House Hightower

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House Hightower of the Hightower
House Hightower.png
We Light the Way
Coat of arms Cendrée, a tower argent with a beacon on fire gules
Seat Hightower
Head Leyton Hightower
Region the Reach
Titles
  • Voice of Oldtown
  • Lord of the Port
  • Lord of the High Tower
  • Defender of the Citadel
  • Beacon of the South
Heir Ser Baelor Hightower
Overlord House Tyrell
Ancestral weapon Vigilance
Founded Age of Dawn

House Hightower of the Hightower is one of the most important and powerful vassals of House Tyrell (and before them of House Gardener). Their seat is the Hightower in the city of Oldtown within the Reach. The sigil of House Hightower is a stone white watchtower, with a fire on the top. [1][2] Their words are "We Light the Way".[3] They possess a Valyrian steel sword called Vigilance. [4] Members of the house are considered loyal and stalwart. The Hightowers can be legitimately referred to as being either "of Hightower" or "of Oldtown." [5]

History

The family is very old, existing since the Dawn of Days when they were petty-kings. During the coming of the Andals and the creation of the Kingdom of the Reach, the Hightowers allied with the newcomers. Thus they were able the keep their wealth, lands and privileges.

House Hightower rarely takes part in wars within the realm. They were integral in the foundation of the Citadel and continue to be patrons of both the Citadel and the Faith.[3]

During the Wars of Conquest, Lord Hightower had heeded the High Septon and not joined his liege lord, King Mern IX, on the march to the Field of Fire. Soon, Mern was dead and Highgarden surrendered. When Aegon the Conqueror arrived at Oldtown on dragonback, Lord Hightower opened his gates. Aegon spared the city, and the High Septon anointed him and acknowledged Aegon's right to rule all Seven Kingdoms.

During the War of the Usurper, the Hightowers remained loyal to King Aerys II and the Targaryen dynasty.[6] Ser Gerold Hightower, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, was killed at the Tower of Joy.[7]

House Hightower is as rich as House Lannister and can field three times as many swords as other Tyrell bannermen. More, if they took everyone possible out of Oldtown. The four-decked Honor of Oldtown is the flagship of the Hightower fleet.

The current head of the house, Lord Leyton, has not descended from the High Tower in over a decade. His fourth and current wife is Rhea Florent. Besides her family, the Hightowers are connected to several prominent Reach houses; Leyton's second daughter Alerie is wed to their liege, Mace Tyrell.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

At the start of the War of the Five Kings, the Hightowers follow the Tyrell lead, declaring for Renly Baratheon on the outbreak of the conflict. Alerie Hightower's daughter, Margaery Tyrell, marries Renly. The Hightowers do not change to Stannis Baratheon's side after Renly's assassination.

A Storm of Swords

Once the Tyrells ally with House Lannister, Alerie travels to King's Landing, where she attends the wedding of Margaery to King Joffrey Baratheon and the funeral of Lord Tywin Lannister.

A Feast for Crows

Alerie attends the funeral of Lord Tywin Lannister and Margaery's wedding to King Tommen Baratheon. For much of the war, despite Lord Leyton Hightower's granddaughter Margaery being married to three kings, Hightower support for causes is largely nominal, as the House continues its traditional cautious approach.

House Hightower’s cautious approach changes in response to the Greyjoy attacks on the Reach. Old Lord Leyton stays in his tower with Malora the Mad Maid, supposedly researching books of spells, and sends forth his sons with varying tasks. Baelor is building ships, Gunthor is building up the harbor's defenses, Garth Greysteel is training men, and Humfrey is traveling to his sister Lynesse in Lys, where he hopes to hire sellsails. The ironborn have conquered parts of the Arbor and are attempting to blockade the Honeywine. One attack on the harbor has already been repulsed by the defenders, but Oldtown remains under serious threat.

House Hightower at the end of the third century

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

With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch:


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
Hightower
 
Unknown
wife
 
Gerold
 
Unknown
Hightower
 
Unknown
Archmaester
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three
wives
 
Leyton
 
Rhea
Florent
 
 
 
 
 
Walys
Flowers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baelor
 
Rhonda
Rowan
 
Malora
 
Garth
 
Alerie
 
Mace
Tyrell
 
Leyla
 
Jon
Cupps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Willas
Tyrell
 
Garlan
Tyrell
 
Loras
Tyrell
 
Margaery
Tyrell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denyse
 
Desmond
Redwyne
 
Alysanne
 
Arthur
Ambrose
 
Gunthor
 
Jeyne
Fossoway
 
Humfrey
 
Lynesse
 
Jorah
Mormont
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denys
Redwyne
 
 
 
 
 
Alyn
Ambrose
 


Historical Members

References in the books

Dunk and Egg

A Song of Ice and Fire

  • Prince Oberyn Martell and Princess Elia Martell visited Oldtown on their way to Casterly Rock where their mother was to broker their marriage to the Lannister twins. While in Oldtown they met Baelor Hightower, whom Elia fancied but Oberyn mocked after he farted in their presence. Lord Tywin later offered Tyrion as a match for a Hightower daughter, but Lord Leyton declined.
  • Lord Leyton attended the Tourney at Lannisport to watch his sons joust. Lynesse accompanied her father, meeting and marrying Lord Jorah Mormont. Mormont's hall proved underwhelming, and she is now the chief concubine of Tregar Ormollen in Lys.

Sworn Houses

References and Notes

  1. The Hedge Knight
  2. The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Reach
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  4. The Princess and The Queen
  5. The Arryns and the Hightower, May 1999. So Spake Martin
  6. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X.

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