Game of Thrones: How Did House Greyjoy Take The Iron Islands?

The ruling dynasties in Game of Thrones tend to have long, proud histories behind them. Some have sat in their seats for thousands of years. Others are much more recent. Two massive events established the new authority across Westeros. Aegon’s Conquest united the Seven Kingdoms, and Robert’s Rebellion unseated the most powerful family in the realm. Hundreds of miles from those occurrences, the Iron Islands saw a series of battles and negotiations that saw House Greyjoy take the Seastone Throne.

While every character in Game of Thrones has a fascinating interior life and complex personality, families often earn reputations. House Stark is known for its nobility, sense of justice, and unwavering spirit, all of which date back to the earliest family members. House Lannister, on the other hand, earned notoriety for cunning, cleverness, and self-serving behavior. House Greyjoy’s reputation is terrible, but its representatives vary from despicable to pitiable.

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How did the Kingdom of the Iron Islands form?

Humans reached the Iron Islands sometime during the Dawn Age. That historical period marks the dawn of the First Men, who crossed the land bridge from Essos into the desert that would become Dorne. Some percentage of the First Men crossed almost all of Westeros and sailed to the Iron Islands, which rest in Ironman’s Bay. Local legends suggest that the first ironmen discovered a massive throne carved out of oily black stone in the shape of a mighty kraken. They dubbed their treasure the Seastone Chair and proclaimed it the seat of power in the Iron Islands. The ironmen worship a cruel deity known as the Drowned God. Most locals believe that their descendants never walked among the First Men. Instead, they maintain that the Drowned God dredged them from the sea in his image. The Drowned God’s influence controlled much of the Iron Islands’ political structure.

Who used to rule the Iron Islands?

The first official ruler of the Iron Islands was the legendary Grey King. This figure from the Age of Heroes is said to have slain a mighty sea dragon called the Nagga, whose bones still decorate Old Wyk. The ironborn believed he lived for centuries as the ruler of the Iron Islands. They also argue he fathered over 100 sons before he walked into the sea to sit at the Drowned God’s right hand forever. After the Grey King passed, the ironborn established the tradition of kingsmoots. Longship captains participated in grand council elections to select two rulers for every island. The seven major Iron Islands each boasted a rock king to command the land and a salt king to command the sea. These petty lords fought constantly, waging endless minor wars over limited land and resources. Finally, a respected priest of the Drowned God named Galon Whitestaff decided that the Iron Islands must put aside their conflicts. The religious leaders gradually forced the longship captains to convene on the island of Old Wyk and elect the first High King of the Iron Islands. Theon explained the land’s policies like this:

Ironborn captains were proud and willful, and did not go in awe of a man’s blood. The islands were too small for awe, and a longship smaller still. If every captain was a king aboard his own ship, as was often said, it was small wonder they named the islands the land of ten thousand kings.

Unlike most nobles, the High King of the Iron Islands was not a hereditary position. The captains met for a kingsmoot each time a High King died, electing a new leader from any potential family. House Greyiron ended this tradition through an unusual arrangement. Urrathon IV Goodbrother won the kingsmoot, but his tyranny sparked rebellion. Torgon Greyiron, the son of the previous High King, overthrew Urrathon and took the throne. He ruled with his son, Urragon IV, who slid easily into the throne without a kingsmoot. Urragon insisted on passing the throne to his nephew, Urron, who killed every guest at the kingsmoot to establish his dominance. Urron Redhand demoted or destroyed every family that opposed his family’s rule. House Greyiron dominated for 1,000 years, but their reign led to constant civil conflict. Eventually, the Andals invaded, giving the ironborn enough power to overthrow House Greyiron.

How did House Greyjoy claim the Iron Islands?

House Hoare took over the Iron Islands after House Greyiron’s rule fell apart. Their leadership was a mess. Drowned priests hated House Hoare for their desire to push aside piracy in favor of fair trade. The ironborn’s influence continued to dwindle during their reign. King Harren the Black ordered the construction of a massive black castle called Harrenhal in central Westeros. This led to their downfall during Aegon’s Conquest. Aegon Targaryen led a brutal campaign of dragon-based violence to the Iron Islands. He burned the last Hoare kings alive in their impenetrable tower, ending their dynasty in fire and blood. Aegon then crushed every pretender to House Hoare’s empty throne. The victorious conqueror allowed the ironborn to enact a new kingsmoot. Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke won the election. House Greyjoy smoothed over relations with House Targaryen by allowing the Faith of the Seven to establish septs on the Iron Islands. They remain the Lords of the Iron Islands.

House Greyjoy took the Seastone Chair several times during the kingsmoot era. Houses Greyiron and Hoare kept them from the throne for more than 1,000 years. While Aegon unquestionably shook up the Iron Islands, they allowed the culture to hold a new election and select a ruler through their traditions. House Greyjoy arguably took the throne by remaining quiet, intermarrying with the Andal invaders, and walking into a scenario they didn’t create. As their house words state, they may reap, but they do not sow.