Burning of Harrenhal

Harren Hoare spent forty years building Harrenhal on the shore of Gods Eye. He wanted the largest castle ever raised in Westeros, and he got it: towers taller than anything else in the realm, walls of black stone, halls big enough to swallow an army. His family had ruled both the Iron Islands and the Riverlands for three generations.

While the last stones were still settling, Aegon Targaryen landed in Blackwater Bay with his fleet and his dragons. Harren called his banners, and his men fought the invaders at the Battle of the Reeds and at Sorrowful Willows. But Edmyn Tully, lord of Riverrun and one of the most powerful riverlords, chose not to answer that call: he threw in with Aegon instead. Other lords of the Trident followed him, rose against the ironborn, and marched to surround Harrenhal. Harren, seeing the size of the host against him, shut himself behind his own walls.

A parley was held outside the castle. Aegon offered to let Harren keep his lands as Lord of the Iron Islands if he yielded. Harren refused: he trusted that no wall in Westeros could be taken by storm. He went further and promised riches, and the daughters of the river lords, to whoever killed Aegon's dragon.

That night Balerion flew over Harrenhal. Aegon brought him down and loosed fire on the ironborn. Those watching from outside said afterward that the towers glowed and melted like candles. Harren and his sons died inside the castle, in the tower later known as the Kingspyre. House Hoare went out with them.

Once the fire died down, the swords of the fallen ironmen were gathered and carried to Aegonfort; some of that metal would later be melted into the Iron Throne. Few of those who had followed Harren lived to tell of it.

Aegon divided what was left. He granted Edmyn Tully lordship over the whole Trident, in payment for opening the rivers to him. Harrenhal itself went to Quenton Qoherys, who had served as his master-at-arms. The castle is said to still hold the Hoares, trapped in the tower servants call the Wailing Tower.