Clash of Six Kings
The Clash of Six Kings was a war lasting approximately two years from 40-43 A.I. fought between a coalition of First Men kings and bannermen, and the Andal conqueror King Armistead Vance and his allies.
Background[edit]
The alliance of four Kings[edit]
The growing threat posed by Armistead Vance and his Andal host stirred several of the First Men kings of the Riverlands and the Blackwaterto action. King Tristifer IV Mudd, King Arik Blackwood, King Florian 'the Brave' Mooton, and King Staunton Darklyn formed an alliance to counter the southern invaders. Their alliance was further bolstered by their bannermen: Lord Cedric Mallister, Kerwin Charlton, Jon Tully, Rickard Wayn, Beron Clare, and Ser Jaime Farring, the famed Fish Knight.
A key moment that sealed the alliance came with the marriage between Roslin Mallister, daughter of Lord Cedric Mallister, and Bastion Mooton, Florian's oldest son. This union was a symbo of the First Men to stand united against the Armistead Vance.
The Host of Vance[edit]
In the south, King Armistead Vance had built a formidable kingdom. Following his marriage to Bhurta Bracken, daughter of King Brogg Bracken, the two Kings forged a powerful alliance between their houses. Their forces were further supported by fervent followers such as Vorian Vypren of the Green Order, Ser Morgan Marbrand, Ser Artys Brax, and Hugor Tarbeck. With this coalition, Vance launched an aggressive campaign to extend his control over the Riverlands, targeting the Blackwood Vale and the shores of the God’s Eye.
The War[edit]
When fall arrived, knights, horsemen, and men clad in iron swept across the land. The alliance of First Men was tested as the hosts of the four kings—Mudd, Blackwood, Mooton, and Darklyn—marched to counter Vance and Bracken.
At the shores of the God’s Eye, Ser Jaime Farring and King Staunton Darklyn achieved an early victory, repelling the Andal advance. King Tristifer and King Arik Blackwood struck deep into Bracken territory, breaking their host and plundering their lands.
But Vance retaliated. At Southstone, his forces ambushed the allied army as it attempted to cross further into Bracken land. King Florian Mooton was taken captive, and Kerwin Charlton fell into enemy hands. Though King Brogg Bracken was captured and Vance's brother Castor Vance slain by Rollo Strong, the allies were forced to retreat.
Winter descended. King Tristifer and King Armistead agreed to meet at Riverrun under a banner of truce. Cedric Mallister acted as interpreter. A grim bargain was struck: Tristifer would sacrifice King Brogg Bracken at the weirwood tree in Raventree Hall, dismembering his body and sending the parts to Vance in exchange for the lives of the captives. Vance released Kerwin Charlton, but not King Florian. The Mooton king was executed for refusing to convert to the Faith of the Seven by Vorian Vypren.
Aftermath[edit]
While winter gripped the land, King Tristifer took Edgar Bracken, heir of Brogg Bracken, as his hostage and raised him at Oldstones. In the south, Armistead installed a bastard of Brella Bracken, Yorick Rivers, as lord of Southstone. Come spring, Tristifer launched another campaign to reclaim Southstone, joined again by his allies. But despite initial hope, the Andal cavalry outmaneuvered the First Men on open ground. Muddy terrain slowed the forces of Duskendale, and the alliance lost its momentum.
The war ended in a stalemate. Southstone remained in Vance’s hands, and the River and the Hills were scarred by the bloodshed.