Robert Baratheon

King Robert I Baratheon known as **The** **Usurper** was born in 262 AC and was the first non Targaryen ruler to sit the Iron Throne after The War of the Usurper, which had seen the end of the tyrannical reign of the 'Mad King' Aerys and the fall of the Targaryen dynasty that had ruled Westeros for 300 years.

Following the war Robert Baratheon was married to Cersei Lannister, together they have three children: Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen Baratheon.

## Biography

### History

#### Early Life

Robert was born in 262 AC, he was the firstborn son of Lord Steffon Baratheon and Lady Cassana Estermont. He has two younger brothers: Stannis born two years after Robert and Renly Baratheon born while his brothers were already in their teens.

In his youth Robert and Stannis would accompany their father to the royal court, they would witness Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King at the time hold court in Aerys' absence. Robert would become good friends with his Estermont cousin from his mothers side, Alysanne.

At a young age Robert would be sent to The Eyrie to be fostered as a ward for Lord Paramount Jon Arryn, where he would meet his best friend, Eddard Stark of Winterfell. Jon Arryn, having no children himself grew to care for the two paternally, becoming almost like a second father to both.

During his time being fostered in The Eyrie, Robert would travel to Storm's End to visit, where he was knighted and would a some-point compete in a Tourney held by his Lord father Steffon. Robert was defeated by a Knight of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy.

### Pre Rebellion

Robert would become Lord of Storm's End with the untimely death of both his parents, after they were tasked by King Aerys to sail to Volantis to find Robert's cousin: Rhaegar, a suitable bride. As their ship *Windproud*, sailed into Shipbreaker Bay however, it was caught in a terrible storm. Robert and Stannis would watch the ship sink in the bay taking their parents down with it.

At some point, Robert would fall in love Eddard Stark's younger sister, Lyanna. Eventually Lyanna's father Lord Rickard Stark agreed to the betrothal of Lord Robert and his daughter. Though Lyanna doubted Roberts loyalty to her as Robert already had a bastard daughter, Mya Stone, in the Vale, believing he would not keep to one bed despite his love for her. Eddard believed Robert only loved Lyanna for her beauty and never recognized her other qualities.

During the Tourney of Harrenhal in 281 AC, Robert's cousin Rhaegar Targaryen, after winning the final joust skipped over his own wife Elia Martell, and instead crowned Lyanna Stark as his *queen of love and beauty*, whom by this point was already long betrothed to Robert. According to those close to Robert, he saw this as an insult and brooded long.

A year following the tourney of Harrenhal, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen would kidnap Lyanna Stark, setting in motion the events for The War of the Usurper.

### War of the Usurper

Upon receiving news of Lyanna's abduction, her eldest brother Brandon and later, her father Rickard would both ride to King's Landing, with the demands that Prince Rhaegar return Lyanna. Both were thereafter executed by King Aerys II Targaryen. Aerys would then demand the heads of both Robert and Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn however, refused and instead called his bannermen and rose up in rebellion against the Kings tyranny. Eddard would go to rally the northmen and Robert would help Jon Arryn secure the port city of Gulltown, held by loyalist House: Grafton. Robert during the battle slew Marq Grafton, and after the city was secured, Robert would sail to the Stormlands and rally his banners to the cause, However, Houses: Cafferen, Grandison and Fell would refuse the call and take up arms with the loyalists.

#### Loyalist Lords

The three loyalist houses planned to rally at the ruins of Summerhall and march on Storm's End to put a swift end to the Lord of the Stormlands, Robert hearing of these plans made a swift march with his knights and fought all three of the lords, defeating each one. He returned with the captive loyalist Lords, except Lord Lucas Fell, who Robert had slain in battle. Robert demanded the Lord's loyalty. Lord's Jon Cafferen, Harys Grandison and Glendon 'Silveraxe' Fell all swore new oaths to House Baratheon.

Once his forces were completely gathered, Robert began the march to rally with the forces of Jon Arryn, leaving his brother Stannis in command of Storm's End. Stannis was torn between loyalty to the crown or to his brother, ultimately he chose his brother.

#### First defeat and The Battle of the Bells

As Robert's forces were marching through the Reach, his army came to clash with the vanguard army of Lord Randyll Tarly before Lord Mace Tyrell could catch up with the main forces of the Reach, the battle fought was the Battle of Ashford, in which Robert suffered his first and only military loss. Robert successfully escaped with most of his forces after the battle, and continued north, while the Reach army marched into the Stormlands. Owen Merryweather was replaced with a younger hand: Jon Connington, a close friend of Rhaegar Targaryen. Jon was tasked with meeting Roberts army and eliminating the traitor. He met Robert in the field with a great host under the crown. Robert was separated from his men and wounded, taking refuge at the Stoney Sept. Jon's army arrived in the town in search of Robert who was hiding in the towns brothel as he was aided by the townsfolk. Lords Eddard Stark and Hoster Tully would soon arrive with their armies to engage the loyalist force. Both sides fought fiercly in streets, alleys, and on rooftops. Jon wounded Lord Hoster during the battle and also slew Lord Jon Arryn's cousin and heir, Ser Denys Arryn. Robert emerged from the brothel as the bells rang. He slew six men including Rhaegars friend Myles Mooton. Aiding his allies against Jon's army, Robert eventually engaged with Jon Connington in combat, nearly slaying him.

Robert's bastard daughter Bella, fathered as Robert was in hiding, was named after the Battle of the Bells.

After this rebel victory, Aerys Targaryen began to accept the threat Robert posed and viewed him as a true real threat to his dynasty and realm, since Daemon I Blackfyre. Soon after the battle Jon Connington was exiled for his failure to defeat Robert, replacing him with Qarl Chelsted.

While in their armies were in the Riverlands, to secure the alliance of House Tully formally, Lords Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark were married to Hoster Tully's daughter's Catelyn and Lysa, Robert attended the weddings at Riverrun. Around this time Robert announced his claim to the throne, as his grandmother was Rhaelle Targaryen, making his claim stronger than any of the other rebel leaders, and with that he led a united army of Houses: Arryn, Baratheon, Stark and Tully against the loyalists.

#### The Battle of the Trident

Upon arriving at the Ruby ford, the rebel and loyalist forces stood across from each other. Rhaegar Targaryen ordered his army to cross the river and the battle began. The loyalist forces outnumbered the rebels, Robert met Rhaegar in single combat on horseback as the battle raged around them. During the duel Rhaegar managed to wound Robert, but ultimately Robert ended up slaying his cousin with a fatal blow to the chest with his Warhammer. With the death of Prince Rhaegar, the loyalist forces scattered and fled, leaving the rebels with a decisive victory.

Following the battle, a knight of Aerys' Kingsguard: Ser Barristan Selmy was taken captive, Roose Bolton suggested Robert execute the knight, but Robert refused and ordered his own Maester to treat Barristan's wounds.

With Robert being injured himself, he could not give chase to the loyalist forces, instead sent Eddard Stark to pursue them to King's Landing.

#### Sack of King's Landing

*I see no babes, only dragonspawn*
―Robert to Eddard Stark[src]
Unbeknownst to the Rebels, the forces of House Lannister led by Lord Tywin Lannister had reached the city first under the false guise of being an ally of the King. Pycelle convinced Aerys that the Lannisters had always been friends of the crown and to let them into the city. Aerys agreed and opened the gates which led to the Sack of King's Landing and the murder of Rhaegar's wife Elia and children Rhaenys and Aegon, whereas Aerys was in turn assassinated by Jaime Lannister.

Robert arrived in King's Landing soon after and was presented with the murdered and bloodied corpses of Rhaegar's family by Tywin's orders, as in a show of further loyalty to the Rebels cause. Robert was pleased that they were dead, but Eddard Stark was disgusted and deemed it murder. Robert named them nothing but dragonspawn causing Eddard Stark to leave King's Landing the following day to fight the final battles alone. The two friends became estranged but soon reconciled with the death of Lyanna Stark.

### Aftermath of the Rebellion

*Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.*
―Donal Noye to Jon Snow, regarding Robert[src]
Nearing the end of the year of 283 AC, Robert Baratheon was crowned as Robert the first of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. Robert would chose his friend and father-figure Jon Arryn as his Hand of the King. Robert pardoned many of the Loyalists who sided with the Targaryens during the rebellion such as House Tyrell and House Martell. With the advice of Jon Arryn and disapproval of Eddard Stark, Robert decided to pardon Jaime Lannister of his crime of assassinating Aerys, allowing him to keep his white cloak alongside Barristan Selmy.

Robert hosted a coronation feast soon after. He allowed Ronald Connington to keep the lands of House Connington, but had most of their other land gifted to neighboring lords. Robert had the skulls of the deceased Targaryen dragons removed from the keep and replaced with numerous tapestries of battles and hunts alongside Baratheon banners. Robert named Stannis his Master of Ships and tasked him with building a royal fleet to capture Dragonstone, the last Targaryen stronghold and foothold in Westeros. At this time Dragonstone was refuge for Dowager Queen Rhaella and her son Viserys. After the construction of the fleet Stannis led the Assault on Dragonstone. However Willem Darry had already began to smuggle the Targaryens off the island to Essos, Rhaella died in childbirth, leaving Viserys and the newborn Daenerys under his protection. In Roberts rage he blamed his brother Stannis for failing to capture them, despite them being gone before Stannis had set sail.

With Robert now living in King's Landing, he granted his youngest brother Renly the Lordship of Storm's End, and the Stormlands, whereas Stannis would receive Dragonstone. Stannis believed Robert did this to slight him for his failure to capture the Targaryen children, however Dragonstone was traditionally the seat of the heir to the Iron Throne, being labelled as the Prince of Dragonstone, since the time of Aegon the Conqueror. Stannis would become the head of House Baratheon of Dragonstone and Robert would become the head of House Baratheon of King's Landing.

### Marriage to Cersei Lannister

*Rhaegar … Rhaegar won, damn him. I killed him, Ned, I drove the spike right through that black armor into his black heart, and he died at my feet. They made up songs about it. Yet somehow he still won. He has Lyanna now, and I have her.*
―**Robert** to Eddard Stark[src]
### Reign of Robert I Baratheon

#### The Greyjoy Rebellion

***Balon**: You may take my head, but you cannot name me traitor. No Greyjoy ever swore an oath to a Baratheon.
**Robert**: Swear one now, or lose that stubborn head of yours.*
―Balon Greyjoy and Robert[src]
#### A New Hand

*Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the King.*
―Robert to Eddard Stark[src]

## Kills

* Lucas Fell
* Randyll Grafton
* Marq Grafton
* Myles Mooton
* Alan Tarly
* Quentin Tyrell
* Tancred of Stafford
* Roland Darry
* Desmond Darry
* Andrey Wade
* Damon Darry
* Laryn Wade
* Rhaegar Targaryen
* Jonothor Darry
* Warryn Wade
* Myron Wade
* Quentyn Hood
* Maron Greyjoy

## Friends and Foes

### Friends

* Eddard Stark
* Jon Arryn
* Thoros
* Alysanne Estermont

### Foes

* Aerys Targaryen
* Rhaegar Targaryen

## Council

* Jon Arryn as Hand of the King (283-298 AC)
* Eddard Stark as Hand of the King (298)
* Pycelle as Grand Maester (283-298 AC)
* Tywin Lannister as Master of Coin (283-289 AC)
* Petyr Baelish as Master of Coin (289-298 AC)
* Symond Staunton as Master of Laws (283-295 AC)
* Renly Baratheon as Master of Laws (295-298 AC)
* Stannis Baratheon as Master of Ships (283-298 AC)
* Varys as Master of Whispers (283-298 AC)

### Kingsguard

* Barristan Selmy as Lord Commander (283-298 AC)
* Jaime Lannister (283-298 AC)
* Pearse Peasebury (283-290 AC)
* Arys Oakheart (290-298 AC)
* Boros Blount (283-298 AC)
* Mandon Moore (283-298 AC)
* Meryn Trant (283-298 AC)
* Preston Greenfield (283-298 AC)

## Quotes by Robert

*I will not kill a man for loyalty, nor for fighting well.*
―Robert to Roose Bolton, regarding Barristan Selmy after the Battle of the Trident[src]
***Robert**: I am sorry for your girl, Ned. Truly. About the wolf, I mean. My son was lying, I’d stake my soul on it. My son … you love your children, don’t you?
**Eddard**: With all my heart.
**Robert**:Let me tell you a secret, Ned. More than once, I have dreamed of giving up the crown. Take ship for the Free Cities with my horse and my hammer, spend my time warring and whoring, that’s what I was made for. The sellsword king, how the singers would love me.*
―Robert and Eddard Stark[src]

*STOP THIS MADNESS IN THE NAME OF YOUR KING!*
―Robert to during the duel between Gregor and Sandor Clegane[src]

***Robert**: The realm ... the realm knows ... what a wretched king I've been. Bad as Aerys, the gods spare me.
**Eddard**: No, not as bad as Aerys, Your Grace. Not near so bad as Aerys.*
―Robert and Eddard Stark[src]

"*I swear to you, I was never so alive as when I was winning this throne, or so dead as now that I've won it.*"
―Robert to Eddard Stark[src]