Editing High Steward (section)

==History==
[[Gareth Tyrell]], a bookish man, was named High Steward by the [[King of the Reach]], and was followed in this office by his son [[Leo Tyrell (son of Gareth)|Leo]]. Gareth and Leo performed their duties so admirably that the [[House Gardener|Gardener]] kings made the office of High Steward hereditary.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}

Over the centuries, generations of Tyrells served capably as High Steward, many becoming close confidants and advisors to the Kings of the Reach, some even acting as [[castellan]]s in times of war; at least one High Steward served as [[regent]] during the minority of King [[Garland VI Gardener|Garland VI]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}} During the [[Anarchy in the Reach|anarchy]] that followed the death of King [[Garth X Gardener|Garth X]], Ser [[Osmund Tyrell]], the High Steward, rallied the great houses of the Reach to end the war and place a second cousin of Garth Greybeard on the throne as King [[Mern VI Gardener|Mern VI]]. Through the able counsel of Ser Osmund, his son Ser [[Robert Tyrell|Robert]], and grandson [[Lorent Tyrell (steward)|Lorent Tyrell]], Mern VI ruled well and did much to restore the Reach.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Andals in the Reach}} Mern VI was so pleased with his High Stewards, he gave the hand of a daughter to Ser Robert, allowing all subsequent High Stewards to claim descent from the Gardeners; nine more unions were to come between the Gardeners and their stewards.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}

During [[Aegon's Conquest]], King [[Mern IX Gardener|Mern IX]] marched his his army to face [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]]; in the ensuring [[Field of Fire]], Mern IX and his entire line were wiped out. [[Harlan Tyrell]], Mern IX's High Steward, had been left at Highgarden and when Aegon arrived to secure its surrender, the High Steward opened the gates and pledged himself to the conquerer. For this, Aegon raised the Tyrells to [[Lord of Highgarden|Lords of Highgarden]] and [[Warden of the South|Wardens of the South]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}} The Tyrells' elevation was fruitlessly protested by the great houses of the Reach, most prominently [[House Florent]],{{Ref|ASOS|Appendix}} who bitterly complained about having to serve "upjumped stewards".{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}