House Connington

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Revision as of 20:53, 14 February 2014 by Nittanian (talk | contribs) (History and ADWD)
Jump to: navigation, search
House Connington of Griffin's Roost
House Connington.png
Coat of arms Per pale gules and argent, two griffins combatant countercharged.
Seat Griffin's Roost
Head Jon Connington
Region The Stormlands
Title The Knight of Griffin's Roost
Overlord House Baratheon

House Connington of Griffin's Roost is a knightly house from Griffin's Roost in the Stormlands, sworn to Storm's End. It was formerly a lordly house whose lands once extended many leagues west, north, and south of Griffin's Roost, including reaching near to the rainwood.[1]

Their blazon shows two griffins combatant countercharged per pale on red and white.[2][3] Their motto is unknown, though their traditional battle cry is A griffin! A griffin![1]

History

The Conningtons were a significantly wealthy house during the reigns of House Targaryen. Lord Armond Connington always desired land, and he once sought assistance from Prince Rhaegar Targaryen regarding a dispute with Lord Morrigen.[1]

Armond's son, Lord Jon Connington, was later named Hand of the King by the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen. The previous Hand, Owen Merryweather, had been exiled for his failure to face Robert's Rebellion, and Lord Connington was a noted warrior of proven loyalty, being one of Prince Rhaegar's best friends. However, after being defeated by the rebels at the Battle of the Bells, Jon was stripped of his lands and sent into exile in the Free Cities. Aerys allowed the Connington lands to remain with Jon's cousin, Ronald Connington, the castellan of Griffin's Roost,[1] but Ronald joined the rebellion after the Battle of the Trident.[4] When Robert Baratheon was crowned king after the death of Aerys, he allowed Ronald to keep Griffin's Roost, but the Conningtons lost their lordship and nine-tenths of their land was distributed among neighbors who were more fervent in their support of Robert.[1] House Connington's status thus fell from from being a full noble house to a knightly one.[4] Ronald has since died, and his son Ronnet rules as the Knight of Griffin's Roost.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

When the believed Aegon VI Targaryen lands at Cape Wrath, Jon Connington leads the Golden Company to Griffin's Roost in the night. The fight only takes a few minutes and Jon declares himself as its new lord;{{ref|aDwD|61} Ser Ronnet Connington is away serving under Jaime Lannister in the Riverlands.

When Ronnet returns to King's Landing, Ser Kevan Lannister, the regent for King Tommen Baratheon, keeps him under guard in King's Landing to ensure he does not fight for Jon. Ronnet, however, would like to prove his loyalty by killing Jon, who keeps his bastard son Ronald and his siblings Raymund and Alynne as prisoners at Griffin's Roost.[5]

House Connington at the end of the third century

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


Lord
Connington
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Armond
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jon
 
 
 
 
Ronald
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
Ronnet
 
Raymund
 
Alynne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ronald
Storm
 


Historical Members

Ser Alyn Connington, called "the Pale Griffin." A former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and one of the best war leaders in the history of the order.

References in the books

A Song of Ice and Fire

  • The White Book entry on Barristan Selmy records how he defeated Lord Jon Connington, among others, in the Tourney at Storm's End.
  • Ashara Dayne danced with Lord Jon Connington at the Tourney at Harrenhal.
  • During the Battle of the Bells, Lord Jon wounded Hoster Tully and killed Ser Denys Arryn, the Darling of the Vale.
  • Brienne of Tarth remembers the day she was presented to Ronnet Connington (on the suggestion of Ronnet's father), who as soon as he saw her refused to marry her for being too ugly and gave her a rose saying that that was all she was going to get from him.
  • Catelyn sees Ser Ronnet (a helmetless red-bearded man with a griffin on his shield) falling to Brienne of Tarth during the meleé at Bitterbridge.
  • After riding for Renly, Ser Ronnet turned to Stannis Baratheon, and fought for him at the Blackwater. He was made prisoner and bent the knee to King Joffrey I.
  • Ser Jaime Lannister remembers Lord Jon as "the dancing griffins Hand".
  • Ser Barristan Selmy refers to Jon as "Young Lord Connington", suggesting that he was no older than Rhaegar, and tells Daenerys that he was dear to the prince.
  • Red Ronnet was part of Ser Jaime's army assembled to end the siege of Riverrun. At Harrenhal, Jaime punches Ronnet with his golden hand for speaking of Brienne without due respect.
  • Jaime sends Ser Ronnet to deliver Wylis Manderly to Maidenpool so that he wouldn't have to look at him anymore.
  • Jon Connington is not dead after all, but went into hiding with the help of Varys. He has raised his friend Prince Rhaegar's son Aegon Targaryen with the hope of one day placing him on the Iron Throne.
  • Jon and his companions are attacked by stone men while traveling via barge down the River Rhoyne. Jon contracts greyscale during the ambush while saving Tyrion Lannister.
  • After Jon Connington and the Golden Company take over Griffin's Roost, the small council summons Red Ronnet to determine his loyalty. Ser Ronnet vows to bring the head of his uncle, but the council decides to keep him under guard.

References and Notes