The Greyjoy Rebellion is the name for an uprising led by Balon Greyjoy against the Iron Throne. It took place in 289AL, nine years before the beginning of A Game of Thrones. Balon Greyjoy tried to break away from the Seven Kingdoms to secure independence for the Iron Islands and restore their traditions of old, lost almost three hundred years before, during the War of Conquest. The rebellion was crushed and Balon Greyjoy was forced to surrender, cementing the hold of King Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne.
As the houses of the west mustered at Robert's order (including the Starks, Lannisters and Tullys and their bannermen), Balon initiated several early strikes, including the burning of the Lannister fleet at anchor, in a surprise attack on Lannisport planned by his brother Euron and led by his brother Victarion, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. This victory gave King Balon freedom to launch an assault on Seagard by his son Rodrik as well as many smaller raids along the surrounding coasts. Rodrik was slain by Lord Jason Mallister beneath the walls of Seagard, and his reavers were thrown back into the sea in defeat. Robert had superior numbers and resources and used them to crush the rebellion. Stannis Baratheon, his brother, and Master of Ships, along with Paxter Redwyne, was able to catch and smash the Iron Fleet, captained by Victarion Greyjoy, in a significant battle off the coast of Fair Isle. This allowed Robert's forces to cross to the Iron Islands. Aeron Greyjoy was lost at sea during the battle, then captured and spent the rest of the war beneath Casterly Rock. The main battle was at Pyke, led by Robert himself and his friend Lord Eddard Stark. The nearby Botley castle was destroyed, as was the town of Lordsport beneath it, before the main attack on Pyke itself was launched. Robert's forces assaulted the southern wall with siege engines, finally shattering the main watchtower there and bringing parts of the surrounding wall down. Maron Greyjoy, the second of Balon's three sons, was killed in the breach. Thoros of Myr was first through the breach wielding a sword coated in wildfire. Jorah Mormont was not far behind him, and earned a knighthood for his bravery that day. The fighting in the castle was very fierce, but eventually the castle was taken. Balon Greyjoy was forced to swear fealty once more to the Iron Throne, and his surviving son Theon, only nine at the time, was given into the care of Lord Stark as a hostage to ensure Balon's good behavior.
As the houses of the west mustered at Robert's order (including the Starks, Lannisters and Tullys and their bannermen), Balon initiated several early strikes, including the burning of the Lannister fleet at anchor, in a surprise attack on Lannisport planned by his brother Euron and led by his brother Victarion, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. This victory gave King Balon freedom to launch an assault on Seagard by his son Rodrik as well as many smaller raids along the surrounding coasts. Rodrik was slain by Lord Jason Mallister beneath the walls of Seagard, and his reavers were thrown back into the sea in defeat.
Robert had superior numbers and resources and used them to crush the rebellion.
Stannis Baratheon, his brother, and Master of Ships, along with Paxter Redwyne, was able to catch and smash the Iron Fleet, captained by Victarion Greyjoy, in a significant battle off the coast of Fair Isle. This allowed Robert's forces to cross to the Iron Islands. Aeron Greyjoy was lost at sea during the battle, then captured and spent the rest of the war beneath Casterly Rock.
The main battle was at Pyke, led by Robert himself and his friend Lord Eddard Stark. The nearby Botley castle was destroyed, as was the town of Lordsport beneath it, before the main attack on Pyke itself was launched. Robert's forces assaulted the southern wall with siege engines, finally shattering the main watchtower there and bringing parts of the surrounding wall down. Maron Greyjoy, the second of Balon's three sons, was killed in the breach. Thoros of Myr was first through the breach wielding a sword coated in wildfire. Jorah Mormont was not far behind him, and earned a knighthood for his bravery that day. The fighting in the castle was very fierce, but eventually the castle was taken. Balon Greyjoy was forced to swear fealty once more to the Iron Throne, and his surviving son Theon, only nine at the time, was given into the care of Lord Stark as a hostage to ensure Balon's good behavior.