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[[File:Iron Islands.jpg|350px|thumb|The main grouping of the Iron Islands in [[Ironman's Bay]]]]
 
[[File:Iron Islands.jpg|350px|thumb|The main grouping of the Iron Islands in [[Ironman's Bay]]]]
 
 
The '''Iron Islands''' is one of the constituent regions of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. Until the [[War of Conquest]] it was ruled by the [[Kings of the Iron Islands]] and then the [[Kings of the Isles and the Rivers]].
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The '''Iron Islands''' is one of the constituent regions of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. Until [[Aegon's Conquest]] it was ruled by the [[Kings of the Iron Islands]] and then briefly the [[Kings of the Isles and the Rivers]].
  
The Iron Islands are home to a fierce seafaring people who call themselves the [[ironborn]]. While some say the archipelago is named after the abundant iron ore on the islands, the ironmen claim it is instead named after their own unyielding nature.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}} It is often said that every captain is a king aboard his own ship, so the islands are also called "the land of ten thousand kings".{{ref|ACOK|11}}
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The Iron Islands are home to a fierce seafaring people who call themselves the [[ironborn]]. While some say the archipelago is named after the abundant [[iron]] ore on the islands, the ironmen claim it is instead named after their own unyielding nature.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} It is often said that every captain is a king aboard his own ship, so the islands are also called "the land of ten thousand kings".{{Ref|ACOK|11}}
  
The isles are ruled by [[House Greyjoy]] from their castle of [[Pyke]]. Notable houses have included [[House Blacktyde|Blacktyde]], [[House Botley|Botley]], [[House Drumm|Drumm]], [[House Goodbrother|Goodbrother]], [[House Greyiron|Greyiron]], [[House Harlaw|Harlaw]], [[House Hoare|Hoare]], [[House Merlyn|Merlyn]], [[House Stonehouse|Stonehouse]], [[House Sunderly|Sunderly]], [[House Tawney|Tawney]], and [[House Wynch|Wynch]].{{ref|AGOT|Appendix}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Greyjoys of Pyke}} Noble [[bastardy|bastards]] from the Iron Islands receive the surname Pyke.
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The isles are ruled by [[House Greyjoy]] from their castle of [[Pyke]]. Notable houses have included [[House Blacktyde|Blacktyde]], [[House Botley|Botley]], [[House Drumm|Drumm]], [[House Goodbrother|Goodbrother]], [[House Greyiron|Greyiron]], [[House Harlaw|Harlaw]], [[House Hoare|Hoare]], [[House Merlyn|Merlyn]], [[House Stonehouse|Stonehouse]], [[House Sunderly|Sunderly]], [[House Tawney|Tawney]], and [[House Wynch|Wynch]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke}} [[bastardy|Bastards]] of noble origin from the Iron Islands receive the surname Pyke.
  
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Fleet from Pyke.jpg|thumb|350px|Fleet from Pyke. - by Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games.]]
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[[File:Great wyk a game of thrones tcg by jcbarquet.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Great Wyk]], largest of the isles, by Juan Carlos Barquet © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 
The Iron Islands is an archipelago in [[Ironman's Bay]], located in the [[Sunset Sea]] off the western coast of [[Westeros]]. They are roughly west of the [[riverlands]], northwest of the [[westerlands]], and south of the [[north]].
 
The Iron Islands is an archipelago in [[Ironman's Bay]], located in the [[Sunset Sea]] off the western coast of [[Westeros]]. They are roughly west of the [[riverlands]], northwest of the [[westerlands]], and south of the [[north]].
  
The main grouping of islands numbers thirty-one, with the seven major isles being [[Pyke (island)|Pyke]], [[Great Wyk]], [[Old Wyk]], [[Harlaw]], [[Saltcliffe]], [[Blacktyde]], and [[Orkmont]]. Eight days sail northwest of Great Wyk is a smaller grouping of thirteen clustered around the [[Lonely Light]]. Some of the Iron Islands are used for sheep grazing or are uninhabited.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}} The islands are ruled from [[Pyke]], the seat of House Greyjoy on the island of the same name.
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The main grouping of islands numbers thirty-one, with the seven major isles being [[Pyke (island)|Pyke]], [[Great Wyk]], [[Old Wyk]], [[Harlaw]], [[Saltcliffe]], [[Blacktyde]], and [[Orkmont]]. Eight days sail northwest of Great Wyk is a smaller grouping of thirteen clustered around the [[Lonely Light]]. Some of the Iron Islands are used for sheep grazing or are uninhabited.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} The islands are ruled from [[Pyke]], the seat of House Greyjoy on the island of the same name.
  
The Iron Islands is the smallest of the regions of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. [[Dorne]] is the least populous of the Seven Kingdoms according to [[Doran Martell]], but it is unclear if he is also including the Iron Islands in this estimate.{{ref|AFFC|40}}
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The Iron Islands is the smallest of the regions of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. [[Dorne]] is the least populous of the Seven Kingdoms according to [[Doran Martell]], but it is unclear if he is also including the Iron Islands in this estimate.{{Ref|AFFC|40}}
  
The Iron Islands are small, barely-fertile rocks with few safe harbors. The seas around the islands are stormy, frequently wreaking havoc with their considerable force.  
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The Iron Islands are small, barely-fertile rocks with few safe harbors. The seas around the isles are stormy, frequently wreaking havoc with their considerable force.  
  
 
==People==
 
==People==
:{{Main|Ironborn}}
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The inhabitants of these harsh isles are known as ironmen,{{Ref|ACOK|11}} especially by the rest of Westeros,{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}} but they also call themselves the [[ironborn]].{{Ref|ACOK|11}} The ironborn are a seafaring people, and some do not like to be far from the sea.{{Ref|ADWD|26}} The [[priests of the Drowned God]] likewise seldom stray far from the sea.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} The ironborn are considered independent, fierce, and sometimes cruel. They live in a harsh land and hold no love for the peoples of the mainland [[Westeros]], whom they consider [[green lands|green]] and weak.{{Ref|ACOK|11}}
  
The inhabitants of these harsh isles are known as ironmen,{{ref|ACOK|11}} especially by the rest of Westeros,{{ref|AGOT|Appendix}} but they also call themselves the [[ironborn]].{{ref|ACOK|11}} They are men of the sea, and their naval supremacy was once unmatched. They are considered independent, fierce and sometimes cruel. They live in a harsh land and they hold no love for the peoples of the mainland and their soft green ways. The [[Faith of the Seven]] of the [[Andals]] and the [[old gods]] find small favor with the ironborn, as their allegiance is given to their native [[Drowned God]]. Because of the scarcity of the Faith, there are few [[knight]]s in the islands; known [[knight]]s include Ser [[Harras Harlaw]] and Ser [[Aladale Wynch]]. Many ironborn believe in returning to the [[Old Way]] of reaving and paying the [[iron price]].
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The [[Faith of the Seven]] and the [[old gods]] find small favor with the ironborn, as their allegiance is given to their native [[Drowned God]]. Because of the scarcity of the Faith, there are few [[knight]]s in the islands; known [[knight]]s include Ser [[Harras Harlaw]] and Ser [[Aladale Wynch]]. Some ironmen believe in returning to the [[Old Way]] of reaving and paying the [[iron price]].{{Ref|ACOK|11}}{{Ref|AFFC|1}}{{Ref|ADWD|63}}
  
 
==Economy==
 
==Economy==
The islands are sparse and rocky with a thin, stony soil that makes it hard for the smallfolk to farm, often having to do without the animals that might make their job easier, such as oxen or horses.{{Ref|aCoK|24}} While their mines do not produce the precious metals of the [[westerlands]],{{Ref|aCoK|11|p 168}} iron is abundant on the isles.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} Lead and tin can also be obtained. Most ironborn feel the dangerous and backbreaking labour required to mine these metals is work suitable only for thralls. With so little wealth on the islands themselves, it is not difficult to understand why the ironborn of old turned to raiding. Archmaester [[Haereg]] suggests that need for wood was what first drove the ironborn to raid the mainland.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}
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[[File:Zach Graves Isle Garron.JPG|thumb|350px|Iron Isles [[garron]], by Zach Graves © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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The islands are sparse and rocky with a thin, stony soil that makes it hard for the [[smallfolk]] to farm, often having to do without the animals that might make their job easier, such as oxen or horses.{{Ref|aCoK|24}} While their mines do not produce the precious metals of the [[westerlands]],{{Ref|aCoK|11}} [[iron]] is abundant on the isles.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} [[Lead]] and [[tin]] can also be obtained. Most ironborn feel the dangerous and backbreaking labor required to mine these metals is work suitable only for [[thrall]]s. With so little wealth on the islands themselves, it is not difficult to understand why the ironborn of old turned to raiding. Archmaester [[Haereg]] suggests that need for wood was what first drove the ironborn to raid the mainland.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}
  
 
==Military strength==
 
==Military strength==
According to a semi-canon source from 2005, the Iron Isles [[military strength|can raise approximately]] twenty thousand men and five hundred longships.{{Ref|RPG|guardiansorder}} The [[Iron Fleet]] alone consists of one hundred ships which are three times larger than the standard longship.{{ref|ADWD|56}} A longship such as ''[[Sea Bitch]]'' has fifty oars, while ''[[Great Kraken]]'' and ''[[Iron Victory]]'' are larger.{{ref|ACOK|24}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has indicated that the major lords of the ironborn can each float around a hundred ships.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Re_Greyjoy_Fleet Re: Greyjoy Fleet (February 9, 1999)]</ref> The only fleets comparable to those of the Iron Islands are the [[royal fleet]] in the [[crownlands]] and the [[Redwyne fleet]] at the [[Arbor]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Lannister_Fleet The Lannister Fleet (September 26, 1999)]</ref>
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According to a semi-canon source from 2005, the Iron Isles [[military strength|can raise approximately]] twenty thousand men and five hundred longships.{{Ref|RPG|guardiansorder}} The [[Iron Fleet]] alone consists of one hundred ships which are three times larger than the standard longship.{{Ref|ADWD|56}} A longship such as ''[[Sea Bitch]]'' has fifty oars, while ''[[Great Kraken]]'' and ''[[Iron Victory]]'' are larger.{{Ref|ACOK|24}} [[George R. R. Martin]] has indicated that the major lords of the ironborn can each float around a hundred ships.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Re_Greyjoy_Fleet Re: Greyjoy Fleet (February 9, 1999)]</ref> The only fleets comparable to those of the Iron Islands are the [[royal fleet]] in the [[crownlands]] and the [[Redwyne fleet]] at the [[Arbor]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Lannister_Fleet The Lannister Fleet (September 26, 1999)]</ref>
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Kingsmoot era===
 
===Kingsmoot era===
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Every Captain is a King.png|thumb|350px|Every Ironborn Captain is a King - by artist Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games.]]
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[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Every Captain is a King.png|thumb|350px|Every Captain is a King, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
[[Maesters]] believe the Iron Islands were settled by the [[First Men]] many thousands of years ago. Legends claim that the First Men discovered what would be called the [[Seastone Chair]] upon the shores of [[Old Wyk]].{{Ref|aCoK|24}} There is no evidence the islands were inhabited by [[children of the forest]] or [[giants]], and humans worshipped the [[Drowned God]] instead of the [[old gods]]. The [[drowned men]], the priests of the isles, claim the [[ironmen]] are not First Men but were created in the image of the Drowned God, and they therefore may have a connection with [[merling]]s. Some also suspect that the isles were originally inhabited by the [[Deep Ones]], and that they are the ones who left the Seastone Chair behind.  Even most ironborn, however, generally believe that their ancestors were an offshoot of the First Men who simply crossed to the isles on boats, where their culture developed differently from their mainland cousins.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}  Another piece of evidence the maesters point to is that the ancient First Men are recorded as keeping [[Thrall|thralls]], but they apparently abandoned the practice of thralldom soon after they spread across the continent - hinting that the ancient ironborn were also First Men, who retained the practice in their isolation.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}  
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[[Maesters]] believe the Iron Islands were settled by the [[First Men]] many thousands of years ago. Legends claim that the First Men discovered what would be called the [[Seastone Chair]] upon the shores of [[Old Wyk]].{{Ref|aCoK|24}} There is no evidence the islands were inhabited by [[children of the forest]] or [[giants]]. [[Weirwood]] trees do not grow in their poor soils, so the [[old gods]] did not have significant followers there. Instead, the humans who came to inhabit the islands worship their own local religion of the [[Drowned God]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}
  
For much of their history, each island was its own kingdom and had its own two kings, a [[rock king]] who ruled the land and a [[salt king]] who commanded at sea. These petty kings constantly fought with each other, and raided the First Men of mainland Westeros for timber, crops, and [[thrall]]s. The Iron Islands were first unified into one kingdom when a powerful priest of the Drowned Men named [[Galon Whitestaff]] rose to prominence, who decreed that it was sinful for ironborn to make war upon other ironborn.  The other Drowned Men preached his word throughout the isles, until all the rock kings, salt kings, and longship captains agreed to convene on [[Old Wyk]] at [[Nagga's Bones]] for the first [[Kingsmoot]], to select one [[King of the Iron Islands|High Kings of the Iron Islands]] to rule over all of them.  Garlan also decreed that the title was not hereditary, but upon the death of each High King a new kingsmoot would be convened to elect another.  The new High Kings were given simple crowns made of driftwood, which had to be broken up and returned to the sea upon their deaths, as a sign of submission to the Drowned God.  Thus these High Kings were also called the Driftwood Kings.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Islands}}  
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Differing from maesters, the [[priest of the Drowned God|priests of the isles]] claim the [[ironmen]] are not First Men in origin but were created in the image of the Drowned God, and they therefore may have a connection with [[merling]]s. Some also suspect that the isles were originally inhabited by the [[Deep Ones]], and that they are the ones who left the Seastone Chair behind. Most ironborn, however, believe that their ancestors were an offshoot of the First Men who simply crossed to the isles on boats, where their culture developed differently from their mainland cousins.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} The ancient First Men kept [[thrall]]s, hinting that the ironborn were also First Men who retained the practice in their isolation.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}  
  
The kingsmoot put an end to the petty wars between each of the Iron Islands, and with their new unified strength, the High Kings began to conquer other lands instead of just raiding them. Under the rule of King [[Qhored I Hoare|Qhored the Cruel]], the [[ironborn]] managed to bring much of the western coast of [[Westeros]] under the rule of the Iron Island, including lands as far as [[Bear Island]], the [[Arbor]], and [[Oldtown]].{{ref|AGOT|Appendix}} They were gradually lost by his successors, however, as mainland houses such as the [[House Hightower|Hightowers]], [[House Gardener|Gardeners]], and [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] increased in strength. The high kings came from numerous houses, with most coming from Houses [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]], [[House Goodbrother|Goodbrother]], and especially [[House Greyiron|Greyiron]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Driftwood Crowns}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Greyjoys of Pyke}}
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According to legend, the islands were ruled by the [[Grey King]] during the [[Age of Heroes]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}} For much of their history, each island was its own kingdom and had its own kings, a [[rock king]] who ruled the land and a [[salt king]] who commanded at sea. Chosen by [[kingsmoot]], these petty kings constantly fought with each other, and they raided the First Men of mainland Westeros for timber, crops, and thralls.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}
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The islands were first unified when a powerful priest of the Drowned God, [[Galon Whitestaff]], decreed it was sinful for ironborn to make war upon other ironborn. The other priests preached his word throughout the isles, until the various kings and longship captains convened on [[Old Wyk]] at [[Nagga's Bones]] for the first kingsmoot to select one [[King of the Iron Islands|High King of the Iron Islands]] to rule over all. Galon decreed the title was not hereditary, but upon the death of each High King a new kingsmoot would be convened to elect another. The new high kings were also called driftwood kings because of their crowns of driftwood.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}
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The kingsmoot ended the petty wars between each of the isles, and with their new unified strength, the high kings began to conquer other lands instead of just raiding them. Under the rule of King [[Qhored I Hoare|Qhored the Cruel]], the [[ironborn]] brought much of the western coast of Westeros under the rule of the Iron Island, including lands as far as [[Bear Island]], the [[Arbor]], and [[Oldtown]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}} They were gradually lost by his successors, however, as mainland houses such as the [[House Hightower|Hightowers]], [[House Gardener|Gardeners]], and [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] increased in strength. The high kings came from numerous houses, with most coming from Houses [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]], [[House Goodbrother|Goodbrother]], and especially [[House Greyiron|Greyiron]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke}}
  
 
===The Greyiron dynasty===
 
===The Greyiron dynasty===
Five thousand years ago, [[Urron Greyiron|Urron Redhand]] slaughtered the rival claimants at a kingsmoot and established a hereditary throne. Instead of being a high king, Urron claimed the shorter title [[King of the Iron Islands]], with all rock kings and salt kings becoming his lords and vassals. His Greyiron dynasty lasted a thousand years, until the [[Andals]] swept over the Iron Islands.{{Ref|aCoK|11}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Iron Kings}}
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Upon the death of High King [[Urragon III Greyiron]], his younger sons convened a kingsmoot which chose [[Urrathon IV Goodbrother]], although Urragon's elder son, [[Torgon Greyiron]], was away raiding the [[Reach]]. Supported by priests unhappy with Urrathon's tyranny, Torgon declared the kingsmoot invalid when he returned to the Iron Islands, and the so-called Badbrother was overthrown. Although Torgon the Latecomer was wise, the ironborn were still in decline and the [[Cape of Eagles]] was lost to the [[House Mallister|Mallisters]] of [[Seagard]]. Torgon had his son rule alongside him for several years, and [[Urragon IV Greyiron]] thus also became high king without being chosen in a kingsmoot.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns}}
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The dying wish of Urragon IV was that the high kingship pass to his great-nephew [[Urron Greyiron]], salt king of Orkmont. When the priests insisted that a kingsmoot be held at [[Old Wyk]], Urron had his men slaughter those who attended, including thirteen other kings and half a hundred priests.{{Ref|ACOK|11}} Urron Redhand established the hereditary rule of [[House Greyiron]] over the Iron Islands. Instead of being called high kings, they titled themselves [[King of the Iron Islands]] and wore iron crowns. Abolishing the system of rock and salt kings, the Greyiron kings reduced other ironborn kings to [[lord]]s and extinguished families who refused to submit.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Iron Kings}}
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While the driftwood kings were elected by consent of the lords and captains, the iron kings led to infighting among the ironborn, which the priests were unable to stop. The Greyirons faced half a dozen major rebellions, numerous smaller insurrections and insubordinations, and at least two major [[thrall]] uprisings.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Iron Kings}}
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The stronger and larger kingdoms of the [[green lands]] took advantage of the ironborn's disunity to take back conquests on mainland [[Westeros]]. For instance, [[Garth VII Gardener]], [[King of the Reach]], drove the ironmen from the [[Shield Islands]] and fortified them to prevent ironborn raids up the [[Mander]].{{Ref|AFFC|29}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Iron Kings}}
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Unlike the First Men, the [[Andals]] built strong ships capable of fighting ironborn longships. During the [[coming of the Andals]], wooden stockades of the First Men with replaced with stone castles throughout the [[Reach]], the [[riverlands]], and the [[westerlands]], new defenses against the lightning raids of the ironborn. All of their possessions lost, the Greyirons barely held on to power, and the isles increasingly divided into civil wars. After a thousand years of hereditary rule, the Greyirons fell to a coalition of ironborn lords and Andal adventurers, who often intermarried with the natives of the Iron Islands.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Iron Kings}}
  
 
===The Hoare dynasty===
 
===The Hoare dynasty===
The Greyirons were replaced as hereditary Kings of the Iron Islands by [[House Hoare]], who intermarried with the Andals. The [[drowned men]], the priests of the [[Drowned God]], considered the Hoares ungodly and false kings, which Archmaester [[Hake (archmaester)|Hake]] agreed with. Archmaester [[Haereg]], however, believed that the Hoares were disliked for tolerating the [[Faith of the Seven]], discouraging reaving, and promoting trade. The drowned men eventually rebelled against King [[Harmund III Hoare|Harmund the Handsome]] and mutilated his mother, Dowager Queen [[Lelia Lannister]], which led to a long war with the [[westerlands]] which left the Iron Islands impoverished and ill-prepared for the [[Famine Winter]]. It took centuries for the islands to recover, during which ironmen began to trade along coastal Westeros and the [[Free Cities]]. They also reaved in distant places such as the [[Basilisk Isles]], [[Stepstones]], and [[Disputed Lands]], since mainland Westeros was increasingly fortified.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Black Blood}}
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[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Iron Islands MarinesII.png|thumb|350px|Iron Islands Marines, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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The [[House Greyiron|Greyirons]] were replaced as hereditary Kings of the Iron Islands by [[House Hoare]], who intermarried with the [[Andals]] when they came to the isles. The [[priests of the Drowned God]] considered the Hoares ungodly and false kings, which Archmaester [[Hake (archmaester)|Hake]] agreed with. Archmaester [[Haereg]], however, believed the Hoares were disliked for tolerating the [[Faith of the Seven]], discouraging reaving, and promoting trade. The priests eventually rebelled against King [[Harmund III Hoare|Harmund the Handsome]], led by a priest remembered as the [[Shrike]]. They overthrew Harmund within a fortnight and mutilated his mother, Dowager Queen [[Lelia Lannister]], which led to a long war with the [[westerlands]] which left the Iron Islands impoverished and ill-prepared for the [[Famine Winter]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Black Blood}}
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It took centuries for the islands to recover, during which ironmen began to trade with coastal Westeros and the [[Free Cities]]. Only a shadow of what they once were, the ironborn no longer held territories on the fortified mainland and instead reaved in distant places, such as the [[Basilisk Isles]], [[Stepstones]], and [[Disputed Lands]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Black Blood}}
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A few generations before the [[Wars of Conquest]], the peaceful King [[Qhorwyn Hoare|Qhorwyn the Cunning]] built a strong fleet to deter attack.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Black Blood}} His ambitious son, King [[Harwyn Hoare|Harwyn Hardhand]], then conquered the [[Trident]] on the mainland from the [[Storm King]] [[Arrec Durrandon]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}} Harwyn's grandson, King [[Harren Hoare|Harren the Black]], ordered the construction of [[Harrenhal]], an enormous castle on the northern shore of the [[Gods Eye]] in central Westeros. The building of Harrenhal over forty years beggared both the Iron Islands and the conquered [[riverlands]].{{Ref|ACOK|7}}
  
King [[Qhorwyn Hoare|Qhorwyn the Cunning]] was peaceful but built a strong fleet to deter attack.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Black Blood}} His ambitious son, King [[Harwyn Hoare|Harwyn Hardhand]], conquered the [[Trident]] from the [[Storm King]] [[Arrec Durrandon]].{{ref|AGOT|Appendix}} Harwyn's grandson, King [[Harren Hoare|Harren the Black]], ordered the construction of [[Harrenhal]], an enormous castle on the northern shore of the [[Gods Eye]] in the [[riverlands]]. The building of Harrenhal over forty years beggared both the Iron Islands and the riverlands.{{ref|ACOK|7}}
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The Hoare line, now [[Kings of the Isles and the Rivers]], ended with the deaths of Harren and his sons during [[Aegon's Conquest]]. Inspired by [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], Lord [[Edmyn Tully]] led the river lords in rebellion against the Hoares at Harrenhal.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Harren refused to yield to Aegon and the castle was too strong to storm, so Aegon flew his [[dragon]], [[Balerion]], over the walls and roasted Harren and his sons in [[Kingspyre Tower|their tower]].{{Ref|aCoK|26}} Most of Harren's supporters were killed in the [[burning of Harrenhal]] or by river lords as they retreated back to [[Ironman's Bay]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke}} and Aegon granted rule over the riverlands to [[House Tully]].
  
The Hoare line, the [[Kings of the Isles and the Rivers]], ended with the deaths of Harren and his sons during the [[House Targaryen|Targaryens']] [[War of Conquest]]. Inspired by [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], Lord [[Edmyn Tully]] led the river lords in rebellion against the Hoares at Harrenhal.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Conquest}} Harren refused to yield to Aegon and the castle was too strong to storm, so Aegon rode his dragon [[Balerion]] over the walls and roasted King Harren and his sons in [[Kingspyre Tower|their tower]].{{Ref|aCoK|26}} Most of Harren's supporters were killed at Harrenhal or by river lords as they retreated back to the sea,{{ref|TWOIAF| The Greyjoys of Pyke}} and Aegon granted the riverlands to [[House Tully]]. In {{date|2}} Aegon invaded the Iron Islands and defeated the various pretenders to Harren's throne. Aegon then allowed the defeated ironborn to choose Lord [[Vickon Greyjoy]] of Pyke to rule as the new Lord of the Iron Islands, a vassal of the Targaryens who now ruled the [[Seven Kingdoms]] from the [[Iron Throne]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Greyjoys of Pyke}}
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In {{Date|2}}, Aegon led an [[invasion of the Iron Islands]] to defeat the various pretenders to Harren's throne, including [[Qhorin Volmark]] and [[Lodos]]. Aegon then allowed the defeated ironborn to choose Lord [[Vickon Greyjoy]] of Pyke to rule as the new [[Lord of the Iron Islands]], a vassal of [[House Targaryen]] who now ruled the [[Seven Kingdoms]] from the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke}}
  
 
===The Greyjoys under the Iron Throne===
 
===The Greyjoys under the Iron Throne===
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[[Vickon Greyjoy]], [[Lord of the Iron Islands]], was a cautious ruler who did not provoke [[House Targaryen]] and its [[dragon]]s. Vickon allowed the [[Faith of the Seven]] to return to the Iron Islands. His son, Lord [[Goren Greyjoy]], suppressed a conspiracy to crown [[Qhorin Volmark]] and a revolt by a priest calling himself [[Lodos (II)|Lodos]], and in return King [[Aenys I Targaryen]] allowed Goren to expel the Faith from the archipelago for another century. After Goren, the weakened Iron Islands remained aloof from mainland politics for the next hundred years.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}
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Lord [[Dalton Greyjoy]], the Red Kraken, raided the western shores during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], capturing land from the [[westerlands]]. He was murdered at [[Faircastle]] in {{Date|133}} by a [[salt wife]], [[Tess]], and a [[struggle for power in the Iron Islands|struggle for power]] broke out between his two infant [[Salt son|salt sons]], [[Toron Greyjoy|Toron]] and [[Rodrik Greyjoy (son of Dalton)|Rodrik]], his sisters and good-brothers, his cousins, and the pretender [[Sam Salt]].{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} In {{Date|134}}, Lady [[Johanna Lannister]] allied with Ser [[Leo Costayne]] to invade the islands in reprisal and conquer them for her son, Lord [[Loreon Lannister (son of Jason)|Loreon Lannister]], though Lord Toron remained on the Seastone Chair by the war's end.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
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During the reign of King [[Aerys I Targaryen]], Lord [[Dagon Greyjoy]], the Last Reaver, led the ironborn in again raiding the western coast of Westeros.{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}}
  
Lord [[Dalton Greyjoy]], the Red Kraken, raided the the western shores during the [[Dance of the Dragons]], capturing land from the westerlands. In {{Date|134}} Lady [[Johanna Lannister]] allied with Ser [[Leo Costayne]] to invade the islands in reprisal.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Greyjoys of Pyke}} During the reign of King [[Aerys I Targaryen]], Lord [[Dagon Greyjoy]], the Last Reaver, led the ironborn in again raiding the western coast of Westeros.{{ref|TSS}}{{ref|TMK}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Old Way and the New}}
+
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek Iron Fleet Scout.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Iron Fleet]] Scout, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
  
The Iron Islands supported the Iron Throne during the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]]. Lord [[Quellon Greyjoy]] was a peaceful ruler who outlawed thralldom and wanted to integrate the Iron Islands into the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. His son, Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]], rejected his father's works and wanted to return to the [[Old Way]] of paying the [[iron price]]. After constructing the [[Iron Fleet]], he led an uprising of the Iron Islands against the Iron Throne in a bid for independence in {{date|289}}.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Old Way and the New}} [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]] was crushed by King [[Robert I Baratheon]], however. Balon's only surviving son, [[Theon Greyjoy]], was taken to [[Winterfell]] as a ward of Robert's friend, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], the [[Warden of the North]].
+
The Iron Islands supported the Iron Throne during the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]], with Lord [[Quellon Greyjoy]] leading a hundred longships to fight in the [[Stepstones]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}} Quellon outlawed [[thrall]]dom and wanted to integrate the Iron Islands into the rest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], and he pursued neutrality during [[Robert's Rebellion]]. Encouraged by his sons, however, Quellon joined the rebels after Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]]'s death at the [[Battle of the Trident]]. Quellon made a token display of support for [[House Baratheon]] against the Targaryens, but the Lord of the Iron Islands was killed in [[battle at the Mander]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}} 
 +
 
 +
Quellon was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]], who rejected his father's works and wanted to return to the [[Old Way]] of paying the [[iron price]]. Balon spent five years building the [[Iron Fleet]], believing that the usurper [[Robert I Baratheon]]'s reign was weak. In {{Date|289}}, Balon declared himself [[King of the Iron Islands]] in a bid for independence from the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}} [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]] had some early victories, [[burning of the Lannister fleet|destroying the Lannister fleet]] at anchor and raiding the western coasts, but Balon had misjudged Robert's position. The mainland rallied their support for Robert, and the Iron Islands were invaded by the king, his brother Lord [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]], Lord [[Eddard Stark]], Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], and Ser [[Barristan Selmy]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New}} Balon lost his two eldest sons in the war, and though Robert pardoned the would-be king in return for bending the knee, Balon's surviving son, [[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]], was sent to [[Winterfell]] to be the ward and hostage of Lord Stark.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 +
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 +
[[File:Ryan Barger Balon Greyjoy.png|thumb|350px|[[Balon Greyjoy]], by Ryan Barger © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 +
Lord [[Eddard Stark]], now [[Hand of the King]], advises [[Catelyn Stark]] to watch his ward, [[Theon Greyjoy]]. With tensions increasing in [[King's Landing]], [[House Stark]] may need the [[Iron Fleet]] of Theon's father, [[Balon Greyjoy]], [[Lord of the Iron Islands]].{{Ref|AGOT|20}}
 +
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[War of the Five Kings|Warfare]] erupts in Westeros after the death of King [[Robert I Baratheon]], [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]. Lord [[Balon Greyjoy]] takes advantage of the instability and declares independence for the Iron Islands. Rather than ally with [[Robb Stark]], [[King in the North]], against [[House Lannister]] and King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], Balon sends the [[ironborn]] to occupy key positions in the [[north]] and declares himself [[King of the Isles and the North]].{{ref|ACOK|37}}{{ref|ACOK|49}}
+
[[War of the Five Kings|Warfare]] erupts in Westeros after the death of King [[Robert I Baratheon]], [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]. Seeking an alliance, [[Robb Stark]], [[King in the North]], sends Theon, his childhood friend, back to the Iron Islands as an envoy to Theon's father, Balon.{{Ref|ACOK|11}}
 +
 
 +
Balon takes advantage of the instability and declares independence for the Iron Islands. Rather than ally with Robb against [[House Lannister]] and King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], Balon sends the [[ironborn]] to occupy key positions in the [[north]] and declares himself [[King of the Isles and the North]].{{Ref|ACOK|37}}{{Ref|ACOK|49}}
  
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[Euron Greyjoy]] claims the [[Seastone Chair]] of the Iron Islands the day after Balon falls to his death.{{ref|ASOS|45}}
+
[[Euron Greyjoy]] claims the [[Seastone Chair]] the day after Balon falls to his death at [[Pyke]].{{Ref|ASOS|45}} [[Sawane Botley]], [[Lord of Lordsport]], is drowned by Euron for stating that the throne belongs to Theon as Balon's son.{{Ref|ASOS|45}}{{Ref|AFFC|1}}
  
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
[[Aeron Greyjoy]] declares a [[kingsmoot]] as the proper way to raise the next King of the Iron Islands after the death of King Balon.{{ref|AFFC|1}} This move is made by Aeron to end a potential civil war between the ironborn and to prevent Euron from taking the Seastone Chair. However, Euron is chosen king despite the efforts of Aeron, [[Victarion Greyjoy]], and [[Asha Greyjoy]].{{ref|AFFC|18}}{{ref|AFFC|19}}
+
[[File:Sardag Beginning CrowsEye.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Euron Greyjoy]], by Sardag ©]]
 +
[[Aeron Greyjoy]] declares a [[kingsmoot on Old Wyk]] as the proper way to raise the next King of the Iron Islands after Balon's death.{{Ref|AFFC|1}} This move is made by Aeron to end a potential civil war between the ironborn and to prevent Euron from taking the Seastone Chair. [[Victarion Greyjoy]], [[Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet]], returns from the [[Saltspear]] with most longships of the Iron Fleet.{{Ref|AFFC|18}} However, Euron is chosen king despite the efforts of Aeron, Victarion, and [[Asha Greyjoy]].{{Ref|AFFC|19}}
 +
 
 +
Euron promises to conquer all of Westeros for the ironborn and expands their war by attacking the [[taking of the Shields|Shield Islands]],{{Ref|AFFC|29}} the [[Arbor]],{{Ref|AFFC|45}} and the [[Mander]].{{Ref|AFFC|36}} Euron offers to give the Seastone Chair and the Iron Islands to Victarion once the [[Iron Throne]] is claimed.{{Ref|AFFC|29}} [[Baelor Blacktyde]], [[Lord of Blacktyde]], is killed for not accepting Euron as king.{{Ref|AFFC|29}}
  
Euron promises to conquer all of Westeros for the ironborn and expands their war by attacking the [[taking of the Shields|Shield Islands]],{{ref|AFFC|29}} the [[Arbor]],{{ref|AFFC|45}} and the [[Mander]].{{ref|AFFC|36}}
+
Euron sails from the Iron Islands to attack the [[Reach]], beginning with the [[taking of the Shields]].{{Ref|AFFC|29}}
  
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
The castellan of Pyke, [[Erik Ironmaker]], rules the Iron Islands in Euron's absence while he is on campaign.{{ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
+
The castellan of Pyke, [[Erik Ironmaker]], rules the Iron Islands in Euron's absence while he is on campaign.{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}
  
Lord Captain [[Victarion Greyjoy]] leads the [[Iron Fleet]] to [[Slaver's Bay]] to gain [[Daenerys Targaryen]] and her [[dragons]] for King Euron's cause.{{ref|ADWD|56}}{{ref|ADWD|63}}
+
Victarion leads the Iron Fleet to [[Slaver's Bay]] on a mission to gain [[Daenerys Targaryen]] and her [[dragons]] for Euron's cause.{{Ref|ADWD|56}} Victarion intends to claim Daenerys for himself, however.{{Ref|ADWD|63}}
  
 
==Houses==
 
==Houses==
 
{{Columns|3|
 
{{Columns|3|
[[File:Blacktyde.PNG|30px]] '''[[House Blacktyde]]''' of [[Blacktyde]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Blacktyde|small}} [[House Blacktyde]] of [[Blacktyde]]<br>
[[File:Botley.png|30px]] '''[[House Botley]]''' of [[Lordsport]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Botley|small}} [[House Botley]] of [[Lordsport]]<br>
[[File:House Codd.png|30px]] '''[[House Codd]]'''.<br>
+
[[File:House Codd.svg|30px]] [[House Codd]]<br>
[[File:Drumm.png|30px]] '''[[House Drumm]]''' of [[Old Wyk]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Drumm|small}} [[House Drumm]] of [[Old Wyk]]<br>
[[File:Farwynd.png|30px]] '''[[House Farwynd of the Lonely Light|House Farwynd]]''' of the [[Lonely Light]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Farwynd of the Lonely Light|small}} [[House Farwynd of the Lonely Light|House Farwynd]] of the [[Lonely Light]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Farwynd]]''' of [[Sealskin Point]].<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Farwynd]] of [[Sealskin Point]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Goodbrother of Corpse Lake|House Goodbrother]]''' of [[Corpse Lake]].<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Goodbrother of Corpse Lake|House Goodbrother]] of [[Corpse Lake]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Goodbrother of Crow Spike Keep|House Goodbrother]]''' of [[Crow Spike Keep]].<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Goodbrother of Crow Spike Keep|House Goodbrother]] of [[Crow Spike Keep]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Goodbrother of Downdelving|House Goodbrother]]''' of [[Downdelving]].<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Goodbrother of Downdelving|House Goodbrother]] of [[Downdelving]]<br>
[[File:House Goodbrother.png|30px]] '''[[House Goodbrother]]''' of the [[Hammerhorn]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Goodbrother|small}} [[House Goodbrother]] of the [[Hammerhorn]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Goodbrother of Orkmont|House Goodbrother]]''' of [[Orkmont]].<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Goodbrother of Orkmont|House Goodbrother]] of [[Orkmont]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Goodbrother of Shatterstone|House Goodbrother]]''' of [[Shatterstone]].<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Goodbrother of Shatterstone|House Goodbrother]] of [[Shatterstone]]<br>
[[File:Greyiron.png|30px]] '''[[House Greyiron]]''' of [[Orkmont]].<br>
+
[[File:Greyiron.png|30px]] [[House Greyiron]] of [[Orkmont]]<br>
[[File:Greyjoy coat sigil.png|30px]] '''[[House Greyjoy]]''' of [[Pyke]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Greyjoy|small}} [[House Greyjoy]] of [[Pyke]]<br>
[[File:Harris Harlaw.png|30px]] '''[[House Harlaw of Grey Garden|House Harlaw]]''' of [[Grey Garden]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Harlaw of Grey Garden|small}} [[House Harlaw of Grey Garden|House Harlaw]] of [[Grey Garden]]<br>
[[File:Sigfryd Harlaw.png|30px]] '''[[House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall|House Harlaw]]''' of [[Harlaw Hall]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall|small}} [[House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall|House Harlaw]] of [[Harlaw Hall]]<br>
[[File:Boremund Harlaw.PNG|30px]] '''[[House Harlaw of Harridan Hill|House Harlaw]]''' of [[Harridan Hill]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Harlaw of Harridan Hill|small}} [[House Harlaw of Harridan Hill|House Harlaw]] of [[Harridan Hill]]<br>
[[File:House Harlaw.PNG|30px]] '''[[House Harlaw]]''' of the [[Ten Towers]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Harlaw|small}} [[House Harlaw]] of the [[Ten Towers]]<br>
[[File:Hotho Harlaw.png|30px]] '''[[House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering|House Harlaw]]''' of the [[Tower of Glimmering]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering|small}} [[House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering|House Harlaw]] of the [[Tower of Glimmering]]<br>
[[File:Hoare.png|30px]] '''[[House Hoare]]''' of [[Orkmont]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Hoare|small}} [[House Hoare]] of [[Orkmont]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Humble]]'''.<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Humble]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Ironmaker]]'''.<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Ironmaker]]<br>
[[File:Kenning.png|30px]] '''[[House Kenning of Harlaw|House Kenning]]''' of [[Harlaw]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Kenning of Harlaw|small}} [[House Kenning of Harlaw|House Kenning]] of [[Harlaw]]<br>
[[File:Merlyn.png|30px]] '''[[House Merlyn]]''' of [[Pebbleton]].<br>
+
[[File:Merlyn.png|30px]] [[House Merlyn]] of [[Pebbleton]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Netley]]'''.<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Netley]]<br>
[[File:Myre.png|30px]] '''[[House Myre]]''' of [[Harlaw]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Myre|small}} [[House Myre]] of [[Harlaw]]<br>
[[File:Orkwood.png|30px]] '''[[House Orkwood]]''' of [[Orkmont]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Orkwood|small}} [[House Orkwood]] of [[Orkmont]]<br>
[[File:Saltcliffe.png|30px]] '''[[House Saltcliffe]]''' of [[Saltcliffe]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Saltcliffe|small}} [[House Saltcliffe]] of [[Saltcliffe]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Sharp]]'''.<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Sharp]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Shepherd]]'''.<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Shepherd]]<br>
[[File:House Sparr.PNG|30px]] '''[[House Sparr]]''' of [[Great Wyk]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Sparr|small}} [[House Sparr]] of [[Great Wyk]]<br>
[[File:Stonehouse.png|30px]] '''[[House Stonehouse]]''' of [[Old Wyk]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Stonehouse|small}} [[House Stonehouse]] of [[Old Wyk]]<br>
[[File:Stonetree.png|30px]] '''[[House Stonetree]]''' of [[Harlaw]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Stonetree|small}} [[House Stonetree]] of [[Harlaw]]<br>
[[File:House Sunderly.png|30px]] '''[[House Sunderly]]''' of [[Saltcliffe]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Sunderly|small}} [[House Sunderly]] of [[Saltcliffe]]<br>
[[File:Tawney.png|30px]] '''[[House Tawney]]''' of [[Orkmont]].<br>
+
[[File:Tawney.png|30px]] [[House Tawney]] of [[Orkmont]]<br>
[[File:House Volmark.png|30px]] '''[[House Volmark]]''' of [[Volmark]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Volmark|small}} [[House Volmark]] of [[Volmark]]<br>
{{COA|Unknown|small}} '''[[House Weaver]]'''.<br>
+
{{COA|Unknown|small}} [[House Weaver]]<br>
[[File:Wynch.png|30px]] '''[[House Wynch]]''' of [[Iron Holt]].<br>
+
{{COA|House Wynch|small}} [[House Wynch]] of [[Iron Holt]]<br>
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{Quote|The islands are stern and stony places, scant of comfort and bleak of prospect. Death is never far here, and life is mean and meagre. Men spend their nights drinking ale and arguing over whose lot is worse, the fisherfolk who fight the sea or the farmers who and scratch a crop from the poor thin soil. If truth be told, the miners have it worse than either, breaking their backs down in the dark, and for what? Iron, lead, tin, those are our treasures. Small wonder the [[ironmen]] of old turned to raiding.{{Ref|aCoK|11|p 168}}}} - [[Theon Greyjoy]] to the [[Daughter of the captain of the Myraham|captain's daughter]]
+
{{Quote|[[Ironborn]] captains were proud and willful, and did not go in awe of a man's blood. The islands were too small for awe, and a longship smaller still. If every captain was a king aboard his own ship, as was often said, it was small wonder they named the islands the land of ten thousand kings.{{Ref|ACOK|11}}|thoughts of [[Theon Greyjoy]]}}
 +
 
 +
{{Quote|The islands are stern and stony places, scant of comfort and bleak of prospect. Death is never far here, and life is mean and meagre. Men spend their nights drinking [[ale]] and arguing over whose lot is worse, the fisherfolk who fight the sea or the farmers who scratch a crop from the poor thin soil. If truth be told, the miners have it worse than either, breaking their backs down in the dark, and for what? [[Iron]], [[lead]], [[tin]], those are our treasures. Small wonder the [[ironmen]] of old turned to raiding.{{Ref|aCoK|11}}|[[Theon Greyjoy]] to the [[Daughter of the captain of the Myraham|captain's daughter]]}}
 +
 
 +
{{Quote|The Iron Islands lived in the past; the present was too hard and bitter to be borne.{{Ref|ACOK|11}}|thoughts of [[Theon Greyjoy]]}}
 +
 
 +
{{Quote|The [[Old Way]] served the isles well when we were one small kingdom amongst many, but [[Aegon's Conquest]] put an end to that.{{Ref|AFFC|11}}|[[Rodrik Harlaw]] to [[Asha Greyjoy]]}}
  
==References and Sources==
+
==References==
 
{{References|2}}
 
{{References|2}}
{{EnWP|Westeros|small=yes}}
 
  
 
{{Regions}}
 
{{Regions}}
 +
{{HousesIslands}}
 +
{{Region Iron Islands}}
 
{{Islands}}
 
{{Islands}}
{{HousesIslands|state=uncollapsed}}
 
{{Region Iron Islands|state=uncollapsed}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Iron Islands| ]]
 
[[Category:Iron Islands| ]]
 
[[Category:Islands]]
 
[[Category:Islands]]
 +
[[Category:Places in the Sunset Sea]]
 
[[Category:Places in Westeros]]
 
[[Category:Places in Westeros]]
  
Line 130: Line 171:
 
[[fa:جزایر آهن]]
 
[[fa:جزایر آهن]]
 
[[fr:Îles de Fer]]
 
[[fr:Îles de Fer]]
 +
[[nl:IJzereilanden]]
 +
[[pt:Ilhas de Ferro]]
 
[[ru:Железные Острова]]
 
[[ru:Железные Острова]]
 
[[zh:铁群岛]]
 
[[zh:铁群岛]]

Revision as of 18:41, 26 October 2022

The main grouping of the Iron Islands in Ironman's Bay

The Iron Islands is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms. Until Aegon's Conquest it was ruled by the Kings of the Iron Islands and then briefly the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers.

The Iron Islands are home to a fierce seafaring people who call themselves the ironborn. While some say the archipelago is named after the abundant iron ore on the islands, the ironmen claim it is instead named after their own unyielding nature.[1] It is often said that every captain is a king aboard his own ship, so the islands are also called "the land of ten thousand kings".[2]

The isles are ruled by House Greyjoy from their castle of Pyke. Notable houses have included Blacktyde, Botley, Drumm, Goodbrother, Greyiron, Harlaw, Hoare, Merlyn, Stonehouse, Sunderly, Tawney, and Wynch.[3][4] Bastards of noble origin from the Iron Islands receive the surname Pyke.

Geography

Great Wyk, largest of the isles, by Juan Carlos Barquet © Fantasy Flight Games

The Iron Islands is an archipelago in Ironman's Bay, located in the Sunset Sea off the western coast of Westeros. They are roughly west of the riverlands, northwest of the westerlands, and south of the north.

The main grouping of islands numbers thirty-one, with the seven major isles being Pyke, Great Wyk, Old Wyk, Harlaw, Saltcliffe, Blacktyde, and Orkmont. Eight days sail northwest of Great Wyk is a smaller grouping of thirteen clustered around the Lonely Light. Some of the Iron Islands are used for sheep grazing or are uninhabited.[1] The islands are ruled from Pyke, the seat of House Greyjoy on the island of the same name.

The Iron Islands is the smallest of the regions of the Seven Kingdoms. Dorne is the least populous of the Seven Kingdoms according to Doran Martell, but it is unclear if he is also including the Iron Islands in this estimate.[5]

The Iron Islands are small, barely-fertile rocks with few safe harbors. The seas around the isles are stormy, frequently wreaking havoc with their considerable force.

People

The inhabitants of these harsh isles are known as ironmen,[2] especially by the rest of Westeros,[3] but they also call themselves the ironborn.[2] The ironborn are a seafaring people, and some do not like to be far from the sea.[6] The priests of the Drowned God likewise seldom stray far from the sea.[1] The ironborn are considered independent, fierce, and sometimes cruel. They live in a harsh land and hold no love for the peoples of the mainland Westeros, whom they consider green and weak.[2]

The Faith of the Seven and the old gods find small favor with the ironborn, as their allegiance is given to their native Drowned God. Because of the scarcity of the Faith, there are few knights in the islands; known knights include Ser Harras Harlaw and Ser Aladale Wynch. Some ironmen believe in returning to the Old Way of reaving and paying the iron price.[2][7][8]

Economy

Iron Isles garron, by Zach Graves © Fantasy Flight Games

The islands are sparse and rocky with a thin, stony soil that makes it hard for the smallfolk to farm, often having to do without the animals that might make their job easier, such as oxen or horses.[9] While their mines do not produce the precious metals of the westerlands,[2] iron is abundant on the isles.[1] Lead and tin can also be obtained. Most ironborn feel the dangerous and backbreaking labor required to mine these metals is work suitable only for thralls. With so little wealth on the islands themselves, it is not difficult to understand why the ironborn of old turned to raiding. Archmaester Haereg suggests that need for wood was what first drove the ironborn to raid the mainland.[1]

Military strength

According to a semi-canon source from 2005, the Iron Isles can raise approximately twenty thousand men and five hundred longships.[10] The Iron Fleet alone consists of one hundred ships which are three times larger than the standard longship.[11] A longship such as Sea Bitch has fifty oars, while Great Kraken and Iron Victory are larger.[9] George R. R. Martin has indicated that the major lords of the ironborn can each float around a hundred ships.[12] The only fleets comparable to those of the Iron Islands are the royal fleet in the crownlands and the Redwyne fleet at the Arbor.[13]

History

Kingsmoot era

Every Captain is a King, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

Maesters believe the Iron Islands were settled by the First Men many thousands of years ago. Legends claim that the First Men discovered what would be called the Seastone Chair upon the shores of Old Wyk.[9] There is no evidence the islands were inhabited by children of the forest or giants. Weirwood trees do not grow in their poor soils, so the old gods did not have significant followers there. Instead, the humans who came to inhabit the islands worship their own local religion of the Drowned God.[1]

Differing from maesters, the priests of the isles claim the ironmen are not First Men in origin but were created in the image of the Drowned God, and they therefore may have a connection with merlings. Some also suspect that the isles were originally inhabited by the Deep Ones, and that they are the ones who left the Seastone Chair behind. Most ironborn, however, believe that their ancestors were an offshoot of the First Men who simply crossed to the isles on boats, where their culture developed differently from their mainland cousins.[1] The ancient First Men kept thralls, hinting that the ironborn were also First Men who retained the practice in their isolation.[1]

According to legend, the islands were ruled by the Grey King during the Age of Heroes.[14] For much of their history, each island was its own kingdom and had its own kings, a rock king who ruled the land and a salt king who commanded at sea. Chosen by kingsmoot, these petty kings constantly fought with each other, and they raided the First Men of mainland Westeros for timber, crops, and thralls.[14]

The islands were first unified when a powerful priest of the Drowned God, Galon Whitestaff, decreed it was sinful for ironborn to make war upon other ironborn. The other priests preached his word throughout the isles, until the various kings and longship captains convened on Old Wyk at Nagga's Bones for the first kingsmoot to select one High King of the Iron Islands to rule over all. Galon decreed the title was not hereditary, but upon the death of each High King a new kingsmoot would be convened to elect another. The new high kings were also called driftwood kings because of their crowns of driftwood.[1]

The kingsmoot ended the petty wars between each of the isles, and with their new unified strength, the high kings began to conquer other lands instead of just raiding them. Under the rule of King Qhored the Cruel, the ironborn brought much of the western coast of Westeros under the rule of the Iron Island, including lands as far as Bear Island, the Arbor, and Oldtown.[3] They were gradually lost by his successors, however, as mainland houses such as the Hightowers, Gardeners, and Lannisters increased in strength. The high kings came from numerous houses, with most coming from Houses Greyjoy, Goodbrother, and especially Greyiron.[14][4]

The Greyiron dynasty

Upon the death of High King Urragon III Greyiron, his younger sons convened a kingsmoot which chose Urrathon IV Goodbrother, although Urragon's elder son, Torgon Greyiron, was away raiding the Reach. Supported by priests unhappy with Urrathon's tyranny, Torgon declared the kingsmoot invalid when he returned to the Iron Islands, and the so-called Badbrother was overthrown. Although Torgon the Latecomer was wise, the ironborn were still in decline and the Cape of Eagles was lost to the Mallisters of Seagard. Torgon had his son rule alongside him for several years, and Urragon IV Greyiron thus also became high king without being chosen in a kingsmoot.[14]

The dying wish of Urragon IV was that the high kingship pass to his great-nephew Urron Greyiron, salt king of Orkmont. When the priests insisted that a kingsmoot be held at Old Wyk, Urron had his men slaughter those who attended, including thirteen other kings and half a hundred priests.[2] Urron Redhand established the hereditary rule of House Greyiron over the Iron Islands. Instead of being called high kings, they titled themselves King of the Iron Islands and wore iron crowns. Abolishing the system of rock and salt kings, the Greyiron kings reduced other ironborn kings to lords and extinguished families who refused to submit.[15]

While the driftwood kings were elected by consent of the lords and captains, the iron kings led to infighting among the ironborn, which the priests were unable to stop. The Greyirons faced half a dozen major rebellions, numerous smaller insurrections and insubordinations, and at least two major thrall uprisings.[15]

The stronger and larger kingdoms of the green lands took advantage of the ironborn's disunity to take back conquests on mainland Westeros. For instance, Garth VII Gardener, King of the Reach, drove the ironmen from the Shield Islands and fortified them to prevent ironborn raids up the Mander.[16][15]

Unlike the First Men, the Andals built strong ships capable of fighting ironborn longships. During the coming of the Andals, wooden stockades of the First Men with replaced with stone castles throughout the Reach, the riverlands, and the westerlands, new defenses against the lightning raids of the ironborn. All of their possessions lost, the Greyirons barely held on to power, and the isles increasingly divided into civil wars. After a thousand years of hereditary rule, the Greyirons fell to a coalition of ironborn lords and Andal adventurers, who often intermarried with the natives of the Iron Islands.[15]

The Hoare dynasty

Iron Islands Marines, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

The Greyirons were replaced as hereditary Kings of the Iron Islands by House Hoare, who intermarried with the Andals when they came to the isles. The priests of the Drowned God considered the Hoares ungodly and false kings, which Archmaester Hake agreed with. Archmaester Haereg, however, believed the Hoares were disliked for tolerating the Faith of the Seven, discouraging reaving, and promoting trade. The priests eventually rebelled against King Harmund the Handsome, led by a priest remembered as the Shrike. They overthrew Harmund within a fortnight and mutilated his mother, Dowager Queen Lelia Lannister, which led to a long war with the westerlands which left the Iron Islands impoverished and ill-prepared for the Famine Winter.[17]

It took centuries for the islands to recover, during which ironmen began to trade with coastal Westeros and the Free Cities. Only a shadow of what they once were, the ironborn no longer held territories on the fortified mainland and instead reaved in distant places, such as the Basilisk Isles, Stepstones, and Disputed Lands.[17]

A few generations before the Wars of Conquest, the peaceful King Qhorwyn the Cunning built a strong fleet to deter attack.[17] His ambitious son, King Harwyn Hardhand, then conquered the Trident on the mainland from the Storm King Arrec Durrandon.[3] Harwyn's grandson, King Harren the Black, ordered the construction of Harrenhal, an enormous castle on the northern shore of the Gods Eye in central Westeros. The building of Harrenhal over forty years beggared both the Iron Islands and the conquered riverlands.[18]

The Hoare line, now Kings of the Isles and the Rivers, ended with the deaths of Harren and his sons during Aegon's Conquest. Inspired by Aegon Targaryen, Lord Edmyn Tully led the river lords in rebellion against the Hoares at Harrenhal.[19] Harren refused to yield to Aegon and the castle was too strong to storm, so Aegon flew his dragon, Balerion, over the walls and roasted Harren and his sons in their tower.[20] Most of Harren's supporters were killed in the burning of Harrenhal or by river lords as they retreated back to Ironman's Bay,[4] and Aegon granted rule over the riverlands to House Tully.

In 2 AC, Aegon led an invasion of the Iron Islands to defeat the various pretenders to Harren's throne, including Qhorin Volmark and Lodos. Aegon then allowed the defeated ironborn to choose Lord Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke to rule as the new Lord of the Iron Islands, a vassal of House Targaryen who now ruled the Seven Kingdoms from the Iron Throne.[4]

The Greyjoys under the Iron Throne

Vickon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, was a cautious ruler who did not provoke House Targaryen and its dragons. Vickon allowed the Faith of the Seven to return to the Iron Islands. His son, Lord Goren Greyjoy, suppressed a conspiracy to crown Qhorin Volmark and a revolt by a priest calling himself Lodos, and in return King Aenys I Targaryen allowed Goren to expel the Faith from the archipelago for another century. After Goren, the weakened Iron Islands remained aloof from mainland politics for the next hundred years.[21]

Lord Dalton Greyjoy, the Red Kraken, raided the western shores during the Dance of the Dragons, capturing land from the westerlands. He was murdered at Faircastle in 133 AC by a salt wife, Tess, and a struggle for power broke out between his two infant salt sons, Toron and Rodrik, his sisters and good-brothers, his cousins, and the pretender Sam Salt.[22][23] In 134 AC, Lady Johanna Lannister allied with Ser Leo Costayne to invade the islands in reprisal and conquer them for her son, Lord Loreon Lannister, though Lord Toron remained on the Seastone Chair by the war's end.[4][23]

During the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen, Lord Dagon Greyjoy, the Last Reaver, led the ironborn in again raiding the western coast of Westeros.[24][25][21]

Iron Fleet Scout, by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

The Iron Islands supported the Iron Throne during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, with Lord Quellon Greyjoy leading a hundred longships to fight in the Stepstones.[21] Quellon outlawed thralldom and wanted to integrate the Iron Islands into the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, and he pursued neutrality during Robert's Rebellion. Encouraged by his sons, however, Quellon joined the rebels after Prince Rhaegar Targaryen's death at the Battle of the Trident. Quellon made a token display of support for House Baratheon against the Targaryens, but the Lord of the Iron Islands was killed in battle at the Mander.[21]

Quellon was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Lord Balon Greyjoy, who rejected his father's works and wanted to return to the Old Way of paying the iron price. Balon spent five years building the Iron Fleet, believing that the usurper Robert I Baratheon's reign was weak. In 289 AC, Balon declared himself King of the Iron Islands in a bid for independence from the Iron Throne.[21] Greyjoy's Rebellion had some early victories, destroying the Lannister fleet at anchor and raiding the western coasts, but Balon had misjudged Robert's position. The mainland rallied their support for Robert, and the Iron Islands were invaded by the king, his brother Lord Stannis, Lord Eddard Stark, Lord Tywin Lannister, and Ser Barristan Selmy.[21] Balon lost his two eldest sons in the war, and though Robert pardoned the would-be king in return for bending the knee, Balon's surviving son, Theon, was sent to Winterfell to be the ward and hostage of Lord Stark.[26]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Balon Greyjoy, by Ryan Barger © Fantasy Flight Games

Lord Eddard Stark, now Hand of the King, advises Catelyn Stark to watch his ward, Theon Greyjoy. With tensions increasing in King's Landing, House Stark may need the Iron Fleet of Theon's father, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands.[27]

A Clash of Kings

Warfare erupts in Westeros after the death of King Robert I Baratheon, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Seeking an alliance, Robb Stark, King in the North, sends Theon, his childhood friend, back to the Iron Islands as an envoy to Theon's father, Balon.[2]

Balon takes advantage of the instability and declares independence for the Iron Islands. Rather than ally with Robb against House Lannister and King Joffrey I Baratheon, Balon sends the ironborn to occupy key positions in the north and declares himself King of the Isles and the North.[28][29]

A Storm of Swords

Euron Greyjoy claims the Seastone Chair the day after Balon falls to his death at Pyke.[30] Sawane Botley, Lord of Lordsport, is drowned by Euron for stating that the throne belongs to Theon as Balon's son.[30][7]

A Feast for Crows

Euron Greyjoy, by Sardag ©

Aeron Greyjoy declares a kingsmoot on Old Wyk as the proper way to raise the next King of the Iron Islands after Balon's death.[7] This move is made by Aeron to end a potential civil war between the ironborn and to prevent Euron from taking the Seastone Chair. Victarion Greyjoy, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet, returns from the Saltspear with most longships of the Iron Fleet.[31] However, Euron is chosen king despite the efforts of Aeron, Victarion, and Asha Greyjoy.[32]

Euron promises to conquer all of Westeros for the ironborn and expands their war by attacking the Shield Islands,[16] the Arbor,[33] and the Mander.[34] Euron offers to give the Seastone Chair and the Iron Islands to Victarion once the Iron Throne is claimed.[16] Baelor Blacktyde, Lord of Blacktyde, is killed for not accepting Euron as king.[16]

Euron sails from the Iron Islands to attack the Reach, beginning with the taking of the Shields.[16]

A Dance with Dragons

The castellan of Pyke, Erik Ironmaker, rules the Iron Islands in Euron's absence while he is on campaign.[35]

Victarion leads the Iron Fleet to Slaver's Bay on a mission to gain Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons for Euron's cause.[11] Victarion intends to claim Daenerys for himself, however.[8]

Houses

House Blacktyde House Blacktyde of Blacktyde
House Botley House Botley of Lordsport
House Codd 2.svg House Codd
House Drumm House Drumm of Old Wyk
House Farwynd of the Lonely Light House Farwynd of the Lonely Light
Arms unknown House Farwynd of Sealskin Point
Arms unknown House Goodbrother of Corpse Lake
Arms unknown House Goodbrother of Crow Spike Keep
Arms unknown House Goodbrother of Downdelving
House Goodbrother House Goodbrother of the Hammerhorn
Arms unknown House Goodbrother of Orkmont
Arms unknown House Goodbrother of Shatterstone
Greyiron.png House Greyiron of Orkmont
House Greyjoy House Greyjoy of Pyke
House Harlaw of Grey Garden House Harlaw of Grey Garden
House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall
House Harlaw of Harridan Hill House Harlaw of Harridan Hill
House Harlaw House Harlaw of the Ten Towers
House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering
House Hoare House Hoare of Orkmont
Arms unknown House Humble
Arms unknown House Ironmaker
House Kenning of Harlaw House Kenning of Harlaw
Merlyn.png House Merlyn of Pebbleton
Arms unknown House Netley
House Myre House Myre of Harlaw
House Orkwood House Orkwood of Orkmont
House Saltcliffe House Saltcliffe of Saltcliffe
Arms unknown House Sharp
Arms unknown House Shepherd
House Sparr House Sparr of Great Wyk
House Stonehouse House Stonehouse of Old Wyk
House Stonetree House Stonetree of Harlaw
House Sunderly House Sunderly of Saltcliffe
Tawney.png House Tawney of Orkmont
House Volmark House Volmark of Volmark
Arms unknown House Weaver
House Wynch House Wynch of Iron Holt

Quotes

Ironborn captains were proud and willful, and did not go in awe of a man's blood. The islands were too small for awe, and a longship smaller still. If every captain was a king aboard his own ship, as was often said, it was small wonder they named the islands the land of ten thousand kings.[2]

—thoughts of Theon Greyjoy

The islands are stern and stony places, scant of comfort and bleak of prospect. Death is never far here, and life is mean and meagre. Men spend their nights drinking ale and arguing over whose lot is worse, the fisherfolk who fight the sea or the farmers who scratch a crop from the poor thin soil. If truth be told, the miners have it worse than either, breaking their backs down in the dark, and for what? Iron, lead, tin, those are our treasures. Small wonder the ironmen of old turned to raiding.[2]

The Iron Islands lived in the past; the present was too hard and bitter to be borne.[2]

—thoughts of Theon Greyjoy

The Old Way served the isles well when we were one small kingdom amongst many, but Aegon's Conquest put an end to that.[36]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke.
  5. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
  6. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 1, The Prophet.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
  10. A Game of Thrones: d20-based Open Gaming RPG.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
  12. So Spake Martin: Re: Greyjoy Fleet (February 9, 1999)
  13. So Spake Martin: The Lannister Fleet (September 26, 1999)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Iron Kings.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Black Blood.
  18. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  19. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  20. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 26, Arya VI.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Old Way and the New.
  22. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  24. The Sworn Sword.
  25. The Mystery Knight.
  26. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  27. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
  28. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 37, Theon III.
  29. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  30. 30.0 30.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  31. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
  32. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
  33. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
  34. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
  35. A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
  36. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 11, The Kraken's Daughter.