Harren Hoare

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House Hoare 2.svg King
Harren Hoare
the Black
House Hoare 2.svg
Harren the Black TheMico.jpg
Monarch
Full name Harren Hoare
Title King of the Isles and the Rivers
Predecessor Halleck Hoare
Successor None
Personal Information
Aliases
  • Black Harren[1]
  • Harren the Black[2]
Died In 2 BC, at Harrenhal
Culture ironborn
Family
Dynasty House Hoare
Issue At least four sons[N 1]
Father Halleck Hoare
References
Books

Harren Hoare, known as Harren the Black or Black Harren, was last of the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers to rule over the Iron Islands and the riverlands, and the last member of House Hoare to rule. He completed the grand castle, Harrenhal, which would serve to be his doom.

Appearance and Character

At the time of Aegon's Conquest, Harren was an old, grey man who wore black armor.[3]

A proud man,[2] Black Harren's cruelty was famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms.[4] He is remembered in children's stories as evil.[5]

History

Harrenhal

Harren, by Peteryeeter

Harren was born to House Hoare, the ruling house of the Iron Islands. He was the grandson of King Harwyn Hardhand, who extended the ironborn rule over the riverlands from the Neck to the Blackwater Rush, and the son of King Halleck Hoare. Harren's brother rose to become Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.[1]

During his reign, Harren was a vain, bloody tyrant hated by those he ruled. While Halleck ruled from a modest tower house at Fairmarket,[6] Harren desired a grander seat, and he commanded the construction of the grand castle Harrenhal, a project that took almost forty years to complete. The riverlands and Iron Islands were drained to finance the building, with thousands of captives dying in the quarries, chained to sledges, or laboring on the towering walls and five huge towers of Harrenhal. Weirwoods were cut to provide rafters and beams.[4][2]

Aegon's Conquest

Harren had finally completed his grand castle of Harrenhal, when Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, landed in Westeros and began the Conquest. Aegon was victorious over Harren's men in the Battle of the Reeds, but two of Harren's sons were victorious at the Wailing Willows. While they were returning to Harrenhal across the Gods Eye, however, the sons were killed by Aegon's dragon, Balerion.[4] Harren's tyrannical rule over the riverlands earned him little love from his lords. As Aegon advanced many of the river lords, led by Lord Edmyn Tully, revolted against Harren to support the Targaryen invader and joined the conqueror's host.[3]

Harren took refuge in the well-stocked Harrenhal, the largest castle of Westeros, and the king rejected Aegon's offer of retaining Harrenhal in return for becoming Aegon's vassal. Balerion, who was not obstructed by the towering walls of Harrenhal, roasted Harren and his surviving sons in the tallest tower of the castle,[2] ending his rule and kingdom.[7][4] Harren's brother, Lord Commander Hoare, remained at the Wall when his kin died in the burning of Harrenhal.[1]

Legacy

The death of Harren and his sons left a power vacuum in the riverlands and the Iron Islands. Aegon I Targaryen granted rule of the riverlands to Edmyn Tully, the new Lord Paramount of the Trident,[4] and the king granted Harrenhal to Lord Quenton Qoherys.[8] Harren's fate led Crackclaw Point to quickly surrender to Visenya Targaryen.[9] To avoid being burned at Storm's End, the Storm King Argilac Durrandon marched to confront Orys Baratheon and Rhaenys Targaryen in the Last Storm.[4]

Qhorin Volmark claimed to be Harren's heir, but he was eventually killed by Aegon. The Conqueror allowed the ironborn to choose Vickon Greyjoy as Lord of the Iron Islands in the name of the Iron Throne.[10]

In 37 AC, the rebel Harren the Red, who claimed to be a grandson of Harren the Black, seized Harrenhal from Lord Gargon Qoherys.[8]

Although Black Harren died in Kingspyre Tower, the spirits of the king and his sons are said to haunt the cellars of the Wailing Tower.[11] Another story claims that Harren and his sons walk Harrenhal's halls at nighttime, and any who look upon them burst into flame.[12]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

After Jaqen H'ghar assassinates Chiswyck and Weese at Harrenhal, some servants claim that the victims were killed by Harren's ghost.[11][13]

A Feast for Crows

During the kingsmoot at Old Wyk, Tarle the Thrice-Drowned states that Maron Volmark should become King of the Iron Islands because he shares Black Harren's blood.[14] Young Lord Volmark supports Victarion Greyjoy instead, however.[15]

Quotes by Harren

Aegon: Yield now and you may remain as Lord of the Iron Islands. Yield now, and your sons will live to rule after you. I have eight thousand men outside your walls.

Harren: What is outside my walls is of no concern to me. Those walls are strong and thick.
Aegon: But not so high as to keep out dragons. Dragons fly.
Harren: I built in stone. Stone does not burn.

Aegon: When the sun sets, your line shall end.[4]

Aegon the Conqueror and Harren

Had I a daughter, the dragonslayer could claim her hand as well. Instead I will give him one of Tully's daughters, or all three if he likes. Or he may pick one of Blackwood's whelps, or Strong's, or any girl born of these traitors of the Trident, these lords of yellow mud.[4]

—Harren to his people

Quotes about Harren

No king in Westeros was more feared than Black Harren, whose cruelty had become legendary all through the Seven Kingdoms.[4]

—writings of Yandel

Harren had beggared the riverlands and the Iron Islands alike to ornament his dream.[2]

—thoughts of Catelyn Stark

Family

Harren had several sons (at least four)[N 1] but no daughters.[16]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Qhorwyn
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Harlan
 
Unknown
wife
 
Harwyn
 
Salt wife
[Note 1]
 
Daughter
 
Unknown
Volmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Halleck
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
wife
 
Harren
 
Son
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Qhorin
Volmark
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sons
[Note 2]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Notes:
  1. King Harwyn Hoare is known to have had at least one salt wife.
  2. King Harren Hoare is known to have had at least four sons.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Two of Harren's sons died at the battle at the Wailing Willows and his remaining sons burned to death with him at Harrenhal (The World of Ice and Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest). Therefore Harren had at least four sons, possibly more.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  5. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 14, Arya IV.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Black Blood.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  9. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
  12. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
  13. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 38, Arya VIII.
  14. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  16. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
Preceded by 3rd King of the Isles and the Rivers
c. 422 BC
Succeeded byas Lord of the Iron Islands
Succeeded byas Lord Paramount of the Trident
Succeeded byas Lord of Harrenhal