War of the Four Kings (The Lion and the Dragon)

Combatants|  **House Targaryen** House Lannister House Tyrell |  House Stark House Tully House Arryn

Commanders| King **Rhaegar I Targaryen**Prince Aegon TargaryenLord Tywin LannisterLord Mace Tyrell | Queen Branda I StarkLord Hoster Tully †King Jon II Arryn †King Denys I ArrynLord Edmure Tully

The **War of the Four Kings**, also called the **War of Polygamy**, was a conflict fought in Westeros from the North down to the Reach, encapsulating six Great Houses and many of their vassals. The war centred around a rebellion against House Targaryen led by the Starks, Tully's, and Arryn's.

## Prelude

In 295 AC, following Targaryen customs, Prince Aegon Targaryen was wed to his older sister Princess Rhaenys. This caused little consternation and much of the realm was vying for the hand of King Rhaegar I's youngest daughter, Visenya. Thus three years later when Princess Visenya came of age, the realm was shocked to learn that Aegon would also be wed to his younger sister in a polygamous marriage the likes of which hadn't been seen since King Maegor I and King Aegon the Conqueror.

The move caused a rift within the realm, many appalled at the abominable nature of the pairing and many houses feeling affronted that their attempts to win the Princess' hand were all in vain. Others meanwhile supported the King, either through historic ties, self-interest or simply Rhaegar's seemingly unblemished image prior to the announcement.

To the south Dorne stayed resolutely neutral as they had done in the former civil war, happy once again to maintain their strength and wealth while the rest of the realm tore itself apart. The Stormlands were in the midst of the War of the Rutting Stags, thus couldn't take part in the ensuing war. The last neutral region were the Iron Islands, with House Greyjoy initially remaining neutral.

## Factions

* **The King on the Iron Throne**: Rhaegar I Targaryen was the incumbent King. He was supported by the Reach under House Tyrell, the Westerlands under House Lannister and the crownlands who were sworn directly to the Iron Throne.
* **The Queen in the North and the Trident**: Branda Stark was the incumbent Lady of Winterfell. She was proclaimed queen by her bannermen, Branda was supported by her northern bannermen and the river lords sworn to her mother Catelyn's family, House Tully.
* **The King of the Mountains and Vale**: Jon Arryn was the incumbent Lord of the Eyrie. He was proclaimed the king by his loyal bannermen after news of Branda's crowning came to the Eyrie.
* **The King of the Iron Islands and North**: Balon Greyjoy was the incumbent Lord of the Iron Islands. After a prior failed attempt to gain independence, the new conflict gave Balon a new opportunity to attempt secession again. He is supported by the lords and captains of the Iron Islands.

## War of the Four Kings

### War in the East

After House Arryn once again declared its support for the rebel forces, much of the Vale fell in line and devoted their forces to Lord Jon Arryn, including House Royce in the southeast. However not all houses joined the fight, some remained neutral and chose not to align with either side, while others actively joined the Targaryen cause. The former enemy-turned-ally of the Arryn's in the War of the Usurpers, House Corbray, declared for the rebels after Lord Lyonel Corbray was given the hand of Ysilla Royce in marriage.

* **Siege of Gulltown**: As had happened in the War of the Usurpers, House Grafton maintained their loyalty to House Targaryen, thus once again keeping the Vale's main port and biggest city out of Arryn hands. Since the previous war Gulltown had expanded its defences and so the siege of the port city was a more arduous process.
* **Gulltown's Reinforcements**: Learning from the War of the Usurpers, King Rhaegar I Targaryen intended to send soldiers to the city of Gulltown, the main opponent of House Arryn in the Vale and Rhaegar's main hope of defeating the Vale. The Royal Fleet, who had little competition, was easily able to provide resources to the besieged city to keep it refreshed during the conflict.
* **Rise of the Mountain Clans**: While the Vale forces were focused in the east and still gathering together, the fugitive Eideard Baratheon had returned to the Vale with a small entourage, seeking Mya Stone and allies for his attempt to conquer the Stormlands. Travelling to the Mountains of the Moon, Eideard fought Timett, the head of the Burned Men, seeing himself as their natural leader as Azor Ahai. He beat the formidable red hand and gained the allegiance of many of the clans.
* **Breaking through the Bloody Gate**: Having built up a substantial army of Mountain clansmen, and knowing the layout of the Bloody Gate after his many years spent in the Vale, Eideard was able to mount a nighttime offensive against the gate. With few defences on the Vale side the battlements fall easily and thus the way to the rest of Westeros opens for Eideard and his force.

### War in the Riverlands

The Riverlands were in a precarious position, being situated in central Westeros as they were meant wars tended to be fought on their land, thus the decision of Ser Edmure Tully, the de facto regent while Lord Hoster Tully slowly wasted away infirm in his own bed, to join the war was a controversial one. However many houses still called for the rebel cause, such as House Mallister and House Blackwood. Others maintained their neutrality however, such as House Frey, despite their connections to Houses Stark and Tully. Some houses also joined the Targaryen cause, such as House Darry and House Mooton of Maidenpool.

* **Occupation of Harrenhal**: The fortress of Harrenhal proved to be as vital in the opening phases of this war as it had done in the War of the Usurpers. With the main rebel forces being spread out throughout their respective regions, the Crownland forces loyal to King Rhaegar I Targaryen were able to move quickly and set up in the fortress with their House Whent allies allowing them entry. Thus the main roads from the North and Vale were now occupied, hampering the rebels ability to work against the crown.
* **Second Agreement of the Twins**: Despite the familial connections with House Frey and Houses Stark and Tully, Lord Walder Frey once again shut his gates to the northern army. He was bitter still that his son Ser Jared Frey and grandson Rhaegar Frey had been killed in the War of the Usurpers, while his son Ser Hosteen Frey had been sent to the Wall after the war. It was only the intervention of Ser Stevron Frey that encouraged the old Frey to seek a new agreement. It was agreed that Robb Stark would take Olyvar Frey - Robb's half-uncle - on as his squire, Sansa Stark was to marry her cousin Steffon Frey, and Jon Stark was to wed his cousin Roslin Frey. Also Little Walder and Big Walder were sent to Winterfell as pages.
* **Yielding of Harrenhal**: Royal forces under King Rhaegar I Targaryen took Harrenhal peacefully, with the Kingsguard member Ser Oswell Whent convincing his kinsman Lady Shella Whent to yield the underdefended fortress.
* **First Battle of the Golden Tooth**: In a repeat of the battle that happened in the War of the Usurpers, Ser Tygett Lannister imitated strategy from the War of the Usurpers and fell upon the much smaller forces of Houses Piper and Vance, sweeping them aside and killing Lord Vance in the process. Thus the way into the Riverlands is once again opened for the Lannisters.
* **Harrying of the Riverlands**: In an attempt to use Ser Edmure Tully's inexperience to his advantage, Lord Tywin Lannister sent out Ser Gregor Clegane into the Riverlands to burn and pillage much of the countryside and lands of the lesser Riverland houses. The tactic worked as the young Tully spread much of his army across the land in order to defend the smallfolk, thus allowing Lannister forces to more easily best their men.
* **Battle under the walls of Riverrun**: The Riverland forces guarding Riverrun, weakened after sending men to unsuccessfully guard the pass into the Riverlands, are led by Ser Edmure Tully. Ser Tygett and Ser Jaime Lannister meet them under the walls of Riverrun and they manage to secure an overwhelming victory for the Royalists, capturing the Tully heir and putting many river lords into a rout, with only Lord Tytos Blackwood managing to withdraw a small force into Riverrun itself.
* **Conquering the Riverlands**: Lord Tywin leads his twenty thousand men northeast toward the ruby ford, conquering much the riverlands around the Trident. With Lord Tytos Blackwood besieged in Riverrun, Tywin takes Raventree Hall. Meanwhile, Ser Gregor Clegane burns the lands of the Pipers and Brackens.

With its armies broken and scattered, its seat of power besieged, and its heir Ser Edmure Tully captured, the war is essentially lost for House Tully. Although Ser Marq Piper and Lord Karyl Vance begin guerrilla raids and Lord Jason Mallister falls back to his stronghold at Seagard, the only hope for the Tullys lies with the northmen, who are held in check by the Green Fork and the second Lannister host under Lord Tywin.

### The Tide Turns

With the Royal presence in the Riverlands seeming to be solid, it was assumed the rebellion could be put down with as much ease as it had been in the War of the Usurpers. However from the Vale comes the self-declared Lord of Storm's End and Azor Ahai, Eideard Baratheon, with an army of Mountain men. Fears this was a move by House Arryn to send savages to ravage Royal lands were rife and King Rhaegar I Targaryen took a large portion of the army stationed at Harrenhal to deal with the new threat.

* **Battle near Widow's Ford**: The ravaging Mountain men army had gotten as far as the Saltpans before King Rhaegar and his entourage caught up with them. The ensuing battle was an inevitable rout which saw many of the mountain clansmen slaughtered before the better equipped and trained Royal forces. Despite this Eideard had managed to bring with his men a religious fervour which made them fight to the bitter end, in the end some half of the clansmen had been killed, and the rest scattered. Both Eideard and his second-in-command Timett were captured, as were two Red Priests Melisandre and Thoros of Myr, and Mya Stone - the wife and half-sister of Eideard.
* **Flight to Maidenpool**: After the victory against the Mountain clansmen, King Rhaegar had his friend and ally Ser Arthur Dayne take Eideard, Timett and Melisandre to Maidenpool, from there they were to sail to Dragonstone where a prophecy Prince Aegon Targaryen had would be fulfilled.
* **Battle at the Crossroads**: Lord Jon Arryn's outriders, whose forces had been chasing the mountain clansmen, spotted the Royal forces who had recently marched to also fight the savages. Though the Vale's forces were caught off-guard, they were better prepared than the Royal army, and the two clashed near the Crossroad Inn. The Royal forces put up an impressive defence and almost won the battle, but the strategic mind of Jon Arryn and being pressed against the Trident saw the Targaryen army being beaten. King Rhaegar was able to lead an effective retreat, though his army had suffered many losses - including his personal friend and ally, Ser Oswell Whent of the Kingsguard, slain by Ser Lyn Corbray.
* **Death of Jon Arryn**: Despite the great success at the Crossroads, Lord Jon Arryn sustained a fatal injury during the battle. He lived on for five days after suffering the injury, but eventually succumbed to his injuries. Thus his distant cousin and heir Denys Arryn became Lord of the Eyrie.
* **Capture of Darry**: With Vale forces having beaten the Royal army at the Crossroads, they were able to send a smaller force further south to lay siege to Darry. The castle fell with relative ease to forces led by Ser Lyn Corbray, afterwards Lyman Darry - the only son and young heir of Lord Raymun Darry - was captured. The capture of Darry by the Vale army forced Lord Tywin Lannister to remain in Harrenhal, sending out raiding parties to pillage the Riverlands to provide for his men while his brother sieged down Riverrun.
* **Ritual at Dragonstone**: Shortly after the arrival of Eideard, Timett and Melisandre to Dragonstone, Prince Aegon's sister-wife Princess Rhaenys Targaryen gave birth to a stillborn son. This allowed for the Ritual at Dragonstone to take place - what followed was the three dragon eggs which Aegon and his father Rhaegar had collected over the years hatched.
* **Battle of the Camps**: Lady Branda Stark and her rebel forces assaulted the Lannister forces besieging Riverrun. The Royal army itself was forced to split into three separate camps due to the Red Fork, weakening their position. However Ser Tygett had taken great care to set up defensive positions and makeshift bridges using rafts, fearing the rebel forces would manoeuvre through the Twins. In the eventual fight between Lady Branda's forces and the Lannister men, the defenders were able to inflict a substantial amount of casualties on the attackers, though their precarious position straddling three rivers meant the Lannister forces had to retreat from the battle.
* **Reclaiming the Trident**: Lady Branda Stark is proclaimed Queen in the North by her northern bannermen as well as the river lords. Following her coronation, Queen Branda gives her river lords leave to disperse and reclaim their lands individually as the Lannisters retreat toward Harrenhal. Lord Tytos Blackwood reclaims Raventree Hall and Lord Jonos Bracken reclaims Stone Hedge after a fierce battle that costs the life of his nephew, Hendry Bracken. Meanwhile, Lord Karyl Vance and Marq Piper take their raiding parties on the offensive against Lord Tywin's foragers.
* **Battle of Oxcross**: Marching west with his northmen, Robb Stark bypassed the Golden Tooth using a secret mountain path discovered by his direwolf, Grey Wind. He surprised Stafford Lannister's newly-raised host near Lannisport when they neglected to post enough sentries. The easy victory forces Ser Tygett to change his focus from re-establishing the siege of Riverrun, to defeating the new menace in the Westerlands. Stafford is killed by Lord Jorah Mormont; Rupert Brax is also killed and several Lannister bannermen are captured. On the Stark side, Ser Stevron Frey is wounded and dies three days later. Rymund the Rhymer commemorates Robb's victory with the song "Wolf in the Night".
* **Capture of Ashemark**: The combined army of Robb Stark takes several castles of the westermen, including the castle of Ashemark, the seat of House Marbrand. Grey Wind, Robb's direwolf, slays a man during the taking of the castle. It is unknown if Lord Damon Marbrand is taken captive.
* **Siege of the Golden Tooth**: Ser Tygett was forced to leave the Golden Tooth with the northern armies scouring the Westerlands. He left the capable commander Ser Forley Prester in the fortress to keep the large remaining rebel army in Riverrun in check. This paid off after Queen Branda sent Smalljon Umber to begin a siege of the Golden Tooth.

### The Crowning of the Four Kings

* King **Rhaegar I Targaryen**:
* Queen **Branda I Stark**:
* King **Denys I Arryn**:
* King **Balon IX Greyjoy**:

### Turning of the Tides

With the recent military defeats in the Riverlands, the Royal forces there are forced to stay holed up in Harrenhal, licking the wounds after the loss at the Crossroads and waiting for Ser Tygett Lannister to reform his army and go to Riverrun once again. Hence the need for the armies of the Reach to join their forces in the Riverlands became ever greater. Though House Tyrell had already declared for House Targaryen, they had been slow to move their forces northwards. This changed after King Rhaegar I Targaryen announced the betrothal of his sister Princess Daenerys to Willas Tyrell - the heir to Highgarden, as well as the betrothal of Lady Margaery Tyrell to Ser Erwin Lannister. With the much coveted marriage of Tyrell and Targaryen, Lord Mace Tyrell moved his forces with speed up to King's Landing and then onto the Riverlands.

* **Battle at Winterfell and sack of Winterfell**: With Ser Rodrik Cassel taking the few men who were left at Winterfell west to retake Deepwood Motte from the Ironborn, Ramsay Snow, bastard son of Lord Commander Roose Bolton and self-proclaimed Lord of the Dreadfort, took his army of Bolton men to Winterfell and laid siege to the castle. Though the skeleton force in the keep were initially able to withold the Bolton siege, Jon Stark betrayed them and in the night opened the gates to Ramsay. What followed was a slaughter as most of the inhabitants of Winterfell were killed, including Maester Luwin. Jon, Frey's Arwyn, Little Walder and Big Walder, Kyra, Old Nan, and Beth Cassel are all taken back to the Dreadfort.
* **Battle near Castamere**: After the battle of Oxcross, Ser Tygett Lannister set out to meet the rebel forces in battle. He marches his army with great speed along the River Road, picking up the remnants of the Lannister army defeated at Oxcross. Following reports of the fall of Ashemark, Tygett correctly suspects the rebels will be travelling towards the Crag, seat of House Westerling. His army catches the rebels off-guard near the ruins of Castamere and in the ensuing battle pulls of a resounding victory. Jorah Mormont, Lord of Bear Island, is captured, as well as a number of other northern bannermen. In the chaos of the battle Ser Brynden Tully and Robb Stark are able to beat a hasty retreat with the remnants of the northern forces to the River Road. The Frey forces are split in the chaos, with many either going eastward with the main force fleeing under Black Walder Frey, while many accidentally go south towards the ruins of Tarbeck Hall led by the drunk Ser Ryman Frey.
* **Raid near Tarbeck Hall**: After the rebellion's loss near Castamere, some of the Frey army fled southwards towards Tarbeck Hall in the chaotic aftermath with the incompetent, drunk Ser Ryman Frey leading the small force. Ser Tygett sent a force under Ser Amory Lorch to follow the Frey men. In the ensuing raid of the Frey's, Ser Ryman was slain by Sandor Clegane, while Ryman's son Petyr was captured by Lorch.
* **Relief of Gulltown**: After the long siege of Gulltown, Vale forces were weakened by an unending stream of sorties by the defenders. With the large force led now by King Denys I Arryn in Darry threatening the Royal forces at Harrenhal and thus directly King's Landing through the Kingsroad, King Rhaegar had his most trusted friend and ally Ser Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard, alongside Lord Monford Velaryon, land men along the Vale's coast on the Bay of Crabs. From there Dayne fought the troops beseiging Gulltown and successfully forced their withdrawal. Lord Horton Redfort was captured in the battle.
* **Siege of Runestone**: The defeat of the Vale forces at Gulltown proved to be so successful that the Royal forces were able to march up to Runestone and settle in for a siege, using the supply lines from Gulltown to keep themselves well stocked.
* **Second Battle of the Golden Tooth**: Ser Tygett's forces had marched back to the Golden Tooth after their success near Castamere. The Lannister army clashed with the rebels besieging the castle and they beat the army back, killing Smalljon Umber in the process. However the rebel army was able to retreat in good order, withdrawing back to Riverrun with the rest of the rebel forces, including those who had returned under Ser Brynden and Robb.
* **Recapture of Darry**: With Royal forces now threatening the Vale from Gulltown, King Denys I Arryn is forced to effectively relinquish control of Darry and move his troops back along the High road. Lord Tywin Lannister quickly jumped on the opportunity to retake the barely defended castle, thus freeing his army up from the threat of Arryn forces.
* **Siege of Riverrun**: With Queen Branda I Stark moving up to the North to retake her land, she left Ser Brynden Tully in control of Riverrun as Warden of the Southern Marches.