Difference between revisions of "Taking of the Shields"

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{{Battlebox |
 
{{Battlebox |
|image = [[File:Battle for the Shield IslandsTomasz Jedruszek.JPG|300px]]
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|image = [[File:Battle for the Shield IslandsTomasz Jedruszek.JPG|350px]]
|caption = Battle of the Shield Islands - by artist [http://www.morano.pl/ Tomasz Jedruszek]. © FFG.  
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|caption = Battle for the Shield Islands - by artist [http://www.morano.pl/ Tomasz Jedruszek]. © FFG.  
|battle_name = Battle of the Shield Islands
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|battle_name = Taking of the Shields
 
|conflict = [[War of the Five Kings]]
 
|conflict = [[War of the Five Kings]]
 
|date = {{Date|300}}
 
|date = {{Date|300}}
 
|place = [[Shield Islands]], the [[Reach]]
 
|place = [[Shield Islands]], the [[Reach]]
 
|result = [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] victory
 
|result = [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] victory
|combatant1 = [[House Greyjoy]]<br>Houses sworn to Pyke
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|combatant2 = [[File:House Greyjoy.svg|30px]] '''[[King of the Isles and the North|Kingdom of the Isles and the North]]'''/ [[House Greyjoy]]
|combatant2 = [[House Chester]]<br>[[House Serry]]<br>[[House Grimm]]<br>[[House Hewett]]
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*[[House Botley]]
|commander1 = [[Euron Greyjoy]]<br>[[Victarion Greyjoy]]
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*[[House Codd]]
|commander2 =  
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*[[House Drumm]]
|strength1 = [[Iron Fleet]]
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*[[House Goodbrother]]
|strength2 = fleet of the Shield Islands
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*[[House Harlaw]]
|casualties1 = 6 longships
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*[[House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering|House Harlaw of Glimmering]]
|casualties2 = significant<br> Ser [[Talbert Serry]] - 38 ships captured
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*[[House Humble]]
}}  
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*[[House Merlyn]]
 +
*[[House Myre]]
 +
*[[House Orkwood]]
 +
*[[House Saltcliffe]]
 +
*[[House Sharp]]
 +
*[[House Shepherd]]
 +
*[[House Sparr]]
 +
*[[House Stonehouse]]
 +
*[[House Sunderly]]
 +
*[[House Tawney]]
 +
*[[House Volmark]]
 +
*[[House Wynch]]
 +
|combatant1 = [[File:House Baratheon (King's Landing).svg|33px]] '''[[Iron Throne]]'''/ [[House Baratheon of King's Landing]]:<br>
 +
[[Reach|The Reach]], led by [[House Tyrell]]
 +
*[[House Chester]]
 +
*[[House Grimm]]
 +
*[[House Hewett]]
 +
*[[House Serry]]
 +
|commander2 = [[File:House Greyjoy (Euron).svg|20px]] King [[Euron Greyjoy]]<br>[[File:House Greyjoy.svg|20px]] [[Victarion Greyjoy]]<br>[[File:House Harlaw (Grey Garden).svg|20px]] Ser [[Harras Harlaw]]
 +
|commander1 = [[File:House Serry.svg|20px]] Ser [[Talbert Serry]]†
 +
|strength2 = [[Iron Fleet]]: 94 longships<br> Other ironborn fleets
 +
|strength1 = Fleets of the Shield Islands: At least 50 ships
 +
|casualties2 = 6 longships, including ''[[Hardhand]]''
 +
|casualties1 = Significant<br>38 ships captured<br>Lord [[Humfrey Hewett]]†<br>Lord [[Moribald Chester]]†<br>Lord [[Guthor Grimm]] (POW)
 +
}}
  
The '''Battle of the Shield Islands''' was the opening battle of [[Euron Greyjoy]]'s new campaign after his ascension to King of the Iron Islands. It took place in and around the [[Shield Islands]] in the [[Reach]].
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The '''taking of the Shields'''{{ref|AFFC|32}}{{ref|ADWD|38}} is the opening battle of [[Euron Greyjoy]]'s new campaign after his ascension to [[King of the Isles and the North]]. It takes place in and around the [[Shield Islands]] off the western coast of the [[Reach]].
  
==Intro==
+
==Background==
When Euron Greyjoy was made King of the Iron Islands he promised to conquer the Seven Kingdoms and return the ironborn as a significant power in the Seven Kingdoms. His first strike would be a surprise attack on the unguarded Reach, whose armies were off fighting battles in the [[Crownlands]] and the [[Riverlands]].{{ref|affc|29}}
+
When [[Euron Greyjoy]] is chosen at the [[kingsmoot]] he promises to conquer the [[Seven Kingdoms]] and return the [[ironborn]] as a significant power.{{ref|affc|19}} His first strike will be a surprise attack on the unguarded [[Reach]], whose armies are campaigning in the [[crownlands]], [[riverlands]], and [[stormlands]] whilst their main naval force (the [[Redwyne fleet]]) is besieging [[Siege of Dragonstone|Dragonstone]] and [[Siege of Storm's End (300)|Storm's End]].{{ref|AFFC|12}}{{ref|affc|29}}
  
 
==Battle==
 
==Battle==
===On the Mander===
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[[File:Battle of the Shield Islands.gif|thumb|300px|(1) The [[Iron Fleet]] sails far from the coast.<br>(2) Vanguard sails up the [[Mander]].<br>(3) The defenders follow the vanguard. <br>(4) The main force attacks the [[Shield Islands|Shields]]. <br>(5) Having taken the islands the main force waits <br>for the returning fleet. <br>(6) The Iron Fleet is victorious.]]
King Euron sent [[Torwold Browntooth]] and the [[Red Oarsman]] down the river [[Mander]] to draw out the lords of the Shield Islands and back up the Mander to where the majority of the ironborn fleet was waiting. Of the Shield Islands fleet that engaged in battle, only a dozen got away from the trap. Among those killed was Ser [[Talbert Serry]]. The final total from the ironborn point of view was six ships lost and thirty-eight ships captured.{{ref|affc|29}}
 
  
===On the Islands===
+
[[Torwold Browntooth]] and the [[Red Oarsman]] lead twelve ironborn longships up the river [[Mander]] to draw out the defenses of the [[Shield Islands]]. Instead of sailing along the [[Reach]]'s coastline, [[Euron Greyjoy]] leads the other ironborn ships into the [[Sunset Sea]] and attacks the Shields from the west, with the setting sun hiding their approach.{{ref|AFFC|29}}
[[File:Battle of the Shield Islands.gif|thumb|300px|(1) The Iron Fleet sails far from the coast.<br>(2) Vanguard sails up the [[Mander]].<br>(3) The defenders follow the vanguard. <br>(4) The main force attacks the Islands. <br>(5) Having taken the Islands the main force waits <br>for the returning fleet. <br>(6) The Iron Fleet is victorious.]]
 
  
All four islands were captured with severe losses to the inhabitants of the Shield Islands. Lord [[Humfrey Hewett]] and his family were captured. Ser [[Harras Harlaw]] landed at [[Grimston]] and planted his standard beneath the castle walls. He dared the defenders to face him. He killed every one who came out except for two, who yielded. After the seventh man was defeated the septon in the castle declared the gods had spoken and surrendered the castle.{{ref|affc|29}}
+
Ser [[Harras Harlaw]] lands at [[Grimston]] and plants his standard beneath the castle walls. Daring the defenders to face him, he kills five and forces two to yield. After the seventh man is defeated the septon in the castle declares the gods have spoken and surrenders the castle. The islands of [[Greyshield]], [[Greenshield]], and [[Southshield]] are captured before the next morning, while [[Oakenshield]] lasts half a day. Euron uses [[Oakenshield Castle]] at [[Lord Hewett's Town]] as his base, with Lord [[Humfrey Hewett]] and his family captured.{{ref|affc|29}}
 +
 
 +
When the Shields' ships abandon Torwold and the Red Oarsmen in the Mander and return to the islands, they are trapped by the [[Iron Fleet]] at the river's mouth. Lord Captain [[Victarion Greyjoy]] slays Ser [[Talbert Serry]] during the boarding of a [[House Serry|Serry]] vessel when Talbert falls overboard. Victarion loses only six ironborn ships, including ''[[Hardhand]]'', but captures thirty-eight. Victarion allows a dozen [[southron]] ships to escape to the Mander.{{ref|AFFC|29}}
  
 
==Aftermath==
 
==Aftermath==
After the Shield Islands had been taken, King Euron raised four new lords, naming [[Nute|Nute the Barber]] Lord of [[Oakenshield]], [[Andrik|Andrik the Unsmiling]] Lord of [[Southshield]], [[Maron Volmark]] Lord of [[Greenshield]] and Ser [[Harras Harlaw]] Lord of [[Greyshield]]. The lords sworn to [[Highgarden]] who had escaped destruction on the islands or the Mander retreated and waited for reinforcement from Highgarden. The peasant women and children whose husbands and fathers died during the battle were sold into slavery by the ironborn.{{ref|affc|29}} According to the tidings that reached [[King's Landing]], Lord [[Moribald Chester|Chester]] and Lord Hewett were slain, Lord [[Guthor Grimm|Grimm]] was held captive in his own castle and Lord [[Osbert Serry|Serry]] had fled to [[Highgarden]] with the remnants of his fleet.{{ref|affc|32}}
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[[Victarion Greyjoy]] attributes the success of his brother [[Euron Greyjoy|Euron's]] attack from the west to [[magic|blood sacrifice]] and the assistance of [[warlocks]]. King Euron raises four new [[lord]]s, granting [[Oakenshield]] to [[Nute|Nute the Barber]], [[Southshield]] to [[Andrik|Andrik the Unsmiling]], [[Greenshield]] to [[Maron Volmark]], and [[Greyshield]] to Ser [[Harras Harlaw]], men who previously were supporters of potential rivals to Euron.{{ref|AFFC|29}}
 +
 
 +
The lords who escaped destruction on the islands or the Mander retreat and wait for reinforcement from [[House Tyrell]] of [[Highgarden]]. Instead being taken as [[thrall]]s, the peasant women and children whose husbands and fathers died during the battle are to be sold into [[slavery]] at [[Lys]], which disturbs Victarion.{{ref|affc|29}}{{ref|ADWD|56}} According to the tidings that reach [[King's Landing]], Lord [[Moribald Chester]] and Lord [[Humfrey Hewett]] are slain, Lord [[Guthor Grimm]] is held captive in his own castle, and Lord [[Osbert Serry]] flees to Highgarden with the remnants of his fleet. Ser [[Willas Tyrell]] sends word to [[House Hightower]] at [[Oldtown]], and Ser [[Garlan Tyrell]] begins raising men to retake the Shields.{{ref|affc|32}}
 +
 
 +
Later, after capturing his brother [[Aeron Greyjoy|Aeron Damphair]], Euron admits he does not intend to hold the Shields. Attacking them opened the Mander to their raiding ships, and giving them away allows Euron to appear open handed. The ironborn will remember his victory taking the islands, but will blame their loss on the new Houses that try to hold them.<ref>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[The Forsaken (The Winds of Winter)|The Forsaken]]</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Quotes==
 +
{{quote|The [[Drowned God]] had not shaped Victarion Greyjoy to fight with words at [[kingsmoot]]s, nor struggle against furtive [[crannogmen|sneaking foes]] in [[siege of Moat Cailin|endless bogs]]. This was why he had been put on earth; to stand steel-clad with an axe red and dripping in his hand, dealing death with every blow.{{ref|AFFC|29}}|[[Victarion Greyjoy]]'s thoughts}}
 +
 
 +
{{quote|It is a great victory.{{ref|AFFC|29}}|[[Nute]] to [[Victarion Greyjoy]]}}
 +
 
 +
{{quote|Aye, a great victory for the [[Euron Greyjoy|Crow's Eye]] and his [[warlocks|wizards]].{{ref|AFFC|29}}|[[Victarion Greyjoy]]'s thoughts}}
 +
 
 +
{{quote|This was my victory, not his. Where was he? Back on [[Oakenshield]], lazing in [[Oakenshield Castle|a castle]]. He stole [[Victarion Greyjoy's third wife|my wife]] and he stole [[Seastone Chair|my throne]], and now he steals my glory.{{ref|AFFC|29}}|[[Victarion Greyjoy]]'s thoughts, regarding [[Euron Greyjoy]]}}
  
==References and Notes==
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==References==
{{references|2}}
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{{references}}
  
{{Template:War of the Five Kings}}
+
{{War of the Five Kings}}
  
[[Category:Battles|Shield Islands]]
+
[[Category:Battles|Shields]]
 +
[[Category:House Chester battles|Shields]]
 +
[[Category:House Greyjoy battles|Shields]]
 +
[[Category:House Grimm battles|Shields]]
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[[Category:House Hewett battles|Shields]]
 +
[[Category:House Serry battles|Shields]]
 
[[Category:The Reach]]
 
[[Category:The Reach]]
 +
[[Category:War of the Five Kings|Shields]]
  
 
[[es:Batalla de las Islas Escudo]]
 
[[es:Batalla de las Islas Escudo]]
 
[[fr:Bataille des îles Bouclier]]
 
[[fr:Bataille des îles Bouclier]]
 +
[[ru:Битва при Щитах]]
 
[[zh:偷袭盾牌列岛]]
 
[[zh:偷袭盾牌列岛]]

Revision as of 12:43, 19 June 2019

Taking of the Shields
Battle for the Shield IslandsTomasz Jedruszek.JPG
Battle for the Shield Islands - by artist Tomasz Jedruszek. © FFG.
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Date 300 AC
Place Shield Islands, the Reach
Result Greyjoy victory
Combatants
House Baratheon of King's Landing.svg Iron Throne/ House Baratheon of King's Landing:

The Reach, led by House Tyrell

House Greyjoy.svg Kingdom of the Isles and the North/ House Greyjoy
Commanders
House Serry.svg Ser Talbert Serry Euron Greyjoy.svg King Euron Greyjoy
House Greyjoy.svg Victarion Greyjoy
House Harlaw of Grey Garden.svg Ser Harras Harlaw
Strength
Fleets of the Shield Islands: At least 50 ships Iron Fleet: 94 longships
Other ironborn fleets
Casualties
Significant
38 ships captured
Lord Humfrey Hewett
Lord Moribald Chester
Lord Guthor Grimm (POW)
6 longships, including Hardhand

The taking of the Shields[1][2] is the opening battle of Euron Greyjoy's new campaign after his ascension to King of the Isles and the North. It takes place in and around the Shield Islands off the western coast of the Reach.

Background

When Euron Greyjoy is chosen at the kingsmoot he promises to conquer the Seven Kingdoms and return the ironborn as a significant power.[3] His first strike will be a surprise attack on the unguarded Reach, whose armies are campaigning in the crownlands, riverlands, and stormlands whilst their main naval force (the Redwyne fleet) is besieging Dragonstone and Storm's End.[4][5]

Battle

(1) The Iron Fleet sails far from the coast.
(2) Vanguard sails up the Mander.
(3) The defenders follow the vanguard.
(4) The main force attacks the Shields.
(5) Having taken the islands the main force waits
for the returning fleet.
(6) The Iron Fleet is victorious.

Torwold Browntooth and the Red Oarsman lead twelve ironborn longships up the river Mander to draw out the defenses of the Shield Islands. Instead of sailing along the Reach's coastline, Euron Greyjoy leads the other ironborn ships into the Sunset Sea and attacks the Shields from the west, with the setting sun hiding their approach.[5]

Ser Harras Harlaw lands at Grimston and plants his standard beneath the castle walls. Daring the defenders to face him, he kills five and forces two to yield. After the seventh man is defeated the septon in the castle declares the gods have spoken and surrenders the castle. The islands of Greyshield, Greenshield, and Southshield are captured before the next morning, while Oakenshield lasts half a day. Euron uses Oakenshield Castle at Lord Hewett's Town as his base, with Lord Humfrey Hewett and his family captured.[5]

When the Shields' ships abandon Torwold and the Red Oarsmen in the Mander and return to the islands, they are trapped by the Iron Fleet at the river's mouth. Lord Captain Victarion Greyjoy slays Ser Talbert Serry during the boarding of a Serry vessel when Talbert falls overboard. Victarion loses only six ironborn ships, including Hardhand, but captures thirty-eight. Victarion allows a dozen southron ships to escape to the Mander.[5]

Aftermath

Victarion Greyjoy attributes the success of his brother Euron's attack from the west to blood sacrifice and the assistance of warlocks. King Euron raises four new lords, granting Oakenshield to Nute the Barber, Southshield to Andrik the Unsmiling, Greenshield to Maron Volmark, and Greyshield to Ser Harras Harlaw, men who previously were supporters of potential rivals to Euron.[5]

The lords who escaped destruction on the islands or the Mander retreat and wait for reinforcement from House Tyrell of Highgarden. Instead being taken as thralls, the peasant women and children whose husbands and fathers died during the battle are to be sold into slavery at Lys, which disturbs Victarion.[5][6] According to the tidings that reach King's Landing, Lord Moribald Chester and Lord Humfrey Hewett are slain, Lord Guthor Grimm is held captive in his own castle, and Lord Osbert Serry flees to Highgarden with the remnants of his fleet. Ser Willas Tyrell sends word to House Hightower at Oldtown, and Ser Garlan Tyrell begins raising men to retake the Shields.[1]

Later, after capturing his brother Aeron Damphair, Euron admits he does not intend to hold the Shields. Attacking them opened the Mander to their raiding ships, and giving them away allows Euron to appear open handed. The ironborn will remember his victory taking the islands, but will blame their loss on the new Houses that try to hold them.[7]

Quotes

The Drowned God had not shaped Victarion Greyjoy to fight with words at kingsmoots, nor struggle against furtive sneaking foes in endless bogs. This was why he had been put on earth; to stand steel-clad with an axe red and dripping in his hand, dealing death with every blow.[5]

Victarion Greyjoy's thoughts

It is a great victory.[5]

Aye, a great victory for the Crow's Eye and his wizards.[5]

Victarion Greyjoy's thoughts

This was my victory, not his. Where was he? Back on Oakenshield, lazing in a castle. He stole my wife and he stole my throne, and now he steals my glory.[5]

Victarion Greyjoy's thoughts, regarding Euron Greyjoy

References