Burning of Harrenhal

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Burning of Harrenhal
Fall of harrenhal by reneaigner.jpg
The Fall of Harrenhal by Rene Aigner©
Conflict War of Conquest
Date 2 BC
Place Harrenhal
Result Targaryen victory
Combatants
House Targaryen
House Tully
House Blackwood
House Mallister
House Vance of Atranta
House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest
House Bracken
House Piper
House Frey
House Strong
House Hoare
Commanders
Aegon Targaryen
Edmyn Tully
Harren Hoare
Strength
8,000 men[1]
Balerion
unknown
Casualties
unknown Harren Hoare and his sons†
most ironmen slain

The burning of Harrenhal ocurred during the War of Conquest.[2] Aegon the Conqueror used his dragon, Balerion the Black Dread, to melt the towers of Harrenhal, which killed King Harren the Black and ended the black line.[1]

Prelude

House Hoare had ruled the Iron Islands and the riverlands as the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers for three generations. King Harren the Black constructed Harrenhal, the largest castle in Westeros, over forty years on the northern shore of the Gods Eye. On the day the new castle was completed, however, Aegon Targaryen landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, beginning House Targaryen's War of Conquest.

Supported by many great ironborn lords and warriors,[3] Black Harren raised his banners. His men fought Aegon's host in the Battle of the Reeds and the Wailing Willows. Lord Edmyn Tully of Riverrun, one of the more powerful rivermen, refused to support Harren and instead joined the Targaryens. Following the Tullys' example, numerous other river lords rebelled against Harren's ironmen and marched to surround Harrenhal. In response, Harren closed the gates of well-stocked Harrenhal.[1]

Burning of Harrenhal

During a parley outside the castle, Aegon offered to confirm Harren as Lord of the Iron Islands if he yielded. Black Harren refused, trusting in his walls. He then promised riches and the daughters of the river lords to anyone who could slay Aegon's dragon, Balerion, in the upcoming battle.[1]

That night, Aegon first flew high above Harrenhal on Balerion and then swooped down upon the Hoares. Flammable material, both supplies and the living, caught fire within the castle, while Harrenhal's stone towers cracked and melted. The rivermen outside observed that the towers glowed and melted like candles.[1] House Hoare was extinguished when Harren and his sons died in what later became known as Kingspyre Tower.[4]

Aftermath

Once Harrenhal cooled, the ruined swords of the ironmen were taken to the Aegonfort, where they eventually became part of the Iron Throne.[1] Only a few of Harren's supporters survived the burning or the uprising of the rivermen to make it back to the Iron Islands.[3]

With the Hoare line ended, Aegon granted dominion over the riverlands to the first river lord to support him, Edmyn Tully, his new Lord Paramount of the Trident. Aegon also granted partially-ruined Harrenhal to Quenton Qoherys, who had been his master-at-arms at Dragonstone.[5] Some say that Harrenhal's Wailing Tower is occupied by the ghosts of Harren and his sons.[4]

Quotes

Harren: What is outside my walls is of no concern to me. Those walls are strong and thick.

Aegon: But not so high as to keep out dragons. Dragons fly.
Harren: I built in stone. Stone does not burn.

Aegon: When the sun sets, your line shall end.[1]

- Harren Hoare and Aegon Targaryen

References and Notes