Difference between revisions of "House Greyjoy"

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| image        = [[file:Greyjoy coat sigil.png|250px|center]]
 
| image        = [[file:Greyjoy coat sigil.png|250px|center]]
 
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| Coat_of_arms = Sable, a golden Kraken
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| Coat_of_arms = Sable, a kraken Or
 
| Words = ''We Do Not Sow''
 
| Words = ''We Do Not Sow''
 
| Seat = [[Pyke]]
 
| Seat = [[Pyke]]

Revision as of 12:43, 22 December 2013

House Greyjoy of Pyke
Greyjoy coat sigil.png
We Do Not Sow
Coat of arms Sable, a kraken Or
Seat Pyke
Head King Euron Greyjoy
Region Iron Islands
Titles
  • King of Salt and Rock
  • Son of the Sea Wind
  • Lord Reaper of Pyke
Heir Theon Greyjoy
Overlord None, sovereign (disputed by House Baratheon of King's Landing)
Founded Age of Heroes
Pyke, castle and seat of House Greyjoy- by Zippo514 ©

House Greyjoy of Pyke is one of the Great Houses of Westeros. It rules over the Iron Islands, a harsh and bleak collection of forbidding islands off the west coast of Westeros, from the castle of Pyke on the island of the same name. Their sigil is a golden kraken on a black field, and their house motto is "We Do Not Sow."[1][2] Members of the family tend to be attractive and well-built, with black hair.

History

The House descends from the Grey King, a legendary figure from the Age of Heroes. The Greyjoys became the lords of the Iron Isles during the Targaryen Conquest: after Aegon I extinguished House Hoare, he allowed the ironborn to choose who would have primacy over them. They chose Vickon Greyjoy and his line.[3] The Greyjoys have ruled ever since, from their formidable castle of Pyke. The ironborn, however, did lose the Riverlands, which were granted to Edmyn Tully and his descendents.

Thus relegated to their dismal homeland and constrained by the king's peace, the Greyjoys have kept themselves distant from the other Great Houses, rarely taking part in events on the mainland (which they call the "green lands"). At various times they have tried to return to their ancient practices of raiding the western coastlines, such as under Lord Dagon. Dagon and the ironmen raided the coastal areas of Westeros, sacking the town of Little Dosk. Lord Beron Stark was gathering his forces and House Lannister was building ships in an effort to drive Lord Dagon and his ironmen back to the Iron Islands.

Six years after holding aloof during Robert's Rebellion, Lord Balon Greyjoy led his own rebellion against the Iron Throne, declaring himself King of the Iron Islands. He was defeated, his fleet burned and his two eldest sons Rodrik and Maron were slain during the war. His last son Theon was given as a hostage and ward to Lord Eddard Stark and he again swore fealty to House Baratheon of King's Landing.

Since their revolt, the Greyjoys have been as insular as ever. With Theon living in the green lands, Lord Balon raised his daughter Asha as his heir. Balon exiled his brother Euron when he raped the salt wife of their brother Victarion, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. Victarion was forced to kill his wife to retain his honor. Since then Euron has sailed the world aboard the Silence, reaving and pillaging, unwelcome in the Isles while Balon still lives. Another brother, Aeron Damphair, had been changed by his experience of washing overboard during the Battle of Fair Isle, and became a priest of the Drowned God.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Theon is still a ward of Winterfell nine years after the Greyjoy Rebellion. He remains there when Lord Eddard Stark rides south to become Hand of the King. He views the Stark boys as younger brothers, and helps Robb save Bran's life when the boy is attacked in the Wolfswood, but is rebuked for endangering Bran himself. When Eddard is arrested, Theon rides to war with Robb, fighting in the battles to capture Ser Jaime Lannister and break his siege of Riverrun.

House Greyjoy is among the noble houses Viserys Targaryen believes will rise for him should he land in Westeros.

A Clash of Kings

After Lord Eddard is executed in King's Landing, Robb is declared King in the North by his bannermen. Theon goes to Pyke with Robb's suggestion that Balon name himself King of the Iron Islands and join the war against House Lannister. Theon finds Asha as heir and is met with scorn from his family, who consider him softened by the green lands. Balon spurns the offer and declares himself King of the Iron Islands and the North. He sends his kin to take the lightly-held North: Victarion captures Moat Cailin in the Neck to prevent Robb's lords from returning to their seats, while Asha takes Deepwood Motte and Theon ravages Stony Shore along with Aeron Damphair and Dagmer Cleftjaw.

Each attack goes as planned. Theon, however, desires to prove himself and goes on to seize Winterfell in a daring raid. There he begins a troublesome rule, at one point murdering two children that he tells the world are Bran and Rickon Stark. Asha tells him that the ironborn will never hold landlocked castles, and leaves only a token force to help his occupation. Stark forces are arrayed to root him out, but they are betrayed by Ramsay Snow, who captures Theon and sacks Winterfell.

A Storm of Swords

Due to the Greyjoy attacks, King Robb is forced to abandon his war in the south to liberate the Northern halls. While grieving for Bran and Rickon, he weds Jeyne Westerling and breaks his marriage contract with House Frey, requiring a replacement match. Thus it is for Greyjoy-produced reasons that he marches north to free his home and to attend his uncle's wedding. Roose Bolton reveals to Robb that Theon is being flayed by Ramsay Snow at the Dreadfort. Robb never makes it home, however, as he is treacherously killed at the Twins.

A Feast for Crows

Meanwhile King Balon has died from a fall at Pyke, just a day before Euron Crow's Eye returns from his long voyage. Aeron calls the first kingsmoot in millennia, hoping that Victarion will succeed Balon to the Seastone Chair. Euron is crowned, however, beating out Asha, Victarion, and several other claimants by promising to conquer all the green lands with the power of his Dragon Horn. Aeron disappears, vowing to rouse the people against the "godless" Euron.

Euron escalates ironborn commitment in the continental war by launching a massive attack on the Reach, conquering the Shield Islands and parts of the Arbor, and threatening Oldtown. Victarion leads the attack on the Shields, but Euron steals away many of his trusted men by granting them lands on the Shield Islands. Euron goes on to ask Victarion to sail the Iron Fleet across the world to find Daenerys Targaryen to court her in his name. Victarion sets out, but secretly hopes to take Daenerys for himself.

A Dance with Dragons

During his arduous voyage Victarion rescues the red priest Moqorro, who converts him to the faith of R'hllor, supplementing his worship of the Drowned God. In the North, Theon is revealed to have been suffered horrific mind-shattering torture in the captivity of Ramsay Snow, now Ramsay Bolton, at the Dreadfort. Theon is released from the Dreadfort to perform a mission for Ramsay, who has warped the man's sense of identity and formed him into a broken creature. He is sent to Moat Cailin to treat with the ironborn garrison there, where he succeeds in getting them to surrender by promising safe passage. Ramsay reneges and flays the men alive.

Theon recognizes Ramsay's wife, "Arya Stark", as Jeyne Poole and develops a tenuous rapport with her during the tense Bolton occupation of Winterfell. He reluctantly teams with Mance Rayder to free her from the castle; they escape but are captured outside by Mors Umber, who is now sworn to Stannis Baratheon. Meanwhile Asha has returned to hold Deepwood Motte, but is defeated and captured in a sudden attack by King Stannis and the Northern mountain clans. She is brought along with Stannis's army as he marches to the Siege of Winterfell. There she finds Theon alive.

The Winds of Winter

Asha tries to ransom Theon from Stannis, but is refused since the northmen want Theon dead. Asha suggests that he behead Theon himself before a heart tree, as Ned Stark would have done.

Family


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dagon
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Stonetree
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quellon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Piper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Sunderly
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harlon
 
Quenton
 
Donel
 
Balon
 
Alannys Harlaw
 
Euron
 
Victarion
 
Unknown
three wives
 
Urrigon
 
Aeron
 
Robin
 
Stillborn
daughter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rodrik
 
Maron
 
Asha
 
Erik
Ironmaker
 
Theon
 
Bastard
sons
 
 
 
Stillborn
daughter
 
 

Household


Historical Greyjoys

Sworn Houses

References and Notes

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at House Greyjoy. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of House Greyjoy. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.