House Bracken

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House Bracken of Stone Hedge
Bracken sigil coat.png
Coat of arms Or, a stallion rampant gules within a bordure tenné
Seat Stone Hedge
Head Jonos Bracken
Region the Riverlands
Overlord House Baelish of Harrenhal
Founded Age of Heroes

House Bracken of Stone Hedge is an old house from the Riverlands, with the blood of the First Men in their veins. They are sworn to House Tully. They blazon their arms with a red stallion upon a golden escutcheon on brown.[1][2] Their words do not appear in the books.

Bracken lands lie along the Red Fork of the Trident.[3]

History

The Brackens had been petty kings during the Age of Heroes, until the arrival of the Andals. They have an old and bitter feud against their neighbors, the Blackwoods, coming from the Age of Heroes when both houses ruled as kings. The feud has continued throughout the years, aided by House Bracken's change to the Faith of the Seven.[4] Battle Valley and the village of Blackbuckle are part of the disputed land.[5]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Men-at-arms of House Bracken assist Catelyn Tully in arresting Tyrion Lannister at the Crossroads Inn.[6] After the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings, Stone Hedge is attacked by troops of Tywin Lannister. Lord Jonos Bracken arrives at Riverrun after the Battle of the Camps. Jonos joins the other river lords in declaring Robb Stark to be King in the North and of the Trident.[7]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Jonos recovers Stone Hedge from the Lannisters, but he is wounded and his nephew Hendry is killed in the fighting.[8]

A Storm of Swords

Lord Quenten Banefort is held captive by House Bracken.[9] Brienne of Tarth, Cleos Frey, and Jaime Lannister find the bodies of tavern wenches hanged for associating with Lannister troops while traveling through Bracken lands.[3] Following the death of King Robb Stark in the Red Wedding, Jonos surrenders to the Iron Throne and receives a royal pardon.[10] The Brackens then fight House Blackwood, who remain loyal to House Stark, on behalf of House Baratheon of King's Landing.[11]

A Feast for Crows

The Brackens besiege the Blackwoods at Raventree Hall.[12]

A Dance with Dragons

Lord Tytos Blackwood refuses to surrender to Jonos Bracken, leading Jaime Lannister to attempt to resolve the siege. Jonos 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, Barba's Teats, and Honeytree. However, Tytos only agrees to transfer Woodhedge, Crossbow Ridge, Buckle, Lord's Mill, and Honeytree. Jaime orders Jonos to send one of his daughters to serve Queen Regent Cersei Lannister in King's Landing.[5]

House Bracken at the end of the third century

The known Brackens during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch of the house there is also:

  • Harry Rivers, the Bastard of Bracken, the natural son of a member of House Bracken, claimed to be Lord Jonos's son.
  • Lord Bracken's daughter. One of the possible matches for Brynden Tully in his youth. Possibly a sister of Lord Jonos.[7]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jonos
 
 
 
Unknown
second wife
 
 
 
 
 
Sibling(s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
first wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Bracken
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harry
Rivers
 
Barbara
 
Jayne
 
Catelyn
 
Bess
 
Alysanne
 
Hendry
 


Historical Members

References in the books

Dunk & Egg

  • Ser Duncan sees the banner of Ser Otho Bracken and some Blackwoods at the Tourney of Ashford, and recalls how three years before Ser Otho slew Lord Quentyn Blackwood at a tourney, reinvigorating the old feud.[13]
  • 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.[14]
  • Septon Sefton explains that when Lord Bracken dies, Ser Otho Bracken will inherit and the Blackwoods won't suffer him, meaning war. Lord Bracken's eldest son died in the Great Spring Sickness. He recalls the current Hand Lord Bloodraven is half Blackwood, so he is unlikely to stop it.[15]
  • According to Ser Eustace Osgrey, Lord Bracken was to sail with Myrish crossbowmen to aid Daemon Blackfyre, but was delayed by storms.[16]

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 Blackwoods and Brackens are always quarreling.
  • Three Bracken men-at-arms, named Kurleket, Lharys and Mohor, helped Catelyn Tully to seize the Imp and bring him to the Vale. All of them died during the trek.
  • While Jaime Lannister besieged Riverrun, Ser Gregor Clegane burnt out the Brackens, laying waste to their fields, slaughtering their smallfolk and leaving Stone Hedge a smoking ruin.
  • At the war council at Riverrun, Jonos suggested to pledge fealty to King Renly, perhaps only to contradict Lord Blackwood's previous statement.
  • After Robb Stark was proclaimed King in the North, Lord Jonos returned to Stone Hedge to drive out the Lannisters from his burned castle. During the fight he was wounded and his nephew Hendry was slain.
  • Ser Jaime Lannister, Ser Cleos Frey and Brienne of Tarth crossed Bracken lands while rowing down the Red Fork. They found women executed by Northern or Trident forces for having lain "with lions."
  • Lord Hoster Tully attempted to marry Ser Brynden Tully to Lord Bracken's daughter.
  • Among those claimed to have been murdered by the Lannisters by the Brotherhood Without Banners was the Bastard of Bracken.
  • Lord Jonos was among the seven nobles who launched Lord Hoster Tully's funeral boat.
  • Dead soldiers bearing the colors of House Bracken have washed up on the Quiet Isle. According to the Elder Brother, they are buried next to their enemies.
  • After the surrender of Riverrun, Ser Jaime Lannister had the intention to go to Raventree. Lord Karyl Vance recommends to him to go to Raventree Hall, since Lord Blackwood is never going to surrender to Lord Bracken.
  • Lord Bracken and Lord Blackwood came to Riverrun when Lysa Tully was young to put their feud before Lord Hoster Tully's judgment.
  • Even though they had renewed their fealty to the Iron Throne, House Bracken's banners were noticeably absent from the Riverland force besieging Riverrun, according to Ser Jaime Lannister. However, they were busy fighting the Blackwoods, so their absence was accounted for.
  • The daughter of Elys Waynwood was on her way to marry a Bracken when she was kidnapped by the Burned Men and not heard from again.

References and Notes

  1. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
  2. The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Riverlands
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
  4. Blackwood-Bracken Feud and Coinage, (August 13, 2003) So Spake Martin
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
  6. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn V.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  8. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  9. A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
  10. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
  11. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 74, Arya XIII.
  12. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 38, Jaime VI.
  13. The Hedge Knight, Legends, ISBN 0-312-86787-5, page 463 of 457-533.
  14. The Hedge Knight, Legends, ISBN 0-312-86787-5, page 510 of 457-533.
  15. The Sworn Sword, Legends II, ISBN 0-345-45644-0, pages 115-116 of 73-152.
  16. The Sworn Sword, Legends II, ISBN 0-345-45644-0, page 129 of 73-152.