| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lyonel Baratheon, by Amok © Roaring Studios | ||||
|
| ||||
| Alias | The Laughing Storm[1] | |||
| Titles | ||||
| Allegiance | House Baratheon | |||
| Culture | Stormlander | |||
| Born |
174–194 AC[4] Storm's End[5] | |||
| Died | 239–245 AC[4] | |||
| Spouse | Unknown[2] | |||
| Issue | Daughter[2] | |||
| Books |
| |||
| Played by | Daniel Ings | |||
| TV series | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Season 1 | |||
Lyonel Baratheon, known as the Laughing Storm, was the Lord of Storm's End and the head of House Baratheon during the reign of King Aegon V Targaryen.[3]
In the television adaptation A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Lyonel is portrayed by Daniel Ings.
Appearance and Character
Lyonel had black hair and blue eyes like his ancestors from House Baratheon.[5] He was tall and powerfully built,[5] a "swaggering giant of a man".[3] Lyonel is described as being a head taller than Ser Raymun Fossoway and almost as tall as Ser Duncan the Tall,[1] who was measured at 6'11".[6]
In tourneys, Lyonel wore a cloth-of-gold surcoat bearing the crowned stag of his house. His helm had a rack of iron antlers.[1]
Lyonel was considered one of the finest fighters of his day,[1][3] and was famed for his prowess in battle.[2] Lyonel had the habit of laughing loudly at his opponents, as well as in general, which earned him his nickname of "the Laughing Storm" and made him a great favorite of the smallfolk.[1]
According to Maester Yandel, Lyonel brought glory to House Baratheon.[3]
History
Ashford Tourney
According to a semi-canon source, Lyonel was heir to Storm's End when he participated in the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC.[7] In the first tilt, he challenged Ser Robert Ashford, one of the brothers and champions of the fair maid. After breaking nine lances, they both lost their saddles on their tenth course, only to rise together to fight on, sword against mace. Finally a battered Robert admitted defeat, and Lyonel become a champion in his place.[1]
Lyonel fought multiple matches against lesser foes, often breaking into booming laughter the moment they touched his shield. If his challengers wore any sort of crest on their helm, Lyonel would strike it off and fling it into the crowd. This made him a great favorite of the smallfolk since the crests were sometimes enameled or gilded or made of silver. However, the men he defeated did not care for this behavior, and soon only crestless men were challenging him.[1]
On the third day of the tourney, Ser Duncan the Tall was forced to defend himself in a trial of seven against Prince Aerion Targaryen. Duncan's squire, Prince Aegon Targaryen, asked Lyonel to join on Duncan's side. Lyonel eagerly accepted the chance to participate in the first trial of seven in a hundred years. Lyonel knighted Raymun Fossoway shortly before the start of the trial, stepping in when Duncan was hesitant to do so. During the trial, the Laughing Storm fought alongside Prince Baelor Targaryen against Prince Maekar Targaryen; Baelor Breakspear was mortally wounded during the fighting.[1]
Lord of Storm's End
As Lord of Storm's End, Lyonel was a leal supporter of King Aegon V Targaryen. In 237 AC, the king was pleased to arrange a betrothal of his eldest son and heir, Prince Duncan Targaryen, to Lord Lyonel's daughter.[2][3]
Prince Duncan later broke that betrothal, renouncing his claim to the Iron Throne, when he fell in love and married the commonborn Jenny of Oldstones. This enraged Lord Lyonel, who felt the honor of House Baratheon was insulted. He renounced his fealty to the throne and declared himself Storm King. A short and bloody rebellion followed, which ended when Lyonel yielded to Ser Duncan the Tall of the Kingsguard during a trial by battle. King Aegon agreed to betroth his youngest daughter, Princess Rhaelle Targaryen, to Lyonel's heir, Ormund Baratheon. Aegon also sent Rhaelle to Storm's End to be Lyonel's cupbearer and companion to his lady wife.[2][3][N 1]
Lord Robert Baratheon, one of Lyonel's successors, was so strong and fearless a warrior that many hailed him as the Laughing Storm reborn.[3]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
A ship in the Baratheon fleet is called the Laughing Lord.[9] It may be named after Lyonel Baratheon, who was Lord of Storm's End[2] and widely known as the Laughing Storm.[1]
Quotes by Lyonel
Duncan: Ser Lyonel, I cannot thank you enough for coming, nor Ser Steffon for bringing you.
Lyonel: Ser Steffon? It was your squire who came to me. The boy, Aegon. My own lad tried to chase him off, but he slipped between his legs and turned a flagon of wine over my head. There has not been a trial of seven for more than a hundred years, do you know that? I was not about to miss a chance to fight the Kingsguard knights, and tweak Prince Maekar's nose in the bargain.[1]—Duncan the Tall and Lyonel
Raymun of House Fossoway, in the name of the Warrior I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother I charge you to defend the young and innocent. In the name of the Maid I charge you to protect all women.[1]
—Lyonel to Raymun Fossoway
Quotes about Lyonel
Ser Lyonel Baratheon also fought several notable matches. Against lesser foes, he would often break into booming laughter the moment they touched his shield, and laugh all the time he was mounting and charging and knocking them from their stirrups. If his challengers wore any sort of crest on their helm, Ser Lyonel would strike it off and fling it into the crowd.[1]
—thoughts of Duncan the Tall
Family
Lyonel had at least one daughter.[3] His exact relationship to his heir and successor, Lord Ormund Baratheon,[3] is currently unknown. Also unknown is his relationship to Gowen Baratheon, the third son of a Lord of Storm's End[10] who reigned around the time when Lyonel was the heir to Storm's End.[N 2]
Notes
- ↑ The timeline of Duncan's abdication is ambiguous. The World of Ice & Fire first states that he gave up his claim to the throne before Lyonel's rebellion,[2] but later states that peace was only restored after his renouncement.[3] According to The World of Ice & Fire co-author Elio García, the first statement is "more correct", while the second can be read as "eliding that Duncan gave up his claim fruitlessly" and noting that "it was the end state of things when peace was restored".[8]
- ↑ This Lord of Storm's End ruled at the time of Gowen and Tya Lannister's wedding. In 298 AC, it has been roughly ninety years since Gowen and Tya were wed, placing their marriage around 208 AC. Lyonel was known to be the heir to Storm's End in 209 AC.[7] Thus, Gowen and Lyonel might have been brothers.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Baratheon.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 See the Lyonel Baratheon calculation.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Lyonel Baratheon.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Hedge Knight, graphic novel, Roll of Arms
- ↑ asoiaf.westeros.org: The ASOIAF wiki thread – Comment by Ran (May 5, 2025)
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.