House Baratheon

 

House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. It is the principal house in the Stormlands, to whom the lesser storm lords are sworn. Its seat is Storm's End. Its sigil is a crowned black stag on a field of gold, and its words are "Ours is the Fury."

History

It is the youngest of the great Houses, tracing its descent from Orys Baratheon, one of Aegon the Conqueror's fiercest generals, and rumored to be his bastard brother. Through the female line, the Baratheons are descended from the Storm Kings, as Orys slew Argilac the Arrogant, last of the Storm Kings, and married his daughter. Orys adopted the sigil and words of his wife's ancestral line. The line of the Storm Kings dates back to the Age of Heroes when their kingdom was founded by King Durran I "Godsgrief", a legendary hero. After Robert's Rebellion, the house claimed the Iron Throne in King's Landing and the Isle of Dragonstone, with the support of House Stark, House Tully, House Arryn, and, eventually, House Lannister.

House genealogy

            Rhaelle Targaryen══╤══ ?
                               │
                               │
                           Steffon══╤══Cassana Estermont
                                    │
                   ┌────────────────┴─────────┬──────────────────────────┐
                   │                          │                          │
     Cersei══╤═══Robert                    Stannis══╤══Selyse Florent   Renly
   Lannister │     │                                │
             │     │                                │
   ┌────┬────┤     ├──────┬───────┬─────┐           │
   │    │    │     │      │       │     │           │
Joffrey │ Tommen  Mya  Gendry  Edric    │        Shireen
     Myrcella    Stone         Storm   other
                                      bastards

Current members

Robert

The eldest of three sons, Robert Baratheon was crowned King of the Seven Kingdoms after winning the War of the Usurper. A large man, Robert was once a renowned warrior, but grew fat from alcoholism and excess. He is known for his gregarious personality and remarkable ability to turn enemies into friends.

Robert was a childhood friend of Eddard Stark, and was betrothed to Eddard's sister, Lyanna, whom Robert loved deeply. When Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped her, Robert was enraged by the abduction, and the thought of Rhaegar raping her. Together with Eddard and their foster father Jon Arryn, he started the War of the Usurper. Though he won the rebellion and killed Rhaegar, Lyanna died before they could be reunited. Robert was thereafter haunted by her memory and bitterness against the slain Rhaegar.

In the aftermath of The Mad King's death, Robert assumed the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms on the pretext of a distant relation to the Targaryens (his grandmother was the daughter of Aegon V). He pardoned many of his former enemies and won some over as allies. He named Jon Arryn his Hand of the King, and, not bothering to hide a contempt of politics and court intrigue, left much of the governance of the realm in Arryn's hands. Fond of feasts, celebrations, and tourneys, Robert copiously squandered the vast treasury left by King Aerys.

When Jon Arryn died suddenly, Robert journeyed to Winterfell to meet the last person he truly trusted, Eddard Stark, after a long separation. Robert appeared to Eddard a broken man, unhealthy and unhappy. Eddard reluctantly took the job of Hand and came to King's Landing, where he discovered that Robert's children were in fact Cersei's bastards born of incest with her brother. After Eddard threatened to reveal her secret to Robert, Cersei had Robert killed during a hunting trip. Robert's death tipped off a struggle for power that lead to the War of the Five Kings.

Known bastards

Although Robert Baratheon is known to have fathered at least sixteen bastards, only one has been acknowledged. Five have been seen by POV characters, while two others have been mentioned only in passing.

• Gendry. An unacknowledged bastard who was born to a worker in an alehouse in King's Landing. When he was old enough, an unknown lord paid his apprentice fee so he could learn to be a blacksmith. Gendry developed a reputation for stubbornness and fashioned a bull's head helmet as a result, causing him to be named the "Bull". Following the death of Robert, he fled the city with Yoren of the Night's Watch. He knew that Queen Cersei wanted him dead, although he did not know why. He traveled with Arya Stark until the Brotherhood Without Banners captured them and he joined the organization. The Brotherhood later placed him at the Old Crossroads Inn to look after a group of orphans there. His surname is probably Waters as is traditional in King's Landing and the surrounding areas.
• Mya Stone. An unacknowledged bastard daughter born to Robert in the Vale. Her parentage was known to Robert's friends however. She was given the surame Stone like all bastards born to the Vale. She served as a guide to and from the Eyrie, and became a favorite companion to Sansa Stark. Eddard Stark remembered that Robert was very fond of her.
• Edric Storm. Robert's only acknowledged bastard son, born to Delena Florent. He lived in Storm's End under the protection of Cortnay Penrose, the castellan. Stannis laid siege to the castle with the goal of capturing Edric Storm and using him to prove his claims of Cersei's incestuous affair with her brother. The red witch Melisandre also aimed to use Edric's blood to raise the dragons of Dragonstone. Davos Seaworth smuggled Edric away from Dragonstone before he could be sacrificed.
• Bella. An unacknowledged bastard daughter who lives as a whore at an inn called the Peach at Stoney Sept.
• Barra. The youngest of Robert's known bastard children. A baby, she was killed by agents of Cersei following the death of Robert.
• Two unnamed twins. Petyr Baelish hints that Robert fathered twins to a woman in Casterly Rock who were killed by Queen Cersei's agents.

Cersei Lannister

Queen Cersei Lannister Baratheon is the wife of King Robert and mother of the royal children.

Joffrey

Joffrey Baratheon is the eldest of the royal Baratheon children, and Robert's heir. He is 12 years old at the beginning of the series. Joffrey was strong-willed already as a child and has an uncontrollable temper not unlike his mother's and an unchecked sadistic streak. Like his Lannister relatives, he is tall, blonde, and handsome.

Along with the rest of the royal family, Joffrey made the trip to Winterfell after Jon Arryn's death. There he began to court the pretty Sansa Stark, Eddard's daughter to whom he was betrothed. After an altercation with the fiery young Arya Stark, his true personality showed through his polished manners, which earned him Arya's hatred.

Acting as the new Hand of the King, Eddard Stark discovered that Joffrey, along with his siblings, were actually bastards born of incest between Cersei and Jaime. Cersei protected her children's secret by arranging for Robert's death and then arresting Eddard. Joffrey took the Iron Throne as Robert's heir, and Sansa pleaded with him to spare her father's life. Joffrey gently promised Sansa that he would be merciful, but Joffrey's mercy turned out to be Eddard Stark's quick public beheading before Sansa's own eyes. This rash act was against his mother's wishes and was the major trigger that plunged Westeros into the devastating War of the Five Kings. Joffrey ruled with whim and caprice, proving difficult for even his mother to control. Sansa became imprisoned to his will, and he frequently had his guards beat her for his amusement. When he tried to have her stripped, his uncle Tyrion stopped him, and he never tried it again, although he was determined to eventually have Sansa in his bed whether he married her or not. His cruelty made him an unpopular king, and he was nearly killed in a riot sparked by his temper. Acting as his temporary Hand, only Tyrion stood up to Joffrey's authority, and Joffrey developed a special hatred for his uncle.

After House Tyrell allied itself to his reign, Joffrey discarded Sansa and married Margaery Tyrell, but decided that he would conduct an affair with Sansa later. During his wedding feast Joffrey drank poisoned wine and died while the entire court looked on. Cersei blamed the deed on Tyrion and his newly-wedded bride Sansa, but it is later hinted that the plot may have been orchestrated by Olenna Tyrell and Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish.

It is later revealed that Joffrey was himself responsible for the attempt on Bran's life in A Game of Thrones. Overhearing a drunk remark by his "father" King Robert,^[1] and ever eager to please, Joffrey stole a dagger from Robert's collection and paid a man to kill Bran. Catelyn mistakenly traced the dagger back to Tyrion, which led her to take him hostage and inevitably caused even more animosity and blood shed between House Stark and House Lannister.

Myrcella

The second oldest of the royal Baratheon children, Myrcella Baratheon is delicate, beautiful and courteous. For her age, she displays courage, a strong will, and high intelligence. She is eight at the beginning of the series.

Like her siblings, Myrcella is the product of incest between Cersei and Jaime Lannister. She was sent to Dorne as part of an agreement with House Martell to ensure their support of Joffrey during the War of Five Kings. She is betrothed to marry Prince Trystane when they come of age, and by all reports the two get along well. Arianne Martell schemed to make Myrcella queen after Joffrey's death, as befit the laws of Dorne, but the plan went awry. During the chaos, Ser Gerold Dayne attempted to kill Myrcella, slashing her across the face. She survived, but lost an ear and received a hideous facial scar.

Tommen

The youngest of the royal Baratheon children, Tommen is seven years old at the beginning of the series. His plumpness, sweet disposition, and weak will are all marked contrasts to his fiery older brother.

Tommen was crowned after Joffrey's death, and married Margaery in his brother's stead. A submissive child, he did everything Cersei bade him, being more interested in his kittens and games than in the realm. Tommen's pliability worked both ways, however, and he was soon influenced by Margaery to resist his mother's commands. After Cersei was arrested, Tommen continues to sign everything his advisors set in front of him. One of his favorite activities as king is to stamp his seal on official documents.

Renly

The younger of Robert's brothers, the Lord of Storm's End, and Master of Laws on Robert's Small Council. He is a handsome and charismatic man, winning friends easily, but also strikes some people as frivolous.

Though Renly is Robert's younger brother, Robert gave the Baratheon seat of Storm's End to him rather than Stannis. The lands of Storm's End are considerably larger and richer than those of Stannis's Dragonstone, giving Renly more power than his older brother. While Robert lay dying, Renly approached Eddard Stark and suggested they seize control of the Iron Throne before Cersei Lannister could strike. Eddard refused the offer, and Renly left the city. After Robert's death, Renly declared himself king. Through his charisma and familiarity with the Baratheon bannermen, he managed to win support from many houses, despite his brother having the better claim. Renly also won the support of the Tyrells through a marriage to Margaery; he had a clandestine homosexual relationship with Margaery's brother Loras.^[2]

He spent a great deal of time moving slowly through the south, gaining support and men while waiting for the right moment to strike. He hosted tournaments for his men while the Lannisters and Starks wore each other down. This plan went awry, however, when his brother Stannis marched against him. He met Stannis' much smaller force and refused to back down from his claim. While preparing for battle with his brother's forces, Renly was slain by Stannis' magic shade. Garlan Tyrell later wore Renly's armor in the Battle of the Blackwater to make it appear that Renly's ghost had returned for vengeance against the kinslaying Stannis.

Stannis

The elder of Robert's brothers, Stannis is Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships on Robert's Small Council. A brooding, humorless man known for a harsh and unyielding sense of justice, he is obsessed with slights real and imagined. His stubbornness and determination are legendary, most famously shown in resisting the Siege of Storm's End under desperate conditions. He is also a capable naval commander, having trapped and destroyed much of the Iron Fleet during Balon's Rebellion. His wife is Lady Selyse of House Florent, a mighty noble house sworn to Highgarden and House Tyrell. They have one daughter, Shireen, a small girl of poor health, and bearing a disfigurement from a childhood ailment.

After learning of Cersei's incest and the death of Jon Arryn, Stannis left the king's council and returned to Dragonstone. There, together with many of his wife's kin, the Florents, acting as his councillors, he gathered what strength he could, while also falling under the sway of the sorceress Melisandre, who proclaimed Stannis to be Azor Ahai reborn, a messianic figure of the R'hllor faith. When Robert died, Stannis claimed the Iron Throne as Robert's heir, however most of the Baratheon bannermen followed his more charismatic brother when Renly also claimed the throne, supported by the powerful Tyrell family. Stannis rode to treat with Renly, but could not convince him to renounce his claim. That night, Melisandre used her magic to birth a shadow incarnation of Stannis, which assassinated Renly in his tent. Swallowing his sense of justice, Stannis recruited most his brother's treasonous host into his own army, although the Tyrell part of Renly's army fled, eventually allying with the Lannisters. After a brief consolidation Stannis launched an amphibious assault on King's Landing. His forces were defeated at the cusp of victory when Lannister and Tyrell reinforcements unexpectedly arrived, seemingly led by Renly's ghost.

Stannis returned to Dragonstone, his host broken. There, Melisandre urged him to sacrifice Edric Storm to complete a spell for more power. Stannis was about to follow through with the ritual when his counselor Davos Seaworth smuggled the boy away and urged Stannis to take his remaining forces north to defend the Wall. Stannis agreed, and arrived at the Wall just in time to crush a wildling assault at the battle of Castle Black. He stayed at the Wall to negotiate a settlement compromise with the wildlings and offered to legitimize Jon Snow as heir of Winterfell if he would support Stannis's rule. The offer fell through when Jon was selected as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Stannis continues to seek support in the North for another attempt at the throne.

Past and historic members

Lyonel

Ser Lyonel was the heir to Storm's End^[3], called “The Laughing Storm” for the booming laugh he would issue during tilts, a famous knight, and one of the attendees at the Ashford tourney c. 208 AL. He fought for Dunk in the Trial of Seven.

Gowen

Gowen Baratheon was a third son who married Lady Tya of House Lannister c. 207 AL. Their only issue was a black haired boy who died in infancy.

Steffon

Lord Steffon Baratheon was the father of Robert, Stannis, and Renly. He perished at sea with his wife, Cassana, in sight of Storm's End, on their return from a trip to the Free Cities. King Aerys had sent Steffon, his first cousin, to the Free Cities to find a bride for Rhaegar.

Harbert

An uncle of Steffon, Ser Harbert was master-at-arms of Storm's End and frequently served as castellan while the lord was away. After Steffon's death, Harbert remained castellan until Robert came of age to rule. He is long dead by the beginning of A Game of Thrones.

Sworn houses

Sworn directly to King's Landing

• House Blount. Ser Boros of House Blount is one of the Kingsguard.
• House Chelsted. Lord Qarlton Chested was for a short time the Hand of King Aerys II. The House may be extinct.
• House Hayford.
• House Hogg of Sow's Horn.
• House Kettleblack. The Kettleblacks are a family of sellswords and hedge knights who serve several masters. Osmund is a member of the Kingsguard, while his brothers Osfryd and Osney are officially retainers of Cersei Lannister. Their father, Oswell, is a retainer of Petyr Baelish.
• House Massey of Stonedance.
• House Rosby of Rosby. Lord Gyles Rosby attends the court of King's Landing.
• House Rykker of Duskendale. The Rykkers were given the lordship of Duskendale after the Defiance of Duskendale and the subsequent execution of all members of House Darklyn of Duskendale.
• House Stokeworth of Stokeworth.
• House Thorne.
• House Darklyn of Duskendale. An extinct House.

Sworn to Dragonstone

• House Bar Emmon of Sharp Point.
• House Celtigar of Claw Isle.
• House Rambton are vassels of Lord Sunglass.
• House Sunglass of Sweetport Sound.
• House Velaryon of Driftmark. The Velaryons are Valyrian in origin and have intermarried with House Targaryen. Lord Velaryon is given the title Lord of the Tydes.

Sworn to Storm's End

• House Cafferen of Fawonton.
• House Caron of Nightsong. The Lord of House Caron is given the title of Lord of the Marches.
• House Connington of Griffin's Roost. After Lord Jon's failure at the Battle of the Bells they were stripped of their lands by King Aerys II. King Robert later returned their lands but not their title of Lord, henceforth they are masters and landed knights.
• House Dondarrion of Blackhaven. The first Dondarrion was given a lordship by a Storm King for delivering an important message. The house sigil of a forked, purple lightning bolt commemorates a lucky lightning strike that saved the messenger's life. The Dondarrions are marcher lords.
• House Errol of Haystack Hall.
• House Estermont of Greenstone. Lord Estermont is maternal grandfather to King Robert Baratheon; his mother, Lady Cassana was the daughter of Lord Estermont.
• House Fell of Fellwood.
• House Gradison of Grandview.
• House Penrose of Parchments.
• House Seaworth of Cape Wrath.
• House Selmy of Harvest Hall. Ser Barristan Selmy is the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
• House Swann of Stonehelm. The Swanns are marcher lords.
• House Tarth of Evenfall Hall. The Tarths rule the island of Tarth, situated at the edge of Shipbreaker Bay. Lord Selwyn is called the Evenstar. His only daughter and heiress is Brienne, a POV character.
• House Toyne. A few members of the house have played a part in the larger history of Westeros. Simon Toyne was a famous outlaw killed by Barristan Selmy, and another Toyne was a knight of the Kingsguard who was executed for sleeping with Aegon IV's mistress. His two brothers tried to avenge him by murdering the king, but Aegon was saved by his brother Aemon the Dragonknight, who died defending him.
• House Trant of Gallowsgrey. Ser Meryn Trant is a knight of the Kingsguard.
• House Wylde of Rain House.

References

1. ^ George R. R. Martin. A Storm of Swords (US paperback), 1003. ISBN 0-553-57342-X. 
2. ^ Author commentary
3. ^ Ser Lyonel is styled heir to Storm's End in the heraldry section at the end of the graphic novel adaptation of The Hedge Knight.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Novels	A Game of Thrones (1996) · A Clash of Kings (1998) · A Storm of Swords (2000) · A Feast for Crows (2005) · A Dance with Dragons · The Winds of Winter · A Dream of Spring
Novellas	The Hedge Knight · The Sworn Sword
Major Houses	Arryn · Baratheon · Bolton · Frey · Greyjoy · Lannister · Martell · Stark · Targaryen · Tully · Tyrell
Other characters	Minor Houses · Independent characters · Complete character list · Daenerys Targaryen
Organizations	Night’s Watch · Kingsguard · Maesters · Brotherhood Without Banners · Other organizations
Places	Westeros · Cities · Strongholds · The North · Across the narrow sea · Free Cities · Ghis
Wars and tourneys	Historic wars · War of the Usurper · War of the Five Kings · Tourneys
Games	A Game of Thrones: collectible card game · board game · role-playing game

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