House Tyrell of Highgarden

The Tyrells claim descent, through the female line, from Garth Greenhand's son Garth Gardener, the legendary first king of the Reach. They never wore a crown themselves: for generations they served as stewards to the Gardener kings. Ser Alester Tyrell, an Andal by birth, earned his place in that line of servants through skill at arms, winning the post of sworn shield and champion to King Gwayne V.

The last of those stewards, Harlen Tyrell, served King Mern IX when Aegon's dragons reached Westeros. Mern IX died without an heir at the Field of Fire, and it was Harlen who surrendered Highgarden to the conqueror, trading a castle he had only administered for one his house would now rule. Aegon granted the Tyrells the whole of the Reach and the title of Wardens of the South, a post that put them at odds with a Dorne that never bent.

Decades later, the sudden death of the Lord of Highgarden left the castle in the hands of a child heir. His mother, ruling as regent, was pressed into throwing the Reach's strength behind the Greens when the Dance of the Dragons broke out, following the lead of House Hightower, her strongest vassal. The war scattered the Tyrell bannermen to their own devices, and once it ended a knight named Ulf the White tried to claim Highgarden for himself, arguing the house deserved to be branded traitors for never having fought openly.

When Daeron I Targaryen launched his campaign to bring Dorne to heel, it was Lord Lyonel Tyrell who led the army that forced the Boneway. The victory won him the governorship of the conquered land, but his taste for Dornish women undid him: one night he pulled the bell-cord he believed would summon a lover to his bed, and a hundred scorpions fell onto it instead. His death reignited the revolt, and within a fortnight Dorne had undone every gain.

Generations later, Lord Leo Tyrell, called Leo Longthorn, entered the Ashford Tourney as one of its champions. Both Egg and Dunk, who were present at the lists, marked him as a dangerous opponent.

When Robert Baratheon rose against the Iron Throne, House Tyrell held to King Aerys II. Lord Mace Tyrell took charge of the siege of Storm's End, where Stannis Baratheon held out in his brother's name.

Only after the deaths of Aerys and his heir Rhaegar Targaryen did the house agree to recognize Robert as the new king of the Seven Kingdoms.

Ser Loras Tyrell, known as the Knight of Flowers, traveled to King's Landing for the Tourney of the Hand. There he stood out among the knights gathered by King Robert.

When Robert died, Loras left the capital together with Renly Baratheon, leaving behind a court that was beginning to fracture.

When Renly Baratheon proclaimed himself king, House Tyrell threw its full weight behind him: Renly married Margaery Tyrell, named Lord Mace his Hand, and gave Ser Loras command of his Rainbow Guard. The Reach's armies, joined by the Storm's End bannermen, began a slow march on the capital.

Renly's death just outside his own castle upended Lord Mace's plans, and he chose instead to throw in with House Lannister. His troops joined Lord Tywin's at the Battle of the Blackwater, where together they threw back Stannis's assault on the river.

King Joffrey Baratheon repaid the help by seating Lord Mace on the small council, naming Ser Loras to the Kingsguard, and pledging himself to marry Margaery, until then Renly's widow.

Margaery Tyrell became the Lannisters' chief ally by marrying King Joffrey Baratheon. The king's death during the wedding feast itself left that marriage void.

The house answered by arranging a new match, this time between Margaery and Joffrey's younger brother, Tommen Baratheon.

After Lord Tywin Lannister's death, Queen Cersei resumed her regency and pushed Lord Mace and his vassals off the small council. Margaery, meanwhile, was winning the common people's affection and trying to prepare Tommen to rule, baffled by Cersei's refusal of every suggestion she made and by what looked like blindness to real military threats.

Margaery also turned away the advances of Osney Kettleblack, one of the queen's guardsmen. Cersei used the moment to send Ser Loras to besiege Dragonstone and Lord Mace to Storm's End: Loras was badly wounded in the siege of the island, and Mace rushed back on hearing that the Faith of the Seven had arrested Margaery on charges of adultery and treason.

By the time Mace reached the capital, Lord Randyll Tarly had already secured Margaery's release. Even so, the house committed to remaining in King's Landing until Margaery's trial was settled.

With Cersei imprisoned, Ser Kevan Lannister took up the regency for the young King Tommen and began undoing several of the queen's measures. Mace Tyrell was named Hand of the King.

Two Highgarden bannermen also entered the government: Randyll Tarly as master of laws and Paxter Redwyne as master of ships.