Editing House Tyrell (section)

===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}}