King Loren I Lannister, known as Loren the Last, was the head of House Lannister during the War of Conquest. He was the last Lannister to hold the title of King of the Rock, and, after bending the knee to King Aegon I Targaryen, the first to be Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West.
History[]
When Aegon I sailed from Dragonstone and declared his intention to unite the Seven Kingdoms under one ruler, Loren met with King Mern IX Gardener, King of the Reach, and united in an alliance against him. The two armies met at Goldengrove, ready to stand against House Targaryen.
The host was the greatest army that the Seven Kingdoms had ever seen, and was led by the two kings. They met the smaller force of King Aegon in the plains south of the Blackwater Rush. As Mern had brought more men than Loren, he commanded the centre, whilst Loren and his troops made up the right flank. Their combined force broke the ranks of Targaryen spearmen. However, Aegon and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen mounted their dragons, and rode them against the kings. Four thousand men burned in the battle, including King Mern and his sons. Loren escaped through fire and smoke after realising the battle was lost. The battle became known as The Field of Fire.
Loren was captured the next day, and opted to bend the knee before King Aegon. As such, he was stripped of his kingdom, and instead named Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. His actions led to his bannermen subsequently yielding to House Targaryen, also. According to legend, Queen Visenya expressed that she was pleased Loren had opted to fight on the battlefield, as she believed Casterly Rock may have proved to be impervious to dragonflame.
Loren's support was then required as Aegon marched his force into the Riverlands to oppose the forces of King Torrhen Stark. However, upon reaching the Trident, Torrhen followed Loren's actions and bent the knee before Aegon, with no battle fought between the two forces. After the submission of the Iron Islands, there were some suggestions that they be sworn to Casterly Rock.
Loren's eldest son and heir was later married to a daughter of House Redwyne by one of the two Queens. Throughout Aegon's reign, Casterly Rock frequently had the honour of being visited on royal progresses. However, the wealth of House Lannister remained untouched, and they did not involve themselves much in the affairs of the realm, with Loren being too proud to fight other lords for a place of prominence.
Books[]
A Game of Thrones[]
Tyrion Lannister, one of Loren's distant descendants, is thankful that Loren chose to surrender to King Aegon and live long enough to have children.