Tommen II Tyrell

Protector of the Realm

Lord of Highgarden

**Tommen II Tyrell** was the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, reigning from 336 AC to 351 AC.

The eldest son and heir of both Willas Tyrell and Myrcella I Baratheon, Tommen first inherited his father’s seat of Highgarden in 324 AC, becoming Lord Paramount of the Mander at a young age. In majority he became widely popular among the lords of the Reach, and he was equally embraced by the realm at large upon his succession to the Iron Throne.

The reign of Tommen II was largely one of peace and stability, during which royal power reached a new apex; the crown exercised widespread influence through friendly cooperation with the realm’s highest lords. A charismatic warrior-king, Tommen II was hailed as the ultimate fulfillment of the hopes inspired by the union of Willas and Myrcella.

## Appearance and Character

The first Tyrell king was tall, strong and handsome; he was often likened to his grandfather, Robert I Baratheon. He inherited blonde hair from his mother, which he usually kept long, while his jaw was almost always clean-shaven. His hazel eyes infused the green and brown of his mother and father respectively.

Tommen II was a gregarious man, and skillful at maintaining warm relationships with even his fiercest critics. Indeed, he trusted the judgment of his subordinates and councilors just as much as he trusted his own. Though he wielded a great level of direct authority, Tommen often took a hands-off approach to his rule over his realm’s more distant corners, believing that local leaders could find the best solutions to local issues.

A talented enthusiast for every martial and knightly pursuit, Tommen was nevertheless greatly averse to armed conflict. He usually erred on the most bloodless approach to ending conflicts, even when doing so created further problems for the long-term.

## History

### A Prince of Two Kingdoms

Myrcella Baratheon’s victory over the Targaryens in the War of Two Dragons was followed by an equally celebrated occasion: the birth of her first son. Since his infancy, Tommen Tyrell was raised to be the successor of two dynasties. Unlike her parents before her, Queen Myrcella ensured that she and Willas were frequently attentive to their heir throughout his childhoodl.

In 324 AC, the child was given no choice but to become a man. At the age of twelve, Tommen Tyrell inherited the title of Lord Paramount of the Mander from his father. He was sent from King’s Landing to Highgarden, where he was separated from all the familiar faces of the royal court - as the Queen wanted his regency to be guided by the lords of the Reach, rather than representatives of the crown.

At the helm of Tommen’s regency council sat his uncle Garlan Tyrell, the Lord of Greenshield, who also trained the prince as a squire. At Highgarden, Tommen was raised not to be a King on the Iron Throne, but rather a knight and lord of the Reach.

In 328 AC, Tommen Tyrell came of age and began his rule over the Reach in earnest, and his vassals quickly came to know him as just the man his uncle had raised him to be. The young Lord of Highgarden took little interest in the affairs of his royal kin in the capital, instead focusing all his attentions on the Mander. In their crown prince, the lords of the Reach saw their own ascent; Tommen showed a sincere commitment to serving the interests of his family’s home land.

### The Warrior King

After eight prosperous years as the Lord of Highgarden, Tommen II Tyrell ascended to the Iron Throne. He soon after abolished the title of Lord Paramount of the Mander and created that of the Prince of Highgarden, which he bestowed upon his firstborn son. Once again he turned to the Tyrells of Greenshield to serve his child’s regent, though Tommen nevertheless spent much of his early reign in Highgarden, where he remained engaged with the affairs of the Reach.

The reign of Tommen II on the throne was just as successful as his lordship over the Mander. The Seven Kingdoms were more united than ever, sharing in the peace and prosperity earned through the struggles of his parents’ reign. Royal authority reached its zenith, though the King was careful not to overexert his power. With a good eye for talent, Tommen was able to trust and abide by the judgments of his subordinates.

### The Decade of Contentment

Though the short-lived Rivals’ Rebellion of 342 AC was easily diffused by the esteemed Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, it marked a turning point in Tommen’s reign. Fearful of the possibility of such an uprising happening again, the King seldom left the capital during his final decade.

His intention was to become more actively involved in the royal bureaucracy, and to that end he set aside the knightly pursuits that hitherto occupied much of his time. However, Tommen quickly found the realm to be managed well enough already, and that time was instead relegated to the rearing of his family - as well as the enjoyment of the finer things in life.

Feasts, tourneys and other celebrations became frequent in King’s Landing, to the delight of courtiers and commoners alike. The latter half of Tommen’s reign also saw the rise of Osric Waters, a favorite of the King who began to wield an informal influence over royal policy. Many anticipated that scandal would emerge from this arrangement, but the King’s enduring popularity precluded the spread of unsavory rumors.

After his son, Prince Alester, reached the age of majority, Tommen II wholly removed himself from the regional affairs of the Reach, confident that his heir was ready to rule alone. Even as his councilors openly warned of Alester’s faults, the King never once doubted his son’s abilities, attributing the prince’s every flaw to his youth and inexperience.

In his final years, heavy drinking and heavy eating took a toll on the King’s health. Tommen II died in 351 AC of heart disease after fifteen years on the Iron Throne, leaving the Seven Kingdoms to Alester I Tyrell.