Highgarden

**Highgarden** is a castle which serves as the seat of House Tyrell, the regional capital of the Reach, and the heart of chivalry in the Seven Kingdoms. It lies on the Mander where the ocean road meets the roseroad, making it an important crossroads.

Victor Tyrell is the current Lord of Highgarden.

## Layout

Highgarden is located on a broad verdant hill overlooking the Mander. The castle is surrounded by three rings of white stone whose crenelated curtain walls increase in height. Between the outer and middle walls is a famous briar labyrinth which serves to entertain as well as slow invaders. The oldest towers, squat and square, date from the Age of Heroes. Newer towers are tall and slender, round fortifications dating from after the coming of the Andals.

The castle sept, which has rows of stained-glass windows honoring Garth Greenhand and the Seven, is matched only by the Great Sept of Baelor and the Starry Sept. The castle's godswood contains three weirwoods known as the Three Singers. The palatial keep is decorated with statues and colonnades. Also within Highgarden's walls are groves, fountains, and courtyards. The castle's structures are covered in ivy, grapes, and climbing roses.

Highgarden is filled with flowers, singers, pipers, fiddlers and harpers. The stables have a fine selection of horseflesh, and there are pleasure boats to sail along the Mander. There are fields of golden roses that stretch as far as the eye can see. Fruits grown nearby include melons, peaches, and fireplums.

## History

### House Gardener

Highgarden is said to have been built by Garth the Gardener atop a hill overlooking the Mander. Highgarden was the centre of the Reach proper, and the Kings of the Reach from House Gardener grew to acquire what has become the Reach. Many members of House Peake served as counsellors at Highgarden.

During the Andal invasion of Westeros, King Mern II Gardener built a curtain wall about the castle. The Andals were ultimately welcomed into the Reach, however, and King Garth IX Gardener built the first sept at Highgarden, although he continued to worship in its godswood. House Tyrell, a family of Andal origin, became the hereditary stewards of the castle.

Highgarden was sacked by Dornishmen during the reign of King Garth X Gardener, and the Gardeners' Oakenseat was destroyed. The castle was rebuilt by Garth's cousin, King Mern VI Gardener.

The peaceful Harmund II Hoare, King of the Iron Islands, once visited Highgarden and Oldtown.

The Gardener kings hosted tourneys of love and beauty, and the greatest champions were allowed to join the Order of the Green Hand.

### House Tyrell

Highgarden was the seat of House Gardener until Aegon the Conqueror defeated King Mern IX Gardener and his host on the Field of Fire, ending their line during Aegon's Conquest. When Aegon then marched his host to Highgarden, its steward, Harlen Tyrell, surrendered the castle without a fight. For this, Aegon granted him the castle and gave House Tyrell dominion over the Reach as the Lord Paramount of the Mander. However, other houses, such as the Florents, Rowans, and Oakhearts, also claim blood ties to the Gardeners and covet Highgarden. During the First Dornish War, Aegon I took counsel at Highgarden with Theo Tyrell.

Aegon visited Highgarden during many of his royal progresses. When Aegon died at Dragonstone in 37 A.C., his eldest son flew from Highgarden, which he had been visiting as part of a progress, to Dragonstone to be crowned King Aenys I Targaryen. The new king visited Highgarden after being anointed at the Starry Sept of Oldtown. After Elinor Costayne was forced to wed King Maegor I Targaryen, her second son was sent to Highgarden for fostering.

### Jaehaerys the Conciliator

After his coronation in Oldtown, the court of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen stopped at Highgarden while returning to King's Landing. In his youth, Septon Barth served at Highgarden before coming to court. After the passing of the High Lickspittle, Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne Targaryen stopped at the castle while flying to Oldtown. Rhaena visited the Tyrell seat during her search for her daughter, Princess Aerea Targaryen.

Florence Fossoway ably kept the accounts at Highgarden for her husband, Lord Martyn Tyrell. The Tyrells hosted the famed Tourney of the Field of Roses during the reign of the Old King. Jaehaerys and his granddaughter, Princess Rhaenys, visited Highgarden in 89 AC.

### Dance of the Dragons

After the passing of King Viserys I Targaryen, the green council sent ravens to Highgarden asking for House Tyrell to support King Aegon II Targaryen. Many lords of the Reach declared for Rhaenyra Targaryen, however, and the regents for young Lyonel Tyrell decided that Highgarden should not take part in the Dance of the Dragons.

Because the Tyrells were neutral, Ser Ulf White declared after the First Battle of Tumbleton that they should be attainted as traitors and he should receive Highgarden. He was poisoned after Second Tumbleton, however.

Highgarden was slow to answer Aegon II after his restoration to the Iron Throne. Young Lyonel Hightower wanted to support Aegon, but he was dissuaded from doing by the Tyrells, his liege lords. Hightower's younger brother, Garmund Hightower, was a page at Highgarden, so declaring for Aegon would put Garmund's life in danger.