House Estermont

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House Estermont of Greenstone
House Estermont.svg
Coat of arms A dark green sea turtle on pale green
(Vert, a sea-turtle of the field)
Seat Greenstone
Head Lord Eldon Estermont
Region The Stormlands
Title Lord of Greenstone[1]
Heir Ser Aemon Estermont[1]
Overlord House Baratheon of King's Landing

House Estermont of Greenstone is a noble house from Greenstone in the stormlands and is one of the principal houses sworn to House Baratheon of Storm's End.[2] They rule the small island of Estermont east of Cape Wrath.

Their arms depict a dark green sea turtle on pale green.[3][4] Their motto is unknown.

History

It is as yet unconfirmed if the Estermonts are of First Men or Andal ancestry. During the coming of the Andals, the Storm Kings from House Durrandon and many of their bannermen intermarried with Andals.[5]

The daughter of Larissa Velaryon married the elderly Lord Estermont in 55 AC.[6]

Ser Duncan the Tall spotted the Estermont turtle among the heraldry present at the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC. Ser Gunthor Estermont rode in the lists.[7]

Lady Cassana Estermont wed Lord Steffon Baratheon of Storm's End and had three sons by him; Robert, Stannis, and Renly. Both Cassana and Steffon drowned on the Windproud when caught in a severe storm in Shipbreaker Bay, after an unsuccessful quest to the Free Cities to find a bride for King Aerys II Targaryen's son, Prince Rhaegar.[8]

Two of King Robert's Estermont uncles remained at court in King's Landing for half a year following his wedding to Lady Cersei of House Lannister. Robert insisted on repaying the visit, with Queen Cersei and members of his court accompanying him for a two-week stay at Greenstone. While there, Cersei suspected that Robert was bedding a widowed cousin he used to play with as a child, and had her twin brother Ser Jaime of the Kingsguard follow Robert to confirm her suspicions. Cersei and Jaime slept together on Greenstone, and Cersei likes to believe that was the night their eldest child Prince Joffrey was conceived.[9]

Old Lord Estermont was one of the insulting matches Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne, proposed to his daughter Princess Arianne.[10]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

On the outset of the War of the Five Kings, Lord Estermont declares for his grandson and liege lord, King Renly Baratheon.[11] The Estermonts' sea turtle is seen by Lady Catelyn Stark in Renly's camp. When he is preparing for battle against his brother Stannis Baratheon, Renly decides Lord Estermont would command the reserve of his army.[12] The Estermonts turn to King Stannis after Renly's death, however, along with most other storm lords.

Ser Cortnay Penrose acknowledges the presence of the great lords Estermont, Errol and Varner during his parley with Stannis. Lord Estermont recommends against storming the walls of Storm's End, believing it would cost too many lives. He suggests a duel against Cortnay, or a long siege to starve them. He refuses to turn to the religion of the Lord of Light, and asks to fight under the crowned stag banner instead of the flaming heart.[13]

The banner of House Estermont is spotted in the van of Stannis's army as it approaches King's Landing.[14] Lord Estermont and his men fight in the Battle of the Blackwater. Together with Ser Eldon, Ser Aemon and Ser Alyn, he bend the knee to King Joffrey I Baratheon after Stannis's defeat.[15][16] Ser Lomas and Ser Andrew Estermont escape the battle, and lead part of the Greenstone men in remaining loyal to Stannis after the Blackwater Rush.[16]

A Storm of Swords

Lord Estermont is a guest at King Joffrey's royal wedding to Lady Margaery of House Tyrell. He declares at Tyrion Lannister's trial that he saw Tyrion pick up the wedding chalice as Joffrey was dying and poured the remaining wine onto the floor.[17]

Ser Andrew Estermont helps Lord Davos Seaworth smuggle Edric Storm out of Dragonstone. He sails away with the boy, commanding his escort.[18]

The Estermont banner is seen at Castle Black after Stannis's arrival.[19]

A Feast for Crows

Lord Qyburn reports to Queen Regent Cersei Lannister that Eldon Estermont, the new Lord of Greenstone,[N 1] has married Sylva Santagar.[9] Unknown to those in King's Landing, this was punishment for Sylva's part in Princess Arianne Martell's attempted coup to place Princess Myrcella Baratheon on the Iron Throne.[20]

Ser Lomas Estermont remains in Storm's End, loyal to Stannis.[1] Storm's End is besieged by a Tyrell army.[21]

A Dance with Dragons

Marq Mandrake takes the island of Estermont during the landing of the Golden Company.[22][23][24]

House Estermont at the end of the third century

Because of contradictory information, there are different possibilities for the Estermont family tree; see House Estermont/Family Trees. It can be said with certainty that Cassana Estermont had at least two brothers.

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

With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch of the house there is also:

Historical Estermonts

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords state the ruling Lord Estermont is the unnamed grandfather of the Baratheon brothers, and list Eldon Estermont as an uncle, but A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and A World of Ice and Fire state the ruling Lord Estermont is Eldon himself, listed as an uncle in A Feast for Crows and a great-uncle in A Dance with Dragons and A World of Ice and Fire.

References