War of the Wombs
The War of the Wombs was the name used by Lord Toad, a fool at Casterly Rock, to describe the fierce rivalry between Lady Ellyn Reyne and Lady Jeyne Marbrand as ladies of House Lannister.[1]
History
Lady Ellyn Reyne, daughter of Lord Robert Reyne, had been betrothed for years to Tywald Lannister, the eldest son and heir to Lord Gerold Lannister of Casterly Rock. However, Ellyn's betrothed and father were slain during the Peake Uprising in 233 AC. Ellyn, unwilling to give up her dream of becoming the lady of Casterly Rock, seduced Tywald's younger twin brother and the new heir, Tion, persuading him to give up his betrothal to a daughter of Lord Rowan. Gerold, having witnessed how quickly Ellyn acted after the deaths of Robert and Tywald, opposed this match, but the ailing lord eventually let his son follow his heart.[1]
Thus, in 235 AC, in a double wedding at Casterly Rock, Ellyn and Tion were married, while Tion's younger brother Tytos married Lady Jeyne Marbrand, daughter of Lord Alyn Marbrand. Due to Gerold's health and his status as a widower, Ellyn, as the wife to his heir, became the Lady of Casterly Rock in all but name. As Gerold became less involved with ruling, retreating to his books and bedchamber, Ellyn hosted tourneys and balls, and her splendid court was filled with musicians, artists, and mummers. Ellyn also used her new position to empower House Reyne. Her brothers Roger and Reynard were ever at her side, and Ellyn lavished them with offices, honors, and lands. She did similar with her cousins, uncles, and other kin. Lord Toad, Gerold's fool, was heard to say, "Lady Ellyn must surely be a sorceress, for she has made it rain inside the Rock all year."[1]
In 236 AC, Tion perished fighting in the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion, dying without issue. To prepare Tytos for rule, Lord Gerold became involved in the affairs of the westerlands again. Due to the Widow's Law, Ellyn remained at the Rock, but her influence declined in favor of her rival, Tytos's wife, Jeyne.[1] According to a semi-canon source, knights no longer begged tokens of her favor at tourneys, jewelers and dressmakers no longer lavished her with gifts in hopes of her patronage, and singers instead began to favor Jeyne, who had grown into a great beauty.[2] Per that same source, Lady Ellyn made an attempt to cling to her position, claiming to be pregnant by her late husband, but as months passed, she was seen to be a liar. Lord Toad was merciless in his mockery of Ellyn, angering Roger Reyne,[2] who soon departed Casterly Rock for Castamere, accompanied by his brother and many of the other Reynes.[1] According to a semi-canon source, Lord Toad rejoiced that the "Reign of the Reynes" was over.[2]
In 239 AC, the rivalry turned ugly. According to Beldon, the maester at Casterly Rock, Ellyn attempted to bed Tytos, urging him to set aside his wife and marry her instead. However, Tytos found Ellyn so intimidating that he was unable to perform, and ran to his wife to confess and beg her forgiveness. Lady Jeyne was willing to pardon her husband, but was less forgiving of Ellyn, and quickly informed Lord Gerold of the incident. Within a fortnight, Lord Gerold had Ellyn wed to the twice-widowed Walderan Tarbeck, the fifty-five-year-old Lord of Tarbeck Hall. Ellyn Reyne, now Lady Tarbeck, departed Casterly Rock with her husband, never to return.[1]
War of the Wombs
However, the rivalry between Ellyn and Jeyne did not end, but intensified through what Lord Toad called "the War of the Wombs". Though Ellyn had no children with Tion Lannister, she proved more fertile with Walderan Tarbeck, who already had several grown sons of his own, and soon gave birth to two daughters and a son.[1] According to a semi-canon source, Rohanne was born in 240 AC, followed by Cyrelle in 241 AC, and Tion in 242 AC. Maester Beldon states that the names of her children were carefully chosen to spite Lord Gerold (as they were references to Lord Gerold's missing wife Rohanne Webber, his niece and predecessor Cerelle Lannister, whose death Gerold was rumored to have played a role in, and Ellyn's late first husband Tion).[2]
Also in 242 AC, Jeyne gave birth to her first child with Tytos, a boy named Tywin.[1][3] Over the years, Jeyne gave birth to four more children: Kevan (b. 244 AC), Genna (b. 245 AC), Tygett (b. 250 AC),[4] and Gerion (b. 255 AC). However, Jeyne never recovered from her last labor, and died within a month of Gerion's birth.[1]
Aftermath
Following Lord Gerold's death in 244 AC, Tytos inherited his father's titles, but was an ineffectual ruler, with a desire to be liked by all. Though Ellyn was still unwelcome in Casterly Rock, Lord Tytos found it difficult to refuse her brother, Roger Reyne, and the Tarbecks received large loans of Lannister gold. Ellyn used the money to restore the ancient but impoverished Tarbeck Hall and expand their lands. Due to Tytos's weak rule, both House Reyne and House Tarbeck prospered as House Lannister declined.[1]
Tensions between the Reynes, Tarbecks, and Lannisters would fester, until it came to a head in 261 AC, when Ser Tywin Lannister demanded all loans given out by Casterly Rock to be repaid. Lord Tarbeck refused, and traveled to Casterly Rock to negotiate, upon which Tywin arrested him. In response, Ellyn took two Lannisters of Lannisport and Stafford Lannister of Casterly Rock captive, and demanded the return of her husband. Late that same year, Ser Tywin summoned Lord Roger Reyne, his brother Ser Reynard, Lord Tarbeck, and Lady Ellyn to Casterly Rock, so that they could answer for their crimes. Both Houses Reyne and Tarbeck refused, and rose in a revolt that would see the extinction of both houses at the hands of Tywin Lannister.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 The World of Ice & Fire, The Seven Kingdoms: The Westerlands (House Lannister Under the Dragons).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The World of Ice & Fire: The Westerlands (unabridged). georgerrmartin.com
- ↑ See the calculation for Tywin Lannister
- ↑ See the calculations for Kevan Lannister, Genna, and Tygett