House Vance

House Vance

House Vance is an Andal house that carved out territory in the southern Riverlands under the leadership of Armistead Vance. Originally aiming to seize Duskendale, they now hold several keeps south‑west of the God's Eye and rule from their newly dubbed Castle Armistead.

Arms of House Vance. Words: 'Ever Watchful'

History

Armistead Vance landed with a host of Andal warriors at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, intent on taking Duskendale. When that assault failed, he marched north into the fragmented petty‑kingdoms of the southern Riverlands.

There he permitted his troops to fell ancient weirwoods and erected septs to the Seven in their place. Those who bent the knee were shown mercy; those who resisted faced harsh punishment, compelling many local lords to swear fealty and accept the new faith.

Armistead Vance married Bhurta Bracken, the daughter of King Brogg Bracken, forging a strong alliance with the Brackens. In his wars against Sonya Blanetree and Rowan Piper, Armistead was able to conquer more lands, and together with King Brogg Bracken, he also seized the territory of the Smallwoods.

During the the Clash of Six Kings, House Vance, though unable to expand further, successfully defended its territory against the allied forces of House Mudd, House Blackwood, House Mooton, and House Darklyn.

Following this military victories and guided by religious conviction, Armistead declared himself King of the Rivermark, crowning himself with a black steel crown tipped with seven points to represent the Seven. Atranta, his seat, was renamed into Vancemark. Under his rule, House Vance outlawed human sacrifice, tolerated Old Gods worship under strict conditions, and began constructing septs across the region. He also ordered the destruction of High Heart and the slaughter and exile of the Children of the Forest, viewing them as demonic enemies of the Faith. Later, he forged an alliance with House Lannister, and together they conquered Hornvale and Denslane, dividing the captured lands between them.

With the support of the Lannisters and the growing power of his Faith-driven kingdom, Armistead launched a final campaign to subdue the remaining First Men strongholds in the southern Riverlands. Despite fierce opposition from Houses Blackwood, Tully, Mallister, and Mudd, the Vance host, reinforced by the Lannisters, prevailed.

The lands of House Tully were seized and granted to the newly elevated House Lydden. House Blackwood, though defeated, was permitted to retain its ancestral lands under vassalage to Vance, with the condition that they abandon the practice of human sacrifice.

The Mudds, though proud and defiant, were forced to acknowledge Armistead’s supremacy and the legitimacy of his crown. With the old balance of the Riverlands forever changed, House Vance stood ascendant.

After the death of King Armistead Vance, his son King Artys Vance ascended the throne. He became widely known for his efforts in building septs, constructing roads, and commissioning great castles such as Riverrun. His reign was marked by peace and prosperity. However, upon his death, a civil war erupted between his eldest son, Armistead "the Fool" Vance, Prince Henly Vance, and the bastard Armistead Vance.

In the war, Armistead "the Fool" emerged victorious and was crowned the new King of Rivermark. With the steadfast support of Lord Corliss Den Ford, he secured a stable realm and went on to achieve military success against both the Durrandons and the Gardeners.

Armistead added further victories to his reign when he supported the Mudds in their struggle against House Gaunt’s attempt to seize Darry lands. Together, they also succeeded in liberating Seagard from the Ironborn, though they were unable to reclaim the entirety of the Cape of Eagles.

After the death of King Armistead “the Fool”, his grandson, King Armistead III, ascended the throne. He became known above all for his cruelty toward the believers in the Old Gods, whose persecution provoked a great uprising against him, even as disease swept across the Rivermark.

The struggle lasted the entire summer, but it ended in victory. Soon after, King Armistead III Vance denounced King Robert Lannister for striking a pact with the Ironborn. Rallying his vassals and the forces of the River and the Hills, he invaded the Westerlands, yet the campaign faltered quickly.

In the aftermath, Armistead allied with the Lannisters against the Ironborn, who had captured Kayce and laid waste to Lannisport. The war, however, was lost, and with the coming of winter the king returned home in defeat.

Driven into madness by his failures, Armistead slew his own queen and one of his daughters. When he turned his rage upon his heir, Lord Florian Den Ford intervened, protecting the boy and slaying the king. The young heir, in honor of his mother, took the name Marq upon his ascension. He pardoned Lord Florian for the regicide, though as punishment Florian’s right hand was struck off by the new king himself.

Seat and Region

Vancemark is a fortified keep in the woods north-east of the Gods’ Eye, formerly held by First Man Kings of the Riverlands.

Notable Members

• King Armistead Vance — Founder and warlord of House Vance; known for his calculated clemency toward the willing and ruthless suppression of dissenters. Later on he declared himself King of Rivermark.

• King Artys Vance - King of The Rivermark. Known as a builder who oversaw the construction of many septs, as well as notable structures such as Riverrun.

• King Armistead 'the Fool' Vance - King of The Rivermark. All his achievements were only possible through Lord Corliss Den Ford.

• King Armistead III Vance - King of The Rivermark, who in his madness killed his own queen and daughter and got killed by Lord Florian Den Ford.

• King Marq Vance - Became King after his father tried to murder him as a child.