| Note: The title of this article is conjecture and may be subject to change. |
| Battle at Pyke | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Thoros of Myr, first through the breach, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games | |||||||||||||
| Conflict | Greyjoy's Rebellion | ||||||||||||
| Date | 289 AC | ||||||||||||
| Place | Pyke | ||||||||||||
| Result | Iron Throne victory | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
A battle at Pyke was the the final conflict of Greyjoy's Rebellion.[1]
Prelude
[edit]To restore the Old Way,[2] Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, declared himself King of the Iron Islands.[3] Greyjoy's Rebellion began with the surprise burning of the Lannister fleet at Lannisport.[4] The storming of Seagard by Balon's ironborn was a failure, however, with Balon's heir, Rodrik Greyjoy, killed by Lord Jason Mallister.[2]
Lord Stannis Baratheon's victory over the Iron Fleet in the sea battle off Fair Isle allowed royal forces to land in the Iron Islands. Stannis subdued Great Wyk,[5] Ser Barristan Selmy led the invasion of Old Wyk,[6] and forces of King Robert I Baratheon also landed on Harlaw and Orkmont.[3] Lord Tywin Lannister, Warden of the West, also supported the invasions.[3]
With Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North and his childhood friend, beside him, Robert landed on the isle of Pyke. Balon fell back to his own castle of Pyke.[3] The castle of House Botley was destroyed by Robert in a battle at Lordsport before the main attack on the castle of Pyke was launched.[2]
Battle
[edit]Thousands of men were with Robert and Eddard on Pyke.[7] They assaulted Pyke's walls with catapults,[2] and Maron Greyjoy, the second of Balon's three sons, was killed on the walls[8] when the south tower collapsed.[2] Balon's youngest son, Theon Greyjoy, watched the fighting from the safety of the Sea Tower.[2]
Thoros of Myr, a red priest in Robert's host, was first through the breach, wielding a sword coated in wildfire.[9] Lord Jorah Mormont was not far behind.[1] Wielding his warhammer, Robert entered the breach with Ned Stark by his side.[2] The grandson of Old Nan was killed on the walls.[10]
Ironborn resistance collapsed once the wall fell.[3] Robert and Ned stood side by side for Balon's surrender in his fallen stronghold.[11] Balon reminded the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms that he had never sworn him an oath after Robert's Rebellion. In return for his allegiance now, Balon's life was spared by the generous Robert.[3] Young Theon was given into the care of Lord Stark as a hostage and ward to ensure his defeated father's good behavior.[11]
Aftermath
[edit]
Theon was taken away from Pyke on Robert's war galley and was raised alongside Eddard's children at Winterfell.[2] Jorah was rewarded with knighthood by Robert for his bravery,[1] and Ser Jacelyn Bywater also received his knighthood at Pyke after losing his hand in the battle.[12]
Robert celebrated his victory by holding a tourney at Lannisport.[1] Jorah, victorious in the lists, won the hand of Lynesse Hightower during the festivities.[1]
Age and grief led Balon to become bitter.[13] With Theon away on the mainland, Balon began to see his daughter, Asha Greyjoy, as his heir, treating her like he would a son.[13][4][14] Balon's wife, Alannys, declined at Pyke and often forgot that her sons were gone.[15]
Recent Events
[edit]A Clash of Kings
[edit]Theon Greyjoy recalls the fighting at Pyke when he returns to the Iron Islands to treat with his father, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands.[2] Balon declares independence again during the War of the Five Kings.[16] After his capture of Winterfell, Theon defends his supposed killings of Bran and Rickon Stark to his sister, Asha Greyjoy, claiming vengeance for Rodrik and Maron Greyjoy.[17]
Ser Jorah Mormont tells Daenerys Targaryen how he earned his knighthood at Pyke and met Lynesse Hightower.[1] Arstan Whitebeard later tells Jorah that he recalls having seen him at Pyke.[7]
Quotes
[edit]
Theon could still make out the scars left by the stones of Robert Baratheon's catapults. A new south tower had risen from the ruins of the old, its stone a paler shade of grey, and as yet unmarred by patches of lichen. That was where Robert had made his breach, swarming in over the rubble and corpses with his warhammer in hand and Ned Stark at his side. Theon had watched from the safety of the Sea Tower, and sometimes he still saw the torches in his dreams, and heard the dull thunder of the collapse.[2]
—thoughts of Theon Greyjoy
Asha: How could you be such a bloody fool? Children ...
Theon: They defied me! And it was blood for blood besides, two sons of Eddard Stark to pay for Rodrik and Maron. I've laid my brothers' ghosts to rest.
Asha: Our brothers. Did you bring their ghosts from Pyke, brother? And here I thought they haunted only Father.[17]
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 63, Daenerys V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 1, The Prophet.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 11, The Kraken's Daughter.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 46, Bran VI.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 56, Theon V.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New.