Editing House Tyrell (section)

==History==
===Kingdom of the Reach===
Unlike most other [[Great Houses]], the Tyrells never ruled as kings.{{Ref|ASOS|6}} Instead, they trace their line of descent through the female line to the legendary [[Garth the Gardener]], the mythical first [[King of the Reach]] reigning in the [[Age of Heroes]], and the son of the equally mythic [[Garth Greenhand]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Garth Greenhand}} Members of [[House Gardener]], the ruling house of the [[Kingdom of the Reach]], periodically intermarried with lower ranking houses of the Reach such as House Tyrell.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}

The Tyrells served as [[High Steward|stewards]] to [[House Gardener]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Andals in the Reach}} Ser [[Alester Tyrell]], the founder of the house, was an [[Andal]] [[knight]] and adventurer who showed such prowess at arms that he was named the champion and [[sworn shield]] of King [[Gwayne V Gardener]], the last of the [[Three Sage Kings]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Andals in the Reach}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}} Ser Alester's eldest son also became a notable knight, but died in a tourney. Alester's second son, [[Gareth Tyrell|Gareth]], was of a more bookish bent and never achieved knighthood, choosing instead to serve as a royal steward. He and his son [[Leo Tyrell (son of Gareth)|Leo]] performed their duties so well, the Gardeners made the office of [[High Steward]] hereditary. It is from Gareth that today’s Tyrells descend.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}

During the minority of King [[Garland VI Gardener]], a member of House Tyrell ruled the [[Reach]] in his name as [[Regent]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}

When Lords [[House Manderly|Manderly]] and [[House Peake|Peake]] instigated a civil war to see their respective wives, both daughters to the senile old King [[Garth X Gardener]], succeed as Queen of the Reach, Ser [[Osmund Tyrell]], the High Steward, led an alliance of twoscore houses to put down the rebels and reclaimed the ruins of [[Highgarden]] which had been sacked by a [[Dorne|Dornish]] king and his raiders. Ser Osmund placed a second cousin of the late Garth X, who has been killed by the raiders, upon the new throne as King [[Mern VI Gardener]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Andals in the Reach}}

Relying on the able counsel of Ser Osmund, and later Osmund's son Ser [[Robert Tyrell]], and finally Robert's son [[Lorent Tyrell (steward)|Lorent Tyrell]], King Mern ruled well, rebuilding Highgarden and doing much and more to restore the power of the [[Reach]] and House Gardener.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Andals in the Reach}} Mern VI was so pleased with them that he gave Ser Robert the hand of his youngest daughter in marriage, thereby allowing the following generations of Tyrells to claim decent from [[Garth Greenhand]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}} That was the first marriage between the two houses, and nine more unions followed in the passing centuries.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}

===Targaryen Era===
[[File:T Jedruszek HighgardenHonorGuard.jpg|thumb|350px|Highgarden Honor Guard by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Following the defeat and death of King [[Mern IX Gardener]] and his other kin at the [[Field of Fire]] during [[Aegon's Conquest]], [[Harlan Tyrell]], hereditary high steward of the Reach, surrendered [[Highgarden]] to [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]]. As a reward, Harlan was granted the castle along with dominion of the Reach as [[Lord Paramount of the Mander]]. As Wardens of the South they frequently warred with the [[Dornishmen]], who remained independent. Harlan disappeared in the Dornish sands during the [[First Dornish War]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}

During the reign of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], the Tyrells hosted the famed [[Tourney of the Field of Roses]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Highgarden}}

As the [[Dance of the Dragons]] began, Lord [[Lyonel Tyrell (lord)|Lyonel Tyrell]] was an infant, and his regent mother was judged likely to align the Reach with the House's "overmighty" bannermen, the [[House Hightower|Hightowers]], and [[the greens]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} However, House Tyrell  decided to take no part in the war.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}} The Tyrell bannermen, on the other hand, were split during the war, with men of the Reach fighting on both sides. Later Ser [[Ulf White]] attempted to claim Highgarden for himself, as House Tyrell had taken no part in the Dance and he believed they should be considered traitors.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant}}

When [[Daeron I Targaryen]], the Young Dragon, attempted the [[conquest of Dorne]], Lord Lyonel commanded the army that invaded via [[Prince's Pass]]. After the initial victory, Daeron appointed Lord Tyrell as governor of Dorne. Lord Tyrell liked Dornish women and one night he pulled the rope that would signal for a wench to come to his bed, and a hundred scorpions fell from the canopy instead. His death sparked new revolts, and the conquest was undone in a fortnight.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}{{Ref|ASOS|66}}

Lord [[Leo Tyrell (Longthorn)|Leo "Longthorn" Tyrell]] participated in the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]], beginning the tourney as one of the champions. Both Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] and Ser [[Duncan the Tall|Duncan]] recognized him as a formidable opponent, one that Duncan would better avoid.{{Ref|THK}}

During [[Robert's Rebellion]], House Tyrell stayed loyal to King [[Aerys II Targaryen]]. Lord [[Mace Tyrell]]'s forces achieved victory against Lord [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of Ashford]]. Mace likes to take credit for the success,{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}}{{Ref|ASOS|19}}{{Ref|ASOS|78}} but it was the van under command of Lord [[Randyll Tarly]] that put Robert to flight.{{Ref|ASOS|19}} Mace's cousin, Ser [[Quentin Tyrell]], died in the battle.{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} Mace went on to [[Siege of Storm's End|besiege]] [[Storm's End]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: House Tyrell}} for almost a year.{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}} He bent the knee to Lord [[Eddard Stark]] after King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] had been killed in the [[Sack of King's Landing]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}} The new King [[Robert I Baratheon]] accepted the Tyrells back into the king's peace.