Urron Greyiron
Urron "Redhand" Greyiron was an Ironborn King of the Iron Islands from House Greyiron. He began his reign in 31 A.I. after orchestrating the Slaughter of Nagga's Hill. He was preceded in his reign by Urragon IV Greyiron. He was succeeded in his reign by his eldest rock son, Urek Greyiron.
Appearance[edit]
Urron Redhand had blue eyes and black hair, and was quite tall. After he reached adulthood, he was known to keep his beard long.
History[edit]
Early Life[edit]
Urron was born in 9 A.I. to his father Urrathon, who was then the Salt King of Orkmont. He was the great-nephew of High King Urragon IV. Urron became an oarsman on his father's longship at age 11, and took part in his first raid at age 16. It was on this raid that he took his first salt wife. After this, he took part in many other raids, and began making a name for himself amongst the lords and captains of Orkmont.
He maintained a close relationship with his great-uncle Urragon IV, who saw Urron as a confidant as well as a possible successor, as Urragon's sons had by now all died on various raids or during plagues. Urragon IV began grooming Urron for eventual Kingship.
Salt King of Orkmont[edit]
In 28 A.I., Urron's father died. A Kingsmoot was held on Orkmont, which Urron easily won. Winter began shortly after his election, and so after only a few raids to honor his late father, Urron found himself confined to Orkmont.
In the depths of this winter, a conspiracy began to take shape which was led by Urron, his vassal, Wolmer Codd, and Gorold Greatiron, the Lord of The Giant's Fist. High King Urragon IV was by now quite old and in failing health, and it was almost assured that he would not survive the winter. He had named Urron as his chosen successor, and yet the conspirators were quite sure that the Drowned Priests would not allow this succession to take place without a Kingsmoot. Therefore, they began developing a plan to kill all of the Salt and Rock Kings at the next Kingsmoot.
Slaughter of Nagga's Hill[edit]
By 31 A.I., winter had ended and Urragon IV had died. Despite his dying wish of being succeeded by his great-nephew, Urron, the Drowned Priests insisted upon a Kingsmoot. The conspirators, sure of their plan, departed for Old Wyk.
On the day of the Moot, Urron's conspirators and crews attacked the Salt and Rock Kings as well as the Drowned Priests who were gathered on Nagga's Hill. Several houses were made extinct, including House Tiller. At the end of it all, Urron named himself the sole King of the Iron Islands, proclaiming that there would be no more Salt or Rock Kings, and that the Kingly title would now be hereditary rather than elected. When he left Old Wyk, he kidnapped Lodos Drumm, who was now the only living male Drumm, and made him his ward.
Reign as King of the Iron Islands[edit]
Urron wed Nessa Goodbrother, one of the triplet daughters of Torrak Goodbrother. After this, he gained compliance from as many of the great houses of the isles as he could. Beron Blacktyde attempted a rebellion but was revolted against by his own captains, forcing him to flee Blacktyde, and making his son, Gunnar, the ruling Blacktyde. Urron led many raids in the early years of his reign.
In 35 A.I., Urron traveled to Harlaw with the intention of making House Harlaw affirm their loyalty. Unfortunately, Gorold Harlaw, the last living member of the house, made his oath to Urron full of threats and insults. In retaliation, Urron smashed the boy's head into a table, killing him and ending House Harlaw. For several years thereafter, the island of Harlaw was ruled by a council of the other Harlaw houses and several of Urron's loyal captains, before coming under the control of House Volmark.
In 41 A.I., Urron launched an invasion of Fair Isle. The invasion lasted for well over half of the autumn season, but culminated in a victory for the Ironborn. House Greyjoy was given control of Castle Madgerich, while the rest of the isle was given to Urzen, the eldest of Urron's salt sons. All of the members of House Farman were killed, and the members of House Clifton were either exiled, killed, or taken as salt wives.
In 57 A.I., the Ironborn led an an invasion of the Arbor. After less than a year, the war was won. Urron forced Abelar Redwyne, the young lord of the Arbor, to marry his daughter, Harra Greyiron. The subsequent years saw Ironborn leading raids against the West in what became known as "The Autumn of Terror." Houses Greyiron and Greyjoy landed at the Crag and raided the entire coast from the Crag to Lannisport.
In 72 A.I., Urron would lead his final conquest, taking over the Shield Isles at the mouth of the Mander River. The war took approximately one year, though was followed by a few uprisings. Notably, Urron permitted for the new rulers of the island to choose their own "High Captain" to lead them, recognizing that their distance from the home isles required giving them a little bit more autonomy.
Death and Legacy[edit]
Urron Redhand would eventually die in his sleep of old age in 79 A.I. at the age of 70. His death came as something of a surprise to his close family, as he'd shown no signs of deterioration in the days leading to his death, and was still remarkably healthy for his age. Some said that he was simply too willful to allow himself to fade away, preferring to leave at once to join his God in the Watery Halls under the sea.
Urron left behind a complicated legacy. He was infamous for orchestrating the Slaughter on Nagga's Hill, but it is also impossible to deny that he was one of, if not the, most successful Ironborn Kings of all time. He reconquered the Arbor, Bear Isle, Fair Isle, and the Shield Isles, overseeing one of the largest expansions of Ironborn territory of all time. He seldom lost a battle, and his deliberate choices in marriages across the Iron Islands ensured that for at least a generation, the Iron Islands would be bound together through intricately woven marriage ties.
Although he did successfully abolish the practice of Salt and Rock Kings, the Kingsmoot would make a return less than a decade after his death, when his son and successor, Urek, died in an accident in his council chamber.
Issue[edit]
- Urzen Greyiron - Salt son born in 26 A.I.
- Victaria Greyiron - Salt daughter born in 29 A.I.
- Aeron Greyirion - Salt son born in 29 A.I.
- Inga Greyiron - Born in 32 A.I.
- Hilde Greyiron - Born in 33 A.I.
- Sigrid Greyiron - Salt daughter born in 34 A.I
- Urek Greyiron - Born in 35 A.I.
- Harlon Greyiron - Salt son born in 36 A.I.
Quotes[edit]
“From this day, the Iron Islands only have one king - me.” ― King Urron Greyiron, after the Slaughter of Nagga's Hill.
“I did not become king for the sake of being fulfilled, Lady-Regent.” ― King Urron Greyiron to Orla Stonetree, while demanding oaths of fealty