Difference between revisions of "House Blackwood"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
− | Blackwoods are an | + | The Blackwoods are an ancient house in the [[Riverlands]], descended of the [[First Men]]. They have an old and bitter feud against their neighbors, the [[House Bracken|Brackens]], coming from the [[Age of Heroes]] when both houses ruled as kings. According to the Blackwoods, the Brackens were petty lords and horse breeders who hired swords to usurp the Blackwood kings.{{ref|ADWD|48}} The feud has continued throughout the years, aided by House Bracken's conversion to the [[Faith of the Seven]] after the [[Andal invasion]].<ref>Blackwood-Bracken Feud and Coinage, (August 13, 2003) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Category/C91/P15 So Spake Martin]</ref> In contrast, the Blackwoods kept the religion of the [[old gods]], being one of the few houses south of [[the Neck]] to do so. The Blackwoods accuse the Brackens of having poisoned the [[weirwood]] of [[Raventree Hall]].{{ref|ADWD|48}} The [[Teats]], [[Battle Valley]], and the village of [[Blackbuckle]] are part of the disputed land.{{ref|aDwD|48}} |
− | The Blackwoods supported [[the blacks]] during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. Lord [[Benjicot Blackwood]] and [[Red Robb Rivers]], the Bowman of Raventree, participated in the [[Battle by the Lakeshore]]. Lord Ben had one of his best archers, [[Billy Burley]], | + | The Blackwoods supported [[the blacks]] during the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. Lord [[Benjicot Blackwood]] and [[Red Robb Rivers]], the Bowman of Raventree, participated in the [[Battle by the Lakeshore]]. Lord Ben had one of his best archers, [[Billy Burley]], mercy kill the dragon [[Tessarion]] after the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]].<ref>''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref> |
− | + | Ser [[Otho Bracken]], the Brute of Bracken, slew Lord [[Quentyn Blackwood]] in a [[tourney]] at [[King's Landing]] three years before the [[Tourney of Ashford]]. When Lord Bracken lay dying and it appeared he would be succeeded by Otho, the neighboring Blackwoods were expected to go to war.<ref>''[[The Sworn Sword]]''</ref> Hostilities between Houses Blackwood and Bracken have carried on to the present day. Some Blackwoods are buried in the village [[Cairns]].{{ref|ADWD|48}} | |
==Recent Events== | ==Recent Events== |
Revision as of 20:10, 26 January 2014
House Blackwood of Raventree Hall | |
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Coat of arms | Scarlet, an escutcheon sable charged with a dead weirwood proper, all within an orle of ravens sable |
Seat | Raventree Hall |
Head | Lord Tytos Blackwood |
Region | the Riverlands |
Title | Lord of Raventree |
Heir | Brynden Blackwood |
Overlord | House Baelish of Harrenhal |
Founded | Age of Heroes |
House Blackwood of Raventree Hall is an old house from Raventree Hall in the Riverlands, sworn to House Tully. They blazon their arms with a flock of ravens on scarlet surrounding a dead weirwood upon a black escutcheon.[1] Their words do not appear in the books.
Contents
History
The Blackwoods are an ancient house in the Riverlands, descended of the First Men. They have an old and bitter feud against their neighbors, the Brackens, coming from the Age of Heroes when both houses ruled as kings. According to the Blackwoods, the Brackens were petty lords and horse breeders who hired swords to usurp the Blackwood kings.[2] The feud has continued throughout the years, aided by House Bracken's conversion to the Faith of the Seven after the Andal invasion.[3] In contrast, the Blackwoods kept the religion of the old gods, being one of the few houses south of the Neck to do so. The Blackwoods accuse the Brackens of having poisoned the weirwood of Raventree Hall.[2] The Teats, Battle Valley, and the village of Blackbuckle are part of the disputed land.[2]
The Blackwoods supported the blacks during the Dance of the Dragons. Lord Benjicot Blackwood and Red Robb Rivers, the Bowman of Raventree, participated in the Battle by the Lakeshore. Lord Ben had one of his best archers, Billy Burley, mercy kill the dragon Tessarion after the Second Battle of Tumbleton.[4]
Ser Otho Bracken, the Brute of Bracken, slew Lord Quentyn Blackwood in a tourney at King's Landing three years before the Tourney of Ashford. When Lord Bracken lay dying and it appeared he would be succeeded by Otho, the neighboring Blackwoods were expected to go to war.[5] Hostilities between Houses Blackwood and Bracken have carried on to the present day. Some Blackwoods are buried in the village Cairns.[2]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Tytos Blackwood leads the survivors of the Battle of Riverrun to Riverrun. With Tytos absent, Raventree Hall surrenders to the Lannisters.[6] Tytos joins the other river lords in declaring Robb to be king.[7]
A Clash of Kings
During the War of the Five Kings, Tytos sweeps the Lannister forces from the lands of House Blackwood, but the invaders leave Blackwood Vale a scorched desert.[8]
A Storm of Swords
Lucas Blackwood, Tytos's second eldest son, is slain at the Red Wedding.[9] Jonos Bracken besieges Raventree Hall for the Iron Throne.[10]
A Dance with Dragons
Jaime Lannister successfully negotiates the surrender of Raventree with Tytos Blackwood and takes Hoster Blackwood as a hostage. Jonos Bracken desires to gain the east bank of the Widow's Wash, from Crossbow Ridge to Rutting Meadow, Grindcorn Mill, Lord's Mill, Muddy Hall, the Ravishment, Battle Valley, Oldforge, Buckle, Blackbuckle, Cairns, Claypool, Mudgrave, Waspwood, Lorgen's Wood, Greenhill, the Teats, and Honeytree. However, Tytos only agrees to transfer Woodhedge, Crossbow Ridge, Buckle, Lord's Mill, and Honeytree.[2]
House Blackwood at the end of the third century
The known Blackwoods during the timespan of the events described on A Song of Ice and Fire are:
- Lord Tytos Blackwood, Lord of Raventree Hall.
- Brynden Blackwood, his eldest son and heir.
- {Lucas Blackwood}, his second son. Slain at the Red Wedding.
- Hoster Blackwood, his third son.
- Edmund Blackwood, his fourth son.
- Alyn Blackwood, his fifth son.
- Bethany Blackwood, his daughter.
- {Robert Blackwood}, his sixth son.
With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch of the house there is also:
- {Alyssa Blackwood}, the fourth wife of old Walder Frey, and mother to five Freys.
Discrepancy
Lord Tytos Blackwood tells Ser Jaime Lannister, "Ben [rather than Edmund] is twelve and thirsty for adventure. He could squire for you if it please my lord", referring to one of his sons.[2]
Lord Blackwood | Unknown Blackwood | Unknown wife | Daughter | Unknown husband | Daughter | Unknown husband | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tytos | Unknown wife | Son | Son | Daughter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brynden | Lucas | Hoster | Edmund | Alyn | Bethany | Robert | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Historical Members
- Robb Rivers, called Red Robb Rivers and the Bowman of Raventree, a bastard of House Blackwood
- Lord Benjicot Blackwood, Lord of Raventree, eleven years old at the time of the Dance of the Dragons
- Melissa Blackwood,[2] Aegon IV Targaryen's sixth mistress and mother of Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers.
- Lord Quentyn Blackwood, slain in a tourney during the reign of Daeron II.
References in the books
Dunk & Egg
- Ser Duncan sees the banner of Ser Otho Bracken and some Blackwoods at the Ashford Tourney, and recalls how three years before Ser Otho slew Lord Quentyn Blackwood in a tourney, reinvigorating the old feud.[11]
- Ser Steffon Fossoway considers convincing Ser Otho or the Blackwoods fighting for Dunk at the trial by seven, but reflects that it'll be impossible to make them fight both on the same side.[12]
- Bennifer Blackwood, Robert Blackwood, Roland Blackwood, and Roger Blackwood are listed as participants of the Ashford Tourney.
- Ser Eustace Osgrey boasts that in the past members of important families married Osgreys, citing Blackwoods as one of the examples.
- Septon Sefton explains that when Lord Bracken dies, Ser Otho Bracken will inherit and the Blackwoods won't suffer him, meaning war. He recalls the current Hand Lord Bloodraven is half Blackwood, so he is unlikely to stop it.[13]
- When Lord Bloodraven marched on Whitewalls to quash the Second Blackfyre Rebellion. Among the Riverlords who came in support was Lord Blackwood.
A Song of Ice and Fire
- When dismissing the idea of recurring to her father's bannermen to deal with the Lannisters, Catelyn Tully complains that the Blackwoods and Brackens are always quarreling. Lord Bracken and Lord Blackwood came to Riverrun when she and Lysa were young to put their feud before Lord Hoster Tully's judgment.
- After Ser Jaime Lannister defeated the Riverlords and captured Ser Edmure Tully, Lord Tytos led the survivors back to Riverrun. The duty of defending the castle during the siege fell to him.
- With Lord Tytos gone, Raventree fell to the Lannisters.
- When Robb Stark attacked the Lannister army outside Riverrun, Tytos Blackwood led the sortie that attacked their rear and freed Edmure Tully.
- Lord Blackwood and his feathered cloak were seen by Catelyn in the godswood of Riverrun, praying with her son to the old gods after their victory.
- Ser Garth Greenfield was held captive at Raventree Hall.
- At the war council at Riverrun, Tytos urged to continue fighting the Lannisters and march against Tywin at Harrenhal.
- After Robb was proclaimed King in the North, Lord Tytos returned to Raventree Hall and drove out the Lannisters, only to find that his lands had been left a scorched desert.
- Lucas Blackwood was one of the highborn companions of Lady Catelyn Tully in the delegation to King King Renly's camp.
- Lord Tytos was among the seven nobles who launched Lord Hoster Tully's funeral boat.
- Lucas Blackwood was cut down by Ser Hosteen Frey at the Red Wedding.
- After the Brackens surrendered to the Iron Throne and were welcomed back to the king's peace they attacked the Blackwoods, who refused to yield along with Brynden Tully and Jason Mallister.
- Dead soldiers bearing the colors of House Blackwood have washed up on the Quiet Isle. According to the Elder Brother, they are buried next to their enemies.
- After the surrender of Riverrun, Raventree became the last Stark loyalist stronghold. Lord Karyl Vance recommended that Jaime Lannister go to Raventree Hall and negotiate a peace, since Lord Blackwood was never going to surrender to Lord Bracken. Jaime followed Vance's advice. Tytos grudgingly surrendered, ceding some border land to the Brackens and sending his son Hoster to King's Landing as a hostage. He also recommends that Jaime take a daughter of Lord Jonos Bracken.
References and Notes
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Riverlands
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
- ↑ Blackwood-Bracken Feud and Coinage, (August 13, 2003) So Spake Martin
- ↑ The Princess and the Queen
- ↑ The Sworn Sword
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 74, Arya XIII.
- ↑ The Hedge Knight, Legends, ISBN 0-312-86787-5, page 463 of 457-533.
- ↑ The Hedge Knight, Legends, ISBN 0-312-86787-5, page 510 of 457-533.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword, Legends II, ISBN 0-345-45644-0, pages 115-116 of 73-152.
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