmen.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}
  
 
===Battle of Ashford===
 
===Battle of Ashford===
 
:{{main|Battle of Ashford}}
 
:{{main|Battle of Ashford}}
The next main battle that was fought was the '''Battle of Ashford''' (2 on the map). It was an indecisive victory for loyalist forces when [[Randyll Tarly]]'s van smashed Robert’s forces before the bulk of [[Mace Tyrell]]’s main force could be brought to bear. Lord Cafferen, who had switched to the rebel side, was cut down by Randyll Tarly.  Lord Tarly sent Lord Cafferen’s head to King Aerys II.  By all indications, the battle was indecisive, however Mace likes to remember it as his one great victory over Robert despite his lack of involvement. Robert Baratheon managed to escape capture, in the end.
+
The next main battle that was fought was the [[Battle of Ashford]]{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: House Tyrell}} (2 on the map). Robert marched out again, leaving his younger brother [[Stannis Baratheon]] in charge of Storm's End. At [[Ashford]], Lord [[Randyll Tarly]] fell upon Robert's forces. Lord Randyll was the first of the loyalists to arrive, and with his van defeated Robert's forces before Lord [[Mace Tyrell]] could arrive with the main force from the [[Reach]].{{Ref|ASOS|19}} Despite the fact that it had been Randyll's victory, Mace Tyrell has taken the credit for the victory.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: House Tyrell}}{{Ref|ASOS|19}}{{Ref|ASOS|78}} The battle is considered to have been indecisive.{{Ref|ASOS|19}}
  
 +
During the battle, Lord Cafferen was cut down by Randyll Tarly, who sent his head to King Aerys II.{{ref|ASOS|78}} Robert managed to escape capture with the bulk of his forces, to join his strength with Lord Eddard Stark and Lord Jon Arryn.{{ref|awoiaf| Robert Baratheon}} Following the battle, Mace Tyrell marched on [[Storm's End]] and [[Siege of Storm's End|laid siege to the castle]] (6 on the map).{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: House Tyrell}} This siege would last "close to a year".{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
  
After the Battle of Ashford, Mace Tyrell marshed his forces to [[Storm's End]], and laid siege to the castle. This siege would last "close to a year".
+
King Aerys, due to the events in the [[stormlands]], came to believe that his [[Hand of the King]], [[Owen Merryweather]], was ineffectual. The king was even considering that Merryweather might have been so ineffectual as to possibly aid the rebellion.<ref name=Jon>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1118/ Young Lord Connington (August 25, 2000)]</ref> In result, Owen was stripped of his lands and titles, and exiled.{{Ref|aCoK|3}} Lord [[Jon Connington]], a friend of Rhaegar's with a reputation of a warrior, was named as Hand in Owen's stead.<ref name=Jon/>
  
 
===Battle of the Bells===
 
===Battle of the Bells===
 
:{{main|Battle of the Bells}}
 
:{{main|Battle of the Bells}}
 
[[File:Battle of the Bells.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Battle of the Bells]]]]
 
[[File:Battle of the Bells.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Battle of the Bells]]]]
In the meantime, Eddard Stark had reached [[Winterfell]] and called his banners, and had marched to the south. [[Hoster Tully]], the lord of [[Riverrun]], had also joined the Rebellion, on the side of the rebels, an allegiance secured by the betrothal between [[Eddard Stark]] and [[Catelyn Tully]], to replace the match between [[Brandon Stark]] and Catelyn, which fell through when Brandon had been killed a few short days before he was to wed Catelyn.
+
Eddard Stark had managed to reach [[Winterfell]], where he called his banners. He marched south with his forces, and joined up with Lord [[Jon Arryn]]. Together, they negotiated with Lord [[Hoster Tully]], the lord of [[Riverrun]], for his support.{{Ref|awoiaf| Hoster Tully}}
 +
 
 +
Lord [[Jon Connington]] personally led a mighty army into the field. The forces he commanded gave chase, and Robert's march became a grueling one.{{Ref|awoiaf| Robert Baratheon}} Robert, wounded through unknown means, and all alone,{{Ref|ASOS|29}}{{ref|ADWD|61}} eventually took refuge at [[Stoney Sept]],{{ref|ASOS|29}} which would become the site of the ''[[Battle of the Bells]]''{{Ref|ASOS|29}}{{Ref|ASOS|1}}{{Ref|ASOS|37}} (3 on the map), the first major battle known to have taken place in {{Date|283}}. Jon Connington's forces took the town by force and began to search every house. The residents of the town were actively helping Robert however, and despite the search, the offered pardons and rewards, the threats and the hostages Connington took and hung in crow cages, they could not find Robert.{{Ref|ASOS|29}}{{Ref|ADWD|61}}
 +
 
 +
Battle began when Lords [[Eddard Stark]], [[Hoster Tully]] and [[Jon Arryn]] arrived with a rebel army. The soldiers fought in the streets and alleys and on the rooftops, and the septons rang the bells to warn the residents to lock their doors.{{Ref|ASOS|29}} Battle was fierce, and Jon Connington managed to wound Hoster Tully and kill Jon Arryn's cousin, [[Denys Arryn]].{{ref|ASOS|29}} Eventually, Robert Baratheon came out of the brothel in which he had been hiding, and fought with Connington, almost killing him.{{Ref|ADWD|61}}
  
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Suspicious of the loss at the Stoney Sept, King Aerys exiled Jon Connington, stripping him of his titles.{{Ref|ADWD|61}} Aerys began to realize that Robert was the greatest threat to his dynasty since [[Daemon I Blackfyre]], and named Lord [[Qarlton Chelsted]] as his [[Hand of the King]] in Connington's stead. Ser [[Jonothor Darry]] and Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] of the [[Kingsguard]] were sent to rally Connington's men, while their [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]], Ser [[Gerold Hightower]], was send by King Aerys to find Rhaegar.{{Ref|awoiaf| Rhaegar Targaryen}} [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] finally returned from the south, and convinced Aerys to ask [[Tywin Lannister]] for help,{{Ref|ASOS|37}} just as the rebels had or would do, at one point.{{Ref|AGOT|12}} Additionally, Aerys commanded his [[alchemists]] to [[wildfire plot|place caches of wildfire on multiple locations in King's Landing]].{{Ref|ASOS|37}}
  
King Aerys, due to the events in the [[Stormlands]], came to believe that his [[Hand of the King]], [[Owen Merryweather]], was ineffectual. The King was even considering that Merryweather might have been so ineffectual as to possibly aiding the rebellion.<ref name=Jon>Young Lord Connington[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1118/]</ref> In result, Merryweather was stripped of his lands and titles, and exiled.{{Ref|aCoK|3}} Lord [[Jon Connington]], a friend of Rhaegar's with a reputation of a warrior, was named as Hand in Merryweathers' stead.<ref name=Jon>Young Lord Connington[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1118/]</ref>
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With both [[Elbert Arryn]] and [[Denys Arryn]] now dead, Hoster Tully managed to swiftly arrange a marriage between Lord Jon Arryn, in need of an heir, and his daughter, [[Lysa Tully]], who had previously proven fertile.{{Ref|aSoS|2}}{{Ref|aGoT|2}} In a double ceremony, Eddard Stark and Jon Arryn married [[Catelyn Tully|Catelyn]] and Lysa Tully.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Amongst those present at the wedding was Robert Baratheon.{{Ref|awoiaf| Robert Baratheon}}
  
Jon Connington personally led an army into the field. He was at Robert's heels, when they arrived at the [[Stoney Sept]],{{Ref|aSoS|29}} which would become the site of the '''Battle of the Bells''' (3 on the map), the first major battle known to have taken place in {{Date|283}}. Robert was wounded and hiding in Stoney Sept, when [[Jon Connington]] took the town by force and began searching from house to house. Before Connington could find Robert, however, the forces of Eddard Stark and Hoster Tully swept into the town. Connington and his loyalist army fought back fiercely. Connington managed to wound Lord [[Hoster Tully]] and killed Lord [[Jon Arryn]]'s cousin and last heir, [[Denys Arryn]]. At the same time, the two armies were battling all around them in the streets and in the alleys, even on some of the rooftops. At a certain point, Robert Baratheon came out of hiding and led a counterattack. When Connington saw the battle was lost, he retreated in good order.
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===Battle of the Trident===
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:{{main|Battle of the Trident}}
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[[File:twoiaf battle of the trident.jpg|thumb|350px|The Battle of the Trident as depicted by Justin Sweet in ''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]''.]]
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After at first refusing to send aid to Aerys, both due to his caution as well as due to his anger over [[Elia Martell|Elia's]] treatment,<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Baratheon_Brothers/ The Baratheon Brothers (September 11, 1999)]</ref> Prince [[Doran Martell]] agreed to send ten thousand [[dornishmen]] to strengthen the army Rhaegar was gathering.{{Ref|ASOS|37}} King Aerys sent Prince [[Lewyn Martell]], Prince Doran's uncle, to take command of these forces, but also threatened him by stating that he held Princess [[Elia Martell]], Prince Rhaegar's wife, and their two young children, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], hostage.{{Ref|ASOS|37}}
  
After the battle was done, King Aerys realized that Robert was not some outlaw lord, but rather the greatest threat to his dynasty since [[Daemon Blackfyre]]. Connington was exiled for his failure and stripped of lands and titles. To replace Connington, Lord [[Qarlton Chelsted]] was named [[Hand of the King]]. It was after the Battle of the Bells that King Aerys ordered his [[Alchemists' Guild|pyromancers]] to place caches of [[wildfire]] throughout King’s Landing, even within the Red Keep itself.{{Ref|aSoS|37}}
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The ''[[Battle of the Trident]]'' (4 on the map) was the decisive battle in the war. Fought in {{Date|283}}<ref>A Forum of Ice and Fire: [http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/119534-twoiaf-spoilers-inconsistency-or-intentional/ TWOIAF Spoilers Inconsistency or Intentional?: Earlier editions of ''The World of Ice and Fire'' erroneously state 282 AC in "The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion"]</ref>  between the loyalist and rebels, the battle took place at a place known as the [[ruby ford]] since the battle, located on the northern bank of the [[Trident]],{{Ref|agot|15}} where Rhaegar tried to cross the [[Trident]].{{Ref|acok|28}} The loyalists had forty thousand men,{{Ref|AGOT|36}} while the army of the rebels numbered fewer men, who were more battle hardened.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]] and Robert met in single combat with the battle raging on all around them.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Rhaegar managed to wound Robert{{ref|agot|12}} before Robert killed Rhaegar with a blow to the chest from his warhammer.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Eventually, the Targaryen host broke and ran.{{ref|agot|12}}
  
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Around the time the [[Battle of the Trident]] was fought, [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] proclaimed his intention to claim the [[Iron Throne]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/US_Signing_Tour_Huntington_Beach_CA US Signing Tour (Huntington Beach, CA) (November 19, 2005)]</ref> Out of all three leaders of the rebellion, Robert had the better claim,{{ref|agot|30}} due to the fact that his grandmother had been princess [[Rhaelle Targaryen]], the youngest daughter of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]].{{ref|affc|35}} To justify Robert's claim, the [[maester]]s would later use his bloodties to [[House Targaryen]],{{Ref|aCoK|22}} though it was conquest which won him the throne.
  
[[File:Regis Moulun A United Cause.JPG|© FFG|thumb|350px|right]]
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Because Robert had taken a wound from Rhaegar during battle, he gave the pursuit of the remnants of the Targaryen army to [[Eddard Stark]]. Eddard followed the remnants of the army back to [[King's Landing]], where the Red Keep was being held by several thousand loyalists.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
With the death of [[Denys Arryn]], [[Hoster Tully]] managed to make a marriage match between his younger daughter, [[Lysa Tully|Lysa]], and [[Jon Arryn]], who needed an heir, and thus a wife known to be fertile.{{Ref|aSoS|2}}{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Hoster saw both his daughters wed during a double ceremony.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}
 
  
However, like in the Vale, not all the Tully bannermen joined the rebel cause. Houses [[House Ryger|Ryger]],{{Ref|aGoT|28}} [[House Darry|Darry]], [[House Goodbrook|Goodbrook]] and [[House Mooton|Mooton]] took the side of the Targaryens in the war and [[House Frey|Frey]] remained neutral until the situation became clearer.{{Ref|aGoT|28}}{{Ref|aSoS|43}}{{Ref|aGoT|16}}
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===Battle at the Mander===
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:{{main|Battle at the Mander}}
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[[Quellon Greyjoy]], [[Lord of the Iron Islands]], desired neutrality for the [[ironborn]] during the war. After [[Pyke]] was informed of Rhaegar's death, however, Quellon was convinced by his eldest sons—[[Balon Greyjoy|Balon]], [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron]], and [[Victarion Greyjoy|Victarion]]—to join the rebels as soon as possible or else lose all chance at spoils. Since it was still unknown whether [[House Lannister]] of [[Casterly Rock]] would side with the loyalists or the rebels, most of the ironmen's fleet remained at home, while Quellon led fifty longships in attacking the [[Reach]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}
  
After the Battle of the Bells had been fought, Kingsguards Barristan Selmy and Jon Darry were sent into the Riverlands to retrieve the remnants of Conningtons army, while Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser [[Gerold Hightower]], was send out by King Aerys to find Rhaegar.{{Ref|awoiaf| Rhaegar Targaryen}} Rhaegar eventually returned, and managed to convince his father to ask Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] for help. From [[Casterly Rock]] the only reply was silence.{{Ref|aSoS|37}}
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The Greyjoys captured some ships and and raided some towns and villages. They were intercepted by the longships of the [[Shield Islands]], however, at the mouth of the [[Mander]]. After Lord Quellon was slain in the [[battle at the Mander]], his heir, Balon, led the remaining ironmen back to the [[Iron Islands]], having accomplished little.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}
  
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===Sack of King's Landing===
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:{{main|Sack of King's Landing}}
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[[File:Eddard_Jaime_Aerys_Iron_Throne_Room.jpg|350px|thumb|Ned finds Jaime seated on the Iron Throne by Amok©]]
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Already prior to the Battle of the Trident, King Aerys had been preparing his [[wildfire plot]]. His Hand of the King, Lord [[Qarlton Chelsted]], however, eventually became suspicious of the frequency with which the pyromancers visited the king. When he discovered the king's wildfire plot, he attempted to change the kings mind, and when nothing worked, he choose to resign his position. For this, Aerys had him burned alive.{{Ref|ASOS|37}} Following the Battle of the Trident, Aerys named [[Rossart]], his favorite pyromancer,{{Ref|ASOS|37}} as his new Hand of the King.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} He would only be Hand for a fortnight.{{Ref|ASOS|37}} Meanwhile, Aerys sent his wife, Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]], and his new heir, their second son, Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], to [[Dragonstone]] for safety, where they would have the protection of, amongst others, Ser [[Willem Darry]], the master-at-arms of the [[Red Keep]], and [[royal fleet]].{{Ref|agot|39}}{{ref|agot|3}} Aerys refused to allow Rhaegar’s wife, Princess [[Elia Martell]], and their children [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]], to leave the city, keeping them by his side instead.{{ref|asos|37}}
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While the Battle of the Trident is seen by many as the decisive battle of the war, King’s Landing still remained untaken until the [[Sack of King's Landing]]{{Ref|ACOK|3}}{{Ref|AGOT|3}} (5 on the map) in {{date|283}},{{ref|ADWD|Appendix}} the last major battle of the war. Because [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] had been injured in battle, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] and his army persued the remnants of Rhaegar’s army, who had fled back to the capitol. Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], who had refused calls to arms from both the loyalists and the rebels until that point,{{ref|AGOT|12}} appeared at the gates of King's Landing with an army of twelve thousand men,{{Ref|agot|12}} mere hours before Eddard Stark would arrive.{{ref|agot|12}} Lord Tywin professed his loyalty to King Aerys, and while Lord [[Varys]] counseled Aerys to keep the gates locked, the king chose to listed to [[Grand Maester]] [[Pycelle]] and open the gates to Tywin's men. Once inside, the forces from the [[westerlands]] began to sack the city.{{Ref|asos|37}}
  
Aerys' most recent Hand, [[Qarlton Chelsted]], had become suspicious of the pyromancers who visited the King day and night. When he uncovered Aerys' [[wildfire plot]], he tried to bring the King on other thoughts, but nothing he tried would work. In the end, he choose to resign as Hand, which caused Aerys to burn him alive. Aerys' favorite pyromancer, [[Rossart]], was named Hand of the King in Chelsted's stead.{{Ref|aSoS|37}}
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Upon the realization that all was lost, Aerys ordered Rossart to ignite the wildfire caches throughout the city, wishing to leave Robert nothing but “ashes and bones”. He ordered Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], Lord Tywin’s eldest son and the only knight of his [[Kingsguard]] present in the city, to kill Tywin and bring his head to Aerys. Instead, Jaime killed Rossart, and upon the realization that Aerys would simply give the order to burn the city down to another pyromancer, returned to the Red Keep and murdered Aerys himself in the throne room, mere seconds before soldiers from the westerlands entered.
  
===Battle of the Trident===
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Meanwhile, Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] and Ser [[Amory Lorch]] had entered [[Maegor's Holdfast]] to deal with the rest of the royal family, to secure the throne for Robert, and to prove that [[House Lannister]] had forsaken the Targaryens forever. Gregor killed Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], Rhaegar's son and heir in front of the child's mother, Princess [[Elia Martell]], and then raped and murdered Elia herself with Aegon's blood and brains still on his hands. Amory dragged Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys Targaryen]] from under her father's bed and killed her, stabbing her half a hundred times.
:{{main|Battle of the Trident}}
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When Eddard Stark arrived in the city, he found Jaime seated on the Iron Throne and Aerys's corpse slumped below it.{{Ref|AGOT|3}} Robert Baratheon arrived in the city at a later point, upon which he was presented with the bodies of Elia, Rhaenys and Aegon by Lord Tywin. Robert was pleased by these deaths, but Eddard called it murder of children. This resulted in an argument between Eddard and Robert, and Eddard rode out alone in anger to fight the final battles of the war in the south.{{ref|AGOT|12}}
  
Eventually, both loyalist and rebel forces gathered for the decisive battle: the '''Battle of the Trident''' (4 on the map). During the battle, Prince Rhaegar and Robert met in single combat on the ford of the [[Trident]], while the battle crashed around them.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Robert slew Rhaegar with a blow to the chest from his warhammer so powerful that it smashed the rubies right from the armor. After Rhaegar fell, the Targaryen host broke and ran, and the victory went to the rebels.
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In the days that followed the Sack of King's Landing, Jaime Lannister sought out and killed [[Garigus]] and [[Belis]], the remaining two pyromancers aware of the [[wildfire plot]].{{Ref|ASOS|37}}
  
Amongst the dead on the side of the royalists were two of the three Kingsguard who had been present for the battle, Prince [[Lewyn Martell]] and Ser [[Jonothor Darry]]. Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] also present, had been severely wounded.
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==Aftermath==
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While Robert's Rebellion is considered to have ended at the Sack of King's Landing,{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} not all battles were fought. In the south, the [[Siege of Storm's End]] continued, while [[Lyanna Stark]] was still missing.
  
It was not until the end of the war, around the time the [[Battle of the Trident]] was being fought, that [[Robert Baratheon]] proclaimed his intention to claim the throne.<ref>US signing tour [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/US_Signing_Tour_Huntington_Beach_CA]</ref> To justify Robert's claim, the maesters would later use his bloodties to [[House Targaryen]].{{Ref|aCoK|22}} Robert's grandmother, [[Rhaelle Targaryen]], had been the daughter of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]],{{Ref|aFfC|35}} giving him the best claim to the throne outside of Aerys, his children and grandchildren.
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===End of the Siege of Storm's End===
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:{{main|Siege of Storm's End}}
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The [[siege of Storm's End]] (6 on the map) had begun after the [[Battle of Ashford]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: House Tyrell}} Lord [[Mace Tyrell]] had led his forces to [[Storm's End]], where they had laid siege to the castle for the better part of a year. Storm's End was being held by [[Stannis Baratheon]], the younger brother of Robert Baratheon. While the castle garrison was starving and ate rats to survive,{{Ref|ACOK|33}} the forces of the [[Reach]] feasted in sight of the castle.{{ref|acok|prologue}} A smuggler named [[Davos Seaworth|Davos]] managed to sail past the blockade of the Redwyne Fleet and sold his cargo of onions and fish to the residents of Storm’s End,{{ref|ACOK|Prologue}} thereby preventing them from resorting to cannibalisms.{{Ref|ACOK|33}} The new food supply allowed Storm's End to hold out long enough until Eddard Stark arrived from King's Landing to lift the siege. The lords of the Reach were quick to dip their banners.{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
  
Having been severely wounded by Rhaegar during the battle, Robert gave the command of persuit to his friend, Eddard Stark, hoping to besiege King's Landing, which was believed to have been held by several thousand men.{{Ref|aGoT|12}} With the war all but won, House Frey declared for the rebels. [[Walder Frey]]'s slow response in the rebellion would cause Lord Hoster Tully to name him "late Lord Frey" ever since.{{Ref|aGoT|28}}
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===Combat at the Tower of Joy ===
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:{{main|Combat at the tower of joy}}
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[[File:The tower of joy by henning.jpg|300px|thumb|Tower of joy, by Henning Ludvigsen, FFG©.<br>Note: The bottom image is the original version, but was redone to make the top image, which features the red mountains of Dorne.]]
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After lifing the siege at Storm's End, Lord Eddard Stark rode further south with six companions: [[Howland Reed]], Lord [[Willam Dustin]], [[Ethan Glover]], [[Martyn Cassel]], [[Theo Wull]] and Ser [[Mark Ryswell]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}} Near the [[Red Mountains]] of [[Dorne]], they found three knights of Aerys II's [[Kingsguard]], [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]] [[Gerold Hightower]], and Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]].{{ref|AGOT|39}} They were guarding a tower which Rhaegar is said to have named the [[tower of joy]]. The seven northeners and the three Kingsguard knights fought, and only Eddard and Howland survived the battle.{{Ref|AGOT|39}} Inside the tower, Eddard found his sister, [[Lyanna Stark]]. Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and died shortly after with Eddard by her side.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Eddard later tore down the tower, so he could use the stones to make cairns for the eight dead men.{{Ref|AGOT|39}} Afterwards, Eddard travelled further south, to [[Starfall]], where he delivered the [[Valyrian steel]] sword [[Dawn]], which had been in the possession of Arthur Dayne, to Arthur's sister, Lady [[Ashara Dayne]].{{Ref|AGOT|6}}{{Ref|twoiaf| Dorne: The Andals Arrive}}
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===Assault on Dragonstone===
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:{{main|Assault on Dragonstone}}
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In between the Battle of the Trident and the Sack of King's Landing, Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]] and her son and Aerys's new heir, Prince [[Viserys Targaryen]], had been sent to the [[Dragonstone (island)|island of Dragonstone]]{{Ref|aSoS|37}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}} with the Red Keep's master-at-arms, Ser [[Willem Darry]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}} There, Viserys was crowned by his mother,{{Ref|awoiaf| Viserys Targaryen}} while on the mainland, [[Stannis Baratheon]] began constructing a new [[royal fleet]] to lead an assault on Dragonstone.{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
  
===Sack of King's Landing===
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In {{Date|284}}, nine months after the flight to Dragonstone,{{ref|AGOT|3}} Rhaella died in childbed, giving birth to [[Daenerys Targaryen]] during a great storm that destroyed the Targaryen fleet which had been at anchor at the island.{{ref|AGOT|3}} With most of the Targaryen fleet destroyed, and with the Baratheon fleet ready to take [[Dragonstone]], the household of the last Targaryen stronghold was willing to sell the children to the new king, [[Robert I Baratheon]]. Shortly before Stannis sailed to Dragonstone, however, Ser [[Willem Darry]] and four loyal men smuggled Viserys, Daenerys, and her wet nurse from the nursery and sailed for [[Braavos]], where they would remain for several years.{{Ref|agot|3}} While Stannis was successfull in leading the [[assault on Dragonstone]], Robert scorned him for allowing Darry and the children to escape.{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
:{{main|Sack of King's Landing}}
 
The '''Sack of King’s Landing''' (5 on the map) was the last major battle of the war. Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], who had remained neutral during the entire war, had finally stirred from [[Casterly Rock]], suddenly appearing, shortly after the Battle of the Trident, in front of the gates of King's Landing, claiming loyalty to Aerys and asking to be let in. Aerys favored the advice of Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] over that of his spymaster [[Varys]] and opened the gates of the city. This proved Aerys' undoing, as the Lannister forces began to sack the city in Robert's name. Realizing all was lost, Aerys ordered his last Hand, the [[Alchemists' Guild|pyromancer]] Rossart, to ignite the wildfire caches throughout the city, saying,
 
  
{{Quote|The traitors want my city, but I’ll give them naught but ashes. Let Robert be king over charred bones and cooked meat.{{Ref|aSoS|37}}}}
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===Establishment of Baratheon Dynasty===
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Following the conclusion of the rebellion, Robert Baratheon was successfully installed as the new king of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. Robert named [[Jon Arryn]] his [[Hand of the King]].  Robert had no wish to marry following the death of his betrothed, [[Lyanna Stark]], but Jon Arryn convinced him otherwise by informing Robert that the realm was in need of an heir. Arryn suggested Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]'s daughter, [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]], as the marriage would ensure Tywin's support, should [[Viserys Targaryen]] ever attempt to win his throne back.{{Ref|AGOT|30}} Robert and Cersei married in {{Date|284}}.<ref>''See the calculation for [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Events#Cersei Lannister's wedding to Robert I Baratheon|Cersei Lannister's wedding to Robert I Baratheon]].''</ref> [[Maester]] [[Yandel]] described the marriage as Robert's "first act" as King.{{Ref|twoiaf| The Glorious Reign}}
  
Aerys then ordered [[Jaime Lannister]], the last of his [[Kingsguard]] present in [[King's Landing|the city]], and Tywin Lannisters's own son, to kill Lord Tywin. Instead, Jaime slew Lord [[Rossart]] and then murdered Aerys himself in the throne room. Meanwhile, Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] and [[Amory Lorch]] had entered [[Maegor's Holdfast]], to deal with the rest of the royal family, to secure the throne for Robert and to prove that [[House Lannister]] had forsaken the Targaryens forever. Gregor Clegane killed Prince Aegon, Prince Rhaegar's son and heir, while [[Elia Martell|the babe's mother]] watched, and then raped and murdered Princess Elia herself with Aegon's blood and brains still on his hands. Ser Amory dragged Princess Rhaenys from under her father's bed and killed her, stabbing her half a hundred times. When Eddard Stark arrived shortly thereafter, he found Jaime Lannister seated on the Iron Throne and Aerys's corpse slumped below it.
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===Rumored Dornish Resistance===
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The deaths of Princess [[Elia Martell]] and her two young children, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]] and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], enfuriated [[House Martell]]. Prince [[Oberyn Martell]], Elia's younger brother, attempted to raise Dorne for the exiled Viserys. Messages were sent by both raven and messenger, though their contents have remained a secret.{{Ref|ASOS|53}} [[Hand of the King]] [[Jon Arryn]] went to [[Dorne]] the year after the rebellion,{{Ref|ASOS|38}} returned the bones of Prince [[Lewyn Martell]], and sat down with [[Doran Martell]], the older brother of Elia and Oberyn, and the [[Prince of Dorne]]. Talk of war ended after this visit.{{Ref|ASOS|53}} However, during his stay in [[Sunspear]], Jon Arryn was "questioned closely" regarding the fates of Elia and her children.{{Ref|ASOS|38}} A hundred others were questioned as well.{{Ref|ASOS|38}}
  
When Robert Baratheon finally arrived in the city, Tywin Lannister presented the bodies of Elia, Aegon and Rhaenys as tokens of his fealty. Robert Baratheon was pleased with the deaths of Rhaegars family, but Eddard Stark thought it a brutal act, and called it murder of children. This resulted in an argument between Eddard and Robert, which led to Stark riding out alone to finish the war in the south.{{ref|AGOT|12}}
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However, while all talk of war ended in Dorne, Doran continued to plot a Targaryen restoration in secret,{{Ref|AFFC|41}} working closely together with his brother, Oberyn.{{Ref|ADWD|38}}  
  
===Siege of Storm's End===
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==Houses by Allegiance==
:{{main|Siege of Storm's End}}
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While not every house supporting the loyalists and the rebels respectively is known, this list provides an overview of the loyalties that have been revealed thusfar.
Although more attrition than actual battle, the '''Siege of Storm’s End''' (6 on the map) held up [[Mace Tyrell|Mace Tyrell’s]] forces at Storm's End for the better part of the entire war. During this siege the forces of the Reach, led by Mace and [[Paxter Redwyne]], feasted within sight of the castle while [[Stannis Baratheon]] and his men starved inside. Help for [[Storm's End]] eventually came in the form of [[Davos Seaworth]], who smuggled a cargo of onions past the blockade. In the end, Stannis and his forces held out until Eddard Stark arrived. Lord Tyrell, at Starks arrival, quickly dipped his banners.{{ref|AGOT|39}}
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While it is known that the houses in the [[riverlands]], [[Vale]], and the [[Stormlands]] were divided between the loyalists and rebels in their loyalties, no mention has been made regarding any divided loyalties in [[Dorne]], the [[Reach]], and the [[North]]. Nonetheless, this list presents only houses specifically mentioned by name to have supported a side in the war.
  
===Skirmish at the Tower of Joy - The End of Aerys's Kingsguard===
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===Loyalists===
:{{main|Showdown at the Tower of Joy}}
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{{Columns|2|
Ser [[Arthur Dayne]], Ser [[Oswell Whent]], and the Lord Commander of the [[Kingsguard]] [[Gerold Hightower]] had been absent from the battles on the Trident, King's Landing, and Storm's End. They were later found guarding a small tower, which Rhaegar had named the [[Tower of Joy]]. Lord Eddard rode there with six companions: [[Howland Reed]], [[Willam Dustin]], [[Ethan Glover]], [[Martyn Cassel]], [[Theo Wull]] and [[Mark Ryswell]], after lifting the siege of Storm's End. The seven companions fought the three Kingsguard, with only Eddard and Howland surviving. [[Lyanna Stark]] was found in the tower, and died shortly after she extracted a promise from her brother. Eddard then tore down the tower to make cairns for the dead. Afterwards, Eddard rode to [[Starfall]] to deliver Arthur's sword [[Dawn]] to his sister [[Ashara Dayne]], who leapt into the [[Summer Sea|sea]] shortly afterwards.
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*[[House Cafferen]] (switched sides){{ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|ASOS|54}}
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*[[House Connington]] (switched sides){{Ref|ASOS|29}}
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*[[House Darry]]{{Ref|AGOT|16}}{{Ref|AGOT|28}}
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*[[House Fell]] (switched sides){{ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|ASOS|54}}
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*[[House Goodbrook]]{{Ref|ASOS|43}}
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*[[House Grafton]] (switched sides){{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|adwd|9}}
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*[[House Grandison]] (switched sides){{ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|ASOS|54}}
 +
*[[House Martell]]{{Ref|ASOS|37}}
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*[[House Mooton]] {{Ref|AGOT|28}}
 +
*[[House Redwyne]]{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
 +
*[[House Rowan]]{{Ref|ACOK|33}}
 +
*[[House Ryger]]{{Ref|AGOT|28}}
 +
*[[House Targaryen]]{{Ref|agot|2}}
 +
*[[House Tarly]]{{Ref|ASOS|36}}{{Ref|ASOS|78}}
 +
*[[House Tyrell]]{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: House Tyrell}}{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
 +
}}
  
===Assault on Dragonstone===
+
===Rebels===
:{{main|Assault on Dragonstone}}
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{{Columns|2|
After the royalist defeat at the Trident, Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] were sent to the island of [[Dragonstone]]{{Ref|aSoS|37}} with the Red Keep's master-at-arms, Ser [[Willem Darry]]. There, Prince Viserys was crowned by his mother,{{Ref|awoiaf| Viserys Targaryen}}, while at the mainland, [[Stannis Baratheon]] began constructing a new fleet to lead an assault on Dragonstone.
+
*[[House Arryn]]{{Ref|AGOT|2}}
 +
*[[House Baratheon]]{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|AGOT|33}}
 +
*[[House Bolton]]{{Ref|agot|33}}
 +
*[[House Cafferen]] (switched sides){{Ref|ASOS|36}}
 +
*[[House Cassel]]{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
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*[[House Connington]] (switched sides){{Ref|AFFC|27}}
 +
*[[House Dustin]]{{Ref|ADWD|41}}
 +
*[[House Fell]] (switched sides){{Ref|ASOS|36}}
 +
*[[House Frey]] (after the Battle of the Trident){{Ref|AGOT|28}}
 +
*[[House Glover]]{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
 +
*[[House Grandison]] (switched sides){{Ref|ASOS|36}}
 +
*[[House Greyjoy]] (after the Battle of the Trident){{Ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}
 +
*[[House Hightower]]{{Ref|ACOK|12}}
 +
*[[House Lannister]] (after the Battle of the Trident){{Ref|AGOT|12}}
 +
*[[House Mormont]]{{Ref|ASOS|23}}{{Ref|ASOS|57}}
 +
*[[House Reed]]{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
 +
*[[House Ryswell]]{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
 +
*[[House Stark]]{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|AGOT|33}}
 +
*[[House Tully]]{{Ref|ADWD|61}}{{Ref|ASOS|43}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands: House Tully}}
 +
*[[House Wull]]{{Ref|AGOT|39}}
 +
}}
  
Nine months after the flight to Dragonstone,{{ref|AGOT|3}} the queen died in childbed, giving birth to [[Daenerys Targaryen]] during a great storm that destroyed the Targaryen fleet at anchor.{{ref|AGOT|3}} With most of the Targaryen fleet destroyed, and with the Baratheon fleet ready to take Dragonstone, the Targaryen household at the last Targaryen stronghold was willing to sell the remaining Targaryen children to [[Robert Baratheon]]. Before Stannis could arrive, however, Ser [[Willem Darry]] and a handful of men smuggled Viserys, Daenerys, and her wet nurse from the nursery and sailed for [[Braavos]], where the last Targaryens began their lives of wandering exile. Stannis led the successful [[assault on Dragonstone]].
+
==Quotes==
 +
{{Quote|Once [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]] died, the war was done.{{ref|aCoK|25}}}} - [[Pycelle]] to [[Tyrion Lannister]]
  
==Outcome==
 
Following the successful conclusion of the rebellion, House Targaryen was displaced from power and most of its members wiped out, with only two survivors in exile across the narrow sea. [[Robert Baratheon]] took the [[Iron Throne]] and named [[Jon Arryn]] his [[Hand of the King|Hand]]. As Lyanna Stark had died after her abduction, Jon Arryn convinced Robert to marry [[Cersei Lannister]] instead, to bind [[House Lannister]] closely to them.
 
  
Rumours arose of [[Dorne]] plotting another rebellion, with Dornish Prince [[Oberyn Martell]], angered about the death of [[Elia Martell|his sister]], [[Aegon Targaryen|nephew]] and [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|niece]], trying to raise the banners for Viserys Targaryen. Ravens flew and riders rode, but the messeges they carried remain unknown until this day, as Jon Arryn went to Dorne the year after the Rebellion, and discussed a peace with [[Doran Martell]]. All tales on rebellion ended since then.
+
{{Quote|And so ended both the reign of House Targaryen and Robert's Rebellion—the war that put an end to nearly three hundred years of Targaryen rule and ushered in a new golden era under the auspices of House Baratheon.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The End}}}} - [[Maester]] [[Yandel]]
  
 +
==References==
 +
{{references|2}}
  
 +
{{Wars in Westeros}}
 
{{Robert's Rebellion}}
 
{{Robert's Rebellion}}
  
==References and sources==
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[[Category:Robert's Rebellion| ]]
{{references|3}}
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[[Category:House Arryn wars]]
{{EnWP|War of the Usurper|small=yes}}
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[[Category:House Baratheon wars]]
 
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[[Category:House Greyjoy wars]]
[[Category:Robert's Rebellion|*]]
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[[Category:House Lannister wars]]
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[[Category:House Martell wars]]
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[[Category:House Stark wars]]
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[[Category:House Targaryen wars]]
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[[Category:House Tully wars]]
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[[Category:House Tyrell wars]]
 
[[Category:Wars]]
 
[[Category:Wars]]
 
[[category:Westeros]]
 
[[category:Westeros]]

Revision as of 17:29, 14 February 2018

Robert's Rebellion
Roberts Rebellion.jpg
Date 282 AC - 283 AC
Location Westeros
Battles Taking of Gulltown
Battles at Summerhall
Battle of Ashford
Battle of the Bells
Battle of the Trident
Battle at the Mander
Sack of King's Landing
Siege of Storm's End
Tower of Joy
Assault on Dragonstone
Result

Decisive victory for the rebel forces;

The end of the Targaryen Dynasty and the start of the Baratheon Dynasty
Belligerents
Iron Throne:/House Targaryen and Royalist housesRebels
Notable commanders
Gulltown
Marq Grafton

Summerhall

Lord Fell
Lord Cafferen
Lord Grandison

Ashford

Randyll Tarly

Storm's End

Mace Tyrell
Paxter Redwyne

Bells

Jon Connington




The Trident

Rhaegar Targaryen
Barristan Selmy
Lewyn Martell
Jonothor Darry




King's Landing

Aerys II Targaryen
Rossart
Jaime Lannister

Storm's End

Mace Tyrell
Paxter Redwyne

Tower of Joy

Gerold Hightower
Gulltown
Jon Arryn

Summerhall

Robert Baratheon



Ashford

Robert Baratheon

Storm's End

Stannis Baratheon


Bells

Eddard Stark
Robert Baratheon
Jon Arryn
Hoster Tully

The Trident

Robert Baratheon
Jon Arryn
Eddard Stark
Hoster Tully

The Mander

Quellon Greyjoy

King's Landing

Tywin Lannister
Jaime Lannister (changed side)
Eddard Stark (aftermath)

Storm's End

Eddard Stark


Tower of Joy

Eddard Stark

Dragonstone

Stannis Baratheon
Strength
Trident: 40.000
King's Landing: several thousand[1]
Trident: less than 40.000 King's Landing: 12.000 (westerlands)[1]

Robert's Rebellion,[2][3][4][5] also known as the War of the Usurper,[5] was a rebellion against House Targaryen, primarily instigated by Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn, and Robert Baratheon, for whom it is named. It lasted "close to a year"[1] and resulted in the end of the Targaryen dynasty in the Seven Kingdoms and the beginning of Robert Baratheon's reign.

Prelude

Tourney at Harrenhal

In 281 AC, a grand tourney was held by Lord Walter Whent at Harrenhal.[6] Many nobles from all over the Seven Kingdoms came to the riverlands to take part in the festivities. Amongst them were the heir to Winterfell, Brandon Stark, and his younger siblings, Eddard, Lyanna and Benjen.[7]

The most prominent visitor of the tourney was King Aerys II Targaryen, however. Aerys had not left the Red Keep for many years, ever since his half-year capture during the Defiance of Duskendale in 277 AC,[8] but was inspired to come to the tourney by words from his master of whisperers, the eunuch Varys.[9]

The tourney was cause for great celebration, as spring had come to Westeros, or so men thought.[10] In addition, all of the White Swords had gathered to welcome their newest member, Ser Jaime Lannister. However, the tourney's ending was less joyful. After winning the final tilt, Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen was to crown the new queen of love and beauty. Instead of crowning his wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, Rhaegar rode past her and crowned Lyanna Stark of Winterfell instead. Eddard Stark would later recall this moment as "the moment when all smiles died".[6]

Abduction of Lyanna Stark

An unknown amount of time later, Lyanna Stark was seemingly abducted by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Her brother, Brandon Stark, was on his way to Riverrun to wed Catelyn Tully, when the news reached him. Brandon rode at once to King's Landing with his companions: Ethan Glover, Brandon's squire, Elbert Arryn, nephew to Lord Jon Arryn and the heir of the Eyrie, Kyle Royce, and Jeffory Mallister.[11] Brandon rode for the Red Keep, and outside its gates, unaware that Rhaegar was not present, shouted for Rhaegar to come out and die. King Aerys II had them all arrested for plotting the murder of the crown prince, and summoned the fathers of all those who stood accused to court.[11] Lord Rickard Stark, who had been on his way south with the wedding party for Brandon's wedding,[12] went to King's Landing with two hundred men.[13] None of the returned north. In King's Landing, all of those who stood accused were executed,[13] with the sole exception of Ethan Glover.[14]

King Aerys did allow for trials, of a sort. Lord Rickard Stark demanded a trial by battle, and the king granted his request. Rickard dressed for battle, but Aerys declared fire to be the champion of House Targaryen. He had Rickard suspended from the rafters in the throne room, where his pyromancers, Rossart amongst them, kindled a blaze beneath the Lord of Winterfell. Brandon Stark was brought in as well, and placed in a Tyroshi strangling device, while a longsword was placed just outside his reach. Brandon was allowed to try and free his father, but the more he struggled to reach the sword, the tighter the cord around his neck became. Brandon strangled himself in an attempt to reach the sword and save his father, while Lord Rickard cooked in his armor.[11]

Next, Aerys demanded Lord Jon Arryn to send him the heads of Lord Robert Baratheon of Storm's End, Lyanna's betrothed,[15] and Eddard Stark, now the Lord of Winterfell after the deaths of his father and older brother.[16][17] Robert and Eddard were in the Eyrie, however, and Jon Arryn refused to oblige. Instead, he raised his banners in revolt.[16] This act is seen as the start of the war,[17] which would last "close to a year".[1]

The Rebellion

Overview of the war: 1 Summerhall, 2 Ashford, 3 Battle of the Bells, 4 The Trident, 5 King's Landing, 6 Storm's End. The colors represent faction amies: Baratheon. Stark. Tyrell. Lannister. Targaryen.

Taking of Gulltown

The fighting of the rebellion began in the Vale of Arryn. Though Jon Arryn called for all his banners, not all of his bannermen sided with him.[17] There were those who sided with the king, chief among them Marq Grafton. Grafton called the other loyalists to aid him in barring the rebels from entering the port of Gulltown.[18] With the port blocked, Eddard Stark decided to make his own way back to the north by crossing the Mountains of the Moon to the Fingers, where he would need to find a fisherman to carry him across the Bite.[18] Once north, Eddard could call his banners.

Gulltown's defenses eventually fell after an unknown amount of time, with Robert Baratheon slaying Marq Grafton in the taking of Gulltown.[18] Robert sailed to Storm's End to call his own banners as well.[1][17]

Battles at Summerhall

Just as not all the lords in the Vale had sided with Jon Arryn, not all the lords in the stormlands sided with Robert Baratheon. The first major battle in the stormlands took place at Summerhall. They were three battles (1 on the map), in truth, all fought on one day. Lords Grandison, Cafferen, and Fell had gathered their hosts and planned to join forces at Summerhall. From there, they would march on Storm's End. However, thanks to an informer, Robert learned of their plans and rode with his knights and squires to Summerhall, where he attacked each host in turn.[19] Robert killed Lord Fell in battle.[19]

Lord Cafferen and Grandison,[20] as well as Lord Fell's son, Silveraxe,[17] were taken captive and brought to Storm's End when Robert's returned there after the battles, for unknown reasons.[20] There, Robert turned his enemies into friends, as both Lords Grandison and Cafferen, as well as Silveraxe would later be loyal to Robert.[19][20]

Following his victory at Summerhall, Robert was now free to march north, to join up with Jon Arryn and the northmen.[17]

Battle of Ashford

The next main battle that was fought was the Battle of Ashford[21] (2 on the map). Robert marched out again, leaving his younger brother Stannis Baratheon in charge of Storm's End. At Ashford, Lord Randyll Tarly fell upon Robert's forces. Lord Randyll was the first of the loyalists to arrive, and with his van defeated Robert's forces before Lord Mace Tyrell could arrive with the main force from the Reach.[22] Despite the fact that it had been Randyll's victory, Mace Tyrell has taken the credit for the victory.[19][21][22][23] The battle is considered to have been indecisive.[22]

During the battle, Lord Cafferen was cut down by Randyll Tarly, who sent his head to King Aerys II.[23] Robert managed to escape capture with the bulk of his forces, to join his strength with Lord Eddard Stark and Lord Jon Arryn.[24] Following the battle, Mace Tyrell marched on Storm's End and laid siege to the castle (6 on the map).[21] This siege would last "close to a year".[25]

King Aerys, due to the events in the stormlands, came to believe that his Hand of the King, Owen Merryweather, was ineffectual. The king was even considering that Merryweather might have been so ineffectual as to possibly aid the rebellion.[26] In result, Owen was stripped of his lands and titles, and exiled.[27] Lord Jon Connington, a friend of Rhaegar's with a reputation of a warrior, was named as Hand in Owen's stead.[26]

Battle of the Bells

Eddard Stark had managed to reach Winterfell, where he called his banners. He marched south with his forces, and joined up with Lord Jon Arryn. Together, they negotiated with Lord Hoster Tully, the lord of Riverrun, for his support.[28]

Lord Jon Connington personally led a mighty army into the field. The forces he commanded gave chase, and Robert's march became a grueling one.[24] Robert, wounded through unknown means, and all alone,[29][30] eventually took refuge at Stoney Sept,[29] which would become the site of the Battle of the Bells[29][31][32] (3 on the map), the first major battle known to have taken place in 283 AC. Jon Connington's forces took the town by force and began to search every house. The residents of the town were actively helping Robert however, and despite the search, the offered pardons and rewards, the threats and the hostages Connington took and hung in crow cages, they could not find Robert.[29][30]

Battle began when Lords Eddard Stark, Hoster Tully and Jon Arryn arrived with a rebel army. The soldiers fought in the streets and alleys and on the rooftops, and the septons rang the bells to warn the residents to lock their doors.[29] Battle was fierce, and Jon Connington managed to wound Hoster Tully and kill Jon Arryn's cousin, Denys Arryn.[29] Eventually, Robert Baratheon came out of the brothel in which he had been hiding, and fought with Connington, almost killing him.[30]

Suspicious of the loss at the Stoney Sept, King Aerys exiled Jon Connington, stripping him of his titles.[30] Aerys began to realize that Robert was the greatest threat to his dynasty since Daemon I Blackfyre, and named Lord Qarlton Chelsted as his Hand of the King in Connington's stead. Ser Jonothor Darry and Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard were sent to rally Connington's men, while their Lord Commander, Ser Gerold Hightower, was send by King Aerys to find Rhaegar.[33] Rhaegar Targaryen finally returned from the south, and convinced Aerys to ask Tywin Lannister for help,[32] just as the rebels had or would do, at one point.[1] Additionally, Aerys commanded his alchemists to place caches of wildfire on multiple locations in King's Landing.[32]

With both Elbert Arryn and Denys Arryn now dead, Hoster Tully managed to swiftly arrange a marriage between Lord Jon Arryn, in need of an heir, and his daughter, Lysa Tully, who had previously proven fertile.[2][16] In a double ceremony, Eddard Stark and Jon Arryn married Catelyn and Lysa Tully.[15] Amongst those present at the wedding was Robert Baratheon.[24]

Battle of the Trident

The Battle of the Trident as depicted by Justin Sweet in The World of Ice and Fire.

After at first refusing to send aid to Aerys, both due to his caution as well as due to his anger over Elia's treatment,[34] Prince Doran Martell agreed to send ten thousand dornishmen to strengthen the army Rhaegar was gathering.[32] King Aerys sent Prince Lewyn Martell, Prince Doran's uncle, to take command of these forces, but also threatened him by stating that he held Princess Elia Martell, Prince Rhaegar's wife, and their two young children, Rhaenys and Aegon, hostage.[32]

The Battle of the Trident (4 on the map) was the decisive battle in the war. Fought in 283 AC[35] between the loyalist and rebels, the battle took place at a place known as the ruby ford since the battle, located on the northern bank of the Trident,[36] where Rhaegar tried to cross the Trident.[37] The loyalists had forty thousand men,[38] while the army of the rebels numbered fewer men, who were more battle hardened.[17] Prince Rhaegar and Robert met in single combat with the battle raging on all around them.[15] Rhaegar managed to wound Robert[1] before Robert killed Rhaegar with a blow to the chest from his warhammer.[15] Eventually, the Targaryen host broke and ran.[1]

Around the time the Battle of the Trident was fought, Robert Baratheon proclaimed his intention to claim the Iron Throne.[39] Out of all three leaders of the rebellion, Robert had the better claim,[40] due to the fact that his grandmother had been princess Rhaelle Targaryen, the youngest daughter of King Aegon V Targaryen.[41] To justify Robert's claim, the maesters would later use his bloodties to House Targaryen,[42] though it was conquest which won him the throne.

Because Robert had taken a wound from Rhaegar during battle, he gave the pursuit of the remnants of the Targaryen army to Eddard Stark. Eddard followed the remnants of the army back to King's Landing, where the Red Keep was being held by several thousand loyalists.[1]

Battle at the Mander

Quellon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, desired neutrality for the ironborn during the war. After Pyke was informed of Rhaegar's death, however, Quellon was convinced by his eldest sons—Balon, Euron, and Victarion—to join the rebels as soon as possible or else lose all chance at spoils. Since it was still unknown whether House Lannister of Casterly Rock would side with the loyalists or the rebels, most of the ironmen's fleet remained at home, while Quellon led fifty longships in attacking the Reach.[43]

The Greyjoys captured some ships and and raided some towns and villages. They were intercepted by the longships of the Shield Islands, however, at the mouth of the Mander. After Lord Quellon was slain in the battle at the Mander, his heir, Balon, led the remaining ironmen back to the Iron Islands, having accomplished little.[43]

Sack of King's Landing

Ned finds Jaime seated on the Iron Throne by Amok©

Already prior to the Battle of the Trident, King Aerys had been preparing his wildfire plot. His Hand of the King, Lord Qarlton Chelsted, however, eventually became suspicious of the frequency with which the pyromancers visited the king. When he discovered the king's wildfire plot, he attempted to change the kings mind, and when nothing worked, he choose to resign his position. For this, Aerys had him burned alive.[32] Following the Battle of the Trident, Aerys named Rossart, his favorite pyromancer,[32] as his new Hand of the King.[44] He would only be Hand for a fortnight.[32] Meanwhile, Aerys sent his wife, Queen Rhaella, and his new heir, their second son, Prince Viserys, to Dragonstone for safety, where they would have the protection of, amongst others, Ser Willem Darry, the master-at-arms of the Red Keep, and royal fleet.[14][45] Aerys refused to allow Rhaegar’s wife, Princess Elia Martell, and their children Rhaenys and Aegon, to leave the city, keeping them by his side instead.[32]

While the Battle of the Trident is seen by many as the decisive battle of the war, King’s Landing still remained untaken until the Sack of King's Landing[27][45] (5 on the map) in 283 AC,[46] the last major battle of the war. Because Robert Baratheon had been injured in battle, Lord Eddard Stark and his army persued the remnants of Rhaegar’s army, who had fled back to the capitol. Lord Tywin Lannister, who had refused calls to arms from both the loyalists and the rebels until that point,[1] appeared at the gates of King's Landing with an army of twelve thousand men,[1] mere hours before Eddard Stark would arrive.[1] Lord Tywin professed his loyalty to King Aerys, and while Lord Varys counseled Aerys to keep the gates locked, the king chose to listed to Grand Maester Pycelle and open the gates to Tywin's men. Once inside, the forces from the westerlands began to sack the city.[32]

Upon the realization that all was lost, Aerys ordered Rossart to ignite the wildfire caches throughout the city, wishing to leave Robert nothing but “ashes and bones”. He ordered Ser Jaime Lannister, Lord Tywin’s eldest son and the only knight of his Kingsguard present in the city, to kill Tywin and bring his head to Aerys. Instead, Jaime killed Rossart, and upon the realization that Aerys would simply give the order to burn the city down to another pyromancer, returned to the Red Keep and murdered Aerys himself in the throne room, mere seconds before soldiers from the westerlands entered.

Meanwhile, Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch had entered Maegor's Holdfast to deal with the rest of the royal family, to secure the throne for Robert, and to prove that House Lannister had forsaken the Targaryens forever. Gregor killed Prince Aegon Targaryen, Rhaegar's son and heir in front of the child's mother, Princess Elia Martell, and then raped and murdered Elia herself with Aegon's blood and brains still on his hands. Amory dragged Princess Rhaenys Targaryen from under her father's bed and killed her, stabbing her half a hundred times.

When Eddard Stark arrived in the city, he found Jaime seated on the Iron Throne and Aerys's corpse slumped below it.[45] Robert Baratheon arrived in the city at a later point, upon which he was presented with the bodies of Elia, Rhaenys and Aegon by Lord Tywin. Robert was pleased by these deaths, but Eddard called it murder of children. This resulted in an argument between Eddard and Robert, and Eddard rode out alone in anger to fight the final battles of the war in the south.[1]

In the days that followed the Sack of King's Landing, Jaime Lannister sought out and killed Garigus and Belis, the remaining two pyromancers aware of the wildfire plot.[32]

Aftermath

While Robert's Rebellion is considered to have ended at the Sack of King's Landing,[44] not all battles were fought. In the south, the Siege of Storm's End continued, while Lyanna Stark was still missing.

End of the Siege of Storm's End

The siege of Storm's End (6 on the map) had begun after the Battle of Ashford.[21] Lord Mace Tyrell had led his forces to Storm's End, where they had laid siege to the castle for the better part of a year. Storm's End was being held by Stannis Baratheon, the younger brother of Robert Baratheon. While the castle garrison was starving and ate rats to survive,[47] the forces of the Reach feasted in sight of the castle.[25] A smuggler named Davos managed to sail past the blockade of the Redwyne Fleet and sold his cargo of onions and fish to the residents of Storm’s End,[25] thereby preventing them from resorting to cannibalisms.[47] The new food supply allowed Storm's End to hold out long enough until Eddard Stark arrived from King's Landing to lift the siege. The lords of the Reach were quick to dip their banners.[14]

Combat at the Tower of Joy

Tower of joy, by Henning Ludvigsen, FFG©.
Note: The bottom image is the original version, but was redone to make the top image, which features the red mountains of Dorne.

After lifing the siege at Storm's End, Lord Eddard Stark rode further south with six companions: Howland Reed, Lord Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull and Ser Mark Ryswell.[14] Near the Red Mountains of Dorne, they found three knights of Aerys II's Kingsguard, Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, and Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Oswell Whent.[14] They were guarding a tower which Rhaegar is said to have named the tower of joy. The seven northeners and the three Kingsguard knights fought, and only Eddard and Howland survived the battle.[14] Inside the tower, Eddard found his sister, Lyanna Stark. Lyanna extracted a promise from Eddard, and died shortly after with Eddard by her side.[15] Eddard later tore down the tower, so he could use the stones to make cairns for the eight dead men.[14] Afterwards, Eddard travelled further south, to Starfall, where he delivered the Valyrian steel sword Dawn, which had been in the possession of Arthur Dayne, to Arthur's sister, Lady Ashara Dayne.[48][49]

Assault on Dragonstone

In between the Battle of the Trident and the Sack of King's Landing, Queen Rhaella Targaryen and her son and Aerys's new heir, Prince Viserys Targaryen, had been sent to the island of Dragonstone[32][44] with the Red Keep's master-at-arms, Ser Willem Darry.[14] There, Viserys was crowned by his mother,[50] while on the mainland, Stannis Baratheon began constructing a new royal fleet to lead an assault on Dragonstone.[25]

In 284 AC, nine months after the flight to Dragonstone,[45] Rhaella died in childbed, giving birth to Daenerys Targaryen during a great storm that destroyed the Targaryen fleet which had been at anchor at the island.[45] With most of the Targaryen fleet destroyed, and with the Baratheon fleet ready to take Dragonstone, the household of the last Targaryen stronghold was willing to sell the children to the new king, Robert I Baratheon. Shortly before Stannis sailed to Dragonstone, however, Ser Willem Darry and four loyal men smuggled Viserys, Daenerys, and her wet nurse from the nursery and sailed for Braavos, where they would remain for several years.[45] While Stannis was successfull in leading the assault on Dragonstone, Robert scorned him for allowing Darry and the children to escape.[25]

Establishment of Baratheon Dynasty

Following the conclusion of the rebellion, Robert Baratheon was successfully installed as the new king of the Seven Kingdoms. Robert named Jon Arryn his Hand of the King. Robert had no wish to marry following the death of his betrothed, Lyanna Stark, but Jon Arryn convinced him otherwise by informing Robert that the realm was in need of an heir. Arryn suggested Lord Tywin Lannister's daughter, Cersei, as the marriage would ensure Tywin's support, should Viserys Targaryen ever attempt to win his throne back.[40] Robert and Cersei married in 284 AC.[51] Maester Yandel described the marriage as Robert's "first act" as King.[52]

Rumored Dornish Resistance

The deaths of Princess Elia Martell and her two young children, Rhaenys and Aegon Targaryen, enfuriated House Martell. Prince Oberyn Martell, Elia's younger brother, attempted to raise Dorne for the exiled Viserys. Messages were sent by both raven and messenger, though their contents have remained a secret.[53] Hand of the King Jon Arryn went to Dorne the year after the rebellion,[54] returned the bones of Prince Lewyn Martell, and sat down with Doran Martell, the older brother of Elia and Oberyn, and the Prince of Dorne. Talk of war ended after this visit.[53] However, during his stay in Sunspear, Jon Arryn was "questioned closely" regarding the fates of Elia and her children.[54] A hundred others were questioned as well.[54]

However, while all talk of war ended in Dorne, Doran continued to plot a Targaryen restoration in secret,[55] working closely together with his brother, Oberyn.[56]

Houses by Allegiance

While not every house supporting the loyalists and the rebels respectively is known, this list provides an overview of the loyalties that have been revealed thusfar. While it is known that the houses in the riverlands, Vale, and the Stormlands were divided between the loyalists and rebels in their loyalties, no mention has been made regarding any divided loyalties in Dorne, the Reach, and the North. Nonetheless, this list presents only houses specifically mentioned by name to have supported a side in the war.

Loyalists

Rebels

Quotes

Once Rhaegar died, the war was done.[67]

- Pycelle to Tyrion Lannister


And so ended both the reign of House Targaryen and Robert's Rebellion—the war that put an end to nearly three hundred years of Targaryen rule and ushered in a new golden era under the auspices of House Baratheon.[44]

- Maester Yandel

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  2. 2.0 2.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
  3. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 22, Arya IV.
  4. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  5. 5.0 5.1 So Spake Martin: The Siege of Storm's End (July 18, 1999)
  6. 6.0 6.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
  7. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  9. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  10. 281 AC is called "the year of the false spring", showing that it had been winter previously. The term "false spring" shows that the warmer weather had only been for a short period of time, and that winter weather thus returned shortly thereafter.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
  12. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Catelyn Tully.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
  14. 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
  17. 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: House Tyrell.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 78, Samwell V.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Robert Baratheon.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  26. 26.0 26.1 So Spake Martin: Young Lord Connington (August 25, 2000)
  27. 27.0 27.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
  28. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Hoster Tully.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 29, Arya V.
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
  31. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
  32. 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 32.11 32.12 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  33. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Rhaegar Targaryen.
  34. So Spake Martin: The Baratheon Brothers (September 11, 1999)
  35. A Forum of Ice and Fire: TWOIAF Spoilers Inconsistency or Intentional?: Earlier editions of The World of Ice and Fire erroneously state 282 AC in "The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion"
  36. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
  37. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran IV.
  38. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 36, Daenerys IV.
  39. So Spake Martin: US Signing Tour (Huntington Beach, CA) (November 19, 2005)
  40. 40.0 40.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  41. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
  42. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New.
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: The End.
  45. 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  46. A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  47. 47.0 47.1 47.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33, Catelyn IV.
  48. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  49. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Andals Arrive.
  50. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Viserys Targaryen.
  51. See the calculation for Cersei Lannister's wedding to Robert I Baratheon.
  52. The World of Ice & Fire, The Glorious Reign.
  53. 53.0 53.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  55. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.
  56. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
  57. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 16, Eddard III.
  58. 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn V.
  59. 59.0 59.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  60. 60.0 60.1 60.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  61. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
  62. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.
  63. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
  64. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
  65. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 57, Daenerys V.
  66. The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands: House Tully.
  67. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.