Difference between revisions of "Reyne-Tarbeck revolt"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
(Conflict)
m
(31 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox Military Conflict
 
{{Infobox Military Conflict
 
| style = width:300px;  
 
| style = width:300px;  
| conflict_name = Reyne-Tarbeck rebellion
+
| conflict_name = Reyne-Tarbeck revolt
 
| part_of =
 
| part_of =
 
| image = [[File:Reyne Tarbeck Rebellion.png|350px]]
 
| image = [[File:Reyne Tarbeck Rebellion.png|350px]]
 
| image2 =
 
| image2 =
 
| caption = art by RobinF
 
| caption = art by RobinF
| date = {{Date|261}}{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}
+
| date = {{Date|261}}{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
 
| battles =  
 
| battles =  
| location = [[Westerlands]], [[Castamere]] and [[Tarbeck Hall]]
+
| location = [[Castamere]] and [[Tarbeck Hall]] in the [[westerlands]]
 
| result = Elimination of Houses [[House Reyne|Reyne]] and [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]]<br>Restoration of [[House Lannister|Lannister]] dominance over the [[westerlands]]
 
| result = Elimination of Houses [[House Reyne|Reyne]] and [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]]<br>Restoration of [[House Lannister|Lannister]] dominance over the [[westerlands]]
 
<!-- combatant 1 -->  
 
<!-- combatant 1 -->  
| combatant1 = [[House Reyne]] of [[Castamere]]<br>[[House Tarbeck]] of [[Tarbeck Hall]]
+
| combatant1 = [[House Reyne]]<br>[[House Tarbeck]]
| commander1 = Lord [[Roger Reyne]]†<br>Ser [[Reynard Reyne]]†<br>Lady [[Ellyn Reyne|Ellyn Tarbeck]]†<br>Lord [[Walderan Tarbeck]]†
+
| commander1 = Lord [[Roger Reyne]]†<br>Ser [[Reynard Reyne]]†<br>Lord [[Walderan Tarbeck]]†<br>Lady [[Ellyn Reyne|Ellyn Tarbeck]]†<br>Lord [[Tion Tarbeck]]†
| strength1 = Reyne-Tarbeck army
+
| strength1 = At Tarbeck Hall:
 +
* 500 Tarbeck household knights<ref group="N" name=westerlands1>According to the semi-canon, [http://www.georgerrmartin.com/world-of-ice-and-fire-sample/ unabridged version] of "The Westerlands" from ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'', House Tarbeck had five hundred household knights</ref>
 +
* 2,000 soldiers from House Reyne <small>(including ~200 knights)</small>
 +
At Castamere:{{Ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
 +
*More than 300 men, women and children
 
| losses1 = Complete elimination of the rebellious vassals
 
| losses1 = Complete elimination of the rebellious vassals
 
<!-- combatant 2 -->  
 
<!-- combatant 2 -->  
| combatant2 = [[House Lannister]] of [[Casterly Rock]]
+
| combatant2 = [[House Lannister]]<br>[[House Banefort]]<br>[[House Marbrand]]<ref name=sample>Georgerrmartin.com: [http://www.georgerrmartin.com/world-of-ice-and-fire-sample/ georgerrmartin.com Unabridged version] of "The Westerlands" chapter from ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]''</ref><br>[[House Plumm]]<ref name=sample/><br>[[House Prester]]<br>[[House Stackspear]]<br>[[House Westerling]]
 
| commander2 = Ser [[Tywin Lannister]]
 
| commander2 = Ser [[Tywin Lannister]]
| strength2 = Lannister army
+
| strength2 = At Tarbeck Hall:<ref group="N" name=tarbeck>Tywin Lannister "rode forth himself with five hundred knights and three thousand men-at-arms and crossbowmen behind him", and compared to the two thousand men of Roger Reyne, was said to have "three times his strength", according to most accounts (''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'',The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons), thereby demonstrating that Tywin had three thousand men-at-arms ''and'' three thousand crossbowmen, bringing his total to sixty-five hundred men, roughly three times as many as Lord Roger's two thousand.</ref>
| losses2 =
+
:*500 knights
 +
:*3,000 men-at-arms
 +
:*3,000 crossbowmen.
 +
At Castamere:<ref group="N" name=westerlands2>According to the semi-canon, [http://www.georgerrmartin.com/world-of-ice-and-fire-sample/ unabridged version] of "The Westerlands" from ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'', Tywin's host had doubled in size upon arrival at Castamere</ref>
 +
:*~13,000 men, from Houses [[Lannister]], [[House Westerling|Westerling]], [[House Banefort|Banefort]], [[House Plumm|Plumm]], and [[House Stackspear|Stackspear]]| losses2 = Minimal
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''Reyne-Tarbeck rebellion''' was an uprising in the [[westerlands]]. Houses [[House Reyne|Reyne]] and [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]] rose against their [[House Lannister|Lannister]] overlords due to the perceived weakness of the Lord of [[Casterly Rock]], [[Tytos Lannister]].  
+
The '''Reyne-Tarbeck revolt''' was an uprising in the [[westerlands]] in {{date|261}}. Houses [[House Reyne|Reyne]] and [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]] renounced fealty and rose against their [[House Lannister|Lannister]] overlords due to the perceived weakness of the Lord of [[Casterly Rock]], [[Tytos Lannister]]. The revolt was crushed by Tytos's heir, Ser [[Tywin Lannister]].{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
 
==Prelude==
 
==Prelude==
There are many factors that led to the Reyne-Tarbeck rebellion, the weak and ineffective leadership of Lord Tytos being a key one. The early ambitions of [[Ellyn Reyne]] of [[Castamere]] was another reason for the escalation of the conflict due to her scheming and vindictiveness.
+
Lord [[Robert Reyne]], the Lord of [[Castamere]], was succesful in arranging a betrothal between his daughter [[Ellyn Reyne|Ellyn]] and [[Tywald Lannister]], the heir of Lord [[Gerold Lannister]] of [[Casterly Rock]]. However, both Ellyn's betrothed and father were slain during the [[Peake Uprising]] in {{Date|233}}. Ellyn, strong-willed and hot-tempered, was not willing to give up on her dream of becoming Lady of Casterly Rock, something which she had been anticipating for years. She convinced Lord Gerold's second son, [[Tion Lannister|Tion]], to break his own betrothal and marry her instead. In this she was succesfull; Ellyn and Tion were wed in {{Date|235}}, causing Ellyn to become the Lady of Casterly Rock in all but name, as Lord Gerold was widowed.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
The Lady Ellyn was an ambitious and ruthless woman, who not only desired to marry into the rich [[House Lannister|Lannister]] family but also making herself Lady of the Rock. Her father, [[Robert Reyne]], successfully arranged a betrothal of her to [[Tywald Lannister]], the heir of Lord [[Gerold Lannister]] to [[Casterly Rock]]. However, both Ellyn's betrothed and father were slain during the [[Peake Uprising]] in {{Date|233}}. Ellyn did not let her grief get in the way of her ambition and she managed to seduce the new heir, Gerold's second son [[Tion Lannister|Tion]], into marrying her, despite the fact that Tion at that time was already arranged to marry a daughter of [[House Rowan|Lord Rowan]]. Lord Gerold, having witnessed how quickly Ellyn acted so soon after the death of both her father and her betrothed, deeply opposed this match, but the ailing lord was now a ghost of his former self due to grief, age and illness, and he eventually let Tion follow his heart.  
+
Ellyn used her position to support the position of [[House Reyne|her own family]]. In {{Date|236}}, she became a widow when Tion died in the [[Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Ellyn's influence dwindled as Lord Gerold assumed more control over Casterly Rock and began to prepare his younger son Tytos for his future lordship. According to a semi-canon source, Ellyn at first claimed to have been pregnant shortly after Tion's death, but as time passed and her belly remained flat it was concluded the pregnancy had been a lie.<ref name=sample/> Thereafter, most of the Reynes departed Casterly Rock for Castamere. Due to the [[Widow's Law]], Ellyn remained at the Rock, but her influence was declining sharply. In {{Date|239}}, Ellyn made another claim to the position she so desired and attempted to bed Tytos, Lord Gerold's new heir. The young Tytos was so intimidated by Ellyn that he was unable to perform and confessed what had happened to his wife, Lady [[Jeyne Marbrand]], who related the tale to Lord Gerold. Gerold acted at once, and Ellyn was hastily married to the twice-widowed [[Walderan Tarbeck]], Lord of [[Tarbeck Hall]].{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} The rivalry between Ellyn and Jeyne, which had begun years past, would continue for many years to come.
  
Lady Ellyn was married to Tion Lannister. With Lord Gerold twice widowed and refusing to remarry, Ellyn became the Lady of Casterly Rock in all but name. Ellyn in her time at the court of Casterly Rock became a rival of Lady [[Jeyne Marbrand]], the wife of Gerold's third son, [[Tytos Lannister]]. As her good-father retreated more into his books and bed chamber, Lady Ellyn held a splendid court, hosting [[tourney]]s and balls and filling the court with musicians, artists and mummers. She also used her new position to empower her [[House Reyne]]. Her brothers, [[Roger Reyne|Roger]], who was known as the Red Lion of Castamere, and [[Reynard Reyne]] were ever at her side and Ellyn lavished them with offices, honors and lands. She did similarly with her cousins, uncles and other kin. Lord Gerold Lannister's aged and hunchbacked fool, [[Lord Toad]], was heard to say,
+
[[Tytos Lannister|Tytos]] became the [[Lord of Casterly Rock]] and [[Warden of the West]] in {{Date|244}} at the death of Lord Gerold. Tytos desired to be loved, and as such was willing to forgive people quickly. Many saw this as a weakness, and as such, many of Tytos's bannermen and merchants from [[Lannisport]] and [[Kayce]] borrowed money from him without paying their debts. Through her brothers, Lady Ellyn borrowed gold from [[House Lannister]] as well, which she used to restore the crumbling [[Tarbeck Hall]]. The power of House Lannister grew less, and even beyond the [[westerlands]] people began to realize the Lannisters were no longer to be feared.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
{{Quote|Lady Ellyn must surely be a sorceress, for she made it rain inside the Rock all year.{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}}}
+
Lord Tytos's eldest three sons left to fight in the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]] in {{Date|260}}. When [[Tywin Lannister|Tywin]], Tytos's heir, returned from the [[Stepstones]] with his brothers, [[Kevan Lannister|Kevan]] and [[Tygett Lannister|Tygett]], he took upon himself to restore the power of House Lannister, despite Tytos's reluctance. Tywin demanded repayment of his father's loans and all who could not pay were ordered to send hostages to Casterly Rock. Kevan formed a new company of five hundred veterans to aid Tywin. Lord [[Roger Reyne]], Ellyn's older brother, laughed when he read Tywin's edicts and advised his friends and vassals to do nothing. Lord Walderan Tarbeck hoped to convince Tytos to rescind Tywin's edicts and traveled to Casterly Rock, but was instead imprisoned by Tywin.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} In return, his wife Ellyn seized three Lannisters &ndash; two [[House Lannister of Lannisport|Lannisters]] of [[Lannisport]], and [[Stafford Lannister]], whose sister [[Joanna Lannister|Joanna]] was betrothed to Tywin &ndash; and threatened them harm unless her husband was returned. Tytos ignored Tywin's suggestion of sending Lord Walderan back to his wife in three pieces, one for every Lannister taken, and instead returned Walderan unharmed. In addition, he forgave the Tarbeck debt to House Lannister.{{Ref|aFfC|44}}{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
Ellyn saw her dream of becoming Lady of the Rock shatter once again when her husband perished fighting in the [[Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Instead of breaking Lord Gerold, the loss of another son roused him from his grief. Since no children had come from Ellyn and Tion's brief marriage, it meant that Gerold's third son, the weak-willed and unpromising Tytos was by all the laws the new heir. Gerold, intent on doing all he could to prepare his new heir to succeed him, once again took firm hold of the [[westerlands]]. The "Reign of the Reynes" was at an end, as her brothers departed the Rock along with many other of her kin.
+
==Revolt==
 +
Ser [[Tywin Lannister]] remained determined to defeat the disloyal vassals of [[House Lannister]]. In {{date|261}}, less then a year after the exchange of captives, Tywin sent [[raven]]s to [[Tarbeck Hall]] and [[Castamere]] demanding answers for their crimes at [[Casterly Rock]]. As he had expected, Lord [[Roger Reyne|Roger]] and Ser [[Reynard Reyne]], as well Lord [[Walderan Tarbeck|Walderan]] and Lady [[Ellyn Reyne|Ellyn Tarbeck]], rose in rebellion, renouncing their fealthy to Casterly Rock.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
Ellyn remained at the Rock, but her influence was fading fast, as her good-sister Jeyne Marbrand's was rising. The rivalry between the two increased exponentially and became according to the writings of Maester [[Beldon]] truly ugly.
+
Without the permission of Lord [[Tytos Lannister]], Tywin marched against the upstart vassals with three thousand men-at-arms and crossbowmen and five hundred knights.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} According to a semi-canon source, the host was joined on the march by troops from [[House Marbrand]] and [[House Prester]], as well as a dozen lesser lords,<ref name=sample/> although ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' does not appear to count these soldiers.<ref group="N">''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' states that Tywin's host, identified as "five hundred knights and three thousand men-at-arms and crossbowmen", was three times as large, according to most counts, as Roger Reyne's two thousand men. That indicates that Tywin had three thousand men-at-arms ''and'' three thousand crossbowmen, giving him 6,500 compared to Roger's 2,000. As the addition of soldiers from Houses Prester and Marbrand are ommitted from the printed edition, it is possible these men are amongst Tywin's aforementioned host.</ref>
  
Ellyn was then hastily wed to the widowed Lord [[Walderan Tarbeck]], who was fifty five at the time. According to Maester Beldon, the rumor was that in {{date|239}} the widowed Ellyn tried to seduce the already-married Tytos Lannister so he would set aside his wife Jeyne for her. Tytos apparently was so intimidated by her that he failed to perform. Humiliated and in shame, he confessed to his wife. Jeyne forgave him but not her good-sister, thus she informed her good-father Lord Gerold. Gerold was furious and quickly arranged the match to rid Casterly Rock of Ellyn, much to the delight of Lady Jeyne. The rivalry between the two women increased and intensified throughout the years, in what Lord Toad called the War of the Wombs. Though Ellyn had failed to produce an heir for Tion she proved more fertile for Lord Walderran (who it should be noted had a number of older sons from his first two marriages) and over the years Ellyn gave her new husband two daughters and a son.{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}
+
===The fall of Tarbeck Hall===
 +
Because the Lannisters marched on Tarbeck Hall so suddenly, Lord [[Walderan Tarbeck]] had no time to rally his banners. As such, he met the Lannister host in battle with only his household knights. A short bloody battle ensued in which the Tarbecks were butchered.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} According to a semi-canon source, Lord Walderan's heir, his only surviving son from his first marriage, died during battle, but Walderan himself was taken alive, as were two of his sons from his second marriage. Though Walderan expected to be ransomed,<ref name=sample/> they were all executed. The heads of Walderan and his sons were impaled on spears, and led the march onto [[Tarbeck Hall]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragon}}
  
When Tytos Lannister finally became Lord of Casterly Rock and [[Warden of the West]] he was seen was weak willed and indecisive, having no stomach for war or conflict, he laughed at insults that would have sent his forebears shouting for their swords. Many saw this weakness and sought to take advantage for their own personal gain. Many borrowed from Casterly Rock and never bothered to repay the loans. When it was seen that Tytos was willing to extend such debts, or even forgive them, common merchants from [[Lannisport]] and [[Kayce]] soon began to attend the court in droves to beg for loans. The power of [[House Lannister]] waned and many other neighboring Houses grew in strength, with House Reyne amongst the forefront. The power of the Reynes grew vastly under Tytos's poor leadership, as did their close allies [[House Tarbeck]]. Lady Ellyn Tarbeck was not slow to take advantage of Tytos's willingness to part with large sums of gold. She borrowed heavily and used the money to restore the crumbling [[Tarbeck Hall]], strengthening the curtain walls and furnishing its keep with a splendor to rival any castle in the west.
+
At Tarbeck Hall, Lady Ellyn expected a long siege. She sent ravens to [[Castamere]], asking her brothers Roger and [[Reynard Reyne|Reynard]] for help. According to a semi-canon source, when Ser Kevan arrived under a peace banner demanding her surrender, she laughed at him, telling him: "You are not the only lions in the west, ser.  My brothers are coming, and their claws are just as long and sharp as yours".<ref name=sample/> However, Ser Tywin had siege engines prepared in less than a day. These were used to throw a great boulder over the walls onto Tarbeck Hall's aged keep, bringing the castle down upon Ellyn and her son, [[Tion Tarbeck|Tion]]. All resistance ended and the gates were thrown open, and Tywin commanded the castle be put to the torch. For a day and night the flames burned until nothing was left of Tarbeck Hall except a blackened empty shell.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} According to a semi-canon source,<ref name=sample/> Tywin forced Ellyn's daughters, [[Rohanne Tarbeck|Rohanne]] and [[Cyrelle Tarbeck|Cyrelle]], to join the [[silent sisters]], while Rohanne's [[last Lord Tarbeck|three-year-old son]] disappeared during the fighting. Reports suggest that the boy had been thrown down a well by Ser [[Amory Lorch]].<ref name=sample/>
  
Throughout the westerlands it was said that the Lion of Lannister was no longer a beast to fear and many japed about toothless lions.{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}  
+
===The Red Lion and the Gold===
 +
Lord Roger Reyne of Castamere arrived with two thousand hastily-gathered men following an exhausting march in time to witness Tarbeck Hall aflame. Most reports claim the Lannisters had three times as many men as the Reynes (a few unreliably claim five times as many). Roger hoped that surprise would give him the advantage and sounded the attack. The Lannister army was quick to recover from the first shock, and when the higher numbers of the Lannisters began to tell, Lord Roger saw no other option than to flee. As he fled back to Castamere, half his men had already died. Roger was wounded by a crossbow bolt between the shoulders as he fled and had to be carried back to Castamere.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
According to [[Genna Lannister]], her father Tytos agreed to marry her to [[Emmon Frey]], the second son of Lord [[Walder Frey]], just to please Walder. The betrothal was announced at a feast in {{date|254}}, with most of the lords of the west in attendance. Upon the announcement, Lord Roger Reyne left the hall in anger and Lady Ellyn Tarbeck laughed aloud. While the rest of Lord Tytos's vassals sat on their tongues, Tytos's eldest son, [[Tywin Lannister]], spoke out against the wedding because he thought it an uneven match.{{Ref|aFfC|32}} Tytos later sent Tywin to [[King's Landing]] to serve as a royal cupbearer at King [[Aegon V Targaryen]]'s court. {{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}  
+
===The fall of Castamere===
 +
With Lord Roger feverish and weak due to his injuries, his younger brother, Ser [[Reynard Reyne]], assumed command of the remaining Reyne forces. The [[House Reyne|Reynes]] took refuge at [[Castamere]], and Reynard led all his men down into the mines of the castle. Ser [[Tywin Lannister]] arrived at Castamere three days after the burning of [[Tarbeck Hall]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} and according to a semi-canon source, his host had doubled in size with the arrival of forces from Lords [[House Banefort|Banefort]], [[House Plumm|Plumm]], [[House Stackspear|Stackspear]], and [[House Westerling|Westerling]].<ref name=sample/> Reynard believed he held the advantage, as Tywin could not possibly fight his way inside the mines. When his people were all inside, Reynard sent terms for surrender to Tywin, stating that the Reynes would be loyal vassals in return for Tywin's brothers serving within Castamere as hostages.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}<ref name=sample/>
  
During the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]], Lord Tytos answered the call of his new king, [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]], and sent ten thousand westermen under the leadership of his young brother, Ser [[Jason Lannister (son of Gerold)|Jason Lannister]] (who would later perish in the war) to fight beside the forces of the [[Iron Throne]] in the [[Stepstones]]. Lord Tytos also sent his three eldest sons to fight in the conflict, while he remained at the court of Casterly Rock with his new mistress, a lowborn wet nurse who caught his eye.  
+
Tywin ignored Reynard's terms and instead ordered his men to seal the entrances of the mines. When all entrances were blocked with tons of stone, earth, and soil, leaving no way in or out, Tywin had his men dam a nearby stream and divert it to the nearest mine entrance. Water easily found its way though the tiny gaps in the rubble that blocked the mouth of the entrance. Lannister men stationed at the most distant entrances claimed they could hear faint screaming and shouting, but by daybreak, there was nothing but silence. None of the three hundred men, women, and children within ever emerged from the mines again. As commanded by Tywin, the castle on the surface was set ablaze.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
  
Ser Tywin Lannister returned from the Stepstones with his brothers, Ser [[Kevan Lannister|Kevan]] (newly knighted) and [[Tygett Lannister]] who while still a squire had distinguished himself well in the fighting. Battle hardened from the war, Tywin and his brothers knew how their House was regarded by others under the misrule of their sire and were determined to change that. Tywin took upon himself the task of restoring House Lannister's dominance. When the young Tywin declared to his father he was restoring House Lannister to its proper place, Lord Tytos protested feebly before returning to the comfort and embrace of his wet nurse mistress.{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}
+
==Aftermath==
 
+
By the end of the campaign the rebellious Houses [[House Reyne|Reyne]] and [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]] were completely obliterated. The ruined, blackened, and crumbling castles of [[Castamere]] and [[Tarbeck Hall]] stand empty to this day as a reminder to those who dare scorn the power of the Rock.{{ref|asos|19}}{{ref|affc|33}} Castamere's mines have remained sealed.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}
Tywin began by demanding the repayment of the gold his father lent out, and those who could not repay immediately had to send a hostage to [[Casterly Rock]] until their debt was settled. He charged his brother Kevan with command of five hundred knights, who were all blooded and seasoned veterans from the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and had them rid the westerlands of robber knights and bandit outlaws. Some hastened to obey, Ser [[Harys Swyft]] was said to have stated,
 
 
 
{{Quote|The lion has awoken.{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}}}
 
 
 
Unable to pay the loan at the time, Ser Harys agreed to surrender his daughter [[Dorna Swyft|Drona]] into Ser Kevan's custody, elsewhere the collectors were met with sullen resistance and open defiance. Lord Roger Reyne reportedly laughed when he read Tywin's edicts and counseled his friends and vassals to do nothing. 
 
 
 
Lord Walderran Tarbeck choose a different course. He rode to Casterly Rock to confront Lord Tytos, confident he could easily cow Tytos to rescind his son's edicts. Lord Tytos was not present when Lord Tarbeck arrived at court, but the young Tywin was and ordered Lord Walderran imprisoned for disloyalty.
 
 
 
In return, Lady Ellyn Tarbeck seized three Lannisters—two [[House Lannister of Lannisport|Lannisters]] of [[Lannisport]], as well as [[Stafford Lannister]], whose sister [[Joanna Lannister|Joanna]] was betrothed to young Tywin—and threatened them harm unless her lord and husband was returned. This awoke Lord Tytos, who ignored Tywin's suggestion that Lord Walderran should be sent back to his wife in three pieces, one for every Lannister taken. Tytos returned Walderran unharmed and even forgave the Tarbeck debt to House Lannister.{{Ref|aFfC|44}}{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}
 
 
 
==Conflict==
 
Less then a year later, the [[House Tarbeck|Tarbecks]] rebelled again, together with [[House Reyne]]. [[Tywin Lannister]] was determined to bring the over mighty and belligerent vassals to heel. Late in {{date|261}} he sent [[raven]] messages to both [[Tarbeck Hall]] and [[Castamere]] demanding that they present themselves at [[Casterly Rock]] to answer for their crimes. Both Houses refused (as Tywin knew they would) and choose defiance, rising in revolt and renouncing their fealty to [[House Lannister]].
 
 
 
Tywin did not seek the leave of his lord father, [[Tytos Lannister]], nor informed him of his intent, but rode forth himself. Tywin took command of the Lannister forces and immediately marched against the upstart vassals, taking the army he had already gathered prior to sending the raven messages, consisting of 3,500 soldiers (three thousand men-at-arms and five hundred knights).
 
 
 
[[House Tarbeck]] was the first to feel his wroth, the Lannister host descending so quickly that the Tarbecks had no time to properly gather their supporters. Lord [[Walderan Tarbeck]] rode forth to met the Lannister host with what little force he had in his garrison. A short bloody battle ensued in which the Tarbecks were butchered. Tywin ordered all Tarbecks and men wearing their badge decapitated. The Lannister host marched on Tarbeck Hall, with the heads of Lord Walderan and his kin impaled on the spears of those in the vanguard, gathering support along the way.
 
 
 
Lady [[Ellyn Tarbeck]] closed the gates of Tarbeck Hall and sent ravens to Castamere appealing for aid, trusted in her walls to defend her until her brother, Lord [[Roger Reyne]], and his army arrived to lift the siege. Tywin, though, had siege engines prepared in less than a day. A lucky shot from a stone thrower sent a boulder over the walls and on to Tarbeck Hall's aged keep, bringing the castle down upon Lady Ellyn and her surviving son. All resistance ended and the gates were thrown open. Tywin commanded the castle be put to the torch. For a day and night the flames burned until nothing was left of Tarbeck Hall except a blackened empty shell.
 
 
 
The Red Lion of Castamere, Lord Roger, arrived with two thousand hastily-gathered men just in time to witness Tarbeck Hall still in flames. Tywin's host outnumbered Roger's three to one, with some historians even arguing that it was a five to one difference. Hoping surprise could win him the day, Lord Roger commanded his forces to attack the Lannister host. After the first shock the Lannisters recovered quickly and soon their greater numbers began to tell. With most of his host slain, Lord Reyne took a crossbow wound below his shoulder blades as he retreated back to Castamere. The badly-wounded Roger Reyne was feverishly weak and unfit to now command the Reyne forces, so his younger brother [[Reynard Reyne|Reynard]] assumed command.
 
  
Castamere began as a mine like [[Casterly Rock]], and the Reynes had become near as rich as the Lannisters during the [[Age of Heroes]] due to the large supply of gold, silver and gems in the mines. To protect their mine, they had raised curtain wall to protect the entrance with two stout towers on both sides to defend the approach. Over time as the gold and silver dried up, the mine had been widened and converted into Halls, galleries and bed chambers and even a vast underground ballroom. To the naked eye Castamere seemed a modest holding, fit for only a small lord or a landed knight, but nine tenths of the castle was beneath ground.  
+
Tywin's manner of dealing with the revolt had made him respected and feared throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}} Though the brutality of Tywin's methods drew censure from some, everyone agreed that order had been restored to the westerlands.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
  
It was to these deep chambers that Reynard retreated to along with what remained of his household, knowing he lacked the men to defend Castamere's wall from a siege of Tywin's host. His small force could easily hold and even defeat any who attempted to storm the narrow passageways and chambers. The storage rooms in the lower levels also housed more then enough food to survive starvation. Reynard abandoned the surface entirely, and once all of his forces and kin were safely below the surface, Reynard sent word to Tywin to begin parley.
+
Tywin's actions to restore [[House Lannister]]'s power are immortalized in the song "[[The Rains of Castamere]]", and he is known to have used the song as a threat against troublesome bannermen.{{ref|asos|19}}
  
Tywin did not honor his offer. Instead he ordered his force to seal the mine entrances with pick and shovel. All the entrance points were blocked with tons of stone, earth and soil so that there was no way in or out. Tywin had his men dam a nearby stream in less then a day and it took them two more days to divert the stream to the mine entrance. Water easily found its way though the tiny gaps in the rubble that blocked the mouth of the entrance. Ser Reynard took three hundred down into those tunnels, but none emerged.
+
==Quotes==
 +
{{Quote|The lion has awoken.{{ref|twoiaf|The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons}}|[[Harys Swyft]] regarding [[Tywin Lannister]]}}
  
The men stationed to guard the entrance to ensure no one escaped claimed they could hear faint screaming and shouting, but by daybreak, there was nothing but silence. No one ever reopened those mines again, and they remain sealed to this day. Tywin commanded that the castle on the surface be set ablaze.{{ref|twoiaf| House Lannister under the Dragons}}
+
{{Quote|'''Roose:''' The curse of [[Tywin Lannister]]. [[Vargo Hoat|Our goat]] should have consulted the [[House Tarbeck|Tarbecks]] or the [[House Reyne|Reynes]]. They might have warned him how your lord father deals with betrayal.<br>
 +
'''Jaime:''' There are no Tarbecks or Reynes.<br>
 +
'''Roose:''' My point precisely.{{ref|ASOS|37}}|[[Roose Bolton]] and [[Jaime Lannister]]}}
  
==Aftermath==
+
{{Quote|'''Jaime:''' [[Tywin Lannister|My father]] had a saying too. Never wound a foe when you can kill him. Dead men don't claim vengeance.
By the end of the campaign both rebel houses were completely obliterated and [[Castamere]] and [[Tarbeck Hall]] were put to the torch by [[Tywin Lannister]]. Tywin let the ruined, blackened, and crumbling castles of the now-extinct Houses [[House Reyne|Reyne]] and [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]] stand empty to this day as a mute testament and warning to those who dare scorn the power of [[Casterly Rock]].{{ref|asos|19}}{{ref|affc|33}}
+
'''Hoster:''' Their sons do.<br>
 +
'''Jaime:''' Not if you kill the sons as well. Ask the [[House Casterly|Casterlys]] about that if you doubt me. Ask [[Walderan Tarbeck|Lord]] and [[Ellyn Reyne|Lady]] [[House Tarbeck|Tarbeck]], or the [[House Reyne|Reynes]] of [[Castamere]]. Ask the [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Prince of Dragonstone]].{{ref|ADWD|48}}|[[Jaime Lannister]] and [[Hoster Blackwood]]}}
  
Tywin Lannister's actions to restore his family's power are immortalized in the song "[[The Rains of Castamere]]".
+
==Notes==
 +
{{Notes}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 87: Line 84:
  
 
[[Category:Events]]
 
[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:Wars]]
+
[[Category:House Banefort battles]]
[[Category:Westerlands]]
 
 
[[Category:House Lannister battles]]
 
[[Category:House Lannister battles]]
 +
[[Category:House Marbrand battles]]
 +
[[Category:House Plumm battles]]
 +
[[Category:House Prester battles]]
 
[[Category:House Reyne battles]]
 
[[Category:House Reyne battles]]
 +
[[Category:House Stackspear battles]]
 
[[Category:House Tarbeck battles]]
 
[[Category:House Tarbeck battles]]
 +
[[Category:House Westerling battles]]
 +
[[Category:Rebellions]]
 +
[[Category:Wars]]
 +
[[Category:Westerlands]]
  
 
[[es:Rebelión Reyne-Tarbeck]]
 
[[es:Rebelión Reyne-Tarbeck]]
 +
[[fr:Rébellion des Reyne et des Tarbeck]]
 
[[ru:Восстание Тарбеков и Рейнов]]
 
[[ru:Восстание Тарбеков и Рейнов]]

Revision as of 14:59, 31 December 2019

Reyne-Tarbeck revolt
Reyne Tarbeck Rebellion.png
art by RobinF

Date 261 AC[1]
Location Castamere and Tarbeck Hall in the westerlands
Result Elimination of Houses Reyne and Tarbeck
Restoration of Lannister dominance over the westerlands
Belligerents
House Reyne
House Tarbeck
House Lannister
House Banefort
House Marbrand[2]
House Plumm[2]
House Prester
House Stackspear
House Westerling
Notable commanders
Lord Roger Reyne
Ser Reynard Reyne
Lord Walderan Tarbeck
Lady Ellyn Tarbeck
Lord Tion Tarbeck
Ser Tywin Lannister
Strength
At Tarbeck Hall:
  • 500 Tarbeck household knights[N 1]
  • 2,000 soldiers from House Reyne (including ~200 knights)

At Castamere:[1]

  • More than 300 men, women and children
At Tarbeck Hall:[N 2]
  • 500 knights
  • 3,000 men-at-arms
  • 3,000 crossbowmen.

At Castamere:[N 3]

Losses
Complete elimination of the rebellious vassalsMinimal

The Reyne-Tarbeck revolt was an uprising in the westerlands in 261 AC. Houses Reyne and Tarbeck renounced fealty and rose against their Lannister overlords due to the perceived weakness of the Lord of Casterly Rock, Tytos Lannister. The revolt was crushed by Tytos's heir, Ser Tywin Lannister.[1]

Prelude

Lord Robert Reyne, the Lord of Castamere, was succesful in arranging a betrothal between his daughter Ellyn and Tywald Lannister, the heir of Lord Gerold Lannister of Casterly Rock. However, both Ellyn's betrothed and father were slain during the Peake Uprising in 233 AC. Ellyn, strong-willed and hot-tempered, was not willing to give up on her dream of becoming Lady of Casterly Rock, something which she had been anticipating for years. She convinced Lord Gerold's second son, Tion, to break his own betrothal and marry her instead. In this she was succesfull; Ellyn and Tion were wed in 235 AC, causing Ellyn to become the Lady of Casterly Rock in all but name, as Lord Gerold was widowed.[1]

Ellyn used her position to support the position of her own family. In 236 AC, she became a widow when Tion died in the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. Ellyn's influence dwindled as Lord Gerold assumed more control over Casterly Rock and began to prepare his younger son Tytos for his future lordship. According to a semi-canon source, Ellyn at first claimed to have been pregnant shortly after Tion's death, but as time passed and her belly remained flat it was concluded the pregnancy had been a lie.[2] Thereafter, most of the Reynes departed Casterly Rock for Castamere. Due to the Widow's Law, Ellyn remained at the Rock, but her influence was declining sharply. In 239 AC, Ellyn made another claim to the position she so desired and attempted to bed Tytos, Lord Gerold's new heir. The young Tytos was so intimidated by Ellyn that he was unable to perform and confessed what had happened to his wife, Lady Jeyne Marbrand, who related the tale to Lord Gerold. Gerold acted at once, and Ellyn was hastily married to the twice-widowed Walderan Tarbeck, Lord of Tarbeck Hall.[1] The rivalry between Ellyn and Jeyne, which had begun years past, would continue for many years to come.

Tytos became the Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West in 244 AC at the death of Lord Gerold. Tytos desired to be loved, and as such was willing to forgive people quickly. Many saw this as a weakness, and as such, many of Tytos's bannermen and merchants from Lannisport and Kayce borrowed money from him without paying their debts. Through her brothers, Lady Ellyn borrowed gold from House Lannister as well, which she used to restore the crumbling Tarbeck Hall. The power of House Lannister grew less, and even beyond the westerlands people began to realize the Lannisters were no longer to be feared.[1]

Lord Tytos's eldest three sons left to fight in the War of the Ninepenny Kings in 260 AC. When Tywin, Tytos's heir, returned from the Stepstones with his brothers, Kevan and Tygett, he took upon himself to restore the power of House Lannister, despite Tytos's reluctance. Tywin demanded repayment of his father's loans and all who could not pay were ordered to send hostages to Casterly Rock. Kevan formed a new company of five hundred veterans to aid Tywin. Lord Roger Reyne, Ellyn's older brother, laughed when he read Tywin's edicts and advised his friends and vassals to do nothing. Lord Walderan Tarbeck hoped to convince Tytos to rescind Tywin's edicts and traveled to Casterly Rock, but was instead imprisoned by Tywin.[1] In return, his wife Ellyn seized three Lannisters – two Lannisters of Lannisport, and Stafford Lannister, whose sister Joanna was betrothed to Tywin – and threatened them harm unless her husband was returned. Tytos ignored Tywin's suggestion of sending Lord Walderan back to his wife in three pieces, one for every Lannister taken, and instead returned Walderan unharmed. In addition, he forgave the Tarbeck debt to House Lannister.[3][1]

Revolt

Ser Tywin Lannister remained determined to defeat the disloyal vassals of House Lannister. In 261 AC, less then a year after the exchange of captives, Tywin sent ravens to Tarbeck Hall and Castamere demanding answers for their crimes at Casterly Rock. As he had expected, Lord Roger and Ser Reynard Reyne, as well Lord Walderan and Lady Ellyn Tarbeck, rose in rebellion, renouncing their fealthy to Casterly Rock.[1]

Without the permission of Lord Tytos Lannister, Tywin marched against the upstart vassals with three thousand men-at-arms and crossbowmen and five hundred knights.[1] According to a semi-canon source, the host was joined on the march by troops from House Marbrand and House Prester, as well as a dozen lesser lords,[2] although The World of Ice & Fire does not appear to count these soldiers.[N 4]

The fall of Tarbeck Hall

Because the Lannisters marched on Tarbeck Hall so suddenly, Lord Walderan Tarbeck had no time to rally his banners. As such, he met the Lannister host in battle with only his household knights. A short bloody battle ensued in which the Tarbecks were butchered.[1] According to a semi-canon source, Lord Walderan's heir, his only surviving son from his first marriage, died during battle, but Walderan himself was taken alive, as were two of his sons from his second marriage. Though Walderan expected to be ransomed,[2] they were all executed. The heads of Walderan and his sons were impaled on spears, and led the march onto Tarbeck Hall.[4]

At Tarbeck Hall, Lady Ellyn expected a long siege. She sent ravens to Castamere, asking her brothers Roger and Reynard for help. According to a semi-canon source, when Ser Kevan arrived under a peace banner demanding her surrender, she laughed at him, telling him: "You are not the only lions in the west, ser. My brothers are coming, and their claws are just as long and sharp as yours".[2] However, Ser Tywin had siege engines prepared in less than a day. These were used to throw a great boulder over the walls onto Tarbeck Hall's aged keep, bringing the castle down upon Ellyn and her son, Tion. All resistance ended and the gates were thrown open, and Tywin commanded the castle be put to the torch. For a day and night the flames burned until nothing was left of Tarbeck Hall except a blackened empty shell.[1] According to a semi-canon source,[2] Tywin forced Ellyn's daughters, Rohanne and Cyrelle, to join the silent sisters, while Rohanne's three-year-old son disappeared during the fighting. Reports suggest that the boy had been thrown down a well by Ser Amory Lorch.[2]

The Red Lion and the Gold

Lord Roger Reyne of Castamere arrived with two thousand hastily-gathered men following an exhausting march in time to witness Tarbeck Hall aflame. Most reports claim the Lannisters had three times as many men as the Reynes (a few unreliably claim five times as many). Roger hoped that surprise would give him the advantage and sounded the attack. The Lannister army was quick to recover from the first shock, and when the higher numbers of the Lannisters began to tell, Lord Roger saw no other option than to flee. As he fled back to Castamere, half his men had already died. Roger was wounded by a crossbow bolt between the shoulders as he fled and had to be carried back to Castamere.[1]

The fall of Castamere

With Lord Roger feverish and weak due to his injuries, his younger brother, Ser Reynard Reyne, assumed command of the remaining Reyne forces. The Reynes took refuge at Castamere, and Reynard led all his men down into the mines of the castle. Ser Tywin Lannister arrived at Castamere three days after the burning of Tarbeck Hall,[1] and according to a semi-canon source, his host had doubled in size with the arrival of forces from Lords Banefort, Plumm, Stackspear, and Westerling.[2] Reynard believed he held the advantage, as Tywin could not possibly fight his way inside the mines. When his people were all inside, Reynard sent terms for surrender to Tywin, stating that the Reynes would be loyal vassals in return for Tywin's brothers serving within Castamere as hostages.[1][2]

Tywin ignored Reynard's terms and instead ordered his men to seal the entrances of the mines. When all entrances were blocked with tons of stone, earth, and soil, leaving no way in or out, Tywin had his men dam a nearby stream and divert it to the nearest mine entrance. Water easily found its way though the tiny gaps in the rubble that blocked the mouth of the entrance. Lannister men stationed at the most distant entrances claimed they could hear faint screaming and shouting, but by daybreak, there was nothing but silence. None of the three hundred men, women, and children within ever emerged from the mines again. As commanded by Tywin, the castle on the surface was set ablaze.[1]

Aftermath

By the end of the campaign the rebellious Houses Reyne and Tarbeck were completely obliterated. The ruined, blackened, and crumbling castles of Castamere and Tarbeck Hall stand empty to this day as a reminder to those who dare scorn the power of the Rock.[5][6] Castamere's mines have remained sealed.[1]

Tywin's manner of dealing with the revolt had made him respected and feared throughout the Seven Kingdoms.[1] Though the brutality of Tywin's methods drew censure from some, everyone agreed that order had been restored to the westerlands.[7]

Tywin's actions to restore House Lannister's power are immortalized in the song "The Rains of Castamere", and he is known to have used the song as a threat against troublesome bannermen.[5]

Quotes

The lion has awoken.[1]

Roose: The curse of Tywin Lannister. Our goat should have consulted the Tarbecks or the Reynes. They might have warned him how your lord father deals with betrayal.

Jaime: There are no Tarbecks or Reynes.

Roose: My point precisely.[8]

Jaime: My father had a saying too. Never wound a foe when you can kill him. Dead men don't claim vengeance.

Hoster: Their sons do.

Jaime: Not if you kill the sons as well. Ask the Casterlys about that if you doubt me. Ask Lord and Lady Tarbeck, or the Reynes of Castamere. Ask the Prince of Dragonstone.[9]

Notes

  1. According to the semi-canon, unabridged version of "The Westerlands" from The World of Ice & Fire, House Tarbeck had five hundred household knights
  2. Tywin Lannister "rode forth himself with five hundred knights and three thousand men-at-arms and crossbowmen behind him", and compared to the two thousand men of Roger Reyne, was said to have "three times his strength", according to most accounts (The World of Ice & Fire,The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons), thereby demonstrating that Tywin had three thousand men-at-arms and three thousand crossbowmen, bringing his total to sixty-five hundred men, roughly three times as many as Lord Roger's two thousand.
  3. According to the semi-canon, unabridged version of "The Westerlands" from The World of Ice & Fire, Tywin's host had doubled in size upon arrival at Castamere
  4. The World of Ice & Fire states that Tywin's host, identified as "five hundred knights and three thousand men-at-arms and crossbowmen", was three times as large, according to most counts, as Roger Reyne's two thousand men. That indicates that Tywin had three thousand men-at-arms and three thousand crossbowmen, giving him 6,500 compared to Roger's 2,000. As the addition of soldiers from Houses Prester and Marbrand are ommitted from the printed edition, it is possible these men are amongst Tywin's aforementioned host.

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragons.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Georgerrmartin.com: georgerrmartin.com Unabridged version of "The Westerlands" chapter from The World of Ice & Fire
  3. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: House Lannister Under the Dragon.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  6. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  9. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.