House Caron
House Caron of Nightsong | |
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No Song so Sweet
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Coat of arms |
A field of black nightingales on yellow (Or, semé of nightingales sable) |
Seat | Nightsong (stripped) |
Head | Ser Rolland Storm |
Region | Dornish Marches, in the stormlands |
Titles | |
Overlords | |
Founded | Age of Heroes[3] |
House Caron of Nightsong is one of the principal noble houses in the stormlands, sworn to Storm's End.[4] They rule from Nightsong and hold the title Lord of the Marches,[5] although they do not hold dominion over other marcher lords in the Dornish Marches.[3]
Their blazon is a field of black nightingales on yellow.[6][7] Their words do not appear in the books, but according to semi-canon correspondence it is No Song so Sweet.[8]
Contents
History
The Carons date back to the Age of Heroes, and they are a family known for creating warriors and singers. They claim their nightingale sigil has been in a thousand battles.[3] Maester Yandel states Nightsong has been sworn to Storm's End since time immemorial, but also that the Kingdom of the Reach once included western marches from Horn Hill to Nightsong.[9] The Carons and Swanns both claim to be the oldest of the marcher lords.[3]
During the First Dornish War, Lord Fowler burned Nightsong and took Lord Caron and his family captive.[10]
The first Vulture King besieged Nightsong with a host of Dornishmen, but was unable to capture the castle. The rebel was eventually defeated in the Vulture Hunt by Lady Ellyn Caron, Lord Harmon Dondarrion, and Lord Samwell Tarly.[11]
Lord Morton Caron attended the Golden Wedding in 49 AC and considered King Jaehaerys I Targaryen to be cautious and shrewed.[12]
After the Dance of the Dragons, Lord Royce Caron was chosen as one of the regents of King Aegon III Targaryen, but he resigned a year later.[13]
Ser Arlan and Duncan the Tall served Lord Pearse Caron and Lord Dondarrion when they fought another Vulture King in the Red Mountains.[14][15] Lord Pearse was one of the outstanding participants in the tourney at Ashford Meadow. He was a harper, singer and knight of renown, and had his personal arms emblazoned with a silver harp. Pearse chose Lord Leo Tyrell as his opponent at Ashford. The match was even, and Pearse managed to shatter Leo's shield, but in the end he yielded. Lord Caron ignored Duncan when he was asked for help in the trial of seven.[14]
In 287 AC, Brienne of Tarth was promised to the younger son of Lord Bryen Caron, a shy boy with a mole above his lip, but two years later a chill caused his death, also taking the lives of Lord Caron, his wife and their daughters.[16] This left young Bryce Caron as Lord of the Marches.
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Bryce Caron's shield with its field of nightingales is seen displayed outside his tent during the Hand's tourney. He is one of the outstanding knights at the tourney, but he is defeated by Ser Jaime Lannister.[5]
After King Joffrey I Baratheon assumes the Iron Throne, he orders that Bryce swear fealty.[17]
A Clash of Kings
Along with most other storm lords, Lord Bryce declares for Renly Baratheon at the outset of the War of the Five Kings, and he is named to the Rainbow Guard, being known as Bryce the Orange afterwards. Lord Caron's nightingales are seen by Catelyn Stark in Renly's camp at Bitterbridge. During the feast he goads Ser Robar the Red into juggling daggers.[6]
After the failed parley between Renly and his brother Stannis at Storm's End, Bryce is given command of the left in the coming battle.[18] Bryce turns to Stannis after Renly's death, however. He accompanies Stannis to the parley with Ser Cortnay Penrose, where he offers to fight Cortnay in single combat but is rebuffed.[19] Bryce advises Stannis against having Melisandre present for his upcoming attack on King's Landing.[20]
During the Battle of the Blackwater, Bryce is slain in single combat by a one-eyed knight, Ser Philip Foote. Joffrey grants the Carons' lands, rights, and incomes to Philip, forming House Foote of Nightsong.[21]
A Storm of Swords
Bryce's half-brother Rolland Storm, the Bastard of Nightsong, is regarded by Stannis as one of the few good men that remain to him.[22] Rolland had commanded the rearguard that allows Stannis to reach the galleys and flee from the Blackwater.[23] Rolland helps Lord Davos Seaworth smuggle Edric Storm out of Dragonstone. He is trusted by Davos because of his fierce faith in the Warrior instead of R'hllor.[23] Rolland is named castellan of Dragonstone by Stannis before going the king sails north to the Wall.[24]
The arms of House Caron are spotted by Jon Snow during the battle beneath the Wall between Stannis's knights and the free folk of Mance Rayder.[25] After the battle, Stannis sends word for Rolland to have obsidian mined at Dragonstone.[24]
Mylenda Caron becomes a widow when Lady Stoneheart and the brotherhood without banners hang Petyr Frey.[26]
A Feast for Crows
Rolland continues to serve Stannis's cause by holding Dragonstone. His fate after the fall of Dragonstone is unknown.[27]
A Dance with Dragons
Rolland is the pretender Lord of Nightsong.[1]
House Caron at the end of the third century
The known Carons during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:
- Lord {Bryen Caron}, the late Lord of the Marches.[28][16]
- His unnamed wife, second son and daughters, died of a chill in 289 AC.[16]
- Lord {Bryce Caron}, Bryen's first son. Slain during the Battle of the Blackwater.[2]
- Ser Rolland Storm, Bryen's bastard son. Called the Bastard of Nightsong.[2]
With unspecified familiar relationship with the lord of the house there is also:
- Mylenda Caron, the wife of Petyr Frey and mother of Perra Frey.[2]
Historical Members
- Lord Caron ruling in 10 AC, a captive of Lord Fowler during the First Dornish War.[10]
- His wife and children, also captive of the dornishmen during the First Dornish War.[10]
- Lady Ellyn Caron lived during the reign of Aenys I Targaryen. She withstood the siege of the Vulture King and joined Harmon Dondarrion against him.[11]
- Lord Morton Caron, who attended the Golden Wedding.[12]
- Lord Royce Caron, Lord of the Marches, Lord of Nightsong and one of the original members of the council of seven that ruled as regents during the childhood of King Aegon III Targaryen.[13]
- Lady Elenda Caron, his daughter, who married Lord Borros Baratheon.[29]
- Lord Pearse Caron, a renowned musician and knight during the reign of Daeron II Targaryen, burned the Vulture King out of the Red Mountains.[14][15]
Quotes
Famous for their warriors and singers alike, House Caron has a storied history that stretches back to the Age of Heroes. The Carons are wont to say that the nightingales of their house have been seen on a thousand battlefields, and the histories show that Nightsong has been besieged no less than thirty-seven times in the last thousand years.[30]
—writings of Yandel
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: The Men of the Stormlands.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses from the Stormlands
- ↑ The Citadel. House Mottoes
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Pearse Caron.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42, Davos II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 78, Samwell V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Epilogue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: The Men of the Stormlands.
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