Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Trident"

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==Opposing armies==
 
==Opposing armies==
[[File:|twoiaf battle of the trident.jpg|thumb|left|The Battle of the Trident as depicted by Justin Sweet in ''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]''.]]
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[[File:twoiaf battle of the trident.jpg|thumb|left|The Battle of the Trident as depicted by Justin Sweet in ''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]''.]]
  
  

Revision as of 11:15, 3 April 2015

Battle of the Trident
War of the Usurper.png
Location 4, Factions:Baratheon. Stark. Tyrell. Lannister. Targaryen.
Conflict Robert's Rebellion
Date 283 AC
Place The Trident
Result Rebel victory
Combatants
Rebels Loyalists
Commanders
Lord Robert Baratheon
Lord Eddard Stark
Lord Jon Arryn
Lord Hoster Tully
Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
Prince Lewyn Martell
Ser Barristan Selmy
Ser Jonothor Darry
Strength
35,000 40,000
  • 30,000 Crownlanders, Reachmen, Rivermen, Stormlanders, and Valemen
  • 10,000 Dornishmen
Casualties
Unknown Significant, force scattered
Rhaegar Targaryen
Lewyn Martell
Jonothor Darry

The Battle of the Trident was the battle that ultimately determined the outcome of Robert's Rebellion. The battle was fought between Rebel and Royal troops at the Green Fork of the Trident, across what would thereafter be known as the Ruby Ford. It ended in a victory for the rebels.

Background

After the defeat at Stoney Sept, King Aerys II Targaryen had at last realized that the Rebellion was a major threat to the Targaryens, perhaps the greatest threat to the dynasty since Daemon Blackfyre. The rebel forces were assembled on the east banks of the Green Fork and once the Baratheon forces joined with the Starks, Tullys and Arryns, they had sufficient strength to threaten King's Landing, commanded by Robert Baratheon they marched south along the Kingsroad to the main crossing point over the Trident.

By this time, Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had reappeared to take command of the royalist army. King Aerys had gracelessly reminded the Martells that Princess Elia was in his power and dispatched her uncle, Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard, to assume command of 10,000 Dornish troops marching up the Kingsroad, and joined them to Rhaegar's royalist army enroute to the Trident. At the same time, Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jonothor Darry were sent to rally the scattered forces of Lord Jon Connington and joined them to Rhaegar's army as well. Additionally, Rhaegar persuaded his father to ask Lord Tywin Lannister for help.

Though a significant army and navy, under command of loyalist lords Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne, was laying siege to Storm's End, few of the southron levies were called upon to march north. Finally the royal army, under command of Rhaegar, numbering some 40,000 men, marched up the Kingsroad to the main crossing point over the Trident, as this was the route most likely to be taken by the rebels.

Opposing armies

The Battle of the Trident as depicted by Justin Sweet in The World of Ice and Fire.


Battle of the trident by Abe Papakhian

Rebel army

The army of the rebels consisted of:

  • All of the forces of the North, though not all of the soldiers took part in this particular engagement, nor were all of them south of the Neck.
  • Almost all forces of the Vale, though a few houses had remained loyal to the Targaryens, and not all of the soldiers took part in this particular engagement.
  • Some of the Riverland forces. The Riverlands had been deeply divided during the war. House Tully and many subject lords had taken the side of the rebels, while other houses, such as Houses Darry, Mooton and Ryger, some with personal ties to the Targaryens, had taken up the royal cause.[2] House Frey, the largest of the banner houses to House Tully, had not committed either way.
  • Some Stormlords. Though Robert Baratheon was the Lord of Storm's End and a central figure of the rebellion, most of the Stormlords were trapped in the south, and badly bloodied by battles at Ashford and the siege of Storm's End. As such, their contribution to the battle in the north was limited.

Total: Approximately 35,000.

Royal Army

The army of the royalists consisted of:

  • 10,000 men of Dorne
  • Survivors of the Battle of the Bells. This consisted of loyal Riverlands, Stormlands and Vale Houses.
  • All houses of the Crownlands; including the Lords of Crackclaw Point and the Narrow Sea
  • A sizable host from the Reach.[1]

It was said that the royal army was larger, but that the rebels were more battle hardened. It was near 40,000 men, with a tenth of that knights. The rest were archers, freeriders, and foot soldiers. The infantry consisted of both spearmen and pikemen. [3]

The Battle

Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar Targaryen, by M.Luisa Giliberti

The Battle took place at the crossing of the Green Fork of the Trident that would later be known as the Ruby Ford. The Dornishmen, under the command of Prince Lewyn Martell was threatening Robert's left flank. Ser Lyn Corbray, picking up his wounded father's sword, led a charge and broke the Dornishmen. During the charge Ser Lyn encountered Prince Lewyn, who was already injured. In the ensuing fight, Ser Lyn killed Prince Lewyn.[4]

Elsewhere during the battle, Ser Barristan the Bold killed several men[5], Lord Jason Mallister avenged his brother Jeffory Mallister by slaying three of Rhaegar's bannermen[6], and Robert himself joined the fighting and met Rhaegar in single combat.

Though many great lords and knights either lost their lives or made names for themselves in the fighting, the battle was decided when Robert killed Rhaegar with a blow of his warhammer. The blow was so hard that the rubies adorning Rhaegar's armor were shattered free to litter the river, giving the Ruby Ford its name.[7] Leaderless, the royal army broke and fled.[3]

Notable Casualties

Aftermath

The battle was the decisive engagement of the war. After the victory, the Freys decided to join the winning side, Hoster Tully calls Walder Frey 'The Late Lord Frey' because he was late in choosing a side for the Rebellion.

The way to King's Landing was now open for the rebels, while the only significant loyalist force left was invested in the Siege of Storm's End. The rebels also learned that Lannister forces were moving toward King's Landing at a fast pace. Robert had been wounded during the battle, so Eddard Stark led the rebel army straight down the Kingsroad towards the capital, racing to reach it before the Lannisters.[8]

Ser Barristan was close to death when he was brought before Robert. Although he was counseled to kill him by Roose Bolton, Robert spared Barristan's life and sent his own maester to tend to his wounds.[5]

Quotes

I won my crown there. [8]

Robert Baratheon


Ned: You avenged Lyanna at the Trident. Robert: That did not bring her back. The gods be damned. It was a hollow victory they gave me. A crown . . .[8]

Robert to Ned


References and Notes