The Greyjoys of Pyke claim descent from the Grey King of the Age of Heroes. Legend says the Grey King ruled not only the western isles but the sea itself, and took a mermaid to wife.
For thousands of years, raiders from the Iron Islands—called “ironmen” by those they plundered—were the terrors of the seas, sailing as far as the Port of Ibben and the Summer Isles. They prided themselves on their fierceness in battle and their sacred freedoms. Each island had its own “salt king” and “rock king.” The High King of the Isles was chosen from among their number, until King Urron made the throne hereditary by murdering the other kings when they assembled for a choosing. Urron’s own line was extinguished a thousand years later when the Andals swept over the islands. The Greyjoys, like other island lords, intermarried with the conquerers.
The Iron Kings extended their rule far beyond the isles themselves, carving kingdoms out of the mainland with fire and sword. King Qhored could truthfully boast that his writ ran “wherever men can smell salt water or hear the crash of waves.” In later centuries, Qhored’s descendents lost the Arbor, Oldtown, Bear Island, and much of the western shore. Still, come the Wars of Conquest, King Herren the Black ruled all the lands between the mountains, from the Neck to the Blackwater Rush. When Harren and his sons perished in the fall of Harrenhal, Aegon Targaryen granted the riverlands to House Tully, and allowed the surviving lords of the Iron Islands to revive their ancient custom and chose who should have the primacy among them. They chose Lord Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke.
The Greyjoy sigil is a golden Kraken upon a black field.
Lesser houses sworn to Pyke include Harlaw, Stone-house, Merlyn, Sunderly, Botley, Tawney, Wynch, Goodbrother.
- BALON GREYJOY, Lord of the Iron Islands, King of Salt and Rock, Son of the Sea Wind, Lord Reaper of Pyke,
- —his wife, LADY ALANNYS, Lannyers of House Harlaw,
- —their children:
- —(RODRIK), their eldest son, slain at Seagard during Greyjoy’s Rebellion,
- —(MARON), their second son, slain on the walls of Pyke during Greyjoy’s Rebellion,
- —ASHA, their daughter, captain of the Black Wind,
- —THEON, their sole surviing son, heir to Pyke, a ward of Lord Eddard Stark,
- —his brothers:
- —EURON, called Crow’s Eye, captain of the Silence, an outlaw, pirate, and raider,
- —VICTARION, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet,
- —AERON, called Damphair, a priest of the Drowned God,
Aeron Greyjoy
The youngest of Balon's brothers and a POV character, Aeron was a ribald drunk in his youth. After a near-drowning, he dedicated himself to the Ironborn religion of The Drowned God. He is now a hard, humorless ascetic, wearing a roughspun robe and living as a hermit on the beach. He weaves seaweed into his uncut hair, earning him the name "Damphair". Fellow holy men, called Drowned Men, do his bidding without question, and he is greatly respected by the Ironborn in general.
Asha greyjoy
Balon Greyjoy's only daughter and oldest living child, Asha is a POV character as of A Feast for Crows. Asha was Balon's only remaining child after Eddard Stark took Theon hostage, and she has been raised as his putative heir. She is fierce and proud, and defies traditional Ironborn gender roles by commanding her own ship and leading men into battle.
Euron Greyjoy
A younger brother of Balon and captain of the Silence, a ship crewed entirely by mutes whose tongues Euron ripped out. Euron is a wildly unpredictable man, known for his delight in playing vicious mind games and waging psychological warfare on anyone around him. He is hated by all his brothers for this reason. He wears a patch over his left eye, and is nicknamed "Crow's Eye", though it is unclear what he hides beneath the patch. He was banished from the isles and warned never to return while Balon was alive.
Theon Greyjoy
Theon Greyjoy, a POV character, is the son and heir apparent of Balon Greyjoy. He was taken hostage and raised as a ward by Eddard Stark at Winterfell for ten years. He is caught between the Stark and Greyjoy worlds, belonging to neither in full.
Theon was raised with the Stark children and tutored along with them in all disciplines.
Victarion Greyjoy
Brother to Balon, Lord Commander of the Iron Fleet, and a POV character. Victarion loves battle and the open sea. He is a very capable commander and a fierce warrior in battle, but has a calm demeanor outside of it, thinking of enemies with great respect and deploring Euron's tendency to humiliate captives. He is a religious man and wears full plate armor while sailing because he has no fear of drowning. Years ago Victarion killed his dishonored wife. He has not remarried.
