Taking of the Shields

Note: The title of this article is conjecture and may be subject to change.

Taking of the Shields
Battle for the Shield Islands - by artist Tomasz Jedruszek. © FFG.
Conflict	War of the Five Kings
Date	300 AC
Place	Shield Islands, the Reach
Result	Greyjoy victory
Combatants Iron Throne/ House Baratheon of King's Landing: The Reach, led by House Tyrell House Chester House Grimm House Hewett House Serry Kingdom of the Isles and the North/ House Greyjoy House Botley House Codd House Drumm House Goodbrother House Harlaw House Harlaw of Glimmering House Humble House Merlyn House Myre House Orkwood House Saltcliffe House Sharp House Shepherd House Sparr House Stonehouse House Sunderly House Tawney House Volmark House Wynch Commanders Ser Talbert Serry† King Euron Greyjoy Victarion Greyjoy Ser Harras Harlaw Strength Fleets of the Shield Islands: At least 50 ships Iron Fleet: 94 longships Other ironborn fleets Casualties Significant 38 ships captured Lord Humfrey Hewett† Lord Moribald Chester† Lord Guthor Grimm (POW) 6 longships, including Hardhand

The taking of the Shields is the opening battle of Euron Greyjoy's new campaign after his ascension to King of the Isles and the North. It takes place in and around the Shield Islands off the western coast of the Reach.

Background

When Euron Greyjoy is chosen at the kingsmoot on Old Wyk, he promises to conquer the Seven Kingdoms and return the ironborn as a significant power. His first strike will be a surprise attack on the unguarded Reach, whose armies are campaigning in the crownlands, riverlands, and stormlands whilst their main naval force (the Redwyne fleet) is besieging Dragonstone and Storm's End.

Battle

(1) The Iron Fleet sails far from the coast.
(2) Vanguard sails up the Mander.
(3) The defenders follow the vanguard.
(4) The main force attacks the Shields.
(5) Having taken the islands the main force waits
for the returning fleet.
(6) The Iron Fleet is victorious.

Torwold Browntooth and the Red Oarsman lead twelve ironborn longships up the river Mander to draw out the defenses of the Shield Islands. Instead of sailing along the Reach's coastline, Euron Greyjoy leads the other ironborn ships into the Sunset Sea and attacks the Shields from the west, with the setting sun hiding their approach.

Ser Harras Harlaw lands at Grimston and plants his standard beneath the castle walls. Daring the defenders to face him, he kills five and forces two to yield. After the seventh man is defeated the septon in the castle declares the gods have spoken and surrenders the castle. The islands of Greyshield, Greenshield, and Southshield are captured before the next morning, while Oakenshield lasts half a day. Euron uses Oakenshield Castle at Lord Hewett's Town as his base, with Lord Humfrey Hewett and his family captured.

When the Shields' ships abandon Torwold and the Red Oarsmen in the Mander and return to the islands, they are trapped by the Iron Fleet at the river's mouth. Lord Captain Victarion Greyjoy slays Ser Talbert Serry during the boarding of a Serry vessel when Talbert falls overboard. Victarion loses only six ironborn ships, including Hardhand, but captures thirty-eight. Victarion allows a dozen southron ships to escape to the Mander.

Aftermath

Victarion Greyjoy attributes the success of his brother Euron's attack from the west to blood sacrifice and the assistance of warlocks. King Euron raises four new lords, granting Oakenshield to Nute the Barber, Southshield to Andrik the Unsmiling, Greenshield to Maron Volmark, and Greyshield to Ser Harras Harlaw, men who previously were supporters of potential rivals to Euron.

The lords who escaped destruction on the islands or the Mander retreat and wait for reinforcement from House Tyrell of Highgarden. Instead being taken as thralls, the peasant women and children whose husbands and fathers died during the battle are to be sold into slavery at Lys, which disturbs Victarion. According to the tidings that reach King's Landing, Lord Moribald Chester and Lord Humfrey Hewett are slain, Lord Guthor Grimm is held captive in his own castle, and Lord Osbert Serry flees to Highgarden with the remnants of his fleet. Ser Willas Tyrell sends word to House Hightower at Oldtown, and Ser Garlan Tyrell begins raising men to retake the Shields.

Later, after capturing his brother Aeron Damphair, Euron admits he does not intend to hold the Shields. Attacking them opened the Mander to their raiding ships, and giving them away allows Euron to appear open handed. The ironborn will remember his victory taking the islands, but will blame their loss on the new Houses that try to hold them.

Quotes

The Drowned God had not shaped Victarion Greyjoy to fight with words at kingsmoots, nor struggle against furtive sneaking foes in endless bogs. This was why he had been put on earth; to stand steel-clad with an axe red and dripping in his hand, dealing death with every blow.

—Victarion Greyjoy's thoughts

It is a great victory.

—Nute to Victarion Greyjoy

Aye, a great victory for the Crow's Eye and his wizards.

—Victarion Greyjoy's thoughts

This was my victory, not his. Where was he? Back on Oakenshield, lazing in a castle. He stole my wife and he stole my throne, and now he steals my glory.

—Victarion Greyjoy's thoughts, regarding Euron Greyjoy