Difference between revisions of "Brynden Rivers"

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(GRRM said Brynden was a "spymaster" (SSM 12/26/2005) but he does not elaborate if Brynden was officially appointed the master of whisperers on Daeron II's small council. Until proven otherwise Brynden should be noted as the MW under Aerys I only.)
 
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'''Brynden Rivers''', called "'''Bloodraven'''", was a legitimized Great Bastard of Aegon IV and Mylessa Blackwood, his sixth mistress. His personal arms were a white dragon with red eyes breathing red flame on a black field. During his life he was a Targaryen loyalist during the [[Blackfyre Rebellion]], the [[Hand of the King|Hand]] of [[Aerys I]], and Lord Commander of the [[Night's Watch]]. [[Shiera Seastar]] was his mistress.
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{{Hatnote|For other uses, see [[Brynden (disambiguation)]].}}
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{{Infobox character 
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| title = Ser
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| nickname =
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| firstname = Brynden
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| particle =
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| lastname = Rivers
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| epithet = Lord Bloodraven
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| arms = Bloodraven
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| arms2 = Night's Watch
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| image = Bloodraven.jpg
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| image_caption = Brynden Rivers with his [[weirwood]] longbow, art by Amok ©
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| Alias = Lord Bloodraven{{Ref|TSS}}<br>Bloodraven{{Ref|AFFC|15}}<br>Lord Rivers{{Ref|TSS}}<br>The last [[greenseer]]{{Ref|ADWD|34}}<br>The [[three-eyed crow]]{{Ref|ADWD|34}}<br>Lord Brynden{{Ref|ADWD|13}}
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| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}<br>[[Master of whisperers]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}<br>[[Hand of the King]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}<br>[[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}<br>[[Lord]]{{Ref|ADWD|13}}
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| Allegiance = [[House Targaryen]]<br>[[Night's Watch]]
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| Race = [[Valyria]]n and [[riverman]]
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| Culture = [[Crownlands]] and [[Riverlands]]
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| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|175}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
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| Place_of_Birth = [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Brynden Rivers}}
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| Date_of_Death =
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| Place_of_Death =
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| Date_of_Burial =
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| Place_of_Burial =
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| Father = King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]
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| Mother = Lady [[Melissa Blackwood]]
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| Spouse =
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| Lover = Lady [[Shiera Seastar]] ([[paramour]])
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| Issue =
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| coat-of-arms = A white dragon on black, breathing red fire<br>(''Sable, a dragon argent flammant gules'')
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| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (appears)
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| Played_by =
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| TV_series =
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}}
  
==Appearance==
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'''Brynden Rivers''', called '''Lord Bloodraven''', was the [[bastard]] son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] by his sixth mistress, Lady [[Melissa Blackwood]]. He had two older sisters, [[Mya Rivers|Mya]] and [[Gwenys Rivers|Gwenys]], and numerous half-siblings.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} As his mother was [[highborn]], Brynden was counted among the [[Great Bastards]]. Like his bastard siblings, Brynden was legitimized by King Aegon IV in {{Date|184}}. Brynden's personal arms were a white [[dragon]] with red eyes breathing red flame on a black field.
An albino, Brynden had milk white skin, long white hair, and red eyes. He has a red birthmark that extends from his thoat up to his right cheek. Some think that it resembles a bird. Brynden was not as tall or muscular as his Great Bastard half-brothers. He typically wore the colors of "blood and smoke", with smoking being a dark grey mottled and streaked with black. Because his skin was sensitive to light, he usually went about cloaked and hooded. He lost an eye during the Blackfyre Rebellion and rarely covered the empty socket with a patch.  
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Brynden was a [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] loyalist during the [[Blackfyre Pretenders|Blackfyre Rebellions]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} He served as the [[Hand of the King]] to King [[Aerys I Targaryen]]{{Ref|TSS}} and King [[Maekar I Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}} He was eventually sent to the [[Night's Watch]] by King [[Aegon V Targaryen]], where he rose to the position of [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]].{{Ref|AFFC|15}}
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==Appearance and Character==
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{{See also|:Category:Images of Brynden Rivers|l1=Images of Brynden Rivers}}
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Brynden was an albino, and thus had milk-white skin, long white hair, and red eyes.<ref name=GreatBastards>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Great_Bastards/ The Great Bastards (December 26, 2005)]</ref> On the right side of his face he had a red [[w:Port-wine stain|winestain birthmark]], that extended from his throat up to his right cheek. The birthmark was the reason why he was called ''"Bloodraven"'', as it was said to look somewhat like a [[raven]] drawn in blood. However, Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] thought the birthmark just a blotch.{{Ref|TSS}} According to [[George R. R. Martin]], it is more a suggestion of a raven shape, like an [[w:Rorschach test|ink blot]].<ref name=Descriptions>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1254 More Targaryen Descriptions (December 24, 2005)]</ref>
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[[File:Bloodraven by Rae Lavergne.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Bloodraven, by Rae Lavergne ©]]
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Brynden was not as tall or muscular as his half brothers, [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon]] and [[Aegor Rivers|Aegor]],<ref name=GreatBastards/> but he was considered more cunning.{{Ref|TSS}} A shade under six feet tall, Brynden was thin and gaunt. He had a grim forbidding aspect, and sharp, vaguely sinister features.<ref name=GreatBastards/><ref name=Concerning>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Concerning_the_Great_Bastards/ Concerning the Great Bastards (April 06, 2004)]</ref> He typically wore the colors of scarlet and smoke, a dark grey mottled and streaked with black.<ref name=GreatBastards/> For instance, one of his outfits included a scarlet tunic with black boots and a smoke-colored cloak.{{Ref|TMK}} Because his skin was sensitive to light, Bloodraven usually went about cloaked and hooded.{{Ref|TSS}}<ref name=GreatBastards/>
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Brynden lost an eye during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]], and rarely covered the empty socket with a patch, preferring to display his scar and empty socket to the world.<ref name=Descriptions/> He wore his white hair straight and to his shoulders, with the front brushed forward to cover his missing eye.{{Ref|TMK}}<ref name=GreatBastards/> Although Brynden carried the [[Valyrian steel]] [[longsword]] [[Dark Sister]] and was a good swordsman, he was also an expert bowman who preferred to use his tall [[weirwood]] longbow.<ref name=Concerning/>
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Brynden was rumored to be a sinister [[sorcerer]] and [[Espionage|spymaster]],<ref name=GreatBastards/>{{Ref|tmk}} who effectively ruled the kingdom "with spies and spells" and as "Lord Bloodraven".{{Ref|TSS}} A popular riddle asked was, "''How many eyes does Lord Bloodraven have? A thousand eyes, and one''".{{Ref|TMK}} The song "[[A Thousand Eyes, and One]]" was written about Brynden.{{Ref|AFFC|15}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
A strong warrior, Brynden carried the [[Valyrian steel]] sword [[Dark Sister]], but he preferred his [[weirwood]] longbow and was an expert archer. During the [[Blackfyre Rebellion]], Brynden remained loyal to [[Daeron II]] and commanded a group of longbowman called the Raven's Teeth. At the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]] he lost an eye fighting his half-brother, [[Aegor Rivers]]. His Raven's Teeth ultimately gained the Weeping Ridge, and rained down arrows on Daemon's position from 300 yards away. Daemon and his twin sons were killed. For this, people would name him a kinslayer. 
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===Youth===
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[[File: Melissa Blackwood and Brynden Rivers by Chillyravenart.png|thumb|right|350px|Young Brynden with his mother, [[Melissa Blackwood]], by chillyravenart©]]
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In {{date|175}}, Brynden was born in [[King's Landing]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Brynden Rivers}} as the [[bastard]] son of King [[Aegon IV Targaryen]] and his sixth mistress, Lady [[Melissa Blackwood]], who had replaced the king's fifth mistress, Lady [[Barba Bracken]].{{Ref|ADWD|48}} Brynden's older sisters were [[Mya Rivers|Mya]] and [[Gwenys Rivers]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} Although Melissa was eventually dismissed by Aegon IV in favor of his seventh mistress, Lady [[Bethany Bracken]], Brynden was able to maintain close relations at court because of Melissa's popularity.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
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Brynden was resented by Barba's bastard son, [[Aegor Rivers]], nicknamed "Bittersteel". At some point, Brynden became a lover to his half-sister, [[Shiera Seastar]]. As Aegor desired her as well, Shiera became another point of rivalry between the two half-siblings.{{Ref|ADWD|67}} Brynden would become Shiera's most ardent admirer.<ref name=Shiera>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Shiera_Seastar Shiera Seastar (March 07, 2006)]</ref>
  
After the rebellion, he became Hand of the King to Aerys I. As "Lord Bloodraven" he was rumored to be a sinister sorcerer, effectively ruling the kingdom “with spies and spells”. A song about Bloodraven, "A Thousand Eyes, and One", was still sung almost a century later. The events of ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' take place during his reign as Hand, though he does not personally take part in the story. Bloodraven was imprisoned and sent to the [[Wall]] ca. 233 [[Aegon's Landing|AL]] by King [[Aegon V]], eventually rising to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
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Like his other bastard siblings, Brynden was legitimized by his father Aegon IV in {{Date|184}}, when the king was on his deathbed.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
  
==References and sources==
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===First Blackfyre Rebellion===
{{EnWP|House Targaryen}}
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During the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]], Brynden remained loyal to his trueborn half-brother King [[Daeron II Targaryen]] instead of joining his bastard-born half-brother, [[Daemon I Blackfyre]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} Brynden commanded his private guards, a group of longbowmen called the [[Raven's Teeth]].{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}
  
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At the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]] in {{Date|196}}, the Raven's Teeth gained the [[Weeping Ridge]] and rained arrows down onto the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyres]] from three hundred yards away, killing first Daemon's eldest son [[Aegon Blackfyre|Aegon]], then Daemon himself, and finally Aegon's twin, [[Aemon Blackfyre|Aemon]].{{Ref|TSS}} The arrows are said to have been driven by Brynden's sorcery,{{Ref|TSS}} and people later named Brynden a [[Kinslaying|kinslayer]].{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}} Daemon's death led the rebels to rout, but some were rallied by [[Aegor Rivers]] in a mad charge.{{Ref|TSS}} The resulting duel between the rival half brothers left Brynden blinded in one eye and Aegor retreating.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
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With Daemon and his eldest sons dead, Aegor fled into exile in the [[Free Cities]] with Daemon's wife, daughters, and remaining sons.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} After the war Brynden advocated a hard line against the rebels, winning out over Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen's]] call for leniency.{{Ref|TSS}}
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===Reign of King Aerys I Targaryen===
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[[File:Bloodraven by BellaBergolts.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Bloodraven, by Bella Bergolts ©]]
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In {{Date|209}} Brynden became [[Hand of the King]] and [[master of whisperers]], serving throughout the reign of his nephew, King [[Aerys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} His first major trial was the [[Great Spring Sickness]], an epidemic that had killed King [[Daeron II Targaryen]], Princes [[Valarr Targaryen|Valarr]] and [[Matarys Targaryen]], and tens of thousands more. Seeing the corpses pile up in the streets of [[King's Landing]], Brynden ordered the pyromancers of the [[Alchemists' Guild]] to burn them in the [[Dragonpit]]. At night, the green glow of the [[wildfire]] pyres could be seen throughout the whole city.{{Ref|TSS}}
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Around the same time, a drought began that lasted a little more than a year,<ref group="N">At the time of ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'', the drought enters its second year. By the end of ''The Sworn Sword'', it begins to rain, ending the drought.</ref> causing many [[smallfolk]] to leave their lands in search of somewhere the rain still fell. Brynden ordered them to return to their own lands but few obeyed. Indeed they blamed Brynden, cursing him as a kinslayer. Many of them became robbers. Prices increased as trade dwindled, and it was widely held that travel was less safe under Aerys's reign then it had been under that of his father.{{Ref|TSS}} Some people alleged that Brynden and his paramour, his half-sister [[Shiera Seastar]], used sorcery to uncover secrets.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} Brynden proposed to Shiera numerous times, but she always refused his offers of marriage.<ref name=Shiera/>
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In {{Date|211}}, Ser [[Otho Bracken]], known as the Brute of [[House Bracken|Bracken]], was expected to succeed to the [[lord]]ship of [[Stone Hedge]]. Not wanting to see such a man in power, the traditional Bracken rivals of [[House Blackwood]] were expected to start a war to root him out. It was suggested that Brynden, being half-Blackwood himself, would not be inclined to hear any complaints of a member of House Bracken. Septon [[Sefton Staunton|Sefton]] believed that Brynden would most likely do nothing, and that ''if'' he did decide to act, it would only be to help his Blackwood cousins to bring Otho to bay.{{Ref|TSS}}
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In {{Date|211}} Lord [[Dagon Greyjoy]] raided the western coast, including [[Fair Isle]], the shipping of the [[Arbor]], and the village of [[Little Dosk]] in the [[Reach]].{{Ref|TSS}} By {{Date|212}}, Lord [[Beron Stark]] had called his banners to repulse the [[ironmen]] from the [[Stony Shore]], while [[House Lannister]] was building [[ships]] to strike at the [[Iron Islands]].{{Ref|TMK}} During all of this Brynden kept his eye on [[Tyrosh]], where his half-brother [[Aegor Rivers]] remained with the surviving sons of Daemon Blackfyre in exile.{{Ref|TMK}} However, [[Victarion Greyjoy]] recalls that, "...even Dagon could not defeat the dragons",{{Ref|ADWD|63}} suggesting that the Targaryens eventually intervened.
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===Second Blackfyre Rebellion===
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[[File:Bloodraven by Naomimakesart.png|right|thumb|350px|Bloodraven at the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]], by Naomimakesart©]]
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During the [[wedding tourney at Whitewalls]] in {{Date|212}}, Ser [[Maynard Plumm]] defended Brynden's actions as Hand to Ser [[Kyle the Cat]].{{Ref|TMK}} Through his informants,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} including a [[House Vyrwel|Vyrwel]] man-at-arms and a troupe of comic [[dwarf]]s, Brynden was aware of a plot at [[Whitewalls]] to put [[Daemon II Blackfyre]] forward as the legitimate [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]. Brynden marched on the tourney with three hundred Raven's Teeth, three brothers of the [[Kingsguard]], five hundred other [[knight]]s, and five thousand infantry drawn from the [[crownlands]] and the [[riverlands]]. In the face of such a force Daemon tried to rally the tourney-goers to battle, but found little support. Daemon then challenged the Hand to single combat; Brynden refused and arrested the pretender, thus containing the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TMK}} Daemon was kept in captivity rather than executed with the other rebel leaders, ensuring that Aegor Rivers could not name his brother [[Haegon Blackfyre|Haegon]] as a serious pretender.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}
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===Third Blackfyre Rebellion===
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In the aftermath of the [[Third Blackfyre Rebellion]], Brynden argued that the captive [[Aegor Rivers]] should be put to death, but King [[Aerys I Targaryen]] decided to send Aegor to the [[Night's Watch]] instead. However, Aegor Rivers escaped back to [[Essos]] when his ship was intercepted en route to [[Eastwatch]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}
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===Great Council of 233 AC===
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[[File:LordCommanderRiversBeyondTheWallTake2_by_MikeHallstein.jpg|thumb|350px|Brynden Rivers as [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]] of the [[Night's Watch]], by [http://mike-hallstein.deviantart.com/ Mike Hallstein] ©]]
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Brynden continued as Hand for Aerys's successor, his brother [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar I]], in {{Date|221}}. After Maekar's death in {{Date|233}}, Brynden, as the [[Hand of the King]], called a [[Great Council]] in [[King's Landing]] to discuss the disputed matter of succession. [[Aenys Blackfyre]] wanted to peacefully participate in the Great Council, and Brynden offered him safe conduct to King's Landing from [[Tyrosh]]. Once Aenys arrived in the capital, however, he was arrested by the [[gold cloaks]] and then beheaded in the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}
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The Great Council chose Maekar's youngest son to succeed as King [[Aegon V Targaryen]], whose first act was to arrest Brynden for the murder of Aenys.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} It is suggested by [[Maester]] [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] that Brynden was imprisoned in the Red Keep's dungeons.{{Ref|AFFC|15}} Brynden argued that he had sacrificed his honor for the good of the realm, but Aegon refused to set Brynden free. He instead offered the option of [[Night's Watch|taking the black]] instead of death, which Brynden accepted.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}
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===Night's Watch===
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When Maester Aemon sailed for the [[Wall]] in {{Date|233}}, he was escorted by King Aegon V's friend, Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] of the [[Kingsguard]], and accompanied by an honor guard of recruits for the Night's Watch. These were two hundred men and prisoners, including Brynden Rivers. Many of the men were archers from Brynden's [[Raven's Teeth]].{{Ref|AFFC|15}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} According to a semi-canon source, Brynden took [[Dark Sister]] with him when he went to the Wall.<ref>Twitter: [https://twitter.com/westeroshistory/status/1029594354308898816 @WesterosHistory: Bloodraven confirmed to have taken Dark Sister to the Wall], August 15, 2018</ref>
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Brynden was elected as [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] in {{Date|239}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}{{Ref|AFFC|15}} However, in {{Date|252}}, he disappeared while ranging [[beyond the Wall]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}
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==Recent Events==
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===''A Feast for Crows''===
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Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] tells [[Samwell Tarly]] that Brynden accompanied him to the [[Wall]] when he joined the [[Night's Watch]], with Ser [[Duncan the Tall]] as an escort. The singer [[Dareon]] remarks that he knows a song about Bloodraven, "[[A Thousand Eyes, and One]]".{{Ref|AFFC|15}}
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===''A Dance with Dragons''===
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[[File: Three eyed crow Marc Simonetti.jpg‎|thumb|350px|[[Bran Stark]] and the [[three-eyed crow]], by Marc Simonetti ©]]
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[[Bran Stark]] discovers that Brynden is still alive as the [[three-eyed crow]], the last [[greenseer]] living with [[children of the forest]] in a [[Cave of the three-eyed crow|cave]] [[beyond the Wall]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Brandon (Bran) Stark}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Brynden Rivers}}{{Ref|ADWD|13}} Brynden becomes Bran's mentor in the art of [[greensight]] and [[skinchanging]].{{Ref|ADWD|34}}
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==Quotes by Brynden==
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{{Quote|Treason is no less vile because the traitor proves a craven.{{Ref|TMK}}|Brynden to [[Ambrose Butterwell]]}}
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{{Quote|There have always been [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] who [[Dreams and prophecies|dreamed]] of things to come, since long before [[Aegon's Conquest|the Conquest]].{{Ref|TMK}}|Brynden to [[Duncan the Tall]] and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]]}}
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{{Quote|I wore many names when I was quick, but even I had [[Melissa Blackwood|a mother]], and the name she gave me at her breast was Brynden.{{Ref|ADWD|34}}|the [[three-eyed crow]] to [[Meera Reed]]}}
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{{Quote|I have my own ghosts, Bran. A brother that I loved, [[Aegor Rivers|a brother that I hated]], [[Shiera Seastar|a woman I desired]]. Through [[weirwood|the trees]], I see them still, but no word of mine has ever reached them. The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it.{{Ref|ADWD|34}}|Brynden to [[Bran Stark]]}}
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==Quotes about Brynden==
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{{Quote|[[Mother (the Seven)|The Mother]] marked Lord Rivers on the day that he was born, and [[Aegor Rivers|Bittersteel]] marked him once again upon the [[Redgrass Field]].{{Ref|TSS}}|[[Sefton Staunton|Sefton]] to [[Duncan the Tall]]}}
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{{Quote|'''How many eyes does Lord Bloodraven have'''? the riddle ran. '''A thousand eyes, and one'''. Some claimed the [[King's Hand]] was a student of the dark arts who could change his face, put on the likeness of a one-eyed dog, even turn into a mist. Packs of gaunt gray wolves hunted down his foes, men said, and carrion [[crow]]s spied for him and whispered secrets in his ear. Most of the tales were only tales, Dunk did not doubt, but no one could doubt that Bloodraven had informers everywhere.{{Ref|TMK}}|thoughts of [[Duncan the Tall]]}}
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{{Quote|Lord Bloodraven is a [[Magic|sorceror]] and a [[bastard]].{{Ref|TMK}}|[[Glendon Flowers]] to [[Maynard Plumm]]}}
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==Family==
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{{Targaryen Bastards Melissa}}
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==Theories==
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*[[Maynard Plumm/Theories]]
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==Notes==
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{{Notes}}
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==References==
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{{References}}
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{{S-start}}
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{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=before|unknlast=[[Larys Strong]]}}
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{{S-ttl|title=[[Master of whisperers]]|under=[[Aerys I Targaryen]]}}
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{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after|unknnext=[[Varys]]}}
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{{S-break}}
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{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=before|unknlast=[[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]]}}
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{{S-ttl|title=[[Hand of the King]]|years={{Date|209|233}}|under=[[Aerys I Targaryen]]<br>[[Maekar I Targaryen]]}}
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{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after=|unknnext=[[Ormund Baratheon]]}}
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{{S-break}}
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{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=before|unknlast=[[Jack Musgood]]}}
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{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]]|years={{Date|239|252}}}}
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{{S-vac|unknown|parameter=after=|unknnext=[[Lord Commander Qorgyle|Qorgyle]]}}
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{{S-end}}
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{{Great Bastards}}
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{{Master of whisperers}}
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{{Hands of the King}}
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{{Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch}}
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{{Daeron II small council}}
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{{Aerys I small council}}
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{{Maekar I small council}}
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[[Category:House Blackwood]]
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[[Category:House Targaryen]]
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[[Category:Albinos|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Bastards|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Centenarians|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Characters from the Riverlands|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Characters with birthmarks|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Characters with red eyes|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Characters with white hair|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Five-footers|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Great Bastards|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Hands of the King|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Lords without lands|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Kinslayers|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Knights|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Legitimized bastards|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Lords Commander of the Night's Watch|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Members of the Night's Watch|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Magic practitioners|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Masters of whisperers|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Members of Aegon IV Targaryen's court|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Members of Daeron II Targaryen's court|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Members of Aerys I Targaryen's court|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Members of Maekar I Targaryen's court|Rivers, Brynden]]
 
[[Category:Nobles|Rivers, Brynden]]
 
[[Category:Nobles|Rivers, Brynden]]
[[Category:Great Bastards|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:One-eyed characters|Rivers, Brynden]]
[[Category:Lord Commanders of the Night's Watch|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Skinchangers|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Spymasters|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Veterans of the First Blackfyre Rebellion|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Veterans of the Third Blackfyre Rebellion|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[Category:Wielders of Dark Sister|Rivers, Brynden]]
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[[es:Brynden_Ríos]]
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[[fa:بریندن ریورز]]
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[[fr:Brynden Rivers]]
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[[pt:Brynden Rivers]]
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[[ru:Бринден Риверс]]
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[[zh:布林登·河文]]

Latest revision as of 18:02, 24 February 2024

Brynden Rivers.svg Ser
Brynden Rivers
Lord Bloodraven
Night's Watch.svg
Bloodraven.jpg
Brynden Rivers with his weirwood longbow, art by Amok ©

Aliases
Titles
Allegiances
Race Valyrian and riverman
Culture Crownlands and Riverlands
Born In 175 AC[8]King's Landing[9]
Father King Aegon IV Targaryen
Mother Lady Melissa Blackwood
Lover Lady Shiera Seastar (paramour)
Personal arms A white dragon on black, breathing red fire
(Sable, a dragon argent flammant gules)
Books

Brynden Rivers, called Lord Bloodraven, was the bastard son of King Aegon IV Targaryen by his sixth mistress, Lady Melissa Blackwood. He had two older sisters, Mya and Gwenys, and numerous half-siblings.[8] As his mother was highborn, Brynden was counted among the Great Bastards. Like his bastard siblings, Brynden was legitimized by King Aegon IV in 184 AC. Brynden's personal arms were a white dragon with red eyes breathing red flame on a black field.

Brynden was a Targaryen loyalist during the Blackfyre Rebellions.[10] He served as the Hand of the King to King Aerys I Targaryen[1] and King Maekar I Targaryen.[7] He was eventually sent to the Night's Watch by King Aegon V Targaryen, where he rose to the position of Lord Commander.[2]

Appearance and Character

Brynden was an albino, and thus had milk-white skin, long white hair, and red eyes.[11] On the right side of his face he had a red winestain birthmark, that extended from his throat up to his right cheek. The birthmark was the reason why he was called "Bloodraven", as it was said to look somewhat like a raven drawn in blood. However, Ser Duncan the Tall thought the birthmark just a blotch.[1] According to George R. R. Martin, it is more a suggestion of a raven shape, like an ink blot.[12]

Bloodraven, by Rae Lavergne ©

Brynden was not as tall or muscular as his half brothers, Daemon and Aegor,[11] but he was considered more cunning.[1] A shade under six feet tall, Brynden was thin and gaunt. He had a grim forbidding aspect, and sharp, vaguely sinister features.[11][13] He typically wore the colors of scarlet and smoke, a dark grey mottled and streaked with black.[11] For instance, one of his outfits included a scarlet tunic with black boots and a smoke-colored cloak.[14] Because his skin was sensitive to light, Bloodraven usually went about cloaked and hooded.[1][11]

Brynden lost an eye during the First Blackfyre Rebellion, and rarely covered the empty socket with a patch, preferring to display his scar and empty socket to the world.[12] He wore his white hair straight and to his shoulders, with the front brushed forward to cover his missing eye.[14][11] Although Brynden carried the Valyrian steel longsword Dark Sister and was a good swordsman, he was also an expert bowman who preferred to use his tall weirwood longbow.[13]

Brynden was rumored to be a sinister sorcerer and spymaster,[11][14] who effectively ruled the kingdom "with spies and spells" and as "Lord Bloodraven".[1] A popular riddle asked was, "How many eyes does Lord Bloodraven have? A thousand eyes, and one".[14] The song "A Thousand Eyes, and One" was written about Brynden.[2]

History

Youth

Young Brynden with his mother, Melissa Blackwood, by chillyravenart©

In 175 AC, Brynden was born in King's Landing[9] as the bastard son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and his sixth mistress, Lady Melissa Blackwood, who had replaced the king's fifth mistress, Lady Barba Bracken.[15] Brynden's older sisters were Mya and Gwenys Rivers.[8] Although Melissa was eventually dismissed by Aegon IV in favor of his seventh mistress, Lady Bethany Bracken, Brynden was able to maintain close relations at court because of Melissa's popularity.[10]

Brynden was resented by Barba's bastard son, Aegor Rivers, nicknamed "Bittersteel". At some point, Brynden became a lover to his half-sister, Shiera Seastar. As Aegor desired her as well, Shiera became another point of rivalry between the two half-siblings.[16] Brynden would become Shiera's most ardent admirer.[17]

Like his other bastard siblings, Brynden was legitimized by his father Aegon IV in 184 AC, when the king was on his deathbed.[8]

First Blackfyre Rebellion

During the First Blackfyre Rebellion, Brynden remained loyal to his trueborn half-brother King Daeron II Targaryen instead of joining his bastard-born half-brother, Daemon I Blackfyre.[18] Brynden commanded his private guards, a group of longbowmen called the Raven's Teeth.[1][10][5]

At the Battle of the Redgrass Field in 196 AC, the Raven's Teeth gained the Weeping Ridge and rained arrows down onto the Blackfyres from three hundred yards away, killing first Daemon's eldest son Aegon, then Daemon himself, and finally Aegon's twin, Aemon.[1] The arrows are said to have been driven by Brynden's sorcery,[1] and people later named Brynden a kinslayer.[1][14] Daemon's death led the rebels to rout, but some were rallied by Aegor Rivers in a mad charge.[1] The resulting duel between the rival half brothers left Brynden blinded in one eye and Aegor retreating.[10]

With Daemon and his eldest sons dead, Aegor fled into exile in the Free Cities with Daemon's wife, daughters, and remaining sons.[10] After the war Brynden advocated a hard line against the rebels, winning out over Prince Baelor Targaryen's call for leniency.[1]

Reign of King Aerys I Targaryen

Bloodraven, by Bella Bergolts ©

In 209 AC Brynden became Hand of the King and master of whisperers, serving throughout the reign of his nephew, King Aerys I Targaryen.[6] His first major trial was the Great Spring Sickness, an epidemic that had killed King Daeron II Targaryen, Princes Valarr and Matarys Targaryen, and tens of thousands more. Seeing the corpses pile up in the streets of King's Landing, Brynden ordered the pyromancers of the Alchemists' Guild to burn them in the Dragonpit. At night, the green glow of the wildfire pyres could be seen throughout the whole city.[1]

Around the same time, a drought began that lasted a little more than a year,[N 1] causing many smallfolk to leave their lands in search of somewhere the rain still fell. Brynden ordered them to return to their own lands but few obeyed. Indeed they blamed Brynden, cursing him as a kinslayer. Many of them became robbers. Prices increased as trade dwindled, and it was widely held that travel was less safe under Aerys's reign then it had been under that of his father.[1] Some people alleged that Brynden and his paramour, his half-sister Shiera Seastar, used sorcery to uncover secrets.[6] Brynden proposed to Shiera numerous times, but she always refused his offers of marriage.[17]

In 211 AC, Ser Otho Bracken, known as the Brute of Bracken, was expected to succeed to the lordship of Stone Hedge. Not wanting to see such a man in power, the traditional Bracken rivals of House Blackwood were expected to start a war to root him out. It was suggested that Brynden, being half-Blackwood himself, would not be inclined to hear any complaints of a member of House Bracken. Septon Sefton believed that Brynden would most likely do nothing, and that if he did decide to act, it would only be to help his Blackwood cousins to bring Otho to bay.[1]

In 211 AC Lord Dagon Greyjoy raided the western coast, including Fair Isle, the shipping of the Arbor, and the village of Little Dosk in the Reach.[1] By 212 AC, Lord Beron Stark had called his banners to repulse the ironmen from the Stony Shore, while House Lannister was building ships to strike at the Iron Islands.[14] During all of this Brynden kept his eye on Tyrosh, where his half-brother Aegor Rivers remained with the surviving sons of Daemon Blackfyre in exile.[14] However, Victarion Greyjoy recalls that, "...even Dagon could not defeat the dragons",[19] suggesting that the Targaryens eventually intervened.

Second Blackfyre Rebellion

Bloodraven at the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, by Naomimakesart©

During the wedding tourney at Whitewalls in 212 AC, Ser Maynard Plumm defended Brynden's actions as Hand to Ser Kyle the Cat.[14] Through his informants,[6] including a Vyrwel man-at-arms and a troupe of comic dwarfs, Brynden was aware of a plot at Whitewalls to put Daemon II Blackfyre forward as the legitimate Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Brynden marched on the tourney with three hundred Raven's Teeth, three brothers of the Kingsguard, five hundred other knights, and five thousand infantry drawn from the crownlands and the riverlands. In the face of such a force Daemon tried to rally the tourney-goers to battle, but found little support. Daemon then challenged the Hand to single combat; Brynden refused and arrested the pretender, thus containing the Second Blackfyre Rebellion.[14] Daemon was kept in captivity rather than executed with the other rebel leaders, ensuring that Aegor Rivers could not name his brother Haegon as a serious pretender.[6]

Third Blackfyre Rebellion

In the aftermath of the Third Blackfyre Rebellion, Brynden argued that the captive Aegor Rivers should be put to death, but King Aerys I Targaryen decided to send Aegor to the Night's Watch instead. However, Aegor Rivers escaped back to Essos when his ship was intercepted en route to Eastwatch.[20]

Great Council of 233 AC

Brynden Rivers as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, by Mike Hallstein ©

Brynden continued as Hand for Aerys's successor, his brother Maekar I, in 221 AC. After Maekar's death in 233 AC, Brynden, as the Hand of the King, called a Great Council in King's Landing to discuss the disputed matter of succession. Aenys Blackfyre wanted to peacefully participate in the Great Council, and Brynden offered him safe conduct to King's Landing from Tyrosh. Once Aenys arrived in the capital, however, he was arrested by the gold cloaks and then beheaded in the Red Keep.[7]

The Great Council chose Maekar's youngest son to succeed as King Aegon V Targaryen, whose first act was to arrest Brynden for the murder of Aenys.[5] It is suggested by Maester Aemon that Brynden was imprisoned in the Red Keep's dungeons.[2] Brynden argued that he had sacrificed his honor for the good of the realm, but Aegon refused to set Brynden free. He instead offered the option of taking the black instead of death, which Brynden accepted.[5]

Night's Watch

When Maester Aemon sailed for the Wall in 233 AC, he was escorted by King Aegon V's friend, Ser Duncan the Tall of the Kingsguard, and accompanied by an honor guard of recruits for the Night's Watch. These were two hundred men and prisoners, including Brynden Rivers. Many of the men were archers from Brynden's Raven's Teeth.[2][5] According to a semi-canon source, Brynden took Dark Sister with him when he went to the Wall.[21]

Brynden was elected as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in 239 AC.[5][2] However, in 252 AC, he disappeared while ranging beyond the Wall.[5]

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Maester Aemon tells Samwell Tarly that Brynden accompanied him to the Wall when he joined the Night's Watch, with Ser Duncan the Tall as an escort. The singer Dareon remarks that he knows a song about Bloodraven, "A Thousand Eyes, and One".[2]

A Dance with Dragons

Bran Stark and the three-eyed crow, by Marc Simonetti ©

Bran Stark discovers that Brynden is still alive as the three-eyed crow, the last greenseer living with children of the forest in a cave beyond the Wall.[22][9][4] Brynden becomes Bran's mentor in the art of greensight and skinchanging.[3]

Quotes by Brynden

Treason is no less vile because the traitor proves a craven.[14]

—Brynden to Ambrose Butterwell

There have always been Targaryens who dreamed of things to come, since long before the Conquest.[14]

I wore many names when I was quick, but even I had a mother, and the name she gave me at her breast was Brynden.[3]

I have my own ghosts, Bran. A brother that I loved, a brother that I hated, a woman I desired. Through the trees, I see them still, but no word of mine has ever reached them. The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it.[3]

—Brynden to Bran Stark

Quotes about Brynden

The Mother marked Lord Rivers on the day that he was born, and Bittersteel marked him once again upon the Redgrass Field.[1]

How many eyes does Lord Bloodraven have? the riddle ran. A thousand eyes, and one. Some claimed the King's Hand was a student of the dark arts who could change his face, put on the likeness of a one-eyed dog, even turn into a mist. Packs of gaunt gray wolves hunted down his foes, men said, and carrion crows spied for him and whispered secrets in his ear. Most of the tales were only tales, Dunk did not doubt, but no one could doubt that Bloodraven had informers everywhere.[14]

—thoughts of Duncan the Tall

Lord Bloodraven is a sorceror and a bastard.[14]

Family

 
 
 
Aegon IV
Targaryen
 
Melissa
Blackwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mya
Rivers
 
Gwenys
Rivers
 
Brynden
Rivers
 


Theories

Notes

  1. At the time of The Sworn Sword, the drought enters its second year. By the end of The Sworn Sword, it begins to rain, ending the drought.

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 The Sworn Sword.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 15, Samwell II.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 34, Bran III.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 13, Bran II.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Brynden Rivers.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 So Spake Martin: The Great Bastards (December 26, 2005)
  12. 12.0 12.1 So Spake Martin: More Targaryen Descriptions (December 24, 2005)
  13. 13.0 13.1 So Spake Martin: Concerning the Great Bastards (April 06, 2004)
  14. 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 The Mystery Knight.
  15. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
  16. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  17. 17.0 17.1 So Spake Martin: Shiera Seastar (March 07, 2006)
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  19. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.
  20. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
  21. Twitter: @WesterosHistory: Bloodraven confirmed to have taken Dark Sister to the Wall, August 15, 2018
  22. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Brandon (Bran) Stark.
Unknown
Last known title holder:
Larys Strong
Master of whisperers
Served under: Aerys I Targaryen
Unknown
Next known title holder:
Varys
Unknown
Last known title holder:
Baelor Targaryen
Hand of the King
209233 AC
Served under: Aerys I Targaryen
Maekar I Targaryen
Unknown
Next known title holder:
Ormund Baratheon
Unknown
Last known title holder:
Jack Musgood
Lord Commander of the Night's Watch
239252 AC
Unknown
Next known title holder:
Qorgyle