Lord Paramount of the Trident

Lord Paramount of the Trident is a title granted by the Iron Throne to the liege lord of the riverlands within the Seven Kingdoms. The title refers to the great river of the region, the Trident.

History

Lord Edmyn Tully, from Game of Thrones Blu-ray

During Aegon's Conquest, House Tully of Riverrun were the first of the rivermen support Aegon I Targaryen against Harren Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers. After Harren's death in the burning of Harrenhal, Aegon the Conqueror rewarded Lord Edmyn Tully by granting him the riverlands and naming him Lord Paramount of the Trident.

Although the Tullys have long been powerful river lords, the domains of Riverrun yield smaller armies than those of the Blackwoods, Brackens, Freys, and Vances. The Tully lineage was less proud than that of the Mallisters, and they were not as wealthy as as the Mootons. Riverrun is a strong castle, but it is significantly smaller than ruined Harrenhal. The Tullys have had difficulty at times in managing the quarrelsome river lords.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

With Hoster Tully, Lord Paramount of the Trident, ailing at Riverrun, his heir, Ser Edmure Tully, supports Robb Stark, the newly-crowned King in the North and King of the Trident.

After the assassination of King Renly Baratheon at Storm's End, Lord Petyr Baelish and Tyrion Lannister, the acting Hand of the King, plot to form an alliance with House Tyrell to win over any lords from the Reach or the stormlands who did not immediately declare for King Stannis Baratheon after Renly's death. Petyr volunteers to travel to Bitterbridge to broker the deal, and then in Highgarden he is successful in forging a Lannister-Tyrell alliance through the engagement of King Joffrey I Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, the daughter of Mace Tyrell, Lord Paramount of the Mander.

Petyr returns to King's Landing with Tyrell forces alongside those of Lord Tywin Lannister. The allied armies are able to take Stannis's forces in the rear in the last hours of the Battle of the Blackwater, with Petyr providing the idea to dress Ser Garlan Tyrell in the late King Renly's armor during the battle so as to frighten Stannis's men-at-arms.

After the battle, Petyr is rewarded with the title Lord Paramount of the Trident and is made the new liege lord over the riverlands according to the Iron Throne. Petyr is also made Lord of Harrenhal, although the castle is still held by Lord Roose Bolton in Robb's name. Though Petyr has not set foot in Harrenhal, the title gives him nominal control over the war-torn riverlands and elevates his rank considerably.

A Storm of Swords

Lord Hoster Tully's funeral in the Red Fork, by Jauma ©

Hoster Tully passes away at Riverrun and his successor, Lord Edmure Tully, is attainted by the Iron Throne after being captured at the Red Wedding.

In addition to becoming Lord Paramount of the Trident, Petyr Baelish becomes Lord Protector of the Vale after wedding Lady Lysa Arryn.

A Feast for Crows

Having been named Lord of Riverrun by the Iron Throne, Ser Emmon Frey assumes that he is now the liege of the rivermen, including even his own father, Lord Walder Frey. At the siege of Riverrun, however, Ser Jaime Lannister explains to Emmon that Lord Petyr Baelish of Harrenhal is Lord Paramount.

Known Lords Paramount of the Trident

• Lord Edmyn Tully, first Lord Paramount of the Trident.
• Lord Prentys Tully, ruled during the early reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
• Lord Grover Tully, a lord during the Dance of the Dragons.
• Lord Elmo Tully, a lord during the Dance of the Dragons.
• Lord Kermit Tully, a lord during the Dance of the Dragons.
• Lord Medgar Tully, lord during the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen.
• Lord Tully, Medgar's successor. A boy of eight in 211 AC. He ruled during the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen.
• Lord Tully, the father of Lord Hoster. He ruled during the early reign of King Aerys II Targaryen.
• Lord Hoster Tully, stripped of the title by the Iron Throne.
• Lord Petyr Baelish, granted the title by the Iron Throne.

Quotes

Lord Petyr Baelish, by Pojypojy ©

The next day, outside the smoking ruins of Harrenhal, King Aegon accepted an oath of fealty from Edmyn Tully, Lord of Riverrun, and named him Lord Paramount of the Trident.

—writings of Gyldayn

Kevan: It is the wish of the King's Grace that his loyal councillor Petyr Baelish be rewarded for faithful service to crown and realm. Be it known that Lord Baelish is granted the castle of Harrenhal with all its attendant lands and incomes, there to make his seat and rule henceforth as Lord Paramount of the Trident. Petyr Baelish and his sons and grandsons shall hold and enjoy these honors until the end of time, and all the lords of the Trident shall do him homage as their rightful liege. The King's Hand and the small council consent.
Petyr: I thank you humbly, Your Grace. I suppose this means I'll need to see about getting some sons and grandsons.

—Kevan Lannister and Petyr Baelish

Lord Paramount of the Trident, Sansa thought, and Lord of Harrenhal as well. She did not understand why that should make him so happy; the honors were as empty as the title granted to Hallyne the Pyromancer.

—thoughts of Sansa Stark

Emmon: Ser Jaime, your lord father's faith in me was well placed, you shall see. I mean to be firm but fair with my new vassals. Blackwood and Bracken, Jason Mallister, Vance and Piper, they shall learn that they have a just overlord in Emmon Frey. My father as well, yes. He is the Lord of the Crossing, but I am the Lord of Riverrun. A son has a duty to obey his father, true, but a bannerman must obey his overlord.
Jaime: You are not his overlord, ser. Read your parchment. You were granted Riverrun with its lands and incomes, no more. Petyr Baelish is the Lord Paramount of the Trident. Riverrun will be subject to the rule of Harrenhal.
Emmon: Harrenhal is a ruin, haunted and accursed, and Baelish ... the man is a coin counter, no proper lord, his birth ...
Jaime: If you are unhappy with the arrangements, go to King's Landing and take it up with my sweet sister.

—Emmon Frey and Jaime Lannister