Robert's bastards[1][2][3] are the bastard sons and daughters of King Robert I Baratheon.
Due to his frequent whoring, Robert has sired several bastards during his marriage to Cersei, though he has kept them out of sight. According to a prophecy by Maggy the Frog, Robert has fathered sixteen children.[3] However, Robert has openly acknowledged only one bastard,[4] and Lord Varys, the master of whisperers, only knows of the existence of eight.[2]
History
The eldest, Mya Stone, was fathered by Robert on a commoner while he was still in the Vale of Arryn.[4] Robert once suggested bringing Mya to court after his trueborn son, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, assaulted a cat. When Cersei threatened the girl's life, Robert hit his wife, but he refrained from bringing Mya to court.[5] Bella was conceived during Robert's Rebellion, to a prostitute from the Peach in Stoney Sept,[6] and Gendry shortly after the rebellion had ended, to a tavern wench in an alehouse in King's Landing.[7]
During the wedding of his younger brother Stannis to Lady Selyse of House Florent, Robert deflowered Delena, a cousin of Selyse, on the wedding bed, which led to the birth of Edric Storm, the only openly acknowledged bastard of the king.[1] Robert enjoys visiting Edric at Storm's End, although gifts for the boy are chosen by Varys.[8]
According to Lord Petyr Baelish, Robert fathered twins on a serving woman at Casterly Rock when Tywin hosted a tourney in 295 AC, but the two were killed on the orders of Queen Cersei.[1] The youngest of Robert's baseborn children is Barra, a babe born to a prostitute in King's Landing.[1]
Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, and Robert's brother, Stannis, started suspecting that Prince Joffrey, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen Baratheon are not actually Robert's, due to their lack of resemblance to the King, so they decided to investigate the matter by visiting several of Robert's bastard children in the capital, including visits to the shop of Tobho Mott, where Gendry is now an blacksmith apprentice, and to Chataya's brothel, where Barra had been recently fathered.[7][4][1]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Eddard Stark, the new Hand of the King, visits the shop of Tobho Mott during his investigation into the death of his predecessor, Lord Jon Arryn. Eddard learns that Jon and Stannis had asked about Tobho's apprentice, Gendry, one of Robert's bastards who bears a striking resemblance to his father.[7] Ned later finds out that the two men also visited Chataya's brothel, where Robert had fathered a girl, Barra, who also clearly has the king's features.[1]
After Catelyn Stark's arrival at the Gates of the Moon, she ascends with the help of Mya Stone, whom Catelyn is initially wary of, as the girl's bastard status reminds her of Jon Snow.[9]
When Robert is dying, he tells Eddard to take care of his children. Eddard thinks of Robert's bastards, and promises to protect them.[10]
A Clash of Kings
Stannis Baratheon intends to use Edric Storm's appearance as proof that Queen Cersei Lannister's children were fathered by her brother, Ser Jaime Lannister, instead of King Robert.[11]
In the aftermath of Lord Eddard's arrest and execution, Queen Regent Cersei orders Janos Slynt, the Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing, to hunt down the late King Robert's bastards, so Janos sends six gold cloaks after Yoren's last Night's Watch recruitment group with the intent of seizing Gendry,[12] as well as his right-hand man, Allar Deem, to murder the infant Barra, but he ends up also killing her mother when she tries to stop him.[13] Gendry, however, escapes the gold cloaks, who remains unware of what they might want from him, though Lommy assumes that Gendry is Lord Stark's bastard.[12][14] He is later captured in a village by the Mountain's men,[15] and taken to Harrenhal, where he works in the forge,[16] but he, Arya Stark, and Hot Pie manage to escape the castle.[17]
A Storm of Swords
After being apprehended by the brotherhood without banners at the Inn of the Kneeling Man,[18] the outlaws take Gendry and Arya to Stoney Sept, where they meet Bella at the Peach, who informs them that she is a bastard daughter of the late King Robert. Ignorant that Gendry is also a bastard of King Robert, Bella flirts with him, but he declines her advances, and when an old man propositions Arya at the brothel, Gendry defends her and claims she is his sister.[6]
Edric spends time at Dragonstone with Stannis's daughter, Princess Shireen Baratheon, and her fool, Patchface.[19] Melisandre pressures Stannis to burn Edric, as she believes there is power in King's blood. Conversely, Ser Davos Seaworth pressures Stannis to spare him.[20] Edric is leeched and his blood is used in a ritual to curse the three rival kings, Joffrey Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy, and Robb Stark.[8] Subsequently, Balon falls at Pyke,[21] Robb is killed in the Red Wedding,[22] and Joffrey is poisoned at his royal wedding.[23]
Concerned that Stannis will burn Edric, Davos, with the help of Pylos and a small group of king's men, has Edric secretly shipped away to the Free Cities aboard the Mad Prendos.[24]
A Feast for Crows
Brienne of Tarth encounters Gendry working as a smith at the inn at the crossroads, and she is shocked by his striking resemblance to Renly Baratheon. She mentions his resemblance to King Robert, but they are interrupted by riders drawing near.[25]
A Dance with Dragons
Gendry remains an outlaw in the riverlands and ignorant of his heritage.[26]
Known Robert's bastards
- Mya Stone, born to a commoner in the Vale of Arryn.[4]
- Bella, born to a prostitute in Stoney Sept.[6]
- Gendry, born to a tavern wench in an alehouse in King's Landing.[7]
- Edric Storm, born to Delena Florent, a highborn lady.[8]
- Tourney twins, a serving woman at Casterly Rock, but killed on the orders of Queen Cersei[1]
- Barra, born to a prostitute in King's Landing.[1]
Furthermore, Robert also slept with Becca, a former lover,[27] and his cousin, Estermont.[28]
Theories
It has been speculated that Russell is one of Robert Baratheon's 16 bastard children,[29] not only due to Taena's refusal to bring him to court (Russell may have Robert's features),[30] but also because of Taena's ability to get into the beds of hedonistic monarchs.[31] According to this theory, she was the one who convinced Robert to pardon Orton and restore his family's possessions.[32]
Quotes
Tyrion: Robert's bastards? What of them?
Varys: He fathered eight, to the best of my knowing. Their mothers were copper and honey, chestnut and butter, yet the babes were all black as ravens... and as ill-omened, it would seem. So when Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen slid out between your sister's thighs, each as golden as the sun, the truth was not hard to glimpse.[2]—Tyrion Lannister and Varys
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 35, Eddard IX.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 15, Tyrion III.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 29, Arya V.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 5, Arya II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 9, Arya III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 19, Arya V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 13, Arya II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 63, Davos VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 37, Brienne VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
- ↑ A Forum of Ice and Fire: Robert's possible bastards, March 12, 2013
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.