This is a listing of Houses in the Iron Island of Harlaw who appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.
For the main character index, see here
For the main Iron Islands entry, see here
Harlaw is one of the islands that make up the region known as the Iron Islands. The easternmost of the archipelago, Harlaw is northeast of Pyke, from which it is a day's sail, and southeast of Orkmont and Blacktyde. Banefort in the westerlands is across Ironman's Bay to the south.
Second in size only to Great Wyk, Harlaw is distinguished from the other islands by being both the wealthiest and most densely populated. Harlaw is renowned for its shaggy ponies which are used throughout the Iron Islands. Lead, tin, and iron are mined from Harlaw.
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Noble House
House Harlaw
House Harlaw of Harlaw
House Harlaw of Harlaw is one of the most powerful houses from the Iron Islands, ruling over the entire island of Harlaw from the castle of Ten Towers. Their blazon is a silver scythe on black. Their motto has not appeared in the books.
All the other houses of Harlaw pledge fealty to them, including Houses Volmark, Stonetree, Myre and Kenning.
Tropes related to House Harlaw:
- Altar Diplomacy: A match between Houses Harlaw and Hightower was arranged during the reign of Aegon I. If it did happen is not known, though.
- Ancestral Weapon: The Valyrian steel longsword Nightfall held currently by Harras.
- Big Fancy Castle: Ten Towers, the largest and newest castle in the Iron Islands, resembling ten castles smashed together to form one giant one.
- Bit Character
- Eerl and Gevin Harlaw, two members of the House who participate in the raids on the North.
- Dykk Harlaw, a raider under Theon's command who presumably gets killed when the Ironborn who took Winterfell are slaughtered.
- The Clan: Has branches in Grey Garden, Harridan Hill, Harlaw Hall and The Tower of Glimmering.
- Creepy Housekeeper: Three-Tooth, the elderly steward of the Ten Towers, who at present is down to one tooth and whom Lord Rodrik says he is afraid of.
- Famous Ancestor:
- King Erich V Harlaw, who retook the island of Fair Isle from the Westerlands in his youth, only to lose it again as an old man.
- King Erich V's son Harron slew Gareth the Grim of Highgarden in a battle beneath the walls of Oldtown.
- Lord Theomore Harlaw is the great-great grandfather of Lord Rodrik Harlaw. He raised the Ten Towers
- Feuding Families: Houses Kenning and Myre were once a rivals to House Harlaw, but were defeated and forced into vassal positions.
- No Name Given: The Lord Harlaw who was killed in retaliation for the raiding of Dalton Greyjoy by Westerlands' forces.
Lord Rodrik Harlaw
The Reader
- "I prefer my history dead. Dead history is writ in ink, the living sort in blood."
Head of House Harlaw, Lord of Harlaw, Lord of Ten Towers, and Harlaw of Harlaw. Uncle of Theon and Asha Greyjoy. He is known throughout the Iron Islands for his love of reading and extensive book collection.
- Armor-Piercing Question: After Euron claims his plans will work by once again boasting of having sailed through Valyria, Rodrik responds with a simple "Have you?" It practically drives Euron from the room and he changes up his plans within a few hours.
- Bookworm: Has an entire tower of his castle serving as a library, but his collection still spills over into other parts of the Ten Towers.
- Brainy Brunette: He is probably the smartest and most knowledgeable person in the Iron Islands.
- Brutal Honesty: Despite his love for Asha, he tells Asha that she has no chance of winning the Kingsmoot, reminding her that no women has never ruled over the Iron Isles, and that neither she or he have enough support to make her win. Though it doesn't stop him from supporting it at the event.
- The Captain: Of the Sea Song.
- Cool Old Guy: Aside from having an awesome book collection, Rodrik is one of the few people in the series who points out the stupidity of all the conflicts going on and the damage it has done to the realm.Rodrik: Crows will fight over a dead man's flesh and kill each other for his eyes. We had one king, then five. Now all I see are crows, squabbling over the corpse of Westeros.
- Cool Uncle: To Asha, who considers him her favorite uncle. Considering who the rest of her uncles are, this isn't much of a surprise.
- Everyone Has Standards: He is disgusted by what the wars have done to Westeros, and objects to Euron Greyjoy taking captives to sell as slaves, but more or less obeys him regardless as he is the King.
- In-Series Nickname: Called "The Reader" due to his obsession with books and history.
- Just Following Orders: Despite loathing Euron Greyjoy, he serves his invasion of the Reach and the Shield Islands and stands by silently while Lord Hewett's wife and daughters are humiliated and raped.
- Klingon Scientists Get No Respect: Most of the other Ironborn look down on him for his love of reading and history, but a few like Asha and Baelor Blacktyde respect his knowledge and advice.
- Lord Country: Has this a bit worse than even some of the other lords who share their house name with their seat, since one of his titles is actually Harlaw of Harlaw.
- Mr. Exposition: Due to his Bookworm status, he can fill in Asha and the readers in on the history of the Kingsmoot and several other cultural aspects of the Iron Islands.
- My Species Doth Protest Too Much: A wealthy, bookish well-read scholar is a vanishingly rare thing amongst Ironborn lords. Although he's a badass nonetheless, not least for his willingness to stand up to Euron Greyjoy.
- The Nondescript: Described as being of average height, looks, and weight with few distinguishing features.
- Only Sane Man: One of the few Ironborn lords who opposed Lord Balon's plan of independence, believing that they should have instead allied with another side in the War of the Five Kings and demanded land as a reward.
- Outliving One's Offspring: He lost his two sons during Balon Greyjoy's first rebellion, which contributes to his opposition to the new one that Balon begins during the War of the Five Kings.
- The Patriarch: Of House Harlaw, which consists of him and numerous cousins who are competing to be his heir.
- The So-Called Coward: He is dismissed by many Ironborn as a coward due to his opposition to the war, but he is one of the few lords who dares to speak out against Euron Greyjoy after he becomes king despite the fact that Euron had already killed two other powerful lords who had done so.
- Sour Supporter: He supports Asha's claim to the Seastone Chair, but tries to convince her to support someone else because he feels that the Ironborn would never accept a female ruler and that Euron would try to kill her if she went to the Kingsmoot. She doesn't listen to him, and while she does better than he expected at the Kingsmoot, Euron still wins and Asha flees the Iron Islands at Rodrik's urging.
Gwynesse Harlaw
- "I am seven years his elder. Ten Towers should be mine."
Rodrik's older sister who has lived in Widow's Tower since her husband's death in the Greyjoy Rebellion.
- Madness Mantra: Pretty much the only thing she says anymore is that the Ten Towers should be hers due to being Rodrik's elder by seven years.
- The Mourning After: Going on eleven years since her husbands death and she has yet to cease mourning him, although she cannot always remember his name anymore.
- The Resenter: Claims she should be the head of House Harlaw since she is seven years older than Rodrik, despite the Ironborn favoring the firstborn male heir over older female siblings.
- Sanity Slippage: Has spent the past eleven years living in a tower doing nothing but mourning her husband and resenting her brother. She remembers little now except that resentment.
- Scatter Brained Senior: Spending the last eleven years bitterly brooding on her rights and mourning has not been really conductive for her memory, as she knows of little else now.
Alannys Greyjoy (née Harlaw)
- "Is this my mother, or her ghost?"—Asha Greyjoy
Wife of Balon Greyjoy and mother to all four of his children. Resides in Harlaw.
See the House Greyjoy character page.
- Affectionate Nickname: Her brother Rodrik calls her Lanny, and is the only one allowed to do so.
- Authority in Name Only: Balon's death technically makes Alannys queen of the Iron Islands, but she has no political power or influence due to her old age, illness, and senility. Her name is not even mentioned at the kingsmoot, not even by her daughter Asha, who stakes her own claim on being Balon's heir. Currently, Euron has seized power over Pyke and Asha and Theon remain prisoners of Stannis, while Alannys continues to waste away in Ten Towers.
- Despair Event Horizon: If she hasn't crossed it already, Asha believes Theon's impending execution will shatter her completely.
- How the Mighty Have Fallen: Alannys was once a fierce, proud lady of the Ironborn, full of life and laughter, who raised her daughter to be bold and headstrong. Now she is a frail shell of a woman who wanders the halls of Pyke at night, calling the names of her dead sons.
- Incurable Cough of Death: Whatever she's got, it's likely going to kill her (on top of the stress) as her health fades as the story continues.
- My Nayme Is: Alannys, not Alanis.
- Outliving One's Offspring: The deaths of Rodrik and Maron and Theon being taken hostage have took a toll on her health and mental state.
- Sanity Slippage: After Rodrik and Maron died and Theon was taken as a hostage by Ned Stark, Alannys began looking desperately all over the castle for her sons. She eventually isolates herself in the Widow's Tower on the island of Harlaw. News that Theon is likely dead as well, Balon's death, and Asha being forced to flee the Iron Islands makes it worse.
Cadet Houses
House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall
House Harlaw of Harlaw Hall is a cadet branch of the main House Harlaw that rules the eponymous island from their seat at the Ten Towers. Their seat is Harlaw Hall.Sigfryd Harlaw
Sigfryd Silverhair
Great Uncle of Rodrik Harlaw and Master of Harlaw Hall, the original seat of House Harlaw. His personal sigil is two scythes countercharged on black and silver.
- The Ghost: He has only been mentioned so far.
- In-Series Nickname: Sigfryd Silverhair, due to his great age.
- Long-Lived: Something which annoys his heirs, who want their inheritance.
- The Patriarch: He's the oldest living Harlaw, with sons, grandsons and distant nephews galore.
House Harlaw of Grey Garden
House Harlaw of Grey Garden is a cadet branch of the main House Harlaw that rules the eponymous island from their seat at the Ten Towers. Their seat is Grey Garden.Ser Harras Harlaw
The Knight of Grey Garden
Cousin of Rodrik Harlaw and his designated heir. He is the Knight of Grey Garden and was named Lord of Greyshield by Euron Greyjoy after Harras captured the island. His personal sigil is the Harlaw scythe quartered with the peacock of his mother's House Serrett.
- Alliterative Name: Harras Harlaw.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: He is awarded for his capture of Greyshield by being named lord of the island.
- The Champion: Briefly serves as one for Asha during the kings moot.
- Childhood Friend: Of Rodrik Greyjoy, the eldest son of Balon Greyjoy.
- One-Man Army: He captured Greyshield by planting his banner below the walls of Grimston, and defeated seven straight challengers in one-on-one combat. The Septon of the castle took this as a sign from the Seven and convinced Lord Guthor Grimm to surrender to Harras.
- Pet the Dog: He takes Greyshield with minimal casualties on both sides, spares the two knights who surrender to him, and Lord Grimm is the only one of the captured Shield Island Lords to survive unharmed.
- Real Men Love Jesus: The fact that he's knighted implies that he is a rare Ironborn to worship the Seven instead of the Drowned God (likely due to his westerner mother), and boy can he fight.
- Unwitting Pawn: His appointment as Lord of Greyshield by Euron is intended to get him and the other newly appointed lords out of Euron's way, as they are potential rivals or key supporters of potential rivals. The appointment makes Harras indebted to Euron, making him unlikely to plot against him, while Euron expects that he and the other lords will soon be overthrown by forces from the Reach, with all the blame falling on the lords for failing to defend their charges instead of Euron.
House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering
House Harlaw of the Tower of Glimmering is a cadet branch of the main House Harlaw that rules the eponymous island from their seat at the Ten Towers. The cadet branch's seat is the Tower of Glimmering.
Hotho Harlaw
Hotho Humpback
Another cousin of Rodrik Harlaw. He becomes Rodrik's new heir after Ser Harras Harlaw becomes Lord of Greyshield. His personal sigil is the Harlaw scythe girdled within an embattled border.
- Alliterative Name: Hotho Harlaw.
- Arranged Marriage: It's unknown if he is in one himself, but he is constantly trying to marry off his daughter in exchange for his support, offering her to at least Victorian Greyjoy and Rodrik (whether or not this is out of love for her or just blind ambition is unknown).
- Evil Genius: He's slimy and ambitious, but he's also a step above the average Ironborn brute, apparently being in possession of some rare books and being insightful enough to try to bribe Rodrik with them.
- In-Series Nickname: Hotho Humpback, due to his humpback.
- Turncoat: He initially offered Victarion his support at the Kingsmoost before switching his vote to Euron. This was after he had already broken with the rest of his house by not supporting Asha.
House Harlaw of Harridan Hill
House Harlaw of Harridan Hill is a cadet branch of the main House Harlaw that rules the eponymous island from their seat at the Ten Towers. Their seat is Harridan Hill.Boremund Harlaw
Boremund the Blue
Boremund Harlaw, known as Boremund the Blue, is a member of House Harlaw. He is the master of the castle Harridan Hill. His person sigil is the Harlaw scythe on a pale blue field. He has three sons.
- In-Series Nickname: The Blue, most likely due to his personal sigil being a blue field instead of the main branch's sable field.
- Number Two: Although Boremund has his own castle, in times of war he follows the command of his cousin Rodrik Harlaw, the head of his house.
- Undying Loyalty: Casts his vote for Asha Greyjoy.
Vassal Houses
House Kenning of Harlaw
House Kenning of Harlaw
House Kenning of Harlaw is a noble house from Harlaw, one of the Iron Islands. According to semi-canon sources the house blazons its arms with the Storm God's cloudly hand, pale grey, yellow lightning flashing from the fingertips, on black.
Tropes related to House Kenning of Harlaw:
- Body Motifs: The hand of the Storm God is their sigil.
- Demoted to Dragon: After being defeated by the Harlaws.
- The Hand Is God: Their sigil features the hand of the Storm God.
- In-Series Nickname: Queer Qarl Kenning, one of the numerous Qarls in the Iron Islands who have to have a nickname to differentiate themselves.
Ralf Kenning
A captain loyal to Victarion Greyjoy and left in command of Moat Cailin when Victarion departs for the Kingsmoot.
- A Fate Worse Than Death: He's poisoned by an arrow from the crannogmen. Initially only a scratch, the wound festers and he ends up in bed covered with scabs and sores, one cheek grotesquely swollen, the neck engorged with blood and one arm infested by maggots.
- Beard of Evil: A bearded Ironborn captain.
- The Captain: An Ironborn one.
- Co-Dragons: One of several Ironborn that share the position for Victarion.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Good gravy, he gets one of the most excruciating and disgusting deaths in the entire series.
- Mercy Kill: Theon plunges a sword into his throat to end his suffering.
- My Nayme Is: Ralf, not Ralph.
- Pirate
- Undignified Death: After being poisoned by a crannogman's arrow, he dies shitting himself and covered in pus, vomit and maggots while his limbs swell up like balloons.
Historical Kennings
Herrock Kenning
Herrock Kenning, known as Herrock the Whoreson, was an ironborn warrior of House Kenning of Harlaw who founded House Kenning of Kayce in the Westerlands.- See the Westerlands Houses page.
House Myre
House Myre of Harlaw
House Myre of Harlaw is a noble house from the island of Harlaw in the Iron Islands. They are vassals of House Harlaw. They blazon their arms with ten nooses, 4-3-2-1, black on white with a border of blood. Their words are unknown.Jon Myre
Pinchface
Jon Myre, better known as Pinchface Jon Myre, is a member of House Myre.
- Jerkass: According to Winds of Winter, he is among the ones who insult the captive Aeron Greyjoy and his nickname comes from the phrase for someone who complains and grumbles a lot.
- Stay in the Kitchen: He certainly has this view about Asha.Pinchface Jon Myre: This girl forgets herself. Balon let her believe she was a man.Asha Greyjoy: Your father made the same mistake with you.
- Undying Loyalty: To Euron.
House Stonetree
House Stonetree of Harlaw
House Stonetree of Harlaw is a noble house from the island of Harlaw in the Iron Islands. They are vassals of House Harlaw. They blazon their arms with a bare stone tree, grey on black.Tropes related to House Stonetree
- Alliterative Name: Sigfy Stonetree
- Bit Character: Sigfy Stonetree is one of the many Ironborn who attend the Kingsmoot.
- Famous Ancestor: The unnamed first wife of Quellon Greyjoy, mother of Harlon, Quenton and Donel Greyjoy, was a Stonetree.
- The Ghost: Lord Stonetree has only been mentioned so far.
- No Name Given: Lord Stonetree and the lady Stonetree who was Quellon Greyjoy's first wife hasn't been named.
House Volmark
House Volmark of Volmark
House Volmark of Volmark is a noble house from the Iron Islands. Their seat of Volmark is on the island of Harlaw, and they are sworn to the house of the same name. They have large holdings on the island and have a decorated history.
They blazon their arms with a black leviathan on a grey sea. Their words are not known.
Tropes related to House Volmark:
- Sea Monster: Their sigil is a leviathan.
- The Starscream: Have tried becoming rulers of the Iron Islands instead of the Greyjoys, as they are descended from House Hoare via Harwyn Hoare's sister. Euron seems to know this potential, so gives its Lord an Island to rule.
Lord Maron Volmark
The young lord of House Volmark, only sixteen years old.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: He is too young to have a beard, but he is the lord of his people and Tarle the Thrice-Drowned considered him as a possible Kingsmoot claimant.
- Bit Character: He has only appeared in one scene so far.
- Lineage Comes from the Father: Averted. He presumably inherited his title from his father, but his mother is the one with the much more prestigious Hoare blood.
- Offered the Crown: The Drowned Men urge him to step up for the Kingsmoot but he chooses to support Victorian instead.
- This Is Gonna Suck: His demeanor when he's named Lord of Southshield implies uneasiness. He seems to understand that Euron has given him a poisoned prize.
- Unwitting Pawn: To Euron Greyjoy, who names him Lord of Southshield to win his loyalty and make him a scapegoat for the inevitable Reach counterattack, since his descent from House Hoare could give him a claim to the Seastone Chair.
Historical Volmarks
Lord Qhorin Volmark
Lord of Volmark during Aegon's Conquest, Qhorin claimed the Seastone Chair following the death of Harren the Black, claiming that his descent from Harwyn Hardhand's sister made him the closest blood tie to House Hoare.
- Combat by Champion: Aegon battled him in one and killed him with Blackfyre.
- The Conspiracy: Lord Goren Greyjoy easily defeated a conspiracy to crown Qhorin's son.
- No Name Given: His son who was attempted to be crowned hasn't been named.
- Rebel Leader: One of several Ironborn who fought against Aegon's control of the Iron Islands but Aegon killed him.
