The youngest of the Great Houses, born during the Wars of Conquest. Its founder, Orys Baratheon, was rumored to be Aegon the Dragon’s bastard brother. Orys rose through the ranks to become one of Aegon’s fiercest commanders. When he defeated and slew Argilac the Arrogant, the last Storm King, Aegon rewarded him with Argilac’s castle, lands, and daughter. Orys took the girl to bride, and adopted the banner, honors, and words of her line.
The Baratheon sigil is a crowned stag, black, on a golden field.
The principal houses sworn to Storm’s End are Selmy, Wylde, Trant, Penrose, Errol, Estermont, Tarth, Swann, Dondarrion, Caron.
The principal houses sworn to Storm’s End are Selmy, Wylde, Trant, Penrose, Errol, Estermont, Tarth, Swann, Dondarrion, Caron.
The principal houses sworn to Dragonstone are Celtigar, Velaryon, Seaworth, Bar Emmon, and Sunglass.
- KING ROBERT BARATHEON, the First of His Name,
- —his wife, QUEEN CERSEI, of House Lannister,
- —their children:
- —PRINCE JOFFREY, heir to the Iron Throne, twelve,
- —PRINCESS MYRCELLA, a girl of eight,
- —PRINCE TOMMEN, a boy of seven,
- —his brothers:
- —STANNIS BARATHEON, Lord of Dragonstone,
- —his wife, LADY SELYSE of House Florent,
- —their daughter, SHIREEN, a girl of nine,
- —RENLY BARATHEON, Lord of Storm’s End,
- —his small council:
- —GRAND MAESTER PYCELLE,
- —LORD PETYR BAELISH, called LITTLEFINGER, master of coin,
- —LORD STANNIS BARATHEON, master of ships,
- —LORD RENLY BARATHEON, master of laws,
- —SER BARRISTAN SELMY, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard,
- —VARYS, a eunuch, called the Spider, master of whisperers,
- —his court and retainers:
- —SER ILYN PAYNE, the King’s Justice, a headsman,
- —SANDOR CLEGANE, called the Hound, sworn shield to Prince Joffrey,
- —JANOS SLYNT, a commoner, commander of the City Watch of King’s Landing,
- —JALABHAR XHO, an exile prince from the Summer Isles,
- —MOON BOY, a jester and fool,
- —LANCEL and TYREK LANNISTER, squires to the king, the queen’s cousins,
- —SER ARON SANTAGAR, master-at-arms,
- —his Kingsguard:
- —SER BARRISTAN SELMY, Lord Commander,
- —SER JAIME LANNISTER, called the Kingslayer,
- —SER BOROS BLOUNT,
- —SER MERYN TRANT,
- —SER ARYS OAKHEART,
- —SER PRESTON GREENFIELD,
- —SER MANDON MOORE,
Robert Baratheon
At the beginning of the novels Robert Baratheon has been king of Westeros for 15 years. During his youth he was a formidable warrior, but now he is described as a bearded fat man, fond of hunting, wenching, and drinking.
Robert was fostered at the Eyrie along with Eddard Stark of the North. The two became close to each other and also to their foster father Lord Jon Arryn. Robert later became betrothed to Ned's sister Lyanna Stark, whom he loved deeply although from a distance.
Hearing that Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna, Robert was outraged. Brandon Stark, Lyanna's brother, rode to King's Landing to rescue her, but he was captured and executed by King Aerys. Eventually Aerys ordered Jon Arryn to give him the heads of Robert and Eddard Stark. Jon Arryn instead rose in rebellion against Aerys thereby beginning Robert's Rebellion/ War of the Usurper. Though Robert won his war and killed Rhaegar personally on the Trident, Robert did not get Lyanna back, as she died under unknown circumstances. Robert was thereafter haunted by her memory, and bore a deep hatred against Targaryens in general and Rhaegar in particular.
In the aftermath of the war, Robert assumed the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. He married Cersei Lannister to cement her family's loyalty to his rule. He named Jon Arryn his Hand of the King and left much of the governance of the realm in Arryn's hands. Fond of feasts, celebrations, and tourneys, Robert squandered the vast treasury left by King Aerys, eventually leaving the crown heavily in debt.
Joffrey Baratheon
Joffrey Baratheon is the eldest of the three royal Baratheon children, and Robert's heir. He is 12 years old at the beginning of the series. Joffrey is a strong-willed child and has a vicious temper and an unchecked sadistic streak. As a Lannister, he is tall, blonde, and handsome. Raised as Robert's son, he was actually fathered by Jaime Lannister. Robert never questioned Joffrey's parentage, but he was never fond of or close to the child.
Myrcella Baratheon
The second oldest of the royal Baratheon children, Myrcella Baratheon is delicate, beautiful and courteous. For her age, she displays courage, a strong will, and high intelligence. She is eight at the beginning of the series.
Tommen Baratheon
The youngest of the royal Baratheon children, Tommen, is seven years old at the beginning of the series. His plumpness, sweet disposition, and weak will are all marked contrasts to his sociopathic older brother Joffrey.
Renly Baratheon
The younger of Robert's brothers, the Lord of Storm's End, and Master of Laws on Robert's Small Council. He is a handsome and charismatic man, winning friends easily, but also strikes some people as frivolous.
King Robert gave the Baratheon seat of Storm's End to Renly despite his elder brother Stannis' better claim. The lands of Storm's End are considerably larger and richer than those of Stannis's Dragonstone, giving Renly more power than his older brother. Eventually, however, Renly was called to King's Landing to be a member of Robert's court.
Stannis Baratheon
The elder of Robert's brothers, Stannis is Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships on Robert's Small Council. A brooding, humorless man known for a harsh and unyielding sense of justice, he is obsessed with slights real and imagined. His stubbornness and determination are legendary. He is also a capable naval commander. His wife is Lady Selyse of House Florent, a mighty noble house sworn to Highgarden and House Tyrell.
