Donnel Hightower

Defender of the Citadel

Lord of Oldtown

Lord of the Hightower

Lord of the Port

Voice of Oldtown

**Donnel Hightower**, called **Donnel the Delayer,** was Lord of the Hightower and head of House Hightower during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.

## History

Martyn Hightower was lord of House Hightower at the beginning of Maegor the Cruel's reign. He later died in unspecified circumstances, so that by the end of Maegor's reign, Donnel had succeeded him as lord of House Hightower. Donnel's exact relationship to Martyn has not been stated.

When Septon Moon and his followers appeared at Oldtown in 48 AC, Lord Donnel closed his gates against them. Moon and his followers remained outside the city's walls, but Donnel refused to take up arms against them. Many believed Donnel was not willing to battle against Lords Torgen Oakheart and Rickard Rowan, who had joined Septon Moon. Due to his reluctance, Lord Hightower was dubbed Donnel the Delayer by the maesters of the Citadel. Most of Moon's followers fled after his death. By the time less than four hundred men remained of the original host of five thousand, Lord Donnel rode forth and killed those who had remained behind.

In 49 AC, Lord Donnel came to King's Landing for the Golden Wedding, escorting the High Septon with a hundred knights and seventy-seven of the Most Devout.

Ser Orryn Baratheon traveled to Oldtown to seize the novice Rhaella Targaryen in 50 AC. He was arrested by Donnel, however, despite the fact that the High Septon had heard Orryn's confession and had forgiven him for his intended crime. Donnel sent a full account of what transpired to King's Landing.

In 54 AC, following the death of the High Septon, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen traveled to Oldtown on their dragons, disregarding the small council objection to their traveling alone. Donnel wished for one of his relatives serving the Faith to be elected as the new High Septon, to which Jaehaerys had no objection, as long as they spoke in favor of the king's Doctrine of Exceptionalism. When the king and Donnel reached an agreement, they sealed it with a large feast. Septon Alfyn was eventually elected, but as he was quite old, it seemed likely that he would die sooner rather than later. It was expected Alfyn would be succeeded by a Hightower, provided the Hightowers aligned themselves firmly with the Exceptionalists. Alfyn was eventually succeeded by Donnel's brother.

In 55 AC, Lord Donnel received Queen Rhaena Targaryen when she arrived in Oldtown searching for her daughter, Princess Aerea Targaryen.

In 56 AC, Donnel received summons from King Jaehaerys to arrest Lady Elissa Farman, now going by the name of Alys Westhill, commanding him to take her into custody and deliver her to King's Landing. Either the ravens did not reach Oldtown in time, or Donnel delayed on purpose, but Alys had already taken ship by the time Donnel moved against her. He sent a dozen of his swiftest ships after her and his two grandsons, Eustace and Norman, who had joined her. None of Donnel's vessels were able to capture them, however.

When Ser Eustace turned up in Oldtown on the seventh day of 59 AC, Hightower knights escorted him to Donnel in the high hall of the Hightower, where the lord listened to his grandson's tale. Later that same year, Lord Donnel died from the Shivers.