Torrhen Stark

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
House Stark.PNG
Torrhen Stark
House Stark.PNG
Torrhen Stark.jpg
Torrhen leads his men to face Aegon I Targaryen
Monarch
Reign Ended in the War of Conquest.
Full name Torrhen Stark
Titles
Predecessor unknown
Successor none
Personal Information
Alias the King Who Knelt
Race Northmen
First Men
Culture Northmen
Family
Dynasty House Stark
References
Books

Torrhen Stark, known as the King Who Knelt, was a head of House Stark who reigned as King in the North until Aegon I Targaryen invaded Westeros with his dragons.[1] He was named Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North after submitting to Aegon during the War of Conquest.[1]

History

War of Conquest

After both the riverlands and Storm's End had fallen under the control of Aegon I Targaryen, Torrhen Stark called his banners. He was aware that, due to the vast distance of the North, it would take a long time to assemble his army. After the Field of Fire, whilst at Highgarden, Aegon I learned that Torrhen had crossed the Neck and entered the riverlands, leading an army of thirty thousand men. Aegon I abandoned his plans to march south, and at once started his way north, racing ahead of his army on Balerion. Both Rhaenys and Visenya Targaryen, as well as all the lords who had bend the knee to Aegon after Harrenhal and the Field of Fire, were send word of this movement. So when Torrhen reached the banks of the Trident, he found a host of forty-five thousand men and three dragons waiting for him.[2]

Torrhen's scouts had reported seeing the ruins of Harrenhal, and Torrhen had heard accounts of the Field of Fire as well. While some of his lords urged him to attack, he realised that a similar faith would await him, should he force a crossing. Others of his lords urged the King of the North to fall back to Moat Cailin, to make his stand there. Torrhen's own half-brother, Brandon Snow, offered to cross the Trident at dark, to kill the dragons.[2]

In the end, Torrhen did send his bastard brother to Aegon's camp, accompanied by three maesters, to treat with Aegon. The entire night, messages went back and forth, and the next morning, Torrhen crossed the Trident, where he knelt and laid his crown at the feet of Aegon I Targaryen, and swore fealthy. For his surrender, he was named the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.[3][2] Ever since, Torrhen is known as the King Who Knelt.[4] It is unknown what Aegon had done with Torrhen's crown.[5] The Inn of the Kneeling Man would later arise on the location where Torrhen had bent the knee.[6]

Reign of Aegon I

After Torrhen's surrender, the Company of the Rose, a sellsword company, was formed by men and (according to some accounts) women from the North who refused to bent the knee to Aegon I Targaryen. These men and women willingly chose exile across the Narrow Sea.[7]

Torrhen's sons did not agree with the Targaryen rule. Some of them spoke of rebelling, and of raising the Stark banner, whether Torrhen gave his consent or not.[8] No rebellions by House Stark are known thusfar.

Lord Torrhen's daughter was married to Lord Ronnel Arryn, Lord of the Vale.[8][9] This marriage had been arranged by Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, as an attempt to knit the new realm together. There are letters at the Citadel, which suggest that Lord Stark onnly agreed to this match after much protest, and that his sons had refused to attend the wedding.[8] Lord Ronnel would be killed early in the reign of King Aenys I Targaryen by his own brother, Jonos.[10][9] Ronnel's entire family was killed with him[11] It is unknow whether Torrhen's daughter was still alive at this point.

See also

Torrhen Stark kneels before Aegon I Targaryen

References and Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  3. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  4. Bad parameter 1: "TWOAIF" is not a recognized work
  5. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  6. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughter: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The North: The Lords of Winterfell.
  9. 9.0 9.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale: House Arryn.
  10. Bad parameter 1: "The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I" is not a recognized work
  11. Sons of the Dragon reading, LonCon 2014[1]