Robert's Rebellion

Lore & Background

The conflict raged across the realm, marked by famine at Storm's End and blood in the Trident’s waters where Robert Baratheon slew Rhaegar Targaryen. Stannis Baratheon held the siege lines until smugglers broke the blockade, while Tywin Lannister arrived at King's Landing feigning loyalty only to betray the throne. The war concluded without formal surrender: Jaime Lannister struck down his king in the throne room, and Gregor Clegane personally slaughtered Elia Martell and her children in the streets of King's Landing.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the Trident, carrying the scent of blood and wet stone. Robert Baratheon stood amidst the churned mud, his warhammer heavy in hands slick with rain. Before him lay the Crown Prince, his black plate studded with rubies shattered, a dark stain spreading beneath the silver dragon. The roar of the army faded into a hush as the last hope of the dragons died in the water. There was no triumph in Robert's eyes, only the hollow weight of a crown he never sought and a woman he would never see again.

Reader's Guide

The conflict ignited when Aerys II executed Lord Rickard and Brandon Stark, forcing their brother Eddard and foster father Jon Arryn to raise banners against the Iron Throne. The Riverlands joined under Hoster Tully’s banner after a strategic marriage alliance was forged between his daughter Catelyn and Eddard, while her sister Lysa wed Jon Arryn.

The war reached its turning point at the Battle of the Trident. Robert Baratheon faced Crown Prince Rhaegar in a duel that decided the fate of the realm; Robert’s warhammer crushed Rhaegar's chest, killing him and scattering the royal army. Meanwhile, Stannis Baratheon defended Storm's End against a prolonged siege led by Mace Tyrell and the Redwyne fleet.

In the aftermath, Tywin Lannister arrived at King's Landing claiming to support the king but instead sacked the city. Jaime Lannister killed Aerys II, while Gregor Clegane murdered Elia Martell and her children in cold blood. Eddard Stark found Lyanna in a tower of Dorne called the Tower of Joy, where she died giving birth to Rhaegar's son, whom he secretly raised as his own bastard, Jon Snow.

Did You Know?

• The rebellion is often called the War of the Usurper by Targaryen loyalists and exiles.
• Ser Barristan Selmy was one of the few Kingsguard members to survive the war, though he was severely wounded fighting Robert Baratheon during the Sack of King's Landing.
• The Mountain Who Rides, Gregor Clegane, committed atrocities against Elia Martell and her children in King's Landing during the Sack that are still remembered with fear decades later.
• Aerys II had planned to burn King's Landing with wildfire rather than let it fall to rebels.

Origins of the Conflict

The rebellion that reshaped Westeros began with a personal tragedy involving two great houses. Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen allegedly kidnapped Lyanna Stark, the sister of Eddard Stark and betrothed to Robert Baratheon. When Lyanna's father and brother traveled south to King's Landing to demand her return, they were met with lethal force by Aerys II, known as the Mad King, who burned them alive. This horrific act ignited a fire that could not be extinguished. Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon united their forces to challenge the Targaryen dynasty, driven by vengeance for their kin and a desire to remove a tyrant from power. The ensuing war saw the rebellion march south, culminating in the overthrow of the Mad King and the near-total destruction of House Targaryen. This conflict was not merely a political struggle but a deeply personal crusade born from grief and rage, setting the stage for Robert's ascension to the Iron Throne.

The Rise of Robert Baratheon

Following the successful conclusion of the war, Robert Baratheon claimed the Iron Throne, largely because his family had closer historical ties to the former royal line than House Stark. However, the king who once led a rebellion against tyranny found himself trapped in a gilded cage. The man who fought for freedom grew fat, miserable, and bored by the endless administrative duties of ruling. He was forced into a political marriage with Cersei Lannister, whom he never loved, while remaining unaware that his three children were actually fathered by her twin brother, Jaime. Under Robert's reign, the realm fell into deep debt to House Lannister, and the kingdom became rife with sycophants and plotters. His death during a hunting accident left no legitimate heir behind, as he unknowingly had only bastards, leaving the throne vulnerable and sparking immediate succession crises.

The Kingslayer's Motivation

Jaime Lannister, an exceptionally skilled swordsman and member of the Kingsguard, bears the infamous title of "Kingslayer" for killing Aerys II. While initially viewed as a traitor by many, Jaime later revealed that his act was necessary to save King's Landing from total annihilation. During the final days of Robert's Rebellion, the Mad King had ordered the use of wildfire to destroy the city and its inhabitants rather than surrender it to the rebel forces. Jaime broke his vows to prevent this massacre, a decision that defined his reputation for years. He carried on an incestuous relationship with his twin sister Cersei throughout his life, fathering her children while serving as their protector. His complex character arc involves being captured by Robb Stark's army, losing his sword hand, and eventually returning to King's Landing to defend the realm against new threats, ultimately dying alongside Cersei when the Red Keep is destroyed.

Ned Stark's Honor and Downfall

Eddard "Ned" Stark returned from the North to serve as Hand of the King after Lord Jon Arryn's death, driven by a sense of duty rather than political ambition. Known for his rigid adherence to honor and justice, Ned investigated Arryn's demise and uncovered a shocking secret: Cersei Lannister's children were illegitimate, sired by her brother Jaime. When he confronted Cersei and publicly denounced Joffrey, she had him imprisoned for treason. To protect his daughters from suffering his fate, Ned sacrificed his honor by falsely confessing to plotting against the crown, hoping to join the Night's Watch in exile. However, King Joffrey ordered his execution instead, beheading him before a horrified crowd. Ned's death was not in vain; his warning to Stannis Baratheon regarding the true parentage of the royal children set in motion the War of Five Kings, ensuring that the truth would eventually reach all of Westeros.