| House Mudd of Oldstones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coat of arms |
A golden crown studded with emeralds on a red-brown field (Brunâtre, an ancient crown or studded with emeralds proper) |
| Seat | Oldstones |
| Head | Extinct |
| Region | Riverlands |
| Title | King of the Rivers and the Hills |
House Mudd of Oldstones was a noble house from the riverlands. Their castle was at Oldstones although in their time it had a different name.[1] According to semi-canon sources, they blazoned their shield with a golden crown studded with emeralds on a red-brown field.[2]
History
The Mudds once ruled as Kings of the Rivers and the Hills. They were the last of the First Men to rule the Trident, reigning for "a thousand years".[1][N 1] The Mudds, the most powerful and expansive of the First Men river king dynasties,[3] claimed land as far south as the mouth of the Blackwater Rush in the days of the Hundred Kingdoms.[4][5]
Tristan Mudd is considered one of the worst Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch.[6]
Tristifer IV Mudd, the Hammer of Justice, ruled from the Neck to the Trident. According to Hoster Tully, Tristifer raised a castle along the Blue Fork whose ruins are now called Oldstones, though at the time it was the greatest castle in Westeros.[1] Tristifer was a great First Men king who was victorious in ninety-nine of his one hundred battles. His allies included Edmure Tully and his sons.[7] When seven Andal kings, including Armistead Vance, banded against Tristifer, however, he lost his final battle and died in the fighting. Tristifer V Mudd was not the equal of his father and the kingdom was destroyed during the coming of the Andals to the riverlands.[8][1] The Andal victors then fought amongst themselves over the riverlands.[3]
Marq Mudd, known as the Mad Bard, was a would-be king who unsuccessfully rebelled against House Durrandon when the Storm Kings ruled the riverlands.[3]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
Robb Stark, King in the North and King of the Trident, and his mother, Catelyn Stark, visit the sepulcher of King Tristifer IV Mudd when Robb's host encamps at the ruins of Oldstones.[1]
A Dance with Dragons
Young John Mudd and Lorimas Mudd are members of the Golden Company in Essos.[9] It is unknown if they actually descend from the ancient House Mudd, as men of the free companies can take any name they want.[10]
House Mudd at the end of third century
The known Mudds during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:
- Young John Mudd, an exile serving with the Golden Company and the son of Old John Mudd.
- Lorimas Mudd, an exile serving with the Golden Company.
Historical Members
- Tristifer IV Mudd, known as the Hammer of Justice. He fought victoriously against the Andal invaders until he was slain in his hundredth battle.[1][3]
- Tristifer V Mudd, known as Tristifer the Last, his son. He was not the equal of his father and soon lost his kingdom and his castle. With his death the house is said to have become extinct.[1][3]
- Tristan Mudd, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He is considered one of the worst Lord Commanders the Night's Watch has ever had.[6]
- Marq Mudd, known as the Mad Bard, who rose in rebellion against House Durrandon.[3]
- Old John Mudd, a sellsword in service to the Golden Company. He was the father of Young John Mudd.[11]
Quotes
The Mudds succeeded in unifying more of the riverlands than any of their predecessors, but their reign was not to last. The Hammer of Justice was succeeded by his son, Tristifer V, or Tristifer the Last, who proved unable to stem the Andal tide and failed even to hold his own people together.[3]
—writings of Yandel
Here lies Tristifer, the Fourth of His Name, King of the Rivers and the Hills. He ruled from the Trident to the Neck, thousands of years before Jenny and her prince, in the days when the kingdoms of the First Men were falling one after the other before the onslaught of the Andals. The Hammer of Justice, they called him. He fought a hundred battles and won nine-and-ninety, or so the singers say, and when he raised this castle it was the strongest in Westeros. He died in his hundredth battle, when seven Andal kings joined forces against him. The fifth Tristifer was not his equal, and soon the kingdom was lost, and then the castle, and last of all the line. With Tristifer the Fifth died House Mudd, that had ruled the riverlands for a thousand years before the Andals came.[1]
Notes
- ↑ Catelyn Stark recalls that "With Tristifer the Fifth died House Mudd, that had ruled the riverlands for a thousand years before the Andals came" (A Storm of Swords, Catelyn V). It is unknown if this is an exact figure or if George R. R. Martin is being figurative.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Riverlands
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 55, Jon VII.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands: House Tully.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Bywater, River Kings and Dornish Heraldry, May 22, 1999
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 24, The Lost Lord.
- ↑ The Winds of Winter, Arianne II
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