Having spawned from the extinct storm Kings, House Durrandon, House Baratheon became one of the mightiest houses in the Seven Kingdoms as Robert Baratheon became King. After Robert’s rise to power, Storm’s End got given to his younger brother, Renly Baratheon; this action angered Stannis Baratheon, the true heir to the castle. When Robert dies, Stannis forms a new house, House Baratheon of Dragonstone.
House Baratheon Details
- Name: House Baratheon of Storm’s End.
- Year Founded: 1 AC.
- Founder of House Baratheon: Orys Baratheon.
- Seats of Power: Storm’s End, Dragonstone.
- Titles: Lord of Storm’s End, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
- Sigil: A black crowned stag on a gold field.
- Heads: King Tommen Baratheon, King Stannis Baratheon.
- Region of Power: Stormlands.
History
The Era of House Targaryen
House Baratheon got founded by Orys Baratheon, the rumored bastard half-brother of Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror. He formed the house after taking the daughter of Argilac the Arrogant, Argella Durradon, as his wife. Upon marrying her, Orys took the sigil and words of House Durrandon, making it his; this meant that the female line of House Baratheon came from King Durran Godsgrief, who founded the Storm Kings’ Kingdom during the Age of Heroes.
During the Faith Militant’s uprising, Ser Raymont Baratheon saved the King from an attempted assassination attempt. During the Dance of the Dragons, Lord Borros Baratheon joined Aegon II Targaryen and the Greens even though his father, Lord Boremund, supported the Blacks.
Though he was reluctant to fight against the dragons, Lord Borros seized King’s Landing during the Moon of the Three Kings and got promised that his daughter would marry Aegon, who had lost his wife and children to the war. Kermit Tully killed Borros in the Battle of the Kingsroad.
In 209 AC, Ser Lyonel Baratheon, the Laughing Storm and heir to Storm’s End, fought on Ser Duncan Tall’s side during a trial of seven in the Ashford’s Tourney. Later, Lyonel’s daughter got betrothed to Duncan Targaryen. However, it got broken when Duncan married Jenny of Oldstones; this angered Lyonel, who declared independence from the Iron Throne.
Lyonel’s rebellion was bloody and short as he got defeated in single combat by Ser Duncan the Tall. After his defeat, Duncan Targaryen renounced his heirdom, and King Aegon promised his daughter Princess Rhaella Targaryen would marry Ormund Baratheon, Lyonel’s heir. From the marriage came Steffon Baratheon.
Steffon Baratheon fought in the War of the Ninepenny Kings and watched as his father died in his arms. He later married Lady Cassana and had Robert, Stannis, and Renly. After King Aerys II Targaryen made Steffon a member of the small council, he sent him to Volantis to find a Valyrian bride for Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. The journey was unsuccessful, and on returning to Storm’s End, Steffon’s ship got destroyed by a storm.
Robert’s Rebellion
After Steffon’s death, his eldest son, Robert, became Lord of Storm’s End. After falling in love with Lyanna Stark, Eddard Stark’s sister, Robert got betrothed to her. After the tourney of Harrenhal, Prince Rhaegar allegedly kidnapped Lyanna.
When Lord Rickard Stark and Brandon traveled to King’s Landing demanding justice, they got killed, and King Aerys ordered Lord Jon Arryn to bring the heads of Lord Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark; this led to a rebellion. Lord Eddard traveled to Winterfell and brought his armies, while Robert did the same.
Eventually, Robert killed Prince Rhaegar in the Battle of the Trident. Lord Tywin Lannister of House Lannister sacked King’s Landing after Maester Pycelle convinced Aerys II to open the gates.
Post Rebellion
After the war, Lord Robert became the Protector of the Realm, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and First Men. Upon becoming King, House Baratheon got splitter into three, House Baratheon of King’s Landing, Dragonstone, and Strom’s End.
When Robert’s youngest brother got control of Storm’s End, Stannis got angry because he got sent to Dragonstone. Stannis and Renly sat on Robert’s small council as the master of ships and master of laws.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
When Lord Jon Arryn suddenly dies, King Robert Baratheon travels to Winterfell to meet Lord Eddard Stark. He asks Ned Stark to become the new Hand of the King, and when Stannis learns of his brother’s actions, he returns to Dragonstone, the former stronghold of the Targaryens. Robert and Ned agree to wed Joffrey to Sansa Stark.
On getting to King’s Landing, Eddard soon realizes that Robert’s children are illegitimate and conceived from incest. To save herself, Cersei organizes for her husband to get killed, and Robert dies in an accident involving a boar. She arrests Eddard, and when his son, Robb, learns of the arrest, he calls his banners. He later becomes King in the North.
A Clash of Kings
After Robert’s death, Stannis claims the Iron Throne, stating his niece and nephews are illegitimate. His brother, Renly, allies with House Tyrell and marries Margaery Tyrell. The War of the Five Kings begins. During the war, Renly gets assassinated by a shadow sent by Melisandre, a Red Priestess of R’hllor. The castle of Storm’s End falls into Stannis’s hand, and he sails for King’s Landing. However, Tywin Lannister allies with the Tyrells and defeats Stannis.
A Storm of Swords
After his defeat, Stannis gets desperate and plans to kill Edric Storm, Robert’s bastard son. However, Davos Seaworth smuggles the boy from Dragonstone. He then tells Stannis of the threat experienced by the Night’s Watch, and they sail to the Wall.
In King’s Landing, King Joffrey gets married to Margaery, but on the wedding day, Joffrey gets killed by poison. Cersei accuses Tyrion, and he gets sentenced. However, his brother, Jaime, frees him. After Joffrey’s death, Tommen becomes King.
A Dance with Dragons
On getting to Castle Black, Stannis offers to make Jon Snow a Stark, but he rejects the offer and later becomes Lord Commander of the Watch. Stannis then liberates Deepwood Motte, capturing Asha Greyjoy. He marches to Winterfell.
House Baratheon: The Great Stags
As one of the great houses in the Seven Kingdoms, House Baratheon had a crucial impact on the history of Westeros. Their alliances changed the political landscape of the Seven Kingdoms. However, the hot temper of the house’s members led to undesirable outcomes.
FAQs
Are the Baratheons Targaryens?
It is unclear if members of House Baratheon are Targaryens. The founder of the house, Orys Baratheon, was rumored to be the bastard half-brother of Aegon I Targaryen.
Why did Robert rebel against the Iron Throne?
When his bride-to-be, Lyanna Stark, got allegedly kidnapped by Rhaegar, Eddard’s father and brother traveled to King’s Landing to demand justice. However, they got killed, and the King ordered Robert and Ned’s heads; this led to Robert’s Rebellion.
Did House Baratheon go extinct in Game of Thrones?
House Baratheon did not go extinct because Gendry was still alive. As he was the bastard son of King Robert Baratheon, he was a member of House Baratheon.
Is House Baratheon a Valyrian House?
If Orys Baratheon was indeed the half-brother of Aegon I Targaryen, then House Baratheon may likely have some Valyrian blood in them. However, they were not of Valyrian descent because their features were not similar to the Valyrians.
