Great Houses

**Great Houses** are the most powerful members of nobility of Westeros, some Kings outright, others former royalty. *The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms* describes the great houses and high lords of Westeros. While this can often refer to the most powerful nobility of the realm, it is traditionally used to describe the paramount houses of each region, as well as the sovereign rulers of the other independent Kingdoms of Westeros.

## History

House Targaryen conquered most of Westeros during Aegon's Conquest. House Arryn of the Eyrie, the former Kings of Mountain and Vale, became the Wardens of the East, while House Lannister of Casterly Rock, the Kings of the Rock, became the Wardens of the West. The Lannisters are the wealthiest of the Great Houses.

House Gardener of Highgarden, the Kings of the Reach, were extinguished at the Field of Fire by Aegon's dragons. Aegon granted Highgarden to House Tyrell, his new Wardens of the South. Despite being sworn to the Tyrells, the Hightowers of Oldtown are among the oldest and proudest of the Great Houses of Westeros.

House Hoare of Harrenhal, the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers, were extinguished in the burning of Harrenhal. Aegon granted dominion over the Riverlands to House Tully of Riverrun, the new Lords Paramount of the Trident.

Aegon's half-brother, Orys Baratheon, slew Argilac the Arrogant, the last Storm King from House Durrandon. Orys married Argilac's daughter, Argella Durrandon, forming House Baratheon of Storm's End, the youngest of the Great Houses of Westeros.

The principality of Dorne, ruled by House Martell of Sunspear, resisted Aegon in the First Dornish War.

## House Stark of Winterfell

*Main Article: House Stark*

**House Stark of Winterfell** is one of the Great Houses of Westeros and the principal noble house of The North. In days of old they ruled as Kings of Winter and Lords of Winterfell. Their seat, Winterfell, is an ancient castle renowned for its strength.

Their sigil is a grey direwolf racing across a field of white. Their words are "*Winter is Coming*", one of only a few house mottoes to be a warning rather than a boast, it is said.

Aside from the Karstarks of Karhold, the Starks of Winterfell may have other, distant relatives in the north. White Harbor and Barrowton are considered to be likely options. Some younger Starks have also held vassal holdfasts for the Lords of Winterfell, such as the now ruined castle of the Wolf's Den... *(Read More)*

## House Greyjoy of Pyke

*Main Article: House Greyjoy*
**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 Seastone Chair in the castle of Pyke on the island of the same name. The head of the family is traditionally known as the Lord Reaper of Pyke. Their sigil is a golden kraken on a black field, and their house motto is "We Do Not Sow." Members of the family tend to be attractive and well-built, with black hair.

Having reclaimed their power from the usurpers of House Drumm and House Blacktyde, the Greyjoys bent the knee again to the Targaryens in 99 AC and restored rule to the Isles after the bloody The Ironborn Civil War from 100 AC to 103 AC. They are currently ruled by Lord Reaper Vickon Greyjoy, the Kingfish.

## House Toland of Ghost Hill

*Main Article: House Toland*

   House Toland of Ghost Hill is one of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms and the ruling house of Dorne. Princess Ashlynn Toland rules from Ghost Hill in southeastern Dorne.

Their arms depict a green dragon biting its tail on gold, the dragon symbolizing that time has no beginning and no end, and their words are "We endure", a testimony of their resilience in the many conflicts they endured. In appearance they are considered salty Dornishmen, with dark eyes, and olive skin, but with the trait of red hair persistent throughout their line.

... *(Read More)*

## House Targaryen of Dragonstone

*Main Article: House Targaryen*

**House Targaryen of Dragonstone** is a noble family of Valyrian descent who ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Despite being styled as "Lord of the Seven Kingdoms", House Targaryen kings only rule over five, as the North and Dorne remain independent of the Iron Throne. The Targaryen sigil is a three-headed dragon breathing flames, red on black. The house words are *"Fire and Blood"*. A second branch rules over the Kingdom of the Iron Throne from King's Landing.

The only family of dragonlords who survived the Doom of Valyria, the Targaryens left the Valyrian Freehold twelve years before the Doom. They resided for more than a century at Dragonstone on the island of the same name, until Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, began the first of the Wars of Conquest in 2 BC.

Following the conclusion of Aegon's Conquest in 1 AC, they built the Aegonfort in the new capital city of King's Landing. The Aegonfort was later torn down and replaced by the Red Keep, which remained their main seat for the duration of their dynasty, and which housed the Iron Throne. Their original castle was almost always given to the heir to the throne, the Prince of Dragonstone... *(Read More)*

## House Arryn of the Eyrie

*Main Article: House Arryn*

**House Arryn of the Eyrie** is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, and is the principal noble house in the Vale of Arryn. Their main seat is the Eyrie, which is considered impregnable. House Arryn has at least one other holding, their winter castle at the Gates of the Moon, which was once their main seat. Both of these fortifications sit astride the Giant's Lance, the tallest mountain in the Vale, the Gates of the Moon at its foot, the Eyrie at its top. The Arryn sigil is a sky-blue falcon soaring upwards, outlined against a white moon on a sky-blue field, and their words are "*As High as Honor*". The Arryns remain Defenders of the Vale and Wardens of the East.

The current Lord of the Vale is Rodrik Arryn.

## House Baratheon of Storm's End

*Main Article: House Baratheon*

**House Baratheon of Storm's End** is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, and is the principal house in the stormlands, which they rule as Lords Paramount of the Stormlands. Their seat, Storm's End, is an ancient castle raised by the Storm Kings from the now-extinct House Durrandon. The Baratheon sigil is a crowned black stag on a field of gold. Members of the family tend to be tall and powerfully built, with black hair and blue eyes, as well as strong, square jawlines. They are known for their mercurial tempers, and their words are "*Ours is the Fury*".

The current rules Lord of Storm's End is Roy Baratheon.

## House Lannister of Casterly Rock

*Main Article: House Lannister*

**House Lannister of Casterly Rock** is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, and the principal house of the westerlands. Their seat is Casterly Rock, though another branch exists that is based in nearby Lannisport. Their sigil is a golden lion on a field of crimson. Their official motto is "Hear Me Roar!" However, their unofficial motto, equally well known, is "A Lannister always pays his debts." The Warden of the West is a Lannister by tradition.

Fair-haired, tall, and handsome, the Lannisters are the blood of Andal adventurers who carved out a mighty kingdom in the western hills and valleys. Through the female line they boast of descent from Lann the Clever, the legendary trickster of the Age of Heroes who tricked the members of House Casterly into giving him Casterly Rock, during the era of the First Men.

The current Lord of Casterly Rock is Tybolt Lannister.

## House Tully of Riverrun

*Main Article: House Tully*

**House Tully of Riverrun** is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, and rules over the riverlands from their seat in the western riverlands, situated at the confluence of the Tumblestone and Red Fork rivers. Their sigil is a silver trout leaping on a striped field of blue and mud red, and their house words are "Family, Duty, Honor." Members of House Tully tend to have fair skin, red-brown (i.e. auburn) hair, and blue eyes in a variety of shades.

The current rulers of House Tully are...

## House Tyrell of Highgarden

*Main Article: House Tyrell*

**House Tyrell of Highgarden** is one of the Great Houses of the Westeros, being Lords Paramount of the Mander and the liege lords of the Reach. A large, wealthy house, its wealth is only surpassed among the Great Houses by House Lannister, the Tyrells can field the greatest armies. Additionally, if they call the ships of the Redwyne fleet, the lords of the Shield Islands, and the coastal lords, they can command a navy that equals if not surpasses the royal fleet of King's Landing.

Highgarden is an ancient seat of rule and the heart of chivalry in Westeros; the Tyrells style themselves 'Defenders of the Marches', 'High Marshals of the Reach', and Wardens of the South, in addition to Lords Paramount of the Mander. Their sigil is a golden rose on a green field, and their words are "Growing Strong". Members of the family tend to have curly brown hair and brown eyes.

The current Lord of Highgarden is Dorian Tyrell.