House Dayne

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House Dayne of Starfall
House Dayne.svg
Coat of arms A white sword and falling star crossed on lilac
(Purpure, a blazing star bendways surmounted by a sword bendways sinister argent)
Seat Starfall
Head Lord Edric Dayne
Region Dorne
Titles
Overlord House Martell
Cadet branch House Dayne of High Hermitage
Ancestral weapon Dawn

House Dayne of Starfall is a noble house from Starfall in Dorne. They are among the principal houses sworn to House Martell.[1] The Sword of the Morning is a title given to a Dayne knight who is considered worthy of wielding the greatsword Dawn, a blade said to be created from the heart of falling star. Their blazon is a white sword and a falling star, crossing on a lavender background.[2] A cadet branch of the family are the Daynes of High Hermitage.

Traits

The Daynes, who originate in the western Red Mountains,[3] would be considered "stony" Dornishmen by Daeron II Targaryen.[4] Their hair has been described as pale blond (Edric), dark (Ashara), and silver with a streak of black (Gerold). Daynes have been observed with dark blue (Edric) or purple eyes (Ashara and Gerold). Their purple eyes do not necessarily indicate Valyrian descent according to George R. R. Martin.[5]

History

Kings of the Torrentine

Horsemen of Starfall by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

House Dayne is one of the most ancient houses in the Seven Kingdoms, claiming First Men ancestry[6] dating back ten thousand years to the dawn of days.[7] The first Dayne is said to have raised Starfall on an island at the mouth of the Torrentine, having tracked a falling star there and found a stone of magical powers. His descendants became Kings of the Torrentine and Lords of Starfall.[6] Along with the Fowlers and Yronwoods, the Daynes were among the most powerful and prestigious houses of ancient Dorne.[6] The Daynes are also famed for Dawn, their ancestral sword made from the fallen star, and the men who wield it, the Swords of the Morning.[8]

The Daynes have taken part in many conflicts between Dorne and the Reach, including battles against House Oakheart.[7] King Samwell Dayne, called the Starfire, once burned Oldtown.[9]

The last Dayne King, Vorian, known as the Sword of the Evening, was defeated in Nymeria's War and sent to the Wall. Afterwards the Daynes supported Nymeria against King Yorick V Yronwood. Nymeria's third husband was Ser Davos Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Nymeria, Princess of Dorne, was later succeeded by her eldest daughter by her first husband, Mors Martell, not her son by Davos.[10]

Targaryen Era

In 10 AC during the First Dornish War, Ser Joffrey Dayne led a Dornish army to the walls of Oldtown, razing the fields and villages outside it.[11] Queen Visenya Targaryen retaliated by burning Starfall with Vhagar.[12]

In 47 AC Lady Clarisse Dayne was suggested as a potential wife for King Maegor I Targaryen. Grand Maester Benifer wanted to detach Starfall from Dorne, which was then still independent from the Seven Kingdoms.[13]

Ulrick Dayne, a Sword of the Morning, was considered an exceptional knight by Ser Eustace Osgrey, comparable as a swordsman to Daemon I Blackfyre and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight.[14] Dyanna Dayne, who died before her husband became King Maekar I Targaryen, was the mother of Maester Aemon and King Aegon V Targaryen.[15]

Recent History

Knights of Starfall by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

While journeying to Casterly Rock for the possible brokerage of their marriages, Prince Oberyn Martell and Princess Elia Martell visited Starfall.[16] Elia, who eventually married Prince Rhaegar Targaryen,[17] had the beautiful Lady Ashara Dayne as one of her companions.[18]

Ashara's brother was Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning and the deadliest knight in the Kingsguard of Aerys II Targaryen.[19] Arthur led the campaign against the Kingswood Brotherhood, winning over the smallfolk of the forest and rooting out the bandits.[20] During the climactic skirmish, Arthur killed the psychotic Smiling Knight in a duel.[21] Arthur also knighted Jaime Lannister on the battlefield.[22] Arthur broke twelve lances against his good friend, Rhaegar, in a tourney at Storm's End.[23]

At the great tourney at Harrenhal, Ashara danced with Lord Jon Connington, Eddard Stark, and a member of the Kingsguard.[24] In the jousting, Arthur lost to Prince Rhaegar, the eventual champion.[25] Ser Barristan Selmy was infatuated with Ashara, and he planned to name her queen of love and beauty if he won the tourney.[18] According to Allyria Dayne, Ashara fell in love with Eddard at Harrenhal.[26]

In the aftermath of Robert's Rebellion, Arthur died at the tower of joy, slain in single combat by Eddard.[19] Afterward, Lord Stark returned Arthur's famous sword, Dawn, to Starfall and informed Ashara of her brother's death.[19][26] Ashara threw herself into the Summer Sea from the Palestone Sword of Starfall, although her body was never recovered.[27] Many believe Ashara or Starfall's wet-nurse, Wylla, to be the mother of Eddard's bastard, Jon Snow.[19][28][26]

Edric Dayne, the current Lord of Starfall, is the nephew of Arthur. Edric was sent to squire for Beric Dondarrion after the betrothal of the Lord of Blackhaven to Edric's aunt, Allyria.[29][26]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Maids and soldiers at Winterfell tell stories about Ser Arthur Dayne and his sister, Lady Ashara Dayne.[19]

While at King's Landing, Lord Eddard Stark has a fevered dream involving Arthur at the tower of joy.[30]

A Clash of Kings

Bran Stark recalls that Arthur, the Sword of the Morning, was the finest knight ever seen by his father, Eddard.[31]

A Storm of Swords

Fallen and Reborn by Jen Zee ©

Daenerys Targaryen discusses Arthur with Arstan Whitebeard; Viserys Targaryen had told her that Arthur was the only knight in the realm who was the peer of their brother Rhaegar, Prince of Dragonstone.[32]

Traveling through the riverlands, Arya Stark meets the brotherhood without banners. She learns that Lord Edric Dayne accompanied Lord Beric Dondarrion in his mission to bring Ser Gregor Clegane to justice. When their band was ambushed at the Mummer's Ford, Beric was killed. Edric defended his body, however, allowing it to be recovered and later accidentally revived by Thoros of Myr. Edric has accompanied his fellow survivors, constituting an outlaw fellowship dedicated to guarding the smallfolk of the riverlands from the cruelties of war.[26]

While reading the White Book in the Red Keep, Ser Jaime Lannister recalls Arthur with great respect.[21]

A Feast for Crows

Princess Arianne Martell enlists Ser Gerold Dayne of the High Hermitage branch for her plot to crown Myrcella Baratheon. Gerold, called Darkstar, resents that he is not regarded as highly as Arthur, the Sword of the Morning. When Arianne's plan collapses at the Greenblood, Gerold wounds Myrcella and flees.[7][33]

When Lady Stoneheart takes command of the brotherhood without banners after Beric dies his final death, Edric and a group of others leave the brotherhood. Their whereabouts are unknown.[34][35]

A Dance with Dragons

Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, tasks Obara Sand with leading Ser Balon Swann to High Hermitage to hunt Darkstar, who is also accused of killing Ser Arys Oakheart.[36]

Ser Barristan Selmy counts his loss to Prince Rhaegar in the tourney at Harrenhal, and the war that resulted from the prince's actions thereafter, to be his greatest failure. Barristan wanted to name Ashara queen of love and beauty if he won the tourney, but the victorious Rhaegar chose Lyanna Stark instead of his own wife, Elia Martell.[18]

House Dayne at the end of the third century

House Dayne Reserves by Ryan Barger © Fantasy Flight Games

The known Daynes during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lord Dayne
 
Unknown
wife
 
Arthur
 
Ashara
 
Allyria
 
 
Gerold
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edric
 


Historical Members

Quotes

The wielder of Dawn is always given the title of Sword of the Morning, and only a knight of House Dayne who is deemed worthy can carry it.[8]

—writings of Yandel

Gerold: What I know is that Daynes have been killing Oakhearts for several thousand years.
Arianne: It seems to me that Oakhearts have been killing Daynes for just as long.[7]

Behind the Scenes

House Dayne may be a reference by George R. R. Martin to Dane Whitman, a comic book superhero known as the Black Knight and the wielder of the Ebony Blade, a sword carved from a fallen meteor.

See also

References

  1. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  2. The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses from Dorne
  3. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Kingdoms of the First Men.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne.
  5. So Spake Martin: Event Horizon Chat, March 18, 1999
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Kingdoms of the First Men.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  8. 8.0 8.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Andals Arrive.
  9. 9.0 9.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Oldtown.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire.
  11. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Dorne against the Dragons.
  12. Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  14. 14.0 14.1 The Sworn Sword.
  15. 15.0 15.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Targaryen Lineage.
  16. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 70, Tyrion X.
  17. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  20. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
  22. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
  23. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
  24. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  27. So Spake Martin: Some Questions, August 23, 2000
  28. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
  29. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
  30. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X.
  31. 31.0 31.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 21, Bran III.
  32. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
  33. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
  34. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 42, Brienne VIII.
  35. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  36. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
  37. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Coming of the Rhoynar.
  38. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
  39. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I.