Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Trident"

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{{Template:Battlebox
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{{Battlebox
 
| image = [[File:War_of_the_Usurper.png]]
 
| image = [[File:War_of_the_Usurper.png]]
 
| caption = Location 4, Factions:<font color="#008000">Baratheon</font>. <font color="#808080">Stark</font>. <font color="#8B4513">Tyrell</font>. <font color="#ff0000">Lannister</font>. <font color="#000000">Targaryen</font>.
 
| caption = Location 4, Factions:<font color="#008000">Baratheon</font>. <font color="#808080">Stark</font>. <font color="#8B4513">Tyrell</font>. <font color="#ff0000">Lannister</font>. <font color="#000000">Targaryen</font>.
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| conflict = [[Robert's Rebellion]]
 
| conflict = [[Robert's Rebellion]]
 
| date = {{Date|283}}
 
| date = {{Date|283}}
| place = The [[Trident]]
+
| place = The [[ruby ford|Trident]]
| result = Rebel victory
+
| result = Decisive rebel victory
| combatant1 = Rebel army of <br> [[The North]] <br> [[The Riverlands]] <br> [[The Vale]] <br> [[The Stormlands]]
+
| combatant1 = [[File:House Baratheon.svg|30px]] '''Rebels''':
| combatant2 = Royal army of <br> [[King's Landing]] <br> [[Dragonstone]] <br> [[Dorne]] <br> Loyalist Riverland, Stormland, Vale Houses (Darry, Mooton, Ryger)
+
* [[File:House Stark.svg|20px]] [[North]], led by [[House Stark]]
| commander1 = Lord [[Robert Baratheon]] <br> Lord [[Eddard Stark]] <br> Lord [[Jon Arryn]] <br> Lord [[Hoster Tully]]
+
* [[File:House Tully.svg|20px]] [[Riverlands]], led by [[House Tully]]
| commander2 = Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] + <br> Prince [[Lewyn Martell]] + <br> Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] <br> Ser [[Jonothor Darry]] +
+
* [[File:House Arryn.svg|20px]] [[Vale]], led by [[House Arryn]]
| strength1 = 35,000
+
* [[File:House Baratheon.svg|20px]] [[Stormlands]], led by [[House Baratheon]]
| strength2 = 40,000<br>(10,000 [[Dornishmen]])
+
| combatant2 = [[File:House Targaryen.svg|30px]] '''Loyalists''':
 +
* [[File:House Targaryen.svg|20px]] [[Crownlands]]
 +
* [[File:House Tyrell.svg|20px]] [[Reach]]<ref name=SSM>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Siege_of_Storms_End The Siege of Storm's End], July 18, 1999</ref>  
 +
* [[File:House Martell.svg|20px]] [[Dorne]], led by [[House Martell]]
 +
* Loyalist [[riverlands]], [[stormlands]], [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]] Houses
 +
** [[File:House Darry.svg|20px]] [[House Darry]]
 +
** [[File:House Goodbrook.svg|20px]] [[House Goodbrook]]
 +
** [[File:House Mooton.svg|20px]] [[House Mooton]]
 +
** [[File:House Ryger.svg|20px]] [[House Ryger]]
 +
| commander1 = [[File:House Baratheon.svg|20px]] Lord [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]]<br>[[File:House Stark.svg|20px]] Lord [[Eddard Stark]]<br>[[File:House Arryn.svg|20px]] Lord [[Jon Arryn]]<br>[[File:House Tully.svg|20px]] Lord [[Hoster Tully]]
 +
| commander2 = [[File:House Targaryen.svg|20px]] Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]<br>[[File:Kingsguard.svg|20px]] Prince [[Lewyn Martell]]<br>[[File:Kingsguard.svg|20px]] Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] (WIA)<br>[[File:Kingsguard.svg|20px]] Ser [[Jonothor Darry]]
 +
| strength1 = Less than 40,000
 +
| strength2 = 40,000{{ref|AGOT|36}}
 +
* 30,000 from the [[crownlands]], [[Reach]], [[riverlands]], [[stormlands]], and [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]]
 +
* 10,000 [[Dornishmen]]
 
| casualties1 = Unknown
 
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = Significant, Force scattered [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]  
+
| casualties2 = Significant, force scattered<br>[[Rhaegar Targaryen]]†<br>[[Lewyn Martell]]†<br>[[Jonothor Darry]]
+[[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.
+
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 [[Trident]], across what would thereafter be known as the [[ruby ford]]. It ended in a victory for the rebels.
  
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
After the defeat at [[Battle of the Bells|Stoney Sept]], King [[Aerys II]] 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.
+
After Lord [[Jon Connington]]'s defeat in the [[Battle of the Bells]], King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] at last realized that the rebellion was a major threat to [[House Targaryen]], perhaps the greatest threat to the dynasty since [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]].{{ref|ASOS|37}} Lord [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] left [[Stoney Sept]] for [[Riverrun]], where Lords [[Jon Arryn]] and [[Eddard Stark]] married the daughters of Lord [[Hoster Tully]]. Around the time of the Trident, Robert announced his claim for the [[Iron Throne]]<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/US_Signing_Tour_Huntington_Beach_CA US Signing Tour (Huntington Beach, CA)], November 19, 2005</ref> and led the combined [[House Arryn|Arryn]], [[House Baratheon|Baratheon]], [[House Stark|Stark]], and [[House Tully|Tully]] host of rebels.{{ref|AWOIAF| Robert Baratheon}}
  
By this time, Crown Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] had reappeared to take command of the royalist army. King Aerys had gracelessly reminded the [[House Martell|Martells]] that [[Elia Martell|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.  
+
Aerys's heir, Crown Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], returned from [[Dorne]] to take command of the royalist army.{{ref|AWOIAF| Rhaegar Targaryen}} King Aerys gracelessly reminded the [[House Martell|Martells]] that Princess [[Elia Martell|Elia]] was in his power and dispatched her uncle, Prince [[Lewyn Martell]] of the [[Kingsguard]], to assume command of ten thousand [[Dornishmen]] marching up the [[kingsroad]], and joined them to Rhaegar's royalist army en route to the Trident. At the same time, Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] and Ser [[Jonothor Darry]] of the Kingsguard were sent to rally the scattered forces of Lord Connington. Additionally, Rhaegar persuaded his father to ask for help from his old [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Tywin Lannister]].{{ref|ASOS|37}}
  
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.
+
Led by the loyalist lords [[Mace Tyrell]] and [[Paxter Redwyne]], the [[Redwyne fleet]] and most levies from the [[Reach]] were at the [[siege of Storm's End]]. Some of Mace's men joined Rhaegar's host, however.<ref name=SSM/>
  
 
==Opposing armies==
 
==Opposing armies==
[[File:The battle of the trident by abepapakhian.jpg|thumb|350px|Battle of the trident by Abe Papakhian]]
 
  
===Rebel army===
+
===Rebel Army===
 
The army of the rebels consisted of:  
 
The army of the rebels consisted of:  
* All the forces of the North
+
* Forces from the [[north]], including Houses [[House Bolton]],{{ref|AGOT|33}} [[House Karstark|Karstark]],{{ref|ASOS|20}} [[House Manderly|Manderly]],{{ref|ADWD|29}} [[House Mormont|Mormont]],{{ref|ASOS|57}} [[House Stark|Stark]],{{ref|ASOS|20}} and [[House Umber|Umber]].{{ref|ADWD|17}}
* Almost all forces of the Vale, though a few houses had remained loyal to the Targaryens
+
* Forces from the [[Vale of Arryn]], including Houses [[House Arryn|Arryn]] and [[House Corbray|Corbray]],{{ref|AFFC|23}} though a few houses had remained loyal to the Targaryens earlier in the war, like the [[House Grafton|Graftons]].{{ref|ADWD|9}}
* Half 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 [[House Darry|Darry]], [[House Mooton|Mooton]] and [[House Ryger|Ryger]], some with personal ties to the Targaryens, had taken up the royal cause.{{Ref|aGoT|27}} [[House Frey]], the largest of the banner houses to House Tully, had not committed either way.  
+
* Forces from the [[riverlands]], although the riverlords were deeply divided during the war. [[House Tully]] and many subject lords, including [[House Mallister]],{{ref|AGOT|29}} took the side of the rebels, while other houses, such as Houses [[House Darry|Darry]], [[House Goodbrook|Goodbrook]], [[House Mooton|Mooton]], and [[House Ryger|Ryger]], some with personal ties to the Targaryens, took up the royal cause.{{Ref|aGoT|27}}{{ref|ASOS|43}} [[House Frey]], the largest of the houses sworn to House Tully, was slow to gather their levies.{{ref|AGOT|28}}
* 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.
+
* Some of the [[stormlands]]. Though [[Robert I Baratheon|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 [[Battle of Ashford|Ashford]] and the siege of Storm's End. As such, their contribution north of the stormlands appears to have been limited.
Total: Approximately 35,000.  
 
  
 
===Royal Army===  
 
===Royal Army===  
The army of the royalists consisted of:  
+
The army of the [[House Targaryen]] royalists consisted of:  
* 10,000 men of Dorne
+
* Ten thousand [[Dornishmen]] in service to [[House Martell]].
* Survivors of the [[Battle of the Bells]] (This consisted of loyal Riverlands, Stormlands and Vale Houses)
+
* Survivors of the [[Battle of the Bells]]. These may have included loyal riverlords, stormlords, and Valemen.
* All houses of the [[Crownlands]]; including the Lords of Crackclaw Point and the Narrow Sea
+
* Houses of the [[crownlands]], including Houses [[House Boggs|Boggs]], [[House Brune|Brune]], and [[House Crabb|Crabb]] from [[Crackclaw Point]].{{ref|AFFC|20}}
* Several hundred levies from the [[Reach]].  
+
* A sizable host from the [[Reach]].<ref name=SSM/>
  
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. {{Ref|aGoT|36}}
+
The Targaryen host had nearly forty thousand men, with at most a tenth of them [[knight]]s. The rest were archers, [[freerider]]s, and foot soldiers consisting of spearmen and pikemen.{{Ref|aGoT|36}} The royalists were more numerous, but the rebels were more battle hardened.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}
  
==The Battle==  
+
==Battle==  
[[File:rob-rhaegar-winterfell.jpg|350px|thumb|Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar Targaryen, by M.Luisa Giliberti]]
+
[[File:twoiaf battle of the trident.jpg|thumb|400px|The Battle of the Trident as depicted by Justin Sweet in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]''.]]
  
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.{{Ref|aFfC|23}} During the battle, Ser Barristan killed several men{{Ref|aGoT|33}}and Robert himself joined the fighting and met Rhaegar in single combat.  
+
The battle took place at the crossing of the [[Trident]] that would later be known as the [[ruby ford]],{{ref|AGOT|4}} as Rhaegar tried to cross the river.{{ref|ASOS|39}} [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] used his booming voice to command during the fighting.{{ref|AGOT|30}}
  
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.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Leaderless, the Royal army broke and fled.{{Ref|aGoT|36}}  
+
The [[Dornishmen]], under the command of Prince [[Lewyn Martell]], threatened Robert's left flank. Ser [[Lyn Corbray]], picking up his wounded [[Lord Corbray (father of Lyonel)|father]]'s sword, [[Lady Forlorn]], led a charge and broke the Dornishmen. During the charge Lyn killed the already-injured Lewyn.{{Ref|aFfC|23}}  
  
===Notable Casualties===
+
Elsewhere during the battle, Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] killed several men,{{Ref|aGoT|33}} and Lord [[Jason Mallister]] slew three of [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]'s bannermen.{{Ref|aGoT|29}}
* [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]
+
 
* [[Lewyn Martell]]
+
Though many great lords and knights either lost their lives or made names for themselves in the fighting, the battle was decided when Robert and Rhaegar met in single combat on horseback in the stream. Robert eventually crushed Rhaegar's chest 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.{{Ref|aGoT|4}} Leaderless, the royal army broke and fled{{Ref|aGoT|36}} back to [[King's Landing]].{{ref|AGOT|12}}
* [[Jonothor Darry]]
+
 
* Both the sons of [[Mors Umber|Mors "Crowfood" Umber]]
+
Barristan was close to death when he was brought before Robert. Although he was counseled to kill him by Lord [[Roose Bolton]], Robert spared Barristan's life and sent his own [[maester]] to tend to his wounds.{{Ref|aGoT|33}} Lord [[Wyman Manderly]] granted the [[Wolf's Den]] to Ser [[Bartimus]] as a reward for saving his life during the battle.{{ref|ADWD|29}} Both sons of [[Mors Umber|Mors "Crowfood" Umber]] were killed at the Trident,{{ref|ADWD|17}} and [[Lord Grandison]] died a year later from wounds sustained in the fighting.{{ref|ASOS|36}} The son of Lord [[House Goodbrook|Goodbrook]] made peace with Lord [[Hoster Tully]] and Robert.{{ref|ASOS|43}}
  
 
==Aftermath==  
 
==Aftermath==  
The battle was the decisive engagement of the war. After the victory, [[House Frey|Freys]] decide to join winner side, [[Hoster Tully]] calls this '[[Walder Frey|The Late Lord Frey]]'.
+
The battle was the decisive engagement of the war. [[Walder Frey]] arrived after the battle was over, so Lord [[Hoster Tully]] has since called him "the Late Lord Frey" and questioned his loyalty.{{ref|AGOT|28}} When [[King's Landing]] learned of Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar's]] death, King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] sent the pregnant Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] with Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] to [[Dragonstone]]. Aerys kept [[Elia Martell]] and her children at the [[Red Keep]] as a threat against [[Doran Martell]], [[Prince of Dorne]], since the Mad King thought he had been betrayed by Prince [[Lewyn Martell|Lewyn]] at the Trident.{{ref|ASOS|37}}
The way to [[King's Landing]] was now open for the rebels, with the only significant loyalist force left was invested in the [[Siege of Storm's End]]. The rebels also learnt 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.{{Ref|aGoT|12}}
 
  
Ser [[Barristan Selmy|Barristan]] was close to death when he was brought before [[Robert Baratheon|Robert]]. Though he was counseled to kill him by [[Roose Bolton]], Robert spared his life and sent his own maester to tend to his wounds.{{Ref|aGoT|33}}
+
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 Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] was heading toward King's Landing. Lord [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]] had been wounded during the battle, so Lord [[Eddard Stark]] led Robert's vanguard down the kingsroad towards the capital, racing to reach it before the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]].{{Ref|aGoT|12}} Tywin arrived first, however, and Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] convinced the Mad King to open the city gates, resulting in the [[Sack of King's Landing]].{{ref|ASOS|37}} Robert succeeded Aerys on the [[Iron Throne]].
  
 +
==Recent Events==
 +
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 +
While in the [[House of the Undying]] in [[Qarth]], [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]'s sister, [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]], has a vision of a dying prince sinking to his knees in water and murmuring a woman's name as he dies.{{ref|ACOK|48}}
 +
 +
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 +
[[Daenerys Targaryen]] dreams she is Rhaegar at the Trident. She flies atop a [[dragon]] and melts the ice-armored host of the [[Usurper]] with [[dragonfire]].{{ref|ASOS|27}}
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{Quote|I won my crown there. {{Ref|aGoT|12}}}}
+
{{Quote|The battle screamed about Lord [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert]] and Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]] both, and by the will of the gods, or by chance-or perhaps by design-they met amidst the shallows of [[ruby ford|the ford]]. The two knights fought valiantly upon their destriers, according to all accounts. For despite his crimes, Prince Rhaegar was no coward.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}|writings of [[Yandel]]}}
- [[Robert Baratheon]]
 
  
 +
{{Quote|'''Eddard''': Do you remember the Trident, Your Grace?<br>
 +
'''Robert''': I won my crown there. How should I forget it?{{Ref|aGoT|12}}|[[Eddard Stark]] and [[Robert I Baratheon]]}}
  
{{Robert's Rebellion}}
+
{{Quote|'''Eddard:''' You avenged [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]] at the Trident.<br>
 +
'''Robert:''' That did not bring her back. The gods be damned. It was a hollow victory they gave me. A crown ...{{Ref|aGoT|12}}|[[Eddard Stark]] and [[Robert I Baratheon]]}}
 +
 
 +
{{Quote|It is time to cross the Trident.{{Ref|ASOS|27}}|thoughts of [[Daenerys Targaryen]] before the [[fall of Astapor]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|[[Robert I Baratheon|Robert]] won the tourney of the Trident. He overthrew Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]] and named me his [[queen of love and beauty]].{{Ref|AFFC|24}}|[[Cersei Lannister]] to [[Margaery Tyrell]]}}
  
==References and Notes==
+
==References==
 
{{References|2}}
 
{{References|2}}
  
 +
 +
{{Robert's Rebellion}}
 +
 +
[[Category:Robert's Rebellion]]
 
[[Category:Battles|Trident]]
 
[[Category:Battles|Trident]]
 
[[Category:Riverlands]]
 
[[Category:Riverlands]]
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[[Category:House Arryn battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Baratheon battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Boggs battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Bolton battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Brune of Brownhollow battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Brune of the Dyre Den battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Corbray battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Crabb battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Darry battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Grandison battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Karstark battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Mallister battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Manderly battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Martell battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Mooton battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Mormont battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Ryger battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Stark battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Targaryen battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Tully battles|Trident]]
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[[Category:House Umber battles|Trident]]
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[[fa:نبرد ترایدنت]]
 
[[fr:Bataille du Trident]]
 
[[fr:Bataille du Trident]]
 
[[ru:Битва на Трезубце]]
 
[[ru:Битва на Трезубце]]
 
[[zh:&#19977;&#21449;&#25119;&#27827;&#20043;&#24441;]]
 
[[zh:&#19977;&#21449;&#25119;&#27827;&#20043;&#24441;]]

Revision as of 14:17, 22 August 2022

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 Decisive rebel victory
Combatants
House Baratheon.svg Rebels: House Targaryen.svg Loyalists:
Commanders
House Baratheon.svg Lord Robert Baratheon
House Stark.svg Lord Eddard Stark
House Arryn.svg Lord Jon Arryn
House Tully.svg Lord Hoster Tully
House Targaryen.svg Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
Kingsguard.svg Prince Lewyn Martell
Kingsguard.svg Ser Barristan Selmy (WIA)
Kingsguard.svg Ser Jonothor Darry
Strength
Less than 40,000 40,000[2]
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 Trident, across what would thereafter be known as the ruby ford. It ended in a victory for the rebels.

Background

After Lord Jon Connington's defeat in the Battle of the Bells, King Aerys II Targaryen at last realized that the rebellion was a major threat to House Targaryen, perhaps the greatest threat to the dynasty since Daemon Blackfyre.[3] Lord Robert Baratheon left Stoney Sept for Riverrun, where Lords Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark married the daughters of Lord Hoster Tully. Around the time of the Trident, Robert announced his claim for the Iron Throne[4] and led the combined Arryn, Baratheon, Stark, and Tully host of rebels.[5]

Aerys's heir, Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, returned from Dorne to take command of the royalist army.[6] King Aerys 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 ten thousand Dornishmen marching up the kingsroad, and joined them to Rhaegar's royalist army en route to the Trident. At the same time, Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jonothor Darry of the Kingsguard were sent to rally the scattered forces of Lord Connington. Additionally, Rhaegar persuaded his father to ask for help from his old Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister.[3]

Led by the loyalist lords Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne, the Redwyne fleet and most levies from the Reach were at the siege of Storm's End. Some of Mace's men joined Rhaegar's host, however.[1]

Opposing armies

Rebel Army

The army of the rebels consisted of:

Royal Army

The army of the House Targaryen royalists consisted of:

The Targaryen host had nearly forty thousand men, with at most a tenth of them knights. The rest were archers, freeriders, and foot soldiers consisting of spearmen and pikemen.[2] The royalists were more numerous, but the rebels were more battle hardened.[19]

Battle

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

The battle took place at the crossing of the Trident that would later be known as the ruby ford,[20] as Rhaegar tried to cross the river.[21] Robert Baratheon used his booming voice to command during the fighting.[22]

The Dornishmen, under the command of Prince Lewyn Martell, threatened Robert's left flank. Ser Lyn Corbray, picking up his wounded father's sword, Lady Forlorn, led a charge and broke the Dornishmen. During the charge Lyn killed the already-injured Lewyn.[12]

Elsewhere during the battle, Ser Barristan Selmy killed several men,[7] and Lord Jason Mallister slew three of Rhaegar Targaryen's bannermen.[14]

Though many great lords and knights either lost their lives or made names for themselves in the fighting, the battle was decided when Robert and Rhaegar met in single combat on horseback in the stream. Robert eventually crushed Rhaegar's chest 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.[20] Leaderless, the royal army broke and fled[2] back to King's Landing.[23]

Barristan was close to death when he was brought before Robert. Although he was counseled to kill him by Lord Roose Bolton, Robert spared Barristan's life and sent his own maester to tend to his wounds.[7] Lord Wyman Manderly granted the Wolf's Den to Ser Bartimus as a reward for saving his life during the battle.[9] Both sons of Mors "Crowfood" Umber were killed at the Trident,[11] and Lord Grandison died a year later from wounds sustained in the fighting.[24] The son of Lord Goodbrook made peace with Lord Hoster Tully and Robert.[16]

Aftermath

The battle was the decisive engagement of the war. Walder Frey arrived after the battle was over, so Lord Hoster Tully has since called him "the Late Lord Frey" and questioned his loyalty.[17] When King's Landing learned of Prince Rhaegar's death, King Aerys II Targaryen sent the pregnant Queen Rhaella with Prince Viserys to Dragonstone. Aerys kept Elia Martell and her children at the Red Keep as a threat against Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, since the Mad King thought he had been betrayed by Prince Lewyn at the Trident.[3]

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 Lord Tywin Lannister was heading toward King's Landing. Lord Robert Baratheon had been wounded during the battle, so Lord Eddard Stark led Robert's vanguard down the kingsroad towards the capital, racing to reach it before the Lannisters.[23] Tywin arrived first, however, and Grand Maester Pycelle convinced the Mad King to open the city gates, resulting in the Sack of King's Landing.[3] Robert succeeded Aerys on the Iron Throne.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

While in the House of the Undying in Qarth, Rhaegar Targaryen's sister, Daenerys, has a vision of a dying prince sinking to his knees in water and murmuring a woman's name as he dies.[25]

A Storm of Swords

Daenerys Targaryen dreams she is Rhaegar at the Trident. She flies atop a dragon and melts the ice-armored host of the Usurper with dragonfire.[26]

Quotes

The battle screamed about Lord Robert and Prince Rhaegar both, and by the will of the gods, or by chance-or perhaps by design-they met amidst the shallows of the ford. The two knights fought valiantly upon their destriers, according to all accounts. For despite his crimes, Prince Rhaegar was no coward.[19]

—writings of Yandel

Eddard: Do you remember the Trident, Your Grace?
Robert: I won my crown there. How should I forget it?[23]

Eddard: 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 ...[23]

It is time to cross the Trident.[26]

—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen before the fall of Astapor

Robert won the tourney of the Trident. He overthrew Prince Rhaegar and named me his queen of love and beauty.[27]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 So Spake Martin: The Siege of Storm's End, July 18, 1999
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 36, Daenerys IV.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  4. So Spake Martin: US Signing Tour (Huntington Beach, CA), November 19, 2005
  5. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Robert Baratheon.
  6. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Rhaegar Targaryen.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 20, Catelyn III.
  9. 9.0 9.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
  10. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 57, Daenerys V.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
  12. 12.0 12.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
  13. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  14. 14.0 14.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
  15. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
  16. 16.0 16.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 43, Arya VIII.
  17. 17.0 17.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn V.
  18. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
  19. 19.0 19.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  21. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
  22. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  24. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  25. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 48, Daenerys IV.
  26. 26.0 26.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
  27. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.