Lord Alyn's attack

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Lord Alyn's attack
Conflict Daughters' War
Date 133 AC
Place Stepstones
Result Iron Throne victory
Combatants
House Targaryen.svgIron Throne/House Targaryen:
Braavos
Commanders
House Velaryon.svgLord Alyn Velaryon unknown
Strength
~190 ships unknown
Casualties
Daeron Velaryon
3 ships
more than 30 ships sank
11 ships captured

Lord Alyn's attack[1] occurred in the Stepstones during the Daughters' War.[2]

Prelude

Because the Daughters' War was hampering trade in the narrow sea in 133 AC, Lord Unwin Peake, the Hand of the King to Aegon III Targaryen, desired to defeat Racallio Ryndoon and establish a presence on Bloodstone, one of the Stepstones. Unwin granted command of the rebuilt royal fleet to his inexperienced uncle, Ser Gedmund Peake, and named Ned Bean as Gedmund's second. The Hand instructed the eight warships and twenty cogs and galleys of Gedmund to be joined by House Velaryon. Lord Alyn Velaryon brought sixty war galleys, thirty longships, and more than a hundred cogs to Gedmund's fleet.[2]

The Westerosi fleet was joined by twelve longships led by Lord Bryndemere Tarth. While at Tarth, however, they learned that Racallio had allied with the Sealord of Braavos and the Archon of Tyrosh. Since Braavos was the most powerful of the Free Cities, Gedmund Great-Axe and Blackbean waited for further instructions from Lord Peake. Disregarding orders, Alyn chose not to wait and instead led the Velaryon ships south toward the Stepstones.[2]

Battle

Queen Rhaenys, the flagship of Lord Alyn Velaryon, smashes the side of Grand Defiance like a great oaken fist, by Douglas Wheatley ©

While the Braavosi grand captain and twoscore of his captains were feasting with Racallio Ryndoon and the Tyroshi envoys at Bloodstone, Lord Alyn Velaryon attacked the unsuspecting Braavosi ships among the Stepstones. The Velaryons captured, burned, or sank half of the Braavosi ships while they were anchored, and they fought Braavosi ships which attempted to sail. The great dromond Grand Defiance was able to fight past six Velaryon ships, but it sank in open sea after being struck by Alyn's flagship, Queen Rhaenys.[2]

Alyn lost only three ships in his attack, including the True Heart of his cousin, Daeron Velaryon, and he sank more than thirty Braavosi ships. Alyn captured six galleys, eleven cogs, and eighty-nine hostages. He also claimed food, drink, weapons, currency, and an elephant meant for the Sealord.[2]

Aftermath

Alyn, called Oakenfist for his sinking of Grand Defiance, was celebrated by thousands of smallfolk when he returned to King's Landing. During a lavish ceremony in the throne room, Alyn Oakenfist was knighted by Ser Marston Waters, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Lord Unwin Peake reluctantly draped a gold admiral's chain around Alyn's neck and gave him a silver replica of Queen Rhaenys. King Aegon III Targaryen appointed Alyn as master of ships.[2]

Lord Peake had been outraged at Alyn's attack, since the Westerosi soldiers meant to take Bloodstone had been left behind with Ser Gedmund Peake's ships at Tarth. Racallio Ryndoon remained in power and Alyn had initiated hostilities with powerful Braavos. Desiring to be rid of Alyn, Unwin orchestrated for the Oakenfist to sail to the Sunset Sea and end the predations of Lord Dalton Greyjoy, the Red Kraken. Alyn set sail for the west on Lady Baela, a captured Braavosi galley which he named after his wife, Baela Targaryen.[2]

Lord Peake sent Lord Manfryd Mooton with a delegation to negotiate with the Sealord and prevent open war. Manfryd returned the elephant to the Sealord, who forgave Alyn's "unwarranted transgression" and ended the alliance with Tyrosh and Racallio. In return, the Iron Throne paid a large indemnity to Braavos.[2]

Quotes

Unwin: You have given us a war.
Alyn: And an elephant. Pray, do not forget the elephant, my lord.[2]

We have already replaced every ship that your boy admiral stole or sank.[2]

References

  1. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.