This is a character listing for the members of House Yronwood who appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.
For the main character index, see here
For the main Dornish entry, see here
House Yronwood of Yronwood
- "We Guard The Way"—Yronwood house words
House Yronwood of Yronwood is the most powerful house in Dorne after the Martells. Yronwood Castle is the last fortress defending the Boneway; this is reflected in their title Warden of the Stone Way. The Yronwoods were kings in Dorne before the arrival of the Rhoynar; the head of the house continues to hold the title The Bloodroyal.
Their blazon is a black portcullis grill over sand. The Yronwoods often have blond hair and blue eyes.
Tropes related to House Yronwood:
- Alliterative Name: Ynys Yronwood, Lord Ander's oldest daughter, until her marriage into House Allyrion. It seems its part of the family Theme Naming.
- Demoted to Dragon: After being defeated by House Martell.
- Famous Ancestor: Yoren Yronwood, who was defeated by Storm King Durran the Young at the Battle by the Bloody Pool.
- King Olyvar Yronwood, who launched attacks on the Stormlands during the reign of Erich VII the Unready.
- Ser Gyles Yronwood, an exiled member of the house who fought for the blacks during the Dance of Dragons. He was one of the many casualties during the Storming of the Dragonpit.
- Feuding Families: With House Martell in the past, but that was settled by Doran Martell. However, they still have some enmity with House Fowler.
- Gate Guardian: House Yronwood is tasked with guarding the Boneway and preventing access to Dorne to any who may threaten it via that pass. This duty is reflected by their house words and sigil.
- Lord Country: House Yronwood of Yronwood.
- My Nayme Is: Probably the worst offender in the whole series; their name is actually pronounced "Ironwood".
- The Starscream: Was this in the past to the Martells, even supporting Daemon Blackfyre in the 1st Blackfyre Rebellion despite the notorious anti-Dornish sentiment among the Blackfyre loyalists. Doran Martell was able to resolve the feud between the two houses by fostering Quentyn at their castle. Now the Yronwoods are among Doran's most trusted allies, as evidenced by the fact that two Yronwoods were sent to protect Quentyn on his secret mission to marry Daenerys, including one of Lord Anders' children.
- Try to Fit That on a Business Card: Their ancient titles: The Bloodroyal, Lord of the Stone Way, Master of the Green Hills, High King of Dorne.
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Lord Anders Yronwood
Lord Anders Yronwood
- Anders Yronwood is Criston Cole reborn. He whispers in my brother's ear that he should rule after my father, that it is not right for men to kneel to women ... that Arianne especially is unfit to rule, being the willful wanton that she is.—Arianne Martell
Head of House Yronwood, Lord of Yronwood, the Bloodroyal and Warden of Stone Way. He has three children: Ynys (married to Ser Ryon Allyrion), Cletus, and Gwyneth.
- The Ghost: He has been mentioned numerous times throughout the books, but has yet to be seen. He is currently commanding a Dornish army gathered in the Boneway, waiting to either march with or defend Dorne from the Golden Company.
- Parental Substitute: Implied to be one to Quentyn Martell, since Quentyn spent most of his life at Yronwood and chose to be knighted by Anders instead of his uncle Oberyn.Doran Martell: [regarding Quentyn] Anders Yronwood has been more of a father to him than I ever was.
- Secret-Keeper: He is one of the few Dornish lords who knows of Prince Doran's plans to take revenge on House Lannister and restore the Targaryens to the Iron Throne.
- Stay in the Kitchen: According to Arianne, Anders doesn't believe women to be equal to men and are not fit to rule in their own right. Whether this is true or not is unknown, since she said this during an attempt to manipulate Ser Arys Oakheart.
Ser Cletus Yronwood
Ser Cletus Yronwood
- "Give your bride a kiss for me."—Cletus' last words to Quentyn Martell
Second child and only son of Anders Yronwood. He and Quentyn Martell were like brothers, and he went with his friend to Essos to find Daenerys Targaryen and fulfill a marriage contract between her and Quentyn. He was killed by pirates during the early stages of the journey.
- Childhood Friend: Of Quentyn's, who was raised alongside him at Yronwood.
- Jumped at the Call: He was very eager to join Quentyn's quest, thinking it would be a grand tale to tell his grandchildren about.
- Posthumous Character: Dies in a pirate attack before Quentyn's first POV chapter, with his death being remembered by Quentyn.
Gwyneth Yronwood
Gwyneth Yronwood
The youngest daughter of Lord Anders Yronwood.
- Brainy Brunette: Gwyneth is the only member of the family that has brown hair and is described as being clever and very quick witted.
- The Ghost: Has yet to appear in the main story.
- The One That Got Away: Quentyn sees her as this. In his narration, he wishes he had stayed in Dorne and married her instead of journeying to Essos to fulfill his marriage contract with Daenerys.
- Precocious Crush: To Quentyn Martell.
Ser Archibald Yronwood
Ser Archibald Yronwood
The Big Man, Ser Greenguts
A nephew of Anders Yronwood and a close friend of Quentyn Martell, who he was raised with. He accompanies Quentyn with several other companions to Essos, seeking Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons to forge an alliance.
- Baldness Means Sickness: Went bald due to a childhood disease.
- The Big Guy: In role and literally: He is the best physical combatant among Quentyn's companions and is six-and-a-half feet tall with a ton of muscle.
- Childhood Friends: With Quentyn, Gerris, and his cousin Cletus.
- Fingore: When Rhaegal sets Quentyn ablaze, Archibald is left with severe burns to his hands from trying to save his friend by smothering the flames with them.
- The Gambler: According to Quentyn, Archibald is popular among the Windblown because he's always up for this, in spite of the fact he keeps losing.
- Green Around the Gills: Turns a pale green when at sea and often vomits.
- In-Series Nickname: "Big Man" due to being The Big Guy of Quentyn's group, and they also refer to him as Arch. Also uses Ser Greenguts as an alias when traveling with the Windblown, which is a reference to his seasickness.
- Knight in Shining Armor: Unlike his companions, he impresses Ser Barristan Selmy, who even thinks that Archibald has the "true steel" of a worthy knight.
- Noble Male, Roguish Male: He is more knightly, stoic, and thoughtful than Gerris, who is more outlandish and emotional.
- Only Sane Man: When he pipes up, he's often the voice of poor, lost Reason. It's quite the pity the others don't listen as much as they should, really.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to Gerris Drinkwater's red, being calmer and much more collected in tense situations.
- Smarter Than You Look: His size and quiet nature make most of those who encounter him think he is rather slow. Instead, he just keeps to himself unless he feels the need to speak and is much more rational than Quentyn and Gerris. Ser Barristan Selmy realizes this when Archibald and Gerris are imprisoned after Quentyn's failed attempt to tame one of Daenerys's dragons and he tells Barristan that he knows he wouldn't be visiting them if he was going to kill them, so he knows Barristan needs something from them.
- Combined with Hidden Depths when he gives a surprisingly thoughtful criticism of the very concept of Dying Moment of Awesome, saying that a knight should focus on living a meaningful life rather than on seeking a meaningful death.
- True Companions: With Quentyn and Gerris.
- Undying Loyalty: To Quentyn: even when he disagrees with Quentyn's course of action in trying to steal and tame one of Daenerys' dragons, Archibald still tries to help him.
Lord Edgar Yronwood
Lord Edgar Yronwood
Edgar Yronwood was a Lord of Yronwood and head of House Yronwood. He was the father of Lord Ormond Yronwood and the grandfather of Lord Anders Yronwood.
- The Brute: Edgar was a huge man of fierce repute and short temper.
- Everyone Has Standards: He made his duel with Oberyn only to first blood on account of the latter's young age.
- Posthumous Character: Edgar challenged Oberyn Martell to a duel (first blood only) after he caught him in bed with his mistress. He died after his wound festered, leading many to believe Oberyn poisoned his weapon. From this, he got the nickname "The Red Viper".
Household
Maester Kedry
Maester Kedry
A Maester in service to House Yronwood and a companion of Prince Quentyn Martell.
- Omniglot: He is fluent in all the languages of the Free Cities, as well as Ghiscari, which is why he was chosen to accompany Quentyn to Essos.
- Posthumous Character: Died shortly before Quentyn's first PoV chapter.
- The Smart Guy: He was supposed to be this for Quentyn's quest, but died before the first leg of their journey was even complete.
Historical Yronwoods
King Yorick V Yronwood
King Yorick V Yronwood
Head of House Yronwood when Princess Nymeria landed in Dorne, he was the last of the Dornish kings who bent the knee to House Martell.
- Alliterative Name Yorick Yronwood.
- Forever War: He was the last King of Dorne to bow before Nymeria and House Martell, fighting them for eleven years before finally surrendering.
- Famous Ancestor: Among other things, he killed Mors Martell.
- King Bob the Nth: His full name was King Yorick Yronwood, the Fifth of His Name.
- Reassigned to Antarctica: Sent to the Night's Watch after being defeated.
- Try to Fit That on a Business Card: Lord of Yronwood, Warden of the Stone Way, Knight of the Wells, King of Redmarch, King of the Greenbelt, King of the Dornish.
