List of Blackfyre Supporters in each Rebellion (Spoilers Extended)
One of my favorite quotes about fAegon/the Golden Company and their return to Westeros is:
Laswell Peake rapped his knuckles on the table. "Even after a century, some of us still have friends in the Reach. The power of Highgarden may not be what Mace Tyrell imagines." -ADWD, The Lost Lord
I thought it would be interesting to go look over the support the Blackfyres have had in the past and see which houses could be inclined to offer support.
It should be noted that some of these could have individually supported the Blackfyres and not had the backing of their house. It is also probable that there were other houses/individuals involved in each of these rebellions that the reader does not know about yet.
I also didn't feel the need to listen out Bittersteel/Members of House Blackfyre/the Golden Company as my goal here is primarily to see what support in Westeros they could have.
"Daemon, though . . . Daemon was no more pious than a king need be, and all the great knights of the realm gathered to him. It would suit Lord Bloodraven if their names were all forgotten, so he has forbidden us to sing of them, but I remember. Robb Reyne, Gareth the Grey, Ser Aubrey Ambrose, Lord Gormon Peake, Black Byren Flowers, Redtusk, Fireball . . . Bittersteel! I ask you, has there ever been such a noble company, such a roll of heroes? -The Sworn Sword
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House Reyne
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House Ambrose
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House Peake
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House Ball
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House Crakehall (possibly - Redtusk could be an allusion to the sigil of House Crakehall)
Ser Eustace cradled his wine cup in both hands. "If Daemon had ridden over Gwayne Corbray . . . if Fireball had not been slain on the eve of battle . . . if Hightower and Tarbeck and Oakheart and Butterwell had lent us their full strength instead of trying to keep one foot in each camp . . . if Manfred Lothston had proved true instead of treacherous . . . if storms had not delayed Lord Bracken's sailing with the Myrish crossbowmen . . . if Quickfinger had not been caught with the stolen dragon's eggs . . . so many if s, ser . . . had any one come out differently, it could all have turned t'other way. Then we would called be the loyalists, and the red dragons would be remembered as men who fought to keep the usurper Daeron the Falseborn upon his stolen throne, and failed." -The Sworn Sword
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House Lothston (initial support but betrayal)
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House Bracken
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House Hightower (some)
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House Oakheart (some)
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House Tarbeck (some)
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House Butterwell (some)
"They were for the Black Dragon. Well, Lord Shawney was, and Lord Costayne's father. Aemon and I used to fight the battle on Maester Melaquin's green table with painted soldiers and little banners. Costayne's arms quarter a silver chalice on black with a black rose on gold. That banner was on the left of Daemon's host. Shawney was with Bittersteel on the right, and almost died of his wounds. -The Mystery Knight
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House Shawney
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House Costayne
"Ser Eustace chose the black dragon over the red, in the hope that a Blackfyre king might restore the lands and castles that the Osgreys had lost under the Targaryens," Lady Rohanne said. "Chiefly he wanted Coldmoat. His sons paid for his treason with their life's blood. When he brought their bones home and delivered his daughter to the king's men for a hostage, his wife threw herself from the top of Standfast tower. Did Ser Eustace tell you that?" Her smile was sad. "No, I did not think so."
- House Osgrey
It is a mark of weakness. You sound like an old woman. The Stricklands had been part of the Golden Company since its founding, Harry's great-grandsire having lost his lands when he rose with the Black Dragon during the first Blackfyre Rebellion. "Gold for four generations," Harry would boast, as if four generations of exile and defeat were something to take pride in. -ADWD, The Lost Lord
- House Strickland
Egg's nose was deep in the book. "Lord Sunderland fought for the Black Dragon, ser." - The Mystery Knight
- House Sunderland
"No," she said. "I would believe it of any of the other free companies, yes. Most of them would change sides for half a groat. The Golden Company is different. A brotherhood of exiles and the sons of exiles, united by the dream of Bittersteel. It's home they want, as much as gold. Lord Yronwood knows that as well as I do. His forebears rode with Bittersteel during three of the Blackfyre Rebellions." She took Ser Arys by the hand, and wove her fingers through his own. "Have you ever seen the arms of House Toland of Ghost Hill?"
- House Yronwood
We also have the characters Quickfinger, Gareth the Grey and Black Byren Flowers who could have association/allegiances with a house(s).
This is a little different as the rebellion never got actually started, but it should be known:
" Some words are wind." The boy was nothing if not stubborn. "Some words are treason. This is a traitor's tourney, ser." -The Mystery Knight
So while it can be argued that some of these were just their for the wedding, the houses should at least be noted:
The bride's father followed close behind her, hand in hand with his young son. Lord Frey of the Crossing was a lean man elegant in blue and grey, his heir a chinless boy of four whose nose was dripping snot. Lords Costayne and Risley came next, with their lady wives, daughters of Lord Butterwell by his first wife. Frey's daughters followed with their own husbands. Then came Lord Gormon Peake; Lords Smallwood, and Shawney; various lesser lords and landed knights. Amongst them Dunk glimpsed John the Fiddler and Alyn Cockshaw. Lord Alyn looked to be in his cups, though the feast had not yet properly begun.
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House Butterwell
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House Frey
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House Peake
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House Cockshaw
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House Costayne
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House Risley
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House Shawney
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House Smallwood
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various lesser lords and landed knights
A group of men were leaving the great hall, pausing long enough to pull up their hoods before venturing out into the rain. The Old Ox was amongst them, and weedy Lord Caswell, once more in his cups. Both gave Dunk a wide berth. Ser Mortimer Boggs favored him with a curious stare, but thought better of speaking to him. Uthor Underleaf was not so shy. "You come late to the feast, ser," he said as he was pulling on his gloves. "And I see you wear a sword again."
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House Caswell
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House Boggs
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House Bulwer
"No." Daemon's voice was dangerously quiet. "I want the truth of this. Sunderland, Vyrwel, Smallwood, take your men and go find Ser Glendon in the dungeons. Bring him up forthwith, and see that no harm comes to him. If any man should try to hinder you, tell him you are about the king's business."
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House Vyrwel
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House Sunderland
The herald mounted his platform once again. "Ser Tommard Heddle, a knight of Whitewalls, in service to Lord Butterwell!" he shouted as thunder rumbled in the distance. "Ser Uthor Unclerleaf. Come forth and prove your valor."
- House Heddle (seems to be basically smallfolk by time of main story)
The pavilions of Houses Cuy and Hasty are seen at the tourney as well:
Butterwell's stewards had found rooms in the keep for the lords and ladies, and beds in the barracks for their retinues. The rest of the guests had their choice between a straw pallet in the cellar, or a spot of ground beneath the western walls to raise their pavilions. The modest sailcloth tent Dunk had acquired in Stoney Sept was no pavilion, but it kept the rain and sun off. Some of his neighbors were still awake, the silken walls of their pavilions glowing like colored lanterns in the night. Laughter came from inside a blue pavilion covered with sunflowers, and the sounds of love from one striped in white and purple. Egg had set up their own tent a bit apart from the others. Maester and the two horses were hobbled nearby, and Dunk's arms and armor had been neatly stacked against the castle walls. When he crept into the tent, he found his squire sitting cross-legged by a candle, his head shining as he peered over a book.
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House Cuy
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House Hasty
It should be noted that like Bittersteel, several previous Blackfyre supporters chose not to attend:
"I had heard the Brute of Bracken might be coming," said another man, farther down the bench.
"I think not," said the man in green and grey. "This is only a bit of jousting to celebrate His Lordship's nuptials. A tilt in the yard to mark the tilt between the sheets. Hardly worth the bother for the likes of Otho Bracken." -The Mystery Knight
and it seems like they expected support from House Lothston (even though they betrayed in the First Blackfyre Rebellion and Mad Danelle shows up with Bloodraven:
"Just do your part as promised, and let me concern myself with that. Once we have Butterwell's gold and the swords of House Frey, Harrenhal will follow, then the Brackens. Otho knows he cannot hope to stand…" -The Mystery Knight
Very little is known about the third rebellion except the fact that Maekar and his sons fought well, Bittersteel and Bloodraven's duel and Haegon's dishonorable death. The only house we know of that is confirmed to have supported the Blackfyre is House Yronwood:
Before Nymeria came, the Kings of Yronwood were the most powerful house in all of Dorne—far greater than the Martells of the time. They ruled half of Dorne—a fact that, to this day, the Yronwoods let no one forget. In the centuries after House Martell rose to the rule of Dorne, the Yronwoods have been the house likeliest to rebel, and have done so several times. Even after Prince Maron Martell united Dorne with the Iron Throne, this habit remained. Lords of Yronwood rode for the black dragon in no less than three of the five Blackfyre Rebellions. -TWOIAF, Dorne: Queer Customs of the South
It should also be noted that Ser Eustace Osgrey died sometime between 211 AC and 219 AC. Since the third Blackfyre Rebellion took place in 219 AC it remains possible that he supported and died during this rebellion.
Like the third rebellion, we have very little information about the rebels during the fourth rebellion. We know the invasion had little support and that it landed at Massey Hook.
Due to Massey Hook being the chosen landing spot, it is possible that House Bar Emmon or House Massey provided some support to the Blackfyres.
As mentioned above House Yronwood was involved (due to process of elimination. We know they fought in at least 3 and that they were not involved in the 2nd or 5th).
The male line of house Blackfyre was extinguished when Barristan the Bold slew Maelys the Monstrous. That said before his death Maelys did have the support/allegiance from the rest of the Band of Nine.
Its also possible that House Fossoway has supported the Blackfyres (thanks u/nortonimperator):
SER DERRICK FOSSOWAY, An exile from Westeros, and a knight with a black reputation.
as well a whatever house Spotted Tom may have been from:
SPOTTED TOM THE BUTCHER: Hailing from Westeros, he was captain of a free company in the Disputed Lands.
[Other Events]
There have been other events that seem to have possibly been attempts by lords in Westeros to incite another Blackfyre Rebellion/show some allegiances to the Blackfyres:
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The Peake Uprising aka Blackfyre Rebellion 3.5
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The Greyjoys owe Bittersteel/the Golden Company a blood debt
A full account of their reigns can be found in Archmaester Haereg's History of the Ironborn. Therein you may read of Dagon Greyjoy, the Last Reaver, whose longships harried the western coasts when Aerys I Targaryen sat the Iron Throne. Of Alton Greyjoy, the Holy Fool, who sought new lands to conquer beyond the Lonely Light. Of Torwyn Greyjoy, who swore a blood oath with Bittersteel, then betrayed him to his enemies. Of Loron Greyjoy, the Bard, and his great and tragic friendship with young Desmond Mallister, a knight of the green lands. -TWOIAF, The Iron Islands: The Old Way and The New
Some of these houses listed above are probably who JonCon is talking about in this quote that mirrors the first passage that is quoted in the post:
"Not yet. Let King's Landing think this is no more than an exile lord coming home with some hired swords to reclaim his birthright. An old familiar story, that. I will even write King Tommen, stating as much and asking for a pardon and the restoration of my lands and titles. That will give them something to chew over for a while. And whilst they dither, we will send out word secretly to likely friends in the stormlands and the Reach. And Dorne." That was the crucial step. Lesser lords might join their cause for fear of harm or hope of gain, but only the Prince of Dorne had the power to defy House Lannister and its allies. "Above all else, we must have Doran Martell." -ADWD, The Griffin Reborn
And while the Martells are not known to have have supported any of the Blackfyre Rebellions, it should be noted that they could possibly have the same friends in KL:
Prince Doran took a jagged breath. "Dorne still has friends at court. Friends who tell us things we were not meant to know. -ADWD, The Watcher
It should also be noted that Illyrio is back in Pentos, "smoothing the way" for Dany/fAegon
"Would it were so. A large dragon is more fearsome than a small one." The magister shrugged. "Much as it would please me to welcome Queen Daenerys to Volantis, I must rely on you and Griff for that. I can serve her best in Pentos, smoothing the way for her return. -ADWD, Tyrion II
I didn't want to theorize too much in this post on what these houses will do in the future (thats for a later post lol), just wanted to list out each instance of when they were associated with a rebellion.
TLDR: Listing out every time a house (or a member of a house) supported the Blackfyres.
Posted Sep 9, 2020, 12:31 PM UTC · edited