House Connington
House Connington of Griffin's Roost | |
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Coat of arms | Per pale gules and argent, two griffins combatant countercharged. |
Seat | Griffin's Roost |
Head | Jon Connington |
Region | The Stormlands |
Title | The Knight of Griffin's Roost |
Overlord | House Baratheon |
House Connington of Griffin's Roost is an old knightly house from the Stormlands, sworn to Storm's End.
Their blazon shows two griffins combatant countercharged per pale on red and white.[1][2] Their motto is unknown, though their traditional battle cry is A griffin! A griffin![3].
Contents
History
It was a significantly wealthy house until Lord Jon Connington was named Hand of the King by the Mad King Aerys II. The previous Hand had been exiled for his failure to face Robert's Rebellion, and Lord Connington was a noted warrior of proven loyalty, being one of Prince Rhaegar's best friends. However, after being defeated by the rebels at the Battle of the Bells, he was stripped of his lands and sent into exile in the Free Cities. His cousin joined the rebels afterwards and when Robert was crowned, he returned him Griffin's Roost, but the family lost their lordship and most of his lands were distributed among more fervent supporters. Its status thus fell from from being a full noble house to a knightly one.[4] Jon's cousin has since died, and his son Ronnet rules as the Knight of Griffin's Roost.
A Dance with Dragons
When the believed Aegon VI Targaryen lands at Cape Wrath, Jon Connington leads the Golden Company to Griffin's Roost in the night. The fight only takes a few minutes and Jon declares himself as its new Lord[3], while Ser Ronnet serves under Jaime Lannister. Because of these events Kevan Lannister, King Tommen's regent, keeps him under ward in King's Landing to ensure he wouldn't fight for his uncle. Ronnet however states, that he would like to kill Jon, who keeps his bastard son Ronald and his siblings Raymund and Alynne as prisoners, to prove his loyalty.[5]
The Connington House at the end of the third century
The known Conningtons during the timespan of the events described on A Song of Ice and Fire are:
- Lord Jon Connington, former and current Lord of Griffin's Roost.
- Ser Ronnet Connington, his cousin's son. Former Knight of Griffin's Roost. Called "Red Ronnet".
- Ronald Storm, Ronnet's bastard son.
- Raymund Connington, Ronnet's younger brother.
- Alynne Connington, Ronnet's younger sister.
- Ser Ronnet Connington, his cousin's son. Former Knight of Griffin's Roost. Called "Red Ronnet".
Lord Connington | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Armond | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jon | Ronald | Unknown wife | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unknown woman | Ronnet | Raymund | Alynne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald Storm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Historical Members
Ser Alyn Connington, called "the Pale Griffin." A former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and one of the best war leaders in the history of the order.
References in the books
A Song of Ice and Fire
- The White Book entry on Barristan Selmy records how he defeated Lord Jon Connington, among others, in the Tourney at Storm's End.
- Ashara Dayne danced with Lord Jon Connington at the Tourney at Harrenhal.
- During the Battle of the Bells, Lord Jon wounded Hoster Tully and killed Ser Denys Arryn, the Darling of the Vale.
- Brienne of Tarth remembers the day she was presented to Ronnet Connington (on the suggestion of Ronnet's father), who as soon as he saw her refused to marry her for being too ugly and gave her a rose saying that that was all she was going to get from him.
- Catelyn sees Ser Ronnet (a helmetless red-bearded man with a griffin on his shield) falling to Brienne of Tarth during the meleé at Bitterbridge.
- After riding for Renly, Ser Ronnet turned to Stannis Baratheon, and fought for him at the Blackwater. He was made prisoner and bent the knee to King Joffrey I.
- Ser Jaime Lannister remembers Lord Jon as "the dancing griffins Hand".
- Ser Barristan Selmy refers to Jon as "Young Lord Connington", suggesting that he was no older than Rhaegar, and tells Daenerys that he was dear to the prince.
- Red Ronnet was part of Ser Jaime's army assembled to end the siege of Riverrun. At Harrenhal, Jaime punches Ronnet with his golden hand for speaking of Brienne without due respect.
- Jaime sends Ser Ronnet to deliver Wylis Manderly to Maidenpool so that he wouldn't have to look at him anymore.
- Jon Connington is not dead after all, but went into hiding with the help of Varys. He has raised his friend Prince Rhaegar's son Aegon Targaryen with the hope of one day placing him on the Iron Throne.
- Jon and his companions are attacked by stone men while traveling via barge down the River Rhoyne. Jon contracts greyscale during the ambush while saving Tyrion Lannister.
- After Jon Connington and the Golden Company take over Griffin's Roost, the small council summons Red Ronnet to determine his loyalty. Ser Ronnet vows to bring the head of his uncle, but the council decides to keep him under guard.
References and Notes
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Stormlands
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Epilogue.
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