Difference between revisions of "Northern mountain clans"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
m
(added History and ADWD info)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''northern mountain clans''' are groups of [[northmen]] who dwell in [[Northern mountains|the mountains]] north of [[Winterfell]] and in their foothills along the shore of the [[Bay of Ice]].
+
The '''Northern mountain clans''' are groups of [[north]]men who dwell in [[Northern mountains|the mountains]] north of [[Winterfell]] and in their foothills along the shore of the [[Bay of Ice]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Mountain Clans}}
  
== Description ==
+
==Culture==
The quarrelsome clans of the rugged northwest are a hardy people who, like other [[northmen]], claim descent from the [[First Men]] and worship the [[old gods]]. There are roughly forty mountain clans, large and small, the most prominent of which are the [[House Flint of the mountains|First Flints]], the [[House Wull|Wulls]], the [[House Norrey|Norreys]], the [[House Burley|Burleys]], the [[House Harclay|Harclays]], the [[House Liddle|Liddles]], and the [[House Knott|Knotts]]. They have inhabited [[Northern mountains|the mountains]] north of the [[wolfswood]] for thousands of years.
+
The quarrelsome clans of the rugged northwest are a hardy people who, like other [[northmen]], claim descent from the [[First Men]] and worship the [[old gods]]. There are roughly forty mountain clans, large and small, the most prominent of which are the [[House Flint of the mountains|First Flints]], the [[House Wull|Wulls]], the [[House Norrey|Norreys]], the [[House Burley|Burleys]], the [[House Harclay|Harclays]], the [[House Liddle|Liddles]], and the [[House Knott|Knotts]]. The most powerful of the clans are the Wulls.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Mountain Clans}}
  
The Wulls and Flints are currently the strongest of the clans. The Flints and Norreys live closest to the [[Gift]], and are thus the most exposed to [[wildling]] raiders who cross the [[Gorge]]. Clan Norrey in particular is a noted friend of the [[Night's Watch]]. Living along the [[Bay of Ice]], the Wulls and other clans have also clashed with the [[ironborn]] in the past. These threats and their own inter-clan feuds have instilled a fierce martial spirit in the mountain folk. In battle, clan champions fight with huge two-handed greatswords. The common men sling stones or wield staffs of mountain ash. They breed hardy mounts in their high valleys and mountain meadows. After the [[War of the Five Kings]], [[Jon Snow]] estimates the clans could muster 2,000 fighting men, perhaps 3,000.{{ref|adwd|17}}
+
The Flints and Norreys live closest to the [[Gift]], and are thus the most exposed to [[wildling]] raiders who cross the [[Gorge]]. Clan Norrey in particular is a noted friend of the [[Night's Watch]]. Living along the [[Bay of Ice]], the Wulls and other clans have also clashed with the [[ironborn]] in the past. These threats and their own inter-clan feuds have instilled a fierce martial spirit in the mountain folk.
  
Although they do not consider themselves truly highborn, the chiefs of these clans are given the treatment of “lord” by their lieges, the [[House Stark|Starks]] of [[Winterfell]]. Among themselves, the clansmen style their leaders as “The [clan name]”; i.e. the chieftain of Clan Liddle would be known as The Liddle. This practice extends to other usage; Lord [[Eddard Stark]] is called “The Ned” by the clans, and they remain fiercely loyal to his memory. This tradition seems to stem from the [[First Men]], as it is also practiced by House Stark ("the Stark in Winterfell") and some noble houses among the [[ironborn]].
+
In battle, clan champions fight with huge two-handed greatswords or axes and sometimes armor themselves with mail byrnies.{{ref|ADWD|26}} The common men sling stones or wield staffs of mountain ash. Clansmen wear ragged skins and studded leathers;{{ref|ADWD|49}} Some disguise themselves with leaves and brush for arboreal fighting.{{ref|ADWD|26}} They breed hardy mounts in their high valleys and mountain meadows.
  
Given their high latitude and sparse resources, the clans suffer population strain during winter years. The young are sent to the Starks’ winter town, and old men often announce that they are “going hunting.” Some are found the next spring; more are never seen again.
+
Although they do not consider themselves truly highborn, the chiefs of these clans are given the treatment of “[[lord]]” by their lieges, the [[House Stark|Starks]] of [[Winterfell]]. Among themselves, the clansmen style their leaders as “the [clan name]”; i.e. the chieftain of Clan Liddle would be known as the Liddle. This practice extends to other usage; Lord [[Eddard Stark]] is called “the Ned” by the clans, and they remain fiercely loyal to his memory. This tradition seems to stem from the [[First Men]], as it is also practiced by House Stark ("the Stark in Winterfell") and some noble houses among the [[ironborn]].
  
According to [[Roose Bolton]], some of the mountain clans still continue the tradition of the [[first night]].{{Ref|ADWD|32}}
+
Given their high latitude and sparse resources, the clans suffer population strain during winter years. The young are sent to the Starks’ [[winter town]], and old men often announce that they are “going hunting.” Some are found the next spring; more are never seen again.
 +
 
 +
According to Lord [[Roose Bolton]], some of the mountain clans still continue the tradition of the [[first night]].{{Ref|ADWD|32}}
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
Of [[First Men]] origin, the clansmen have inhabited [[Northern mountains|the mountains]] north of the [[wolfswood]] for thousands of years. They were eventually included within the domain of the [[Kings of Winter]] from [[House Stark]] of [[Winterfell]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Mountain Clans}}
 +
 
 +
The clans have often quarreled with each other, leading the Starks to settle the disputes by force or by calling the chiefs to Winterfell. These feuds are recalled in songs, such as "[[Black Pines]]" and "[[Wolves in the Hills]]". The clans' territory has also been historically raided by [[wildlings]] and [[ironborn]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Mountain Clans}}
 +
 
 +
The clans have not been visited by a king in centuries, as [[Torrhen Stark]], [[King in the North]], knelt to [[Aegon I Targaryen]] during the [[War of Conquest]].{{ref|ADWD|17}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
Line 17: Line 26:
  
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
When [[Stannis Baratheon]] tries to curry favor with the northern lords by freeing their western strongholds from the [[ironborn]], he begins by enlisting the aid of [[Torghen Flint|Old Torghen Flint]] and [[Hugo Wull|Hugo “Big Bucket” Wull]]. Stannis is the first king the clans have seen since [[Torrhen Stark]] knelt before [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]], and by observing the courtesies suggested by Lord Commander [[Jon Snow]] of the [[Night’s Watch]], Stannis is able to rally the mountain folk and [[Retaking of Deepwood Motte|liberate]] [[Deepwood Motte]], earning the loyalty of [[House Glover]] and [[House Mormont]]. During the army’s snow-plagued march toward [[House Bolton|Bolton]]-occupied Winterfell, Stannis’s own southron knights struggle to survive, while the snowshoe-clad clansmen are able to soldier on with relative ease. As the outcome of the ensuing [[Siege of Winterfell|battle]] remains unknown, so does the current state of the clans.
+
After the [[War of the Five Kings]], Lord Commander [[Jon Snow]] of the [[Night’s Watch]] estimates the clans could muster 2,000 fighting men, perhaps 3,000. Rather than attack the [[Dreadfort]], Jon advises [[Stannis Baratheon]] to seek the aid of the clansmen.{{ref|adwd|17}}
 +
 
 +
When Stannis tries to curry favor with the northern lords by freeing their western strongholds from the [[ironborn]], he begins by enlisting the aid of [[Torghen Flint|Old Torghen Flint]] and [[Hugo Wull|Hugo “Big Bucket” Wull]]. Stannis is the first king the clans have seen since [[Torrhen Stark]] knelt before [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]].{{ref|ADWD|17}}{{ref|ADWD|42}}
 +
 
 +
By observing the courtesies suggested by Jon, Stannis is able to rally the mountain folk and [[Retaking of Deepwood Motte|liberate]] [[Deepwood Motte]], earning the loyalty of Houses [[House Glover|Glover]] and [[House Mormont|Mormont]].{{ref|ADWD|26}}{{ref|ADWD|42}} During the army’s snow-plagued [[march on Winterfell]] to take the castle from [[House Bolton]], Stannis’s southron knights struggle to survive, while the snowshoe-clad clansmen are able to soldier on with relative ease.{{ref|ADWD|42}}{{ref|ADWD|62}}
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==

Revision as of 20:46, 18 March 2015

The Northern mountain clans are groups of northmen who dwell in the mountains north of Winterfell and in their foothills along the shore of the Bay of Ice.[1]

Culture

The quarrelsome clans of the rugged northwest are a hardy people who, like other northmen, claim descent from the First Men and worship the old gods. There are roughly forty mountain clans, large and small, the most prominent of which are the First Flints, the Wulls, the Norreys, the Burleys, the Harclays, the Liddles, and the Knotts. The most powerful of the clans are the Wulls.[1]

The Flints and Norreys live closest to the Gift, and are thus the most exposed to wildling raiders who cross the Gorge. Clan Norrey in particular is a noted friend of the Night's Watch. Living along the Bay of Ice, the Wulls and other clans have also clashed with the ironborn in the past. These threats and their own inter-clan feuds have instilled a fierce martial spirit in the mountain folk.

In battle, clan champions fight with huge two-handed greatswords or axes and sometimes armor themselves with mail byrnies.[2] The common men sling stones or wield staffs of mountain ash. Clansmen wear ragged skins and studded leathers;[3] Some disguise themselves with leaves and brush for arboreal fighting.[2] They breed hardy mounts in their high valleys and mountain meadows.

Although they do not consider themselves truly highborn, the chiefs of these clans are given the treatment of “lord” by their lieges, the Starks of Winterfell. Among themselves, the clansmen style their leaders as “the [clan name]”; i.e. the chieftain of Clan Liddle would be known as the Liddle. This practice extends to other usage; Lord Eddard Stark is called “the Ned” by the clans, and they remain fiercely loyal to his memory. This tradition seems to stem from the First Men, as it is also practiced by House Stark ("the Stark in Winterfell") and some noble houses among the ironborn.

Given their high latitude and sparse resources, the clans suffer population strain during winter years. The young are sent to the Starks’ winter town, and old men often announce that they are “going hunting.” Some are found the next spring; more are never seen again.

According to Lord Roose Bolton, some of the mountain clans still continue the tradition of the first night.[4]

History

Of First Men origin, the clansmen have inhabited the mountains north of the wolfswood for thousands of years. They were eventually included within the domain of the Kings of Winter from House Stark of Winterfell.[1]

The clans have often quarreled with each other, leading the Starks to settle the disputes by force or by calling the chiefs to Winterfell. These feuds are recalled in songs, such as "Black Pines" and "Wolves in the Hills". The clans' territory has also been historically raided by wildlings and ironborn.[1]

The clans have not been visited by a king in centuries, as Torrhen Stark, King in the North, knelt to Aegon I Targaryen during the War of Conquest.[5]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

The clans send some men south to fight alongside King Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings. Norreys and Burleys fight at the Ruby Ford. Arya Stark notes men of the mountain clans in the camps outside the Twins. Owen Norrey is slain at the Red Wedding. However, most of their strength remains in the mountains.

A Dance with Dragons

After the War of the Five Kings, Lord Commander Jon Snow of the Night’s Watch estimates the clans could muster 2,000 fighting men, perhaps 3,000. Rather than attack the Dreadfort, Jon advises Stannis Baratheon to seek the aid of the clansmen.[5]

When Stannis tries to curry favor with the northern lords by freeing their western strongholds from the ironborn, he begins by enlisting the aid of Old Torghen Flint and Hugo “Big Bucket” Wull. Stannis is the first king the clans have seen since Torrhen Stark knelt before Aegon the Conqueror.[5][6]

By observing the courtesies suggested by Jon, Stannis is able to rally the mountain folk and liberate Deepwood Motte, earning the loyalty of Houses Glover and Mormont.[2][6] During the army’s snow-plagued march on Winterfell to take the castle from House Bolton, Stannis’s southron knights struggle to survive, while the snowshoe-clad clansmen are able to soldier on with relative ease.[6][7]

References and Notes