House Hightower

**Since 305 AC:**
House Ashford
House Caswell
House Florent
House Fossoway of Cider Hall
House Fossoway of New Barrel
House Hastwyck
House Inchfield
House Leygood
House Merryweather
House Mullendore
House Oakheart
House Redwyne
House Rhysling
House Rowan
House Tarly

"*The Hightowers might just be the most powerful house left in the realm. The Night King never reached that far south. We'll need them on our side.*"
―Davos Seaworth to Gendry I Baratheon
**House Hightower of Oldtown** is a Great House of Westeros that rules the vast and fertile region of the Reach from its seat of the Hightower, located within the city of Oldtown. Elevated to Lords Paramount of the Reach following the Great War and extinction of House Tyrell, it is generally seen as one of the most powerful among the Great Houses, due to it's dominion over the Realm's most populous and arguably most resource rich region.

House Hightower's sigil is a white stone watchtower, with a fire on the top, on a grey field, and their House words are "We Light the Way".

## History

### Founding

House Hightower traces it's origins back to the Dawn Age, where they built the Hightower atop Battle Isle, at the mouth of the Honeywine River, and oversaw the construction of Oldtown on the surrounding banks. The Hightowers ruled as Kings of the High Tower, repelling numerous invaders, until they were brought peacefully into the Kingdom of the Reach during the reign of King Garland II Gardener, through a series of negotiations and marriages.

### Targaryen era

By the time of Aegon's Conquest, Oldtown had grown to become the largest city in Westeros. The Hightowers did not provide material support to House Gardener, who were soon wiped out during the Field of Fire and supplanted by House Tyrell. Shortly after, Aegon Targaryen was formally crowned as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms by the High Septon in Oldtown.

Although the construction of King's Landing eventually saw the new capital surpass Oldtown in population, House Hightower remained prominent at both Highgarden and the royal court in King's Landing, most notably during the Dance of the Dragons, where they were the principal supporters of the Greens.

### Robert's Rebellion

During Robert's Rebellion, House Hightower remained loyal to the Targaryens, alongside their liege lords of House Tyrell, with Ser Gerold Hightower serving as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Following the war, House Hightower bent the knee to King Robert Baratheon.

### War of the Five Kings

Despite ostensibly supporting their overlords in Highgarden, House Hightower mostly remained out of the War of the Five Kings, which eventually resulted in the total destruction of House Tyrell and much of the Reach falling into chaos.

### Great War

Shortly after the extinction of House Tyrell, the Great War broke out, which saw most of the Reach invaded and destroyed by the White Walkers. However, the Army of the Dead was held at the Mander and was rendered unable to cross before being destroyed due to the Battle of King's Landing.

Following the Great War, with House Tyrell destroyed and the southern Reach the only heavily populated region in Westeros to escape ravaging by the Army of the Dead, King Gendry Baratheon offered to elevate the Hightowers to Lords Paramount of the Reach in exchange for fealty, which Lord Baelor Hightower accepted, although House Tarly was granted Highgarden while House Baratheon of Storm's End received the title of Warden of the South.

### Highgarden Crisis

Owing to the geographic location of Oldtown, the Hightowers struggled to project their authority to the northernmost areas of the Reach. Thus, they coveted control over Highgarden, the traditional capital of the Reach. After Lord Jon Tarly died without a clear heir, a succession crisis was ignited, which was eventually settled in favour of House Hightower, who gained control over Highgarden.

While Oldtown remained the new capital of the Reach, Highgarden became an equally important possession of House Hightower, and was often assigned to the heir apparent of the Lord of Oldtown.

## See also

* House Hightower on Wiki of Westeros
* House Hightower on A Wiki of Ice and Fire