Ironborn Succession War

The Ironborn Succession War was a struggle among competing claimants after House Hoare’s destruction at Harrenhal. Its end brought the Iron Islands under Aegon Targaryen’s authority, but he left the choice of their lord paramount to the ironborn themselves, establishing Vickon Greyjoy as their ruler and separating the islands from House Hoare’s mainland possessions.

The Succession Crisis

House Hoare had ruled the ironborn for centuries, but Aegon’s attack on Harrenhal extinguished the dynasty in a single night. Harren the Black and his sons died in the fire, leaving no uncontested successor. Qhorin Volmark of Harlaw asserted a hereditary claim through his grandmother, who had been a younger sister of Harren’s grandsire, and declared himself heir of the black line before assuming the kingship.

His claim was challenged by religious as well as dynastic rivals. On Old Wyk, beneath the bones of Nagga the Sea Dragon, the priests of the Drowned God crowned Lodos, a barefoot holy man who proclaimed himself the living son of their god and was believed by some to work miracles. Other claimants rose on Great Wyk, Pyke, and Orkmont. For more than a year, their adherents fought on land and at sea; accounts associated the bloodshed with the appearance of krakens in the waters between the islands.

Aegon’s Intervention

Aegon brought the conflict to an end in 2 AC, descending on the islands aboard Balerion. His forces included war fleets from the Arbor, Highgarden, and Lannisport, as well as several longships sent from Bear Island by Torrhen Stark. After a year of fighting among themselves, the ironborn had been weakened and offered little resistance; many welcomed the arrival of the dragons.

Aegon killed Qhorin Volmark with Blackfyre, but did not extinguish Qhorin’s line: he allowed the claimant’s infant son to inherit his father’s lands and castle. At Old Wyk, Lodos called on the krakens of the deep to destroy the invading ships. When none appeared, he walked into the sea, saying he would seek his father’s counsel. Thousands of his followers followed him, and the event continued to mark the island in the years afterward, as their bodies washed ashore.

Choosing a Lord Paramount

With the fighting ended, Aegon had to decide how the Iron Islands would be governed. Proposals included placing the ironborn under the Tullys of Riverrun or the Lannisters of Casterly Rock; some also urged that they be given to Winterfell. Aegon heard the competing claims but chose instead to let the ironborn select their own lord paramount.

They chose Vickon Greyjoy, Lord Reaper of Pyke. Vickon did homage to Aegon, who then departed with his fleets. Greyjoy’s authority was confined to the Iron Islands: he renounced House Hoare’s claims to the mainland lands it had seized. Aegon granted Harrenhal and its domains to Quenton Qoherys, who was required to accept Edmyn Tully as his liege lord.

Settlement and Significance

The settlement ended the succession struggle without restoring House Hoare or transferring the islands to one of the mainland powers that had sought them. By allowing the ironborn to choose a ruler from among themselves, Aegon secured their submission while preserving a distinct lordship for the islands. The division of authority was explicit: Vickon ruled the Iron Islands, while the former Hoare lands on the mainland passed into other hands.

The war’s resolution thus combined conquest with a negotiated local succession. Aegon’s victory settled who would answer to the Iron Throne; the ironborn’s choice determined who would govern them. The distinction shaped the aftermath as decisively as the defeat of the rival claimants.