Lord of Harrenhal

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Lord of Harrenhal or Lady of Harrenhal is the title held by the noble seated at the castle of Harrenhal since Aegon's Conquest. Throughout the castle's history, many noble families have held the castle, with most, if not all of them, going extinct, leading to the belief that the castle is cursed.

History

The castle of Harrenhal was constructed on the orders of King Harren Hoare, the last King of the Isles and the Rivers, who ruled over the Iron Islands and the riverlands. It took almost forty years to build the castle. The day of its completion, Aegon Targaryen landed on the shores of Westeros, beginning his Conquest.[1] Aegon eventually arrived at Harrenhal, where he offered King Harren a chance to surrender. The king refused, so at evenfall, Aegon and his dragon, Balerion, descended on the castle, burning everything that was flammable, and even melting the stone with which the castle had been build.[1] Harren and his sons died at the tower which afterwards became known as Kingspyre Tower.[2] It is said by some that the ghosts of Harren and his sons still haunt the castle.[2]

Quenton Qoherys, the previous master-at-arms at Dragonstone, was made Lord of Harrenhal by King Aegon I Targaryen following the death of Harren.[3] In 9 AC, Quentyn was succeeded by his grandson, Gargon, who quickly gained a bad reputation for taking advantages of the lord's right of the first night. In 37 AC, Gargon was killed by the rebel Harren the Red, who claimed to be a grandson of Harren the Black. After killing Gargon, Harren declared himself to be the Lord of Harrenhal. Harren was later that year slain in battle.[3] Harrenhal was then granted to House Harroway.[4] In 44 AC, King Maegor I Targaryen had Lord Lucas Harroway, the Hand of the King, and his entire family killed, including Queen Alys, Maegor's own wife. At both Harrenhal and Lord Harroway's Town, Maegor subsequently killed every man, woman, and child with a drop of Harroway blood.

After the extinction of the Harroways, Maegor allowed twenty-three knights of his household to fight for the rights to the castle. The victor was Ser Walton Towers, who was named Lord of Harrenhal but died of his wounds from the battle within a fortnight, after which his eldest son, Jordan, inherited the seat.[4] Lord Jordan was a loyal bannermen to Maegor throughout the king's wars, he was one of the last people to see the king alive before his mysterious death on the Iron Throne.[4] Jordan was one of the few loyal lords of Maegor's brave enough to stay and yielded the Red Keep to Prince Jaehaerys, when he claimed the throne. Afterwards, he was sent to the black cells, but were eventually pardoned by King Jaehaerys after surrendering some of the Towers lands.[5] Jordan died of a chest congestion in 53 AC. Harrenhal passed to Jordan's last surviving son, Maegor, as Jordan's older sons had all died fighting for King Maegor.[6] The last of the Towers to rule Harrenhal the sickly and impoverished, Lord Maegor, occupied the Tower of Dread with only a cook and three men-at-arms. He later accepted the presence and friendship of Queen Rhaena Targaryen in 56 AC. After Maegor died in 61 AC, Rhaena remained in the Widow's Tower of Harrenhal and cared for his household servants, until her own death in 73 AC. Afterwards, the lordship was granted to Ser Bywin Strong, the brother of Ser Lucamore Strong of the Kingsguard.[6]

House Strong held Harrenhal throughout the remainder of the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and throughout the reigns of kings Viserys I and Aegon II Targaryen. Following the death of Lord Lyonel Strong and his eldest son and heir in a fire in 120 AC, the lordship passed to Lord Larys Strong,[7][8] who continued to hold the title despite losing the castle temporarily during the Dance of the Dragons.[9] Larys was executed by Lord Cregan Stark during the Hour of the Wolf in 131 AC.[10]

In 151 AC Prince Viserys Targaryen convinced his brother, King Aegon III Targaryen, to grant Harrenhal to Ser Lucas Lothston, the master-at-arms of the Red Keep.[11][3] During the reign of King Maekar I Targaryen, Lady Danelle Lothston turned to the black arts, which ended the line of the Lothstons in madness and chaos,[3] after which Harrenhal was granted to House Whent. The Whents would continue to hold the castle until the reign of King Joffrey I Baratheon, after which the castle and its lordship were granted in quick succession to House Slynt[12] and House Baelish.[13]

Due to the many misfortunes its lords met with,[14][15] Harrenhal is now believed to be a dark place, and cursed as well.[16][14][17][18][19][13]

Recent history

A Game of Thrones

During the early stages of the War of the Five Kings, Lady Shella Whent yields Harrenhal to Lord Tywin Lannister, who holds it with his own troops.[20] Queen Cersei Lannister grants the castle to Janos Slynt in return for his service.[12]

A Clash of Kings

Tywin Lannister's son Tyrion, acting as Hand of the King in Tywins's stead, revokes Janos Slynt's lordship and sends him to the Wall.[17]

Harrenhal is awarded to Lord Petyr Baelish by King Joffrey I Baratheon following the Battle of the Blackwater, to reward him for his role in securing an alliance between the Lannisters and Tyrells.[13]

A Storm of Swords

Though he has never set foot within Harrenhal's walls, Petyr Baelish remains its lord. His position as the Lord of Harrenhal has elevated Petyr's social position enough to marry Lysa Arryn, the widowed Lady Regent of the Vale of Arryn.[21][22]

A Feast for Crows

As Lord Petyr Baelish is in no haste to occupy his seat, Jaime Lannister travels to Harrenhal, replacing the castle's garrison with the pious regiment known as the Holy Hundred. Jaime appoints their leader, Ser Bonifer Hasty, as castellan until Baelish comes to claim his castle.[23]

Houses who have held Harrenhal

Harrenhal has been held by multiple Houses over the past three centuries. All have met with misfortunes,[14][15] leading to the castle's cursed reputation:

Lords of Harrenhal

Petyr Baelish, the current Lord of Harrenhal

The known Lords and Ladies of Harrenhal are:

In addition, during 37 AC, the rebel Harren the Red claimed the title Lord of Harrenhal after killing Lord Gargon Qoherys.[4]

During the War of the Five Kings, Lord Roose Bolton takes Harrenhal from the Lannisters. Although the Crown grants the castle to Lord Petyr Baelish, Bolton grants the castle to Vargo Hoat, the leader of the Brave Companions.[35][36] Hoat went mad with fever after a bite wound caused by Brienne of Tarth got infected,[36][37][38] and was eventually imprisoned and mutilated by Ser Gregor Clegane.[37][38][23]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  2. 2.0 2.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands: House Tully.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  5. Fire & Blood, Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  7. 7.0 7.1 The Rogue Prince.
  8. Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  9. The Princess and the Queen.
  10. Fire & Blood, Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf.
  11. 11.0 11.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
  16. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
  18. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
  19. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
  20. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
  21. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  22. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
  23. 23.0 23.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
  24. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  25. The Sons of the Dragon.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade.
  27. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  28. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  29. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 47, Arya IX.
  31. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  32. The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring.
  33. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  34. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 65, Arya XII.
  35. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  36. 36.0 36.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
  37. 37.0 37.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 62, Jaime VII.
  38. 38.0 38.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.