A Brotherhood is a disparate band of outlaws, such as robber knights, sellswords, broken men, and pirates.
History
The Brotherhood of Bones was a brotherhood of pirates and corsairs that settled on the Isle of Flies, one of the Basilisk Isles, more than a century after the Red Death killed most people in them.[1]
The Band of Nine was a group of merchants, mercenaries and pirates from the Free Cities who banded together to carve out kingdoms for themselves. After overrunning the Disputed Lands, sacking Tyrosh, and conquering the Stepstones, King Jaehaerys II Targaryen resolved to meet them upon the Stepstones, choosing to take the war to them. The actions that followed are collectively known as the War of the Ninepenny Kings, or the Fifth Blackfyre Rebellion.[2]
The Kingswood Brotherhood was an infamous band of outlaws that operated in the kingswood during the reign of King Aerys II Targaryen. The bandits were led by Simon Toyne,[3] and included a robber knight, the Smiling Knight, who slew Ser Victor Tyrell, cousin of Lord Mace Tyrell.[4] They were eventually suppressed by a royal force commanded by Ser Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard.[5][6]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
The Brotherhood without banners is founded in the riverlands by soldiers and nobles who were sent by the then-Hand of the King, Eddard Stark, to bring Gregor Clegane to justice.[7] After they are ambushed while crossing a ford and nearly defeated, the group continues the fight as a guerrilla group against Lannister rule in the name of King Robert I Baratheon.[8]
A Clash of Kings
During the War of the Five Kings, the band's leader, Lord Beric Dondarrion, is claimed to have been killed by several knights and sellswords, including Burton Crakehall[9][10] whose column of westermen are later slaughtered in an ambush led by a resurrected Lord Beric and his men.[9]
A Storm of Swords
Sallor the Bald, a captain of the Stormcrows, describes his sellsword company as "a brotherhood of free men".[3]
A Feast for Crows
When the Brotherhood found the body of Lady Catelyn Stark after the Red Wedding, Lord Beric put his lips to hers, passing the flame of life from him to her.[11] Consumed with the desire for vengeance over her family's betrayal and murder, the so-called Lady Stoneheart assumes command of Beric's outlaw band, and leads them in mercilessly pursuing and hanging everyone she considers a Lannister collaborator, among them Petyr and Merrett Frey at Oldstones,[12] and Ryman Frey near Fairmarket.[13]
Known leaders of brotherhoods
- Maelys I Blackfyre[2]
- Simon Toyne,[3]
- The Lightning Lord, Beric Dondarrion[9]
- Lady Stoneheart[12]
See also
References
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Basilisk Isles.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Andals Arrive.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 42, Brienne VIII.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Storm of Swords, Epilogue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.