House Rowan

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House Rowan of Goldengrove
House Rowan.svg
Coat of arms A golden tree on silver
(Argent, a tree or)
Seat Goldengrove[1]
Head Lord Mathis Rowan[1]
Region Reach[1]
Titles
Overlord House Tyrell[1]
Founder Rowan Gold-Tree[2]
Founded Age of Heroes[2]

House Rowan of Goldengrove is one of the most prominent and old families from the Reach, its dominions extending all along its northern borders. This may mean that the Rowans were made Marshall of the Northmarch to replace the declining House Osgrey, now their bannermen. Their blazon is a golden tree on silver.[3][4][N 1] Their words are not mentioned in the books.

Like several other major Reach houses, the Rowans can trace their descent from the legendary Garth Greenhand,[5] through his daughter Rowan Gold-Tree.[6]

History

During Aegon's Conquest, Goldengrove was chosen as the point of ralliement for the King of the Rock, Loren I Lannister, and the King of the Reach, Mern IX Gardener. The Rowans were part of the 55,000 strong host assembled by Two Kings and fought Aegon the Dragon in a battle known in history as the Field of Fire.[7]

Lord Rickard Rowan and Lord Torgen Oakheart marched alonside Septon Moon against King Maegor I Targaryen at the end of the Faith Militant uprising. The two lords protected the septon and his followers when they camped beneath the walls of Oldtown.[8] Lord Donnel Hightower refused to take up arms against Moon's followers, with many claiming the real reason was not wishing to offer battle to Lord Rowan and Lord Oakheart.[9]

Lord Thaddeus Rowan declared Goldengrove for the blacks during the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, fighting in the battle on the Honeywine.[10] He later became a regent and Hand of the King during the regency of Aegon III.[11]

Ser Nyles Rowan participated in the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC.[12]

Lord Rowan was the liege lord of both Ser Eustace Osgrey and Lady Rohanne Webber. He was also distant kin to Lady Webber, since his sister had married a cousin of Rohanne's father, Wendell Webber.[13]

A daughter of Lord Rowan was betrothed to Ser Tion Lannister, the second son of Lord Gerold Lannister, until he was persuaded by Ellyn Reyne to marry her instead.[14]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Dareon claims that Lord Mathis Rowan's daughter invited him to her bed, but when discovered by her father she cried rape, thus sending Dareon to the Wall.[15]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Mathis rides with King Renly Baratheon during the War of the Five Kings.[3] The Rowan tree sigil is seen north of the Mander after Renly's death and around the time of Storm's End's fall.[16]

House Rowan joins with the Tyrells and the Lannisters at the Battle of the Blackwater.[17] Lord Mathis is among the lords presented to King Joffrey I at the award ceremony after the battle.[18] Lord Tywin Lannister grants him an advisory seat on the small council.[19]

A Storm of Swords

At a meeting of the small council, tracts are awarded to House Rowan.[19] At the feast after the wedding of Tyrion Lannister to Sansa Stark, Lord Rowan dances with her.[20] Mathis gives Joffrey a red silk pavilion as a wedding gift.[21] A man sworn to House Rowan stabs a Dornishman during the royal wedding of Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell.[22] An archer in Rowan livery tells Ser Jaime Lannister that Sansa Stark killed Joffrey.[23]

A Feast for Crows

Ser Kevan Lannister names Lord Mathis as a good candidate to fill the vacant position as Hand of the King during his meeting with Queen Cersei; the queen instead revokes Mathis's council seat altogether.[24] Mathis attends the wedding of King Tommen I and Margaery Tyrell.[25] Mathis marches with Lord Mace Tyrell to lay siege to Storm's End.[26]

A Dance with Dragons

Lord Mathis remains in command[27] of a token force at Storm's End[28] when Mace returns to King's Landing.[29]

House Rowan at the end of the third century

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

With unspecified familiar relationship with the lord of the house there is also:

 
 
Mathis
 
Bethany
Redwyne
 
 
Rhonda
 
Baelor
Hightower
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daughter
 
Child
 
Child
 


Historical Members

Sworn Houses


Notes

  1. According to legend, Rowan Gold-Tree wrapped an apple in her golden hair, planted it, and from it grew a golden tree. The golden tree represented on the Rowans' heraldry may be an apple tree.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Garth Greenhand.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
  4. The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Reach
  5. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Garth Greenhand.
  7. Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
  8. Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  9. Fire & Blood, Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
  10. 10.0 10.1 The Princess and the Queen.
  11. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  12. 12.0 12.1 The Hedge Knight, Graphic Novel.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 The Sworn Sword.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  15. 15.0 15.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
  16. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 62, Sansa VII.
  18. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  19. 19.0 19.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  20. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 28, Sansa III.
  21. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 59, Sansa IV.
  22. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  23. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 62, Jaime VII.
  24. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
  25. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  26. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  27. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Mathis Rowan.
  28. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
  29. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.
  30. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  31. Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
  32. Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC.
  33. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  34. Fire & Blood, Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf.
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.