Otto Hightower
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 Otto Hightower, by Enife © | ||||
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| Culture | Reach | |||
| Born | or before 76 AC[2] | |||
| Died |
130 AC King's Landing[3] | |||
| Spouse | Unknown | |||
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| Played by | Rhys Ifans | |||
| TV series | House of the Dragon: Season 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
Otto Hightower was a knight from House Hightower of Oldtown who served as Hand of the King to three kings, although two of the kings removed him from office at various times.[1][4] He was the younger brother of Lord Hightower,[1] and the uncle of Lord Ormund Hightower.[4] His children included Alicent Hightower, the second queen of King Viserys I Targaryen, and Ser Gwayne Hightower, second in command of the gold cloaks.[5] Otto is remembered as a warning that knowledge is not everything.[6]
In the television adaptation House of the Dragon, Otto is portrayed by Rhys Ifans.[7]
Contents
Character
Considered a man of great learning in his time,[6] Otto Hightower was also proud, haughty, blunt, and domineering.[1] He was a cautious, methodical,[5] and ambitious man.[8] He was resented and envied by many.[1]
Otto's greatest rival was Prince Daemon Targaryen.[1]
History
Early Service
In 101 AC, after the death of Prince Baelon Targaryen, the son and heir of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Hand of the King, Jaehaerys called upon Ser Otto Hightower to be his new Hand. Ser Otto brought his wife and children to court in King's Landing,[1] including his fifteen-year-old daughter Alicent.[9] King Jaehaerys was devastated by the deaths of Baelon and his beloved wife, Queen Alysanne Targaryen, becoming grief-stricken, and with his health failing he became bedridden. Otto effectively ruled the Seven Kingdoms as Hand in the final two years of Jaehaerys's reign, while his daughter Alicent nursed the ailing king.[1]
Otto continued as Hand to Viserys I Targaryen, Jaehaerys's grandson, who succeeded to the throne in 103 AC. It was said that the longer Otto served, the more arrogant he became, and many lords resented him and envied his access to the king. Otto became a bitter rival of the king's brother and presumptive heir, Prince Daemon Targaryen,[N 1] who had been named master of coin. Otto convinced the king to remove Daemon from office, and did so again when Viserys named Daemon master of laws. However, Otto came to regret this when Daemon was named commander of the City Watch, as this put two thousand men under Daemon's command and the prince thrived in this new office. Otto feared Daemon would become a second Maegor the Cruel if he ever ascended to the Iron Throne, sharing his fears with his brother, the Lord of the Hightower. Thus, at this time, Otto wished for Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen to succeed her father (despite the decision of the Great Council of 101 AC, which many believed had established the precedent that the throne could not pass to a woman). Viserys often tried to make peace between Otto and Daemon, but the acrimony between the two still continued.[1]
After the death in childbirth of Queen Aemma Arryn in 106 AC, King Viserys formally declared Princess Rhaenyra to be the heir to the Iron Throne, and also chose Otto's daughter Alicent to be his second wife. Although Queen Alicent soon gave birth to a son, Prince Aegon, in 107 AC, Viserys did nothing to change the order of succession, feeling the matter had been settled. In 109 AC, Otto was removed as Hand for "hectoring" Viserys to replace Rhaenyra as heir with Aegon. Having no place at court anymore, Otto returned to Oldtown. However, Otto's objectives remained at court with the formation of a "queen's party", known as the greens, a group of powerful lords who were friends with Queen Alicent and who supported the rights of Alicent's sons.[1]
In 120 AC, Otto's replacement as Hand, Lord Lyonel Strong, died at Harrenhal. Grand Maester Mellos suggested a younger man to replace him, but King Viserys preferred familiarity, and Otto returned to the position. At court, the enmity between the greens, Queen Alicent's supporters, and the blacks, Princess Rhaenyra's supporters, continued to grow. On the first day of 127 AC, King Viserys held a feast to celebrate the return of his health. In a show of reconciliation, Rhaenyra and Alicent wore each other's colors, and they and their families made many declarations of love to each other. Prince Daemon toasted Ser Otto, thanking him for his loyal service as Hand, while Otto spoke of Daemon's courage in his toast. However, after the king had left the feast, the conflict re-emerged.[1]
Over the last decade of Viserys I's reign, Otto largely succeeded in stacking the small council with his own supporters. Though the exact timeline of when these men joined the council is unclear, by the last year of Viserys's reign in 129 AC, the council was primarily composed of greens: Lord Larys Strong was master of whisperers, Ser Tyland Lannister was master of ships, and Lord Jasper Wylde was master of laws. Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, was already a fervent member of Alicent's faction, while Grand Maester Orwyle was considered politically neutral (in part due to his vows as a maester). The only holdout who opposed them was old Lord Lyman Beesbury, who had served as master of coin since late in the reign of Jaehaerys I. By the second month of 129 AC, King Viserys was often too ill to rule, and preferred to leave matters of state to Ser Otto.[1]
When Viserys died in his sleep on the third day of the third month of 129 AC, Otto played a crucial role in crowning his eldest grandson as King Aegon II Targaryen, in defiance of the last will of Viserys I, which specified Rhaenyra as the successor. This defiance precipitated the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.[5]
The Dance of the Dragons
In 129 AC, the morning that King Viserys I Targaryen was found dead, Queen Alicent and Ser Criston Cole had the small council members summoned to the queen's apartments. Grand Maester Orwyle began with talk of measures to take upon the king's death and preparations for Rhaenyra's coronation, but Otto Hightower cut him off, saying they first had to decide the succession. Ser Otto told the council that as Hand of the King, he would rule over the Seven Kingdoms until King Aegon was crowned. Otto asserted that Rhaenyra could not be allowed to become queen, as her husband, Prince Daemon Targaryen, would be the true ruler, and immediately execute Alicent and Otto himself. In the debate that followed, only Lord Lyman Beesbury insisted Rhaenyra should be crowned as queen, and attempted to leave. According to Orwyle, Otto then ordered the arrest and confinement of the elderly Lord Beesbury in the black cells, where he died of a chill.[5]
After Beesbury was dealt with, the green council made their plans, and swore a blood oath (on the prompting of Lord Larys Strong) asserting their loyalty to each other and to their new king. Ser Otto ordered the arrest of all those in King's Landing who could be loyal to Rhaenyra. Otto appointed his son, Ser Gwayne Hightower, as the second in command of the gold cloaks, instructing him to watch Commander Luthor Largent for any signs of disloyalty towards King Aegon II. While Otto judged Rhaenyra's potential supporters and forces, ravens were sent to all the lords and knights who might be loyal to Aegon. Otto also sent a raven to Lord Dalton Greyjoy, offering the position of master of ships for his allegiance and the use of his fleet.[5]
When Ser Steffon Darklyn of the Kingsguard and other black loyalists escaped from King's Landing with King Viserys's crown, Otto offered a reward for their capture, calling them turncloaks. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra remained on Dragonstone, and only learned of her usurpation after Aegon's coronation. After Ser Steffon arrived on Dragonstone, she was crowned herself as Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen. Her first act was was to declare Ser Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent traitors and rebels.[5]
Otto sent his grandson, Prince Aemond Targaryen, to Storm's End upon his dragon Vhagar, to secure the allegiance of Lord Borros Baratheon to the greens by proposing a betrothal to one of Borros's four daughters.[5] He was successful, but when Prince Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra's son, arrived to offer Lord Borros an alliance with the queen, Aemond responded belligerently, as Lucerys had injured him years before. They fought above Shipbreaker Bay upon their dragons, resulting in the death of Lucerys and Arrax. Otto was not pleased when Aemond returned to King's Landing, saying, “You only lost one eye. How could you be so blind?”[11]
Prince Daemon Targaryen vowed revenge for his stepson's death, and sent assassins to the Red Keep, the butcher called Blood and the ratcatcher known as Cheese. They killed King Aegon's son, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen before escaping. (While Blood was caught and tortured to death, Cheese was never found, and in fury, Aegon ordered the execution of all of King's Landing's ratcatchers. Otto brought a hundred cats to the Red Keep to take their place.) After the deaths of the two princes, Lucerys and Jaehaerys, both sides called for vengeance, and the conflict between the rival king and queen escalated into outright war.[11]
As the war began its first battles, Ser Otto was busy gaining the support of lords, hiring sellswords, strengthening the defenses of King's Landing, and seeking other allies. Ser Otto sent messages to his nephew, Lord Ormund Hightower, begging him to use Oldtown's forces to eliminate a spate of Rhaenyra-allied rebellions in the Reach. Otto tried to to gain the support of Qoren Martell, Prince of Dorne, who had once fought against Prince Daemon in the Stepstones, but was unsuccessful. As Dalton Greyjoy had not responded to his offer, Otto reached out to another enemy of Prince Daemon, the Triarchy of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh, promising the magisters exclusive trading rights at King's Landing if they would break the Velaryon blockade of the Gullet, and also offering control of the Stepstones.[4]
However, King Aegon II perceived Otto's diplomacy as slothful and cowardly at a time when Prince Daemon had captured Harrenhal and many houses had declared for the blacks. According to Septon Eustace, once when Aegon found Otto writing another letter, he knocked the inkpot into his grandfather's lap, telling him to "spill blood, not ink." The merchants of King's Landing complained to the king about the blockade every morning, and the Triarchy had yet to respond to Otto's offer. Eventually, Aegon ran out of patience waiting for Otto to "do something." Despite the pleading of Queen Alicent, King Aegon II tore the chain of office from his grandfather's neck and gave the position of Hand of the King to Ser Criston Cole, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.[4]
It was only after his dismissal that Otto's diplomatic efforts bore fruit. The High Council of the Triarchy accepted Otto's offer of alliance, and sent ninety warships to the Gullet. On the fifth day of 130 AC, the Triarchy's fleet fought the Velaryon fleet in the bloody Battle of the Gullet, leading to great losses on both sides. However, the Triarchy failed to break the hold of the Velaryon fleet on the east coasts of Westeros.[4]
After Rhaenyra and the blacks took King's Landing in 130 AC, Otto was the first to be beheaded as a traitor, just as he had predicted.[3]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
Lord Davos Seaworth, now Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon, is concerned that he has risen too high from his humble origins. When Davos suggests that the Hand should be someone who is learned, Maester Pylos reminds him that the knowledgeable Otto was an unsuccessful Hand.[6]
Quotes
Better the Realm's Delight than Lord Flea Bottom.[1]
—Otto, to his brother Lord Hightower
Make no mistake, should Rhaenyra ever sit the Iron Throne, it will be Lord Flea Bottom who rules us, a king consort as cruel and unforgiving as Maegor ever was. My own head will be the first cut off, I do not doubt, but your queen, my daughter, will soon follow.[5]
—Otto, to the green council
Otto: Do them no violence, unless they resist. Such men as bend the knee and swear fealty to King Aegon shall suffer no harm at our hands.
Orwyle: And those who will not?
Jasper: Are traitors, and must die a traitor's death.[5]
—Otto, Orwyle, and Jasper Wylde
You only lost one eye. How could you be so blind?[11]
—Otto, to Aemond Targaryen
Thrones are won with swords, not quills. Spill blood, not ink.[4]
—Aegon II Targaryen, to Otto
Lord Butterwell was renowned for wit, Myles Smallwood for courage, Ser Otto Hightower for learning, yet they failed as Hands, every one.[6]
—Pylos, to Davos Seaworth
Family
Ser Otto Hightower had one daughter, Alicent, and an unknown number of sons; the youngest was Ser Gwayne.[1] Otto had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Otto's wife was never identified in the books, only briefly mentioned once: "Ser Otto brought his wife and children to court with him, and served King Jaehaerys faithfully for the years remaining to him."[1] The House of the Dragon TV series added the details that she passed early during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen[12] and that her name was Alyrie Florent.[13] In the show canon, Alyrie was a devout woman.[14]
| Hobert | Lord Hightower | Unknown wife | Otto | Unknown wife | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bryndon | Samantha Tarly | Ormund | Unknown first wife | Son(s) | Alicent | Viserys I Targaryen | Gwayne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Myles | Lyonel | Martyn | Garmund | Rhaena Targaryen | Bethany | Aegon II Targaryen | Helaena Targaryen | Aemond Targaryen | Daeron Targaryen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six children | Six daughters | Jaehaerys Targaryen | Jaehaera Targaryen | Maelor Targaryen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External Links
- Otto Hightower on the Wiki of Westeros
Notes
- ↑ According to The Rogue Prince, the court fool Mushroom claimed that the quarrel between Daemon Targaryen and Otto began when Daemon deflowered Alicent Hightower. However, in Fire & Blood, George R.R. Martin decided to replace that rumor with a different claim of Mushroom's, regarding the relationship between Alicent and King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[10]
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 1.13 1.14 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ See the Otto Hightower calculation.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ HBO.com: House of the Dragon Cast & Characters
- ↑ The Rise of the Dragon, The Reign of Viserys I: Apex of Power.
- ↑ The Rise of the Dragon, The Reign of Jaehaerys I: The Later Reign.
- ↑ asoiaf.westeros.org: Daemon deflowering Alicent issue (August 31, 2019)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
- ↑ House of the Dragon, Season 1, "The Heirs of the Dragon".
- ↑ House of the Dragon, Season 2, "A Son for a Son".
- ↑ The Official House of the Dragon Podcast: S1E2 The Rogue Prince
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- House Hightower
- 1st century AC births
- 130 AC deaths
- Casualties of the Dance of the Dragons
- Characters from the Reach
- Deaths by beheading
- Executions for treason
- Greens
- Hands of the King
- Knights
- Members of Jaehaerys I Targaryen's court
- Members of Viserys I Targaryen's court
- Members of Aegon II Targaryen's court
- Nobles