House Baratheon
House Baratheon of Storm's End is one of the Great Houses of Westeros and, for a brief and bloody span, its royal House. Their sigil is a crowned black stag on a golden field, and their words are "Ours Is the Fury." They rule from Storm's End, the ancient seat of the Stormlands, a castle said never to have fallen to siege or storm.
House Baratheon is the youngest of the Great Houses, founded by Orys Baratheon, a companion (and rumored bastard half-brother) of Aegon the Conqueror. During Aegon's Conquest Orys slew Argilac the Arrogant, the last Storm King, and was granted Storm's End along with Argilac's daughter and arms. Through the female line the Baratheons carry the old Durrandon blood, and a strain of Targaryen blood as well from later marriages.
History
The House rose to its zenith under Robert Baratheon, who through his grandmother was descended from the Targaryens. When the Mad King Aerys II demanded his death, Robert raised his banners in what became Robert's Rebellion. He slew Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident and took the Iron Throne, founding the Baratheon dynasty.
Robert's death without a true-born heir -- his nominal children being in truth the issue of Cersei Lannister and her twin Jaime -- set his brothers Stannis and Renly against the throne and against each other, helping spark the War of the Five Kings.
Notable Members
- Robert Baratheon, who won the Iron Throne in rebellion
- Stannis Baratheon, his brother, the rightful heir by law, Lord of Dragonstone
- Renly Baratheon, the youngest brother, who crowned himself king
- Orys Baratheon, the founder of the House
Significance
The Baratheons embody the warrior-king ideal of Westeros, but their fury proved as destructive to themselves as to their foes. The brothers' rival claims, and the secret of Cersei's children, lie at the heart of the realm's collapse into civil war.