Lord of Harrenhal or Lady of Harrenhal is the title adopted by whichever noble holds the seat of Harrenhal. Due to the poor fortune that affects those who hold the title, some believe it to be cursed.
History[]
House Hoare[]
The castle of Harrenhal was constructed by Harren Hoare, the last of the King of the Isles and Rivers, as a seat in the Riverlands worthy of a king. On the day of its completion, Aegon I Targaryen landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, beginning his Conquest. Eventually, Aegon came to Harrenhal, where he offered Harren the chance to surrender. Harren refused, so Aegon, atop his dragon, Balerion, flew to the top of Harrenhal, and torched it with dragonfire, killing Harren and all his sons. Some say their ghosts still haunt the castle.
House Qoherys[]
Ser Quenton Qoherys, the master-at-arms of Dragonstone, was named the new Lord of Harrenhal after the death of Harren. In 9 AC, Quenton died after a fall from his horse, and was succeeded by his grandson, Gargon Qoherys, who became infamous for his abuse of the lord's right of the first night. In 37 AC, Gargon was slain by the rebel, Harren the Red, who claimed to be the grandson of Harren the Black. Harren then declared himself as the new Lord of Harrenhal, but was slain in battle later that year.
House Harroway[]
Harrenhal was then gifted to House Harroway. However, in 44 AC, Maegor I Targaryen had Lord Lucas Harroway, the Hand of the King, killed, along with the rest of his family, including the king's own wife, Alys. At both Harrenhal and Lord Harroway's Town, Maegor had every person with a drop of Harroway blood killed.
House Towers[]
After the extinction of the Harroways, Maegor allowed twenty-three of the knights of his own household to fight for control over Harrenhal. The victor was Ser Walton Towers, who was named Lord of Harrenhal, but died of his wounds within a fornight. He was succeeded by his son, Jordan. Jordan remained a loyal bannerman to Maegor until the king's death, being one of the last people to see Maegor the night before he died. Jordan remained in the city, and yielded the Red Keep to Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He was thrown in the black cells, but was released after surrendering some of his lands. He died in 53 AC, of a chest congestion, and was succeeded by his last surviving son, Maegor.
Maegor occupied only the Tower of Dread, with only a cook and three men-at-arms. In 56 AC, he accepted the presence and friendship of Rhaena Targaryen. After Maegor's death in 61 AC, Rhaena took in his house servants, and took control of Harrenhal, until her own death in 73 AC.
House Strong[]
After Rhaena's death, the castle was granted to Ser Bywin Strong, the brother of Ser Lucamore Strong, of the Kingsguard.
House Strong would hold the lordship of Harrenhal through the reigns of Jaehaerys I, Viserys I, and Aegon II. Following the death of Lyonel Strong, along with his eldest son and heir, Harwin, in a fire within the castle, the title passed to his second son, Larys, who held the title until his execution at the hands of Cregan Stark during the Hour of the Wolf. During the Dance of the Dragons, the castle was briefly held by Prince Daemon Targaryen.
House Lothston[]
In 151 AC, Prince Viserys Targaryen convinced his brother, King Aegon III, to name Ser Lucas Lothston, the master-at-arms of the Red Keep, as the new Lord of Harrenhal. In 212 AC, Lady Danelle Lothston led Lothston men-at-arms, when Lord Brynden Rivers, the Hand of the King to Aerys I Targaryen, marched on Whitewalls to quash the Second Blackfyre Rebellion. During the rule of King Maekar I, Danelle turned to the black arts, leading to the decline and downfall of House Lothston.
House Whent[]
Harrenhal was granted to House Whent for their role in defeating the Lothstons. Lord Walter Whent hosted the Tourney of Harrenhal in 281 AC.
Books[]
A Game of Thrones[]
During the early stages of the War of the Five Kings, Lady Shella Whent surrenders the castle to Lord Tywin Lannister. The new king, Joffrey I Baratheon, rises up Janos Slynt as the new Lord of Harrenhal, as thanks for his service in the arrest of Lord Eddard Stark.
A Clash of Kings[]
Tywin's son, Tyrion, serving as acting Hand of the King, revokes Janos' lordship and sends him to the Wall. When Tywin departs Harrenhal, he names Ser Amory Lorch as castellan. Ser Amory is betrayed by Vargo Hoat, who turns the castle over to Roose Bolton.
After the Battle of the Blackwater, Harrenhal is turned over to Lord Petyr Baelish by King Joffrey, as thanks for brokering an alliance between the houses Lannister and Tyrell.
A Storm of Swords[]
Vargo hopes to turn over the captive Jaime Lannister to Rickard Karstark, in return for the hand of Alys Karstark and the safety of Karhold, however Robb Stark executes Rickard before this becomes possible. Roose Bolton explains to Jaime that Vargo betrayed Tywin for the promise of the lordship of Harrenhal from Roose. When Roose marches north to the Twins, Vargo remains in Harrenhal. After the Red Wedding, the castle is retaken by Ser Gregor Clegane.
Petyr Baelish remains as the official Lord of Harrenhal, though he has not set foot in his new castle. His new standing provides him status enough to marry Lysa Arryn, the widowed mother of Robert Arryn, the Lord of The Vale.
Janos Slynt continues to style himself as the Lord of Harrenhal, despite being a man of the Night's Watch.
A Feast for Crows[]
Vargo is reported to have died at Harrenhal.
Jaime visits Harrenhal on his way to Riverrun. He names the Holy Hundred to serve as the new garrison, with their commander, Ser Bonifer Hasty, named as castellan.
Lords of Harrenhal[]
The known Lords and Ladies of Harrenhal are:
- Lord Quenton Qoherys, the master-at-arms of Dragonstone. Named Lord of Harrenhal by King Aegon I Targaryen.
- Lord Gargon Qoherys, dubbed "Gargon the Guest", the second Lord of Harrenhal and grandson of Quenton.
- Lord Lucas Harroway, named Lord of Harrenhal by King Aenys I Targaryen. Executed by his succesor, King Maegor I.
- Lord Walton Towers, named Lord of Harrenhal after winning a melee ordered by King Maegor. Died within the fortnight to wounds obtained in the fight.
- Lord Jordan Towers, Walton's son. A loyal supporter of King Maegor.
- Lord Maegor Towers, Jordan's son.
- Lord Bywin Strong, made Lord of Harrenhal by Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
- Lord Lyonel Strong, master of laws and Hand of the King to Viserys I Targaryen. Died in a fire alongside his heir, Ser Harwin Strong.
- Lord Larys Strong, dubbed "Larys Clubfoot", Lyonel's younger son.
- Lord Lucas Lothston, master-at-arms of the Red Keep under Aegon III Targaryen, who named him Lord of Harrenhal.
- Lord Lucas Lothston, known as "the Pander".
- Lady Danelle Lothston, known as "Mad Danelle", who turned to the black arts during the reign of Maekar I.
- Lord Walter Whent, also known as "Old Lord Whent".
- Lady Shella Whent, Walter's wife and kin.
- Lord Janos Slynt, named Lord of Harrenhal by King Joffrey I Baratheon. Stripped of his title by Tyrion Lannister.
- Lord Petyr Baelish, named Lord of Harrenhal by King Joffrey I Baratheon after the Battle of the Blackwater.
Harren the Red claimed the lordship of Harrenhal after killing Gargon Qoherys in 37 AC, but was slain in battle. Rhaena Targaryen held Harrenhal after the death of Maegor Towers until 73 AC, with there being no formal Lord of Harrenhal before her death.