Occupation of the Iron Islands

### Outcome

**Baratheon-Harlaw victory*** Baratheon forces successfully occupy all major islands of the Iron Islands, mostly bloodlessly
* Rodrik Harlaw agrees to submit to House Baratheon of King's Landing in exchange for dominion over the Iron Islands
* The Iron Islands are reintegrated into the Seven Kingdoms
* Occupation force withdrawn after half a year

Factions| * **Iron Throne**/House Baratheon of King's Landing
* House Hightower
	+ House Redwyne
* House Harlaw(post-occupation)
* Disparate Ironborn warriors

### Civilian casualties

Light, if any

The **Occupation of the Iron Islands** was a military occupation of the Iron Islands carried out by the forces of King Gendry Baratheon and Queen Arya Stark in co-operation with House Redwyne and their recently anointed overlords, House Hightower.

The occupation aimed to stabilise the region and reintegrate the archipelago into the Seven Kingdoms, following the death of Queen of the Iron Islands Yara Greyjoy during the Battle of King's Landing.

## History

### Prelude

Shortly after the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings, Lord Balon Greyjoy crowned himself king and declared the Iron Islands independent, before launching a failed invasion of the North. Soon after the last of the Ironborn invaders were driven from the mainland, Balon's brother, Euron Greyjoy, returned from exile and killed Balon for his rule's shortcomings. Despite making no secret of his kinslaying, Euron was elected to succeed Balon over Balon's daughter, Yara Greyjoy, leading her and her supporters to flee with the remaining Iron Fleet. Euron eventually aligned his forces with Queen Cersei Lannister, while Yara aligned with Queen Daenerys Targaryen. During the subsequent Great War, Yara and her brother Theon were killed fighting against the White Walkers, while Euron fled Westeros after witnessing the apparent invincibility of the Night King first-hand during the Battle of Dragonstone. With no clear ruler, most of the Iron Islands soon feel into disorder in the months immediately following the Great War, with all the former vassals of House Greyjoy becoming de -facto independent, and skirmishes erupting as a result.

### Occupation

Fearing that Euron Greyjoy may be able to retake power in the Iron Islands and raid or even conquer large swaths of Westeros should the situation be allowed to fester, the Small Council urged King Gendry Baratheon to address the situation, and occupy the islands if necessary. After liaising with Lord Baelor Hightower and his sea-faring Redwyne vassals, King Gendry and Queen Arya Stark sailed to Oldtown to assemble a strong fleet, before sailing north up the Sunset Sea for the Iron Islands. Some islands like Great Wyk put up some resistance to the occupying forces, while others such as Harlaw offered none. A week into the occupation, Lord Rodrik Harlaw invited King Gendry and Queen Arya to his seat of Ten Towers, and made the king an offer; Lord Rodrik would submit to the Iron Throne's authority, if Rodrik and his successors be made Lords of the Iron Islands, the same position that House Greyjoy had occupied under House Targaryen and Gendry's father, and similar to what Gendry had recently done for House Hightower in replacing the extinct House Tyrell as rulers of the Reach. Gendry accepted the offer, and the rest of the occupation was spent getting the Ironborn houses to submit to House Harlaw's authority. Several months later, with Lord Rodrik's rule consolidated and his oath of fealty taken, the occupation was withdrawn and deemed a success.

### Aftermath

Euron Greyjoy would return to Westeros eight years later during the War of the Narrow Sea, declaring war against the Iron Throne and House Harlaw. Lord Rodrik Harlaw pledged to support King Gendry Baratheon, hoping to defend his new position. Euron was eventually killed during the Battle of the Crossroads, rendering House Greyjoy extinct and confirming House Harlaw's rule over the Iron Islands.