House Merryweather of Longtable is a noble
house from the Reach. Their seat of Longtable is located at the confluence of
the Mander and the Blueburn. Historically a prominent family of the Reach,
House Merryweather has lost lands and wealth after Robert's Rebellion.
Their blazon is a a golden horn of plenty
spilling out apples, carrots, plums, onions, leeks, turnips, and fruits of many
colors, over a white field bordered in gold. Their motto is "Behold our
Bounty."
History
Targaryen
dynasty
During the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye in
43 AC, old Lord Merryweather joined the Lords Caswell and Peake in marching
from the Reach to add their levies to King Maegor I Targaryen's host against
Prince Aegon the Uncrowned. While Lords Merryweather and Caswell advanced
against Aegon's host from the south, King Maegor quickly killed his young
nephew and the battle turned into a rout. Old Lord Merryweather was later
killed the following year by the outlawed Warrior's Sons who remained loyal to
Ser Joffrey Doggett.
When the Dance of the Dragons began, Lord
Merryweather was among the lords at court loyal to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
and imprisoned for his loyalties. Lord Merryweather was brought before the
King's Justice and beheaded for refusing to bend the knee to King Aegon II
Targaryen. Shortly after, Lady Merryweather was besieged at Longtable by Lord
Ormund Hightower. When Lady Merryweather yielded the castle, Lord Hightower did
her no harm, but stripped Longtable of its wealth and food before marching to
Bitterbridge. Later during the First Battle of Tumbleton, levies from Longtable
joined the blacks' host to fortify Tumbleton against the Hightowers.
During the regency of King Aegon III
Targaryen, young Jeyne Merryweather was considered an option as a potential
bride for the young king. Believing her to be a rival to his own daughter, Lord
Unwin Peake had rumors spread that Jeyne dressed in squire's garb to visit the
brothels of King's Landing in an attempt to disparage the girl. Towards the end
of the regency in 136 AC, Lord Marq Merryweather was chosen by lot in a Great
Council to become a regent for the young king. Noted for his love to feast,
Merryweather was considered an inoffensive, though undistinguished, choice.
When King Aegon III came of age later that year, he dismissed Merryweather from
his office.
Recent
history
House Merryweather was once a powerful and
rich family during the reign of House Targaryen. After Lord Tywin Lannister
resigned from Hand of the King, King Aerys raised Lord Owen to the office. For
his sigil, Owen was known as "the Horn-of-Plenty Hand." When tensions
grew between King Aerys II and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, it fell to Lord Owen
and Grand Maester Pycelle to keep the peace between their supporters. Aerys II
later stripped the Merryweathers of their lands and exiled Lord Owen in 282 AC
for his failures as Hand to prevent Robert's Rebellion.
When the rebellion ended, Orton
Merryweather was recalled from exile. King Robert I Baratheon restored their
title and some of their lands when he took the Iron Throne, but the family's
wealth and status have not completely recovered. Lord Orton Merryweather is not
as rich and powerful as his grandfather, Owen.
Recent
Events
A
Storm of Swords
Lady Taena of Myr, the wife of Lord Orton
Merryweather, is a companion of Margaery Tyrell when she arrives at King's
Landing. Lord Orton is present at the wedding of Tyrion Lannister and Sansa
Stark. After King Joffrey I Baratheon is poisoned at his wedding, Lady Taena
swears at Tyrion Lannister's trial that she had seen him drop something into
the king's wine during his wedding feast.
A
Feast for Crows
Lady Taena plays a significant part during
the start of King Tommen I Baratheon's reign, being a confidant, adviser, and
occasionally sharing the bed of Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. Cersei offers to
foster Russell Merryweather, the young son of Lady Taena and Lord Orton, in
King's Landing, which Taena says she will consider.
Cersei names Lord Orton to her small council
as justiciar and master of laws. Cersei later raises him to be the new Hand of
the King after she demotes Ser Harys Swyft to master of coin and lord
treasurer. After Cersei's imprisonment by the Faith of the Seven, Taena and
Orton flee King's Landing and return to Longtable.
House
Merryweather at the end of the third century
The known Merryweathers during the timespan
of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:
Lord Orton Merryweather, Lord of Longtable.
Lady Taena of Myr, his wife, from the Free
City of Myr. A beauty with black hair and big dark eyes.
Russell Merryweather, their son and heir to
Longtable. A young child of six.
Historical
Merryweathers
Jeyne Merryweather, considered a potential
bride for King Aegon III Targaryen.
Lord Marq Merryweather, became one of the
seven regents of young King Aegon III Targaryen in 136 AC.
Lord Owen Merryweather, the Hand of the
King and grandfather of the current Lord of Longtable.
Coat of arms: A golden horn of plenty
spilling out apples, carrots, plums, onions, leeks, turnips, and fruits of many
colors on a white field bordered in gold, (Argent, a cornucopia or overflowing
with apples, carrots, plums, onions, leeks, turnips and fruits variegated all
proper within a bordure of the second)
Words: Behold Our Bounty
Seat: Longtable
Current Lord: Orton Merryweather
Region: The Reach
Title: Lord of Longtable
Heir: Russell Merryweather
Overlord: House Tyrell
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