— their cousin, SER STAFFORD LANNISTER, brother to the
late Lady Joanna, — his daughters, CERENNA and MYRIELLE,
— his son, SER DAVEN LANNISTER,
— his counselor, MAESTER CREYLEN,
— his chief knights and lords bannermen: — LORD LEO LEFFORD,
— SER ADDAM MARBRAND,
— SER GREGOR CLEGANE, the Mountain That Rides,
— SER HARYS SWYFT, father by marriage to Ser Kevan,
— LORD ANDROS BRAK,
— SER FORLEY PRESTER,
— SER AMORY LORCH,
— VARGO HOAT, of the Free City of Qohor, a sellsword,
Principal houses sworn to Casterly Rock are Payne, Swyft, Marbrand, Lydden, Banefort, Lefford, Crakehall, Serrett, Broom, Clegane, Prester, and Westerling.
HOUSE ARRYN
The Arryns are descended from the Kings of Mountain and Vale, one of the oldest and purest lines of Andal nobility. Their sigil is the moon-and-falcon, white, upon a sky blue field. The Arryn words are As High As Honor.
{JON ARRYN}, Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, Warden of the East, Hand of the King, recently deceased,
— his first wife, {LADY JEYNE, of House Royce}, died in
childbed, her daughter stillborn,
— his second wife, {LADY ROWENA, of House Arryn}, his
cousin, died of a winter chill, childless,
— his third wife and widow, LADY LYSA, of House Tully, — their son:
— ROBERT ARRYN, a sickly boy of six years, now Lord of
the Eyrie and Defender of the Vale,
—their retainers and household: — MAESTER COLEMON, counselor, healer, and tutor,
— SER VARDIS EGEN, captain of the guard,
— SER BRYNDEN TULLY, called the Blackfish, Knight of
the Gate and uncle to the Lady Lysa,
— LORD NESTOR ROYCE, High Steward of the Vale,
— SER ALBAR ROYCE, his son,
— MYA STONE, a bastard girl in his service,
— LORD EON HUNTER, suitor to
Lady Lysa,
— SER LYN CORBRAY, suitor to
Lady Lysa,
— MYCHEL REDFORT, his squire,
— LADY ANYA WAYNWOOD, a widow,
— SER MORTON WAYNWOOD, her son, suitor to
Lady Lysa,
— SER DONNEL WAYNWOOD, her son,
— MORD, a brutal gaoler,
The principal houses sworn to the Eyrie are Royce, Baelish, Egen, Waynwood, Hunter, Redfort, Corbray, Belmore, Melcolm, and Hersy.
HOUSE TULLY
The Tullys never reigned as kings, though they held rich lands and the great castle at Riverrun for a thousand years. During the Wars of Conquest, the riverlands belonged to Harren the Black, King of the Isles. Harren’s grandfather, King Harwyn Hardhand, had taken the Trident from Arrec the Storm King, whose ancestors had conquered all the way to the Neck three hundred years earlier, slaying the last of the old River Kings. A vain and bloody tyrant, Harren the Black was little loved by those he ruled, and many of the river lords deserted him to join Aegon’s host. First among them was Edmyn Tully of Riverrun. When Harren and his line perished in the burning of Harrenhal, Aegon rewarded House Tully by raising Lord Edmyn to dominion over the lands of the Trident and requiring the other river lords to swear him fealty. The Tully sigil is a leaping trout, silver, on a field of rippling blue and red. The Tully words are Family, Duty, Honor.
HOSTER TULLY, Lord of Riverrun,
— his wife, {LADY MINISA, of House Whent}, died in childbed,
— their children: — CATELYN, the eldest daughter, wed to Lord Eddard Stark,
— LYSA, the younger daughter, wed to Lord Jon Arryn,
— SER EDMURE, heir to Riverrun,
— his brother, SER BRYNDEN, called the Blackfish,
— his household: — MAESTER VYMAN, counselor, healer, and tutor,
— SER DESMOND GRELL, master-at-arms,
— SER ROBIN RYGER, captain of the guard,
— UTHERYDES WAYN, steward of Riverrun,
— his knights and lords bannermen: — JASON MALLISTER, Lord of Seagard,
— PATREK MALLISTER, his son and heir,
— WALDER FREY, Lord of the Crossing,
— his numerous sons, grandsons, and bastards,
— JONOS BRACKEN, Lord of the Stone Hedge,
— TYTOS BLACKWOOD, Lord of Raventree,
— SER RAYMUN DARRY,
— SER KARYL VANCE,
— SER MARQ PIPER,
—SHELLA WHENT, Lady of Harrenhal,
—SER WILLIS WODE, a knight in her service,
Lesser houses sworn to Riverrun include Darry, Frey, Mallister, Bracken, Blackwood, Whent, Ryger, Piper, Vance.
HOUSE TYRELL
The Tyrells rose to power as stewards to the Kings of the Reach, whose domain included the fertile plains of the southwest from the Dornish marches and Blackwater Rush to the shores of the Sunset Sea. Through the female line, they claim descent from Garth Greenhand, gardener king of the First Men, who wore a crown of vines and flowers and made the land bloom. When King Mern, last of the old line, perished on the Field of Fire, his steward Harlen Tyrell surrendered Highgarden to Aegon Targaryen, pledging fealty. Aegon granted him the castle and dominion over the Reach. The Tyrell sigil is a golden rose on a grass-green field. Their words are Growing Strong.
MACE TYRELL, Lord of Highgarden, Warden of the South, Defender of the Marches, High Marshal of the Reach,
— his wife, LADY ALERIE, of House Hightower of Oldtown,
— their children: — WILLAS, their eldest son, heir to Highgarden,
— SER GARLAN, called the Gallant, their second son,
— SER LORAS, the Knight of Flowers, their youngest son,
— MARGAERY, their daughter, a maid of fourteen years,
— his widowed mother, LADY OLENNA of House Redwyne,
called the Queen of Thorns,
— his sisters: — MINA, wed to Lord Paxter Redwyne,
— JANNA, wed to Ser Jon Fossoway,
— his uncles: — GARTH, called the Gross, Lord Seneschal of Highgarden,
— his bastard sons, GARSE and GARRETT FLOWERS,
— SER MORYN, Lord Commander of the City Watch
of Oldtown,
— MAESTER GORMON, a scholar of the Citadel,
— his household: — MAESTER LOMYS, counselor, healer, and tutor,
— IGON VYRWEL, captain of the guard,
— SER VORTIMER CRANE, master-at-arms,
— his knights and lord bannermen: — PAXTER REDWYNE, Lord of the Arbor,
— his wife, LADY MINA, of House Tyrell,
— their children: — SER HORAS, mocked as Horror, twin to Hobber,
— SER HOBBER, mocked as Slobber, twin to Horas,
— DESMERA, a maid of fifteen,
— RANDYLL TARLY, Lord of Horn Hill, — SAMWELL, his elder son, of the Night’s Watch,
— DICKON, his younger son, heir to Horn Hill,
— ARWYN OAKHEART, Lady of Old Oak,
— MATHIS ROWAN, Lord of Goldengrove,
— LEYTON HIGHTOWER, Voice of Oldtown, Lord of the Port,
— SER JON FOSSOWAY,
Principal houses sworn to Highgarden are Vyrwel, Florent, Oakheart, Hightower, Crane, Tarly, Redwyne, Rowan, Fossoway, and Mullendore.
HOUSE GREYJOY
The Greyjoys of Pyke claim descent from the Grey King of the Age of Heroes. Legend says the Grey King ruled not only the western isles but the sea itself, and took a mermaid to wife.
For thousands of years, raiders from the Iron Islands—called “ironmen” by those they plundered—were the terrors of the seas, sailing as far as the Port of Ibben and the Summer Isles. They prided themselves on their fierceness in battle and their sacred freedoms. Each island had its own “salt king” and “rock king.” The High King of the Isles was chosen from among their number, until King Urron made the throne hereditary by murdering the other ki
ngs when they assembled for a choosing. Urron’s own line was extinguished a thousand years later when the Andals swept over the islands. The Greyjoys, like other island lords, intermarried with the conquerers.
The Iron Kings extended their rule far beyond the isles themselves, carving kingdoms out of the mainland with fire and sword. King Qhored could truthfully boast that his writ ran “wherever men can smell salt water or hear the crash of waves.” In later centuries, Qhored’s descendents lost the Arbor, Oldtown, Bear Island, and much of the western shore. Still, come the Wars of Conquest, King Harren the Black ruled all the lands between the mountains, from the Neck to the Blackwater Rush. When Harren and his sons perished in the fall of Harrenhal, Aegon Targaryen granted the riverlands to House Tully, and allowed the surviving lords of the Iron Islands to revive their ancient custom and chose who should have the primacy among them. They chose Lord Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke.
The Greyjoy sigil is a golden kraken upon a black field. Their words are We Do Not Sow.
BALON GREYJOY, Lord of the Iron Islands, King of Salt and Rock, Son of the Sea Wind, Lord Reaper of Pyke,
— his wife, LADY ALANNYS, of House Harlaw,
— their children: — {RODRIK}, their eldest son, slain at Seagard
during Greyjoy’s Rebellion,
— {MARON}, their second son, slain on the walls of
Pyke during Greyjoy’s Rebellion,
— ASHA, their daughter, captain of the Black Wind,
— THEON, their sole surviving son, heir to Pyke, a ward
of Lord Eddard Stark,
—his brothers: — EURON, called Crow’s Eye, captain of the Silence,
an outlaw, pirate, and raider,
— VICTARION, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet,
— AERON, called Damphair, a priest of the Drowned God,
Lesser houses sworn to Pyke include Harlaw, Stonehouse, Merlyn, Sunderly, Botley, Tawney, Wynch, Goodbrother.
HOUSE MARTELL
Nymeria, the warrior queen of the Rhoyne, brought her ten thousand ships to land in Dorne, the southernmost of the Seven Kingdoms, and took Lord Mors Martell to husband. With her help, he vanquished his rivals to rule all Dorne. The Rhoynar influence remains strong. Thus Dornish rulers style themselves “Prince” rather than “King.” Under Dornish law, lands and titles pass to the eldest child, not the eldest male. Dorne, alone of the Seven Kingdoms, was never conquered by Aegon the Dragon. It was not permanently joined to the realm until two hundred years later, and then by marriage and treaty, not the sword. Peaceable King Daeron II succeeded where the warriors had failed by wedding the Dornish princess Myriah and giving his own sister in marriage to the reigning Prince of Dorne. The Martell banner is a red sun pierced by a golden spear. Their words are Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.
DORAN NYMEROS MARTELL, Lord of Sunspear, Prince of Dorne,
— his wife, MELLARIO, of the Free City of Norvos,
— their children: — PRINCESS ARIANNE, their eldest daughter, heir
to Sunspear,
— PRINCE QUENTYN, their elder son,
— PRINCE TRYSTANE, their younger son,
— his siblings: — his sister, {PRINCESS ELIA}, wed to Prince
Rhaegar Targaryen, slain during the Sack of King’s Landing,
—their children:
— {PRINCESS RHAENYS}, a young girl, slain during the
Sack of King’s Landing,
— {PRINCE AEGON}, a babe, slain during the Sack of King’s Landing,
— his brother, PRINCE OBERYN, the Red Viper,
— his household: — AREO HOTAH, a Norvoshi sellsword, captain of guards,
— MAESTER CALEOTTE, counselor, healer, and tutor,
— his knights and lord bannermen: — EDRIC DAYNE, Lord of Starfall,
The principal houses sworn to Sunspear include Jordayne, Santagar, Allyrion, Toland, Yronwood, Wyl, Fowler, and Dayne.
The Old Dynasty HOUSE TARGARYEN
The Targaryens are the blood of the dragon, descended from the high lords of the ancient Freehold of Valyria, their heritage proclaimed in a striking (some say inhuman) beauty, with lilac or indigo or violet eyes and hair of silver-gold or platinum white.
Aegon the Dragon’s ancestors escaped the Doom of Valyria and the chaos and slaughter that followed to settle on Dragonstone, a rocky island in the narrow sea. It was from there that Aegon and his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys sailed to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. To preserve the blood royal and keep it pure, House Targaryen has often followed the Valyrian custom of wedding brother to sister. Aegon himself took both his sisters to wife, and fathered sons on each. The Targaryen banner is a three-headed dragon, red on black, the three heads representing Aegon and his sisters. The Targaryen words are Fire and Blood.
THE TARGARYEN SUCCESSION
dated by years after Aegon’s Landing
1–37 Aegon I Aegon the Conquerer, Aegon the Dragon,
37–42 Aenys I son of Aegon and Rhaenys,
42–48 Maegor I Maegor the Cruel, son of Aegon and Visenya,
48–103 Jaehaerys I the Old King, the Conciliator, Aenys’ son,
103–129 Viserys I grandson to Jaehaerys,
129–131 Aegon II eldest son of Viserys,
[Aegon II’s ascent was disputed by his sister Rhaenyra, a year his elder. Both perished in the war between them, called by singers the Dance of the Dragons.]
131–157 Aegon III the Dragonbane, Rhaenyra’s son,
[The last of the Targaryen dragons died during the reign of Aegon III.]
157–161 Daeron I the Young Dragon, the Boy King, eldest son of Aegon III, [Daeron conquered Dorne, but was unable to hold it, and died young.]
161–171 Baelor I the Beloved, the Blessed, septon and king, second son of Aegon III,
171–172 Viserys II younger brother of Aegon III,
172–184 Aegon IV the Unworthy, eldest son of Viserys,
[His younger brother, Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, was champion and some say lover to Queen Naerys.]
184–209 Daeron II Queen Naerys’ son, by Aegon or Aemon, [Daeron brought Dorne into the realm by wedding the Dornish princess Myriah.]
209–221 Aerys I second son to Daeron II (left no issue),
221–233 Maekar I fourth son of Daeron II,
233–259 Aegon V the Unlikely, Maekar’s fourth
259–262 Jaehaerys II second son of Aegon the Unlikely,
262–283 Aerys II the Mad King, only son to Jaehaerys,
Therein the line of the dragon kings ended, when Aerys II was dethroned and killed, along with his heir, the crown prince Rhaegar Targaryen, slain by Robert Baratheon on the Trident.
THE LAST TARGARYENS
{KING AERYS TARGARYEN}, the Second of His Name, slain by Jaime Lannister during the Sack of King’s Landing,
— his sister and wife, {QUEEN RHAELLA} of House
Targaryen, died in childbed on Dragonstone,
— their children: —{PRINCE RHAEGAR}, heir to the Iron Throne, slain
by Robert Baratheon on the Trident,
— his wife, {PRINCESS ELIA} of House Martell, slain
during the Sack of King’s Landing,
— their children:
—{PRINCESS RHAENYS}, a young girl, slain during the
Sack of King’s Landing,
—{PRINCE AEGON}, a babe, slain during the Sack of
King’s Landing,
— PRINCE VISERYS, styling himself Viserys, the Third of
His Name, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, called the Beggar King,
— PRINCESS DAENERYS, called Daenerys Stormborn, a maid
of thirteen years.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The devil is in the details, they say.
A book this size has a lot of devils, any one of which will bite you if you don’t watch out. Fortunately, I know a lot of angels.
Thanks and appreciation, therefore, to all those good folks who so kindly lent me their ears and their expertise (and in some cases their books) so I c
ould get all those little details right—to Sage Walker, Martin Wright, Melinda Snodgrass, Carl Keim, Bruce Baugh, Tim O’Brien, Roger Zelazny, Jane Lindskold, and Laura J. Mixon, and of course to Parris.
And a special thanks to Jennifer Hershey, for labors above and beyond the call…
About the Author
GEORGE R. R. MARTIN sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally since then. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made. In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, a big white dog called Mischa, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.
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