House The Court

The Rebel King

Balon Greyjoy

The lord whose rebellion gave Robert his last real war.

Portrait of Balon Greyjoy

Balon Greyjoy declared himself King of the Iron Islands and burned the Lannister fleet at anchor, which was the most successful thing he ever did. Robert answered by assembling the realm he had been ignoring and crushing the rising inside a year, storming Pyke with Ned Stark at his side one final time.

It was the last occasion Robert was recognisably the man from the Trident — decisive, enormous, genuinely alive. Balon knelt, kept his islands, and lost a son as hostage. Robert went back to King's Landing and the wine, and never found another war to be good at.

At a Glance

HouseGreyjoy of Pyke
RebellionDeclared himself King of the Iron Islands
OutcomeCrushed; Pyke stormed; forced to kneel
SignificanceRobert's last true campaign

Mentioned on: Biography Battles Legacy