House Tyrell

House Tyrell of Highgarden is one of the Great Houses of Westeros and the ruling family of the Reach, the most fertile and populous region of the realm. Their sigil is a golden rose on a green field, and their words are "Growing Strong." They rule from Highgarden, seat of the Lords Paramount of the Mander, and command the largest armies in Westeros, fed by the boundless harvests of their lands.

The Tyrells rose from comparatively modest origins. They had been the hereditary stewards of Highgarden under House Gardener, the old Kings of the Reach who claimed descent from Garth Greenhand. When the last Gardener king, Mern IX, burned upon the Field of Fire during Aegon's Conquest, Harlen Tyrell surrendered Highgarden to the Targaryens and was raised to Lord Paramount in his masters' place.

History

Because their claim rests on stewardship rather than ancient kingship, the Tyrells have long been regarded as upstarts by older Houses, a slight they answer with wealth, hospitality, and shrewd marriages. During the War of the Five Kings the House first backed Renly Baratheon, to whom Margaery Tyrell was wed, then -- after Renly's death -- switched allegiance to the Lannisters, turning the tide at the Battle of the Blackwater and binding Margaery to the boy king Joffrey.

Notable Members

• Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, Warden of the South
• Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns, his sharp-tongued mother
• Margaery Tyrell, his daughter, thrice a queen
• Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, a celebrated tourney champion
• Garlan Tyrell, called the Gallant

Significance

With the Reach's grain and gold, the Tyrells can feed or starve the capital, and their swords decide wars. Their alliance saves the Lannister cause at the Blackwater, but their ambition -- to set a Tyrell queen upon the Iron Throne -- makes them rivals as much as allies of their new masters.