Victarion Greyjoy
Victarion Greyjoy | |
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Victarion Greyjoy by Amok© | |
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Alias | The Iron Captain |
Titles |
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Allegiance | House Greyjoy |
Culture | Ironborn |
Born |
268 AC or before[1] Pyke |
Books |
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Victarion Greyjoy is a member of House Greyjoy and is a younger brother of Lord Balon Greyjoy. He is the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet,[2] and his flagship is the Iron Victory.
Contents
Appearance and Character
- See also: Images of Victarion Greyjoy
Victarion is a large and powerful man, with a bull's broad chest and a boy's flat stomach. His hair is flecked with grey.[3] He wears plate armor in combat, a helm in the shape of a kraken, and wields a cruel axe.[3][4]
Victarion is a capable commander and a fierce warrior in battle, but has a calm demeanor outside of it, thinking of enemies who show bravery with great respect.[5] He is a religious man and wears full plate armor while sailing because he has no fear of drowning.[3][4] According to George R. R. Martin, Victarion is "dumb as a stump"[6] and "a dullard and a brute".[7]
History
Victarion and his two eldest brothers, Balon and Euron, convinced their father, Lord Quellon Greyjoy, to join Robert's Rebellion, and they raided the Reach late in the war. After Quellon was killed in a battle at the Mander, however, the new Lord Balon returned to the Iron Islands with his younger brothers.[8][9]
Victarion recognized the greatness of Balon and followed him loyally. He commanded the great fleet constructed by Balon, the Iron Fleet, during Greyjoy's Rebellion. During the rebellion, using a plan Euron had concocted, they sailed into Lannisport and burned the Lannister fleet at anchor.[10] Victarion tossed the first torch onto the flagship of Lord Tywin Lannister.[3] Later in the rebellion, the Iron Fleet was smashed by Stannis Baratheon in a sea battle off Fair Isle, during which Victarion's younger brother Aeron's vessel, the Golden Storm, was chopped in half by the warship Fury.
After the rebellion's end, Victarion continued to serve as Lord Captain faithfully. His brother, Euron, seduced and impregnated Victarion's third wife, which drove Victarion to beat her to death to retain his honor. Only the taboo against kinslaying kept Victarion from killing Euron. He has not married since, nor has he forgiven Euron, who was forced into exile by Balon in 297 AC.[3][10][8]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
In preparation for the invasion of the north planned by his brother, Balon Greyjoy, Victarion loans his steersman, Rymolf Stormdrunk, to his nephew, Theon Greyjoy. Victarion attends a feast at Pyke's Great Hall with his brothers, Balon and Aeron.[10] He is sent with the main strength of the Iron Fleet to take Moat Cailin by his king and brother, Balon Greyjoy.[10] Moat Cailin falls to the ironborn's surprise assault.
A Storm of Swords
Upon hearing of Balon's death and the return of his brother, Euron, King Robb Stark thinks that Victarion will leave Moat Cailin to claim Balon's throne.[11]
A Feast for Crows
Victarion leaves a token force to defend Moat Cailin under the command of Ralf Kenning and returns to the Iron Islands with his fleet to decide on the succession of the next Iron King.[3]
Victarion makes a claim to the Seastone Chair as Balon's brother and second-in-command. Victarion makes a strong claim at the kingsmoot, but the crowd ultimately favors Euron.[12]
Despite his hatred for Euron, Victarion's obedient and dutiful nature keeps him following Euron's orders. He leads the taking of the Shields, slaughtering unarmored sailors and winning a duel with Ser Talbert Serry, the son of Lord Osbert Serry, but wounds his hand during the fight. After his victory, he watches helplessly as Euron steals many of his trusted comrades away from him by giving them titles on the Shield Islands. Victarion also deplores the cruelty Euron displays toward the slain lords' women.[4]
Apparently oblivious to Victarion's hatred, Euron summons Victarion to a private meeting in Lord Hewett's castle and asks him to find Daenerys Targaryen and deliver Euron's marriage proposal. The new king explains that Victarion will receive the Seastone Chair once Euron claims the Iron Throne. Victarion agrees, but secretly plans on courting Daenerys for himself.[4]
A Dance with Dragons
After the yielding of Moat Cailin, Ramsay Bolton executes the small garrison left behind by Victarion.[13]
Victarion's Iron Fleet of over ninety ships splits into three squadrons and sets sail for Meereen. With him aboard Iron Victory is "the dusky woman", a gift of Euron's. She is comely but mute. On the journey, Victarion loses nearly half his ships, though he also gains some ships back by capturing and seizing several trading vessels and their cargo. Victarion's wounded hand continues to trouble him, and he suspects that Kerwin, the maester that Euron sent to accompany him, is poisoning him.
During the voyage, a Red Priest of R'hllor named Moqorro is discovered clinging to wreckage out at sea. The crew wants him killed, but Moqorro convinces Victarion to allow him to treat his wounded hand. Behind closed doors, Moqorro apparently uses magic on the lord captain; when Victarion emerges from his cabin, his hand is charred and blackened.[14]
Moqorro, like Melisandre, can see the future in the flames, and uses the magic to aid Victarion in his quest. For instance, Victarion orders his crew to kill Kerwin, as Moqorro had a vision that the maester's death would bring the ship good winds.[14] The Iron Victory's crew live in great fear of Moqorro and call him the Black Flame. Victarion makes offerings to both the Drowned God and R'hllor. Moqorro also alerts Victarion that he has seen Daenerys married in the flames, but Victarion is unconcerned by this, stating "she would not be the first woman I made a widow."[15] Moqorro tells Victarion that in order to bind Daenerys's dragons to the Iron Captain's will, Victarion must claim the dragon horn Dragonbinder with blood.[15]
The Winds of Winter
Just as the Second Siege of Meereen is about to begin, Victarion and the Iron Fleet arrive in Meereen's bay.[16]
Quotes by Victarion
Words are wind, and the only good wind is that which fills our sails.[3]
- Victarion to his captains
When Balon was wed, it was me he sent to Harlaw to bring him back his bride. I led his longships into many a battle, and never lost but one. The first time Balon took a crown, it was me sailed into Lannisport to singe the lion’s tail. The second time, it was me he sent to skin the Young Wolf should he come howling home. All you’ll get from me is more of what you got from Balon.[12]
– Victarion, at the kingsmoot
- Victarion to Asha Greyjoy
May he feast as he fought, in the Drowned God’s watery halls.[4]
– Victarion, on Talbert Serry, after slaying him
Wizards may be well and good, but blood and steel win wars.[4]
- Victarion to the dusky woman
- Victarion to Dunstan Drumm
There is no wine so sweet as wine taken from a foe. One day I shall drink your wine, Crow’s Eye, and take from you all that you hold dear.[4]
– Victarion's thoughts regarding Euron Greyjoy
I beat her to death with mine own hands, but the Crow’s Eye killed her when he shoved himself inside her. I had no choice.[4]
– Victarion's thoughts regarding his third wife
Euron: It is a fearsome thing to sail beyond Valyria.
Victarion: I could sail the Iron Fleet to hell if need be.[4]
- Euron Greyjoy and Victarion
The most beautiful woman in the world has urgent need of my axe.[15]
– Victarion, on Daenerys Targaryen
Quotes about Victarion
Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet, and a fearsome warrior. I have heard them sing of him in the alehouses.[10]
– "Esgred", to Theon Greyjoy
Victarion is like some great grey bullock, strong and tireless and dutiful, but not like to win any races. No doubt he'll serve me as loyally as he has served my lord father. He has neither the wits nor the ambition to plot betrayal.[10]
– Theon Greyjoy, to "Esgred"
– Asha Greyjoy, to Theon Greyjoy
The king must be Victarion, or the storm will slay us all.[8]
– Aeron Greyjoy's thoughts
Family
Dagon | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Son | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lady Stonetree | Quellon | Lady Piper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lady Sunderly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harlon | Quenton | Donel | Balon | Alannys Harlaw | Euron | Victarion | Unknown three wives | Urrigon | Aeron | Robin | Stillborn daughter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rodrik | Maron | Asha | Erik Ironmaker | Theon | Bastard sons | Stillborn daughter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References and Notes
- ↑ See the Victarion Greyjoy calculation.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver, 483.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Seattle Town Hall Q&A
- ↑ io9.com: George R.R. Martin: The Complete Unedited Interview
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 1, The Prophet.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Old Way and the New.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 20, Reek II.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.
- ↑ Tyrion II (The Winds of Winter)
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