House Tyrell

House Tyrell of Highgarden is one of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, ruling the fertile and populous Reach. Their sigil is a golden rose on a grass-green field, and their words are "Growing Strong." The Tyrells rose to power as stewards to the Kings of the Reach, claiming descent from Garth Greenhand, the legendary gardener king of the First Men. When the last Gardener king was slain on the Field of Fire, his steward, Harlen Tyrell, surrendered Highgarden to Aegon the Conqueror, who granted him the castle and dominion over the Reach. By the time of the War of the Five Kings, the family was led by Lord Mace Tyrell, a man of considerable ambition but often portrayed as somewhat vain and easily swayed by his formidable mother, Lady Olenna Tyrell, known as the Queen of Thorns.

Role in the War of the Five Kings and Alliance with the Crown

At the onset of the war, Mace Tyrell declared for Renly Baratheon, giving him the hand of his daughter, Margaery. After Renly's shadow-birth murder at Storm's End, Highgarden made a strategic alliance with House Lannister. Margaery was betrothed to King Joffrey Baratheon, and the combined Lannister-Tyrell army, under the command of Lord Tywin Lannister, decisively defeated Stannis Baratheon at the Battle of the Blackwater. This alliance secured the Tyrells' position at court. Following Joffrey's poisoning at his own wedding feast, Margaery was quickly remarried to his younger brother, King Tommen Baratheon, ensuring the Tyrells' continued influence over the Iron Throne.

Key Members and Political Influence

Lord Mace Tyrell, as the head of the house, was named Hand of the King after Tywin Lannister's death, a position he had long coveted. His mother, Lady Olenna, is a sharp-tongued and politically astute figure who often provides the real strategic counsel behind the scenes. Mace's sons include Willas, the heir to Highgarden; Ser Garlan the Gallant, a renowned knight; and Ser Loras, the Knight of Flowers, a member of the Kingsguard. Margaery Tyrell, the queen, is a central figure in the court, known for her beauty, charm, and political acumen. The Tyrells' power is also bolstered by their bannermen, the Lords of the Reach, including powerful houses such as Tarly, Redwyne, Hightower, and Rowan.

The Trials and Political Crisis

The Tyrells' dominance at court was challenged by Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, who saw them as a threat. Cersei conspired to have Margaery and her cousins accused of high treason, adultery, and fornication, using a singer known as the Blue Bard as a false witness. Margaery was imprisoned in the Great Sept of Baelor, awaiting trial by the Faith of the Seven. This crisis created a deep rift between the Lannisters and Tyrells. Lord Mace Tyrell brought his army to King's Landing to pressure the crown, and Ser Kevan Lannister, the new Lord Regent, worked to manage the volatile situation, knowing that the Tyrell alliance was crucial for Tommen's rule. The trials of both Cersei and Margaery remained unresolved, with Margaery choosing to be tried by the Faith, a decision that kept the political landscape in a state of tense uncertainty.

Military Strength and the Reach

The Reach is the most populous and fertile region in Westeros, providing the Tyrells with vast resources and the largest army of any Great House. Their bannermen include formidable military commanders like Lord Randyll Tarly, who led King Tommen's army on the Trident. The Tyrell fleet, under Lord Paxter Redwyne, is also a significant naval power. Despite their strength, the Tyrells faced threats from the ironborn, who raided the Shield Islands and the Mander, and from the Golden Company's landing in the south, which diverted attention and resources. The family's primary focus, however, remained on securing Margaery's acquittal and maintaining their grip on power in King's Landing, a goal that required constant political maneuvering against their Lannister rivals.