Merle I Gardener

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House Gardner.PNG
Merle I Gardener
House Gardner.PNG
Monarch
Reign During the Andal Invasion
Full name Merle of House Gardener, the First of His Name
Title King of the Reach
Predecessor Garth IX Gardener
Heir Gwayne V Gardener
Successor Gwayne V Gardener
Personal Information
Alias Merle the Meek
Family
Dynasty House Gardener
Issue Gwayne V Gardener
Father Garth IX Gardener
References
Book The World of Ice and Fire (mentioned)

Merle I Gardener, called Merle the Meek, was a King of the Reach and head of House Gardener. Along with his father and son, he is remembered as one of the Three Sage Kings who dealt with the Andal invasion of the Reach with a policy of accord and assimilation rather then armed resistance.[1]

History

After his father had brought a septon to court and made him one of his counselors and built the first sept at Highgarden, Merle converted to the Faith of the Seven and helped fund the construction of septs, septries, and motherhouses all over the Reach.[1]

Merle also took an Andal maiden to wife as a means of binding the bride's father to the realm, as well as other Andals into his service as knights and retainers, and bequeathed lands and wives and lordships for the more powerful of the Andal kings and other Andal adventurers descending on the Reach in exchange for pledges of fealty.[1] He also sought after Andal craftsmen, especially blacksmiths and stonemasons, to settle throughout the Reach, supplying his bannermen with iron instead of bronze and strengthening their castles and holdfasts with Andal masonry.[1]

References and Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The World of Ice & Fire, Andals in the Reach.