History Characters / ASongOfIceAndFireHouseHightower

* EmbarrassingNickname: He was dubbed Baelor Breakwind by Prince Oberyn Martell after he farted in front of Princess Elia Martell. Since after that unfortunate incident, Elia couldn't look at the poor boy without laughing at him, this effectively ended any chances of Baelor and Elia having an ArrangedMarriage. Oberyn and Tyrion after hearing the story both [[ForWantOfANail wonder that if he had not dubbed Baelor with that nickname, would Elia still be alive, married to Baelor and with many children in Oldtown]].

* AmbitionIsEvil: His wish to be rather more than just the father to a queen... turned out to be rather an overreach. Not to mention a nasty example of "how to screw a large number of people over, get almost your entire family killed, and end up with nothing".

* NumberTwo: Served as Hand of the King to three kings: Jaehaerys I, Viserys I, and his grandson Aegon II. He was dismissed from the post twice. The first time happened during Viserys' reign, for demanding that Aegon be made the heir instead of Rhaenyra (he was eventually brought back after his successor to the office, Lord Lyonel Strong, died). He was dismissed from Handship again by Aegon due to concerns he was moving too slowly to gather support for the Greens, while Rhaenyra's diplomatic efforts were swelling the ranks of the Blacks.

* HeroicSuicide: As Gyldayn recounted, Hobart willingly drank a cup of poisoned wine and asked for a refill in order to convince Ulf the White that it was safe to do so.

* [[AmbitionIsEvil Ambition Is Highly Destructive]]: Many Hightowers seem to have a healthy dose of ambition. Or, at least, a strong opinion of what they are worth and a wish to prove it. The problem is, when they go overboard, it can hurt them and those around them thanks to their very background of being highly cultured individuals. Sometimes, in a "write it into the history books" way: the Dance of the Dragons springs to mind. When they don't manage to blow up that prominently, it's along the lines of Lynesse's inadvertent pushing of her husband down the route that ''can'' lead to bloody history being written in a more subtle case of DisasterDominoes for when they ''are'' trying to start something. Or, a case of UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom when they might not be.

* [[ArchEnemy Arch Enemies]]:

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Imprisoned Rogar Baratheon's younger brother when he tried to abduct Rhaella Targaryen to use her as a puppet in a coup against Jaehaerys, and made it clear he was less afraid of House Baratheon's retribution than he'd ever been of the Faith Militant.
-->'''Donnel Hightower''': [Rogar's] wife took his hand and his balls, and soon the King will take his head.

* GeneralFailure: He had little skill commanding armies, and was only in charge of Lord Ormund's baggage train. His one battle after having to take command after Ormund's death resulted in a crushing defeat.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Grand Maester Pycelle, who was a boy at the Citadel when this occurred, thinks that Lord Quenton was justified in his actions and had not choice but to do what he did.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: He is the one who encouraged Viserys to name Rhaenyra his heir in order to prevent Prince Daemon from inheriting. This, needless to say, caused a lot of trouble for him after his daughter married Viserys and had children of her own, and Rhaenyra eventually married Daemon.

** In-universe, he is the textbook example on how not to be a Hand of the King

** He essentially ruled the realm during the last two years of Jaehaerys' reign, since the king had become quite old and had been left grief-stricken by the loss of his wife, to the point he could no longer carry out his duties as king.

* AnAxeToGrind: Wielded a longaxe in battle.

* TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard: He has even more titles than the average lord.

* FamilyThemeNaming: For some reason the Hightower lords tend to have "o" in their names. Even the heir, Bael'''o'''r, fits the bill. Uth'''o'''r, Perem'''o'''re, Leyt'''o'''n, Ly'''o'''nel, Lym'''o'''nd, '''O'''rmund, Quent'''o'''n, D'''o'''nnel.

* FamilyThemeNaming: For some reason the Hightower lords tend to have "o" in their names. Even the heir, Baelor, fits the bill. Uthor, Peremore, Leyton, Lyonel, Lymond, Ormund, Quenton, Donnel.

* FamilyThemeNaming: For some reason the Hightower lords tend to have "o" in their names. Even the heir, Baelor, fits the bill. Peremore, Leyton, Lyonel, Lymond, Ormund, Quenton, Donnel.

* FamilyThemeNaming: For some reason the Hightower lords tend to have "o" in their names. Even the heir, Baelor, fits the bill. Peremore, Leyton, Lyonel, Lymond, Ormund, Donnel.

* FamilyThemeNaming: For some reason the Hightower lords tend to have "o" in their names. Even the heir, Baelor, fits the bill. Peremore, Leyton, Lyonel, , Ormund,

* {{Hypocrite}}: Called out Luthor Largent as a traitor, despite the fact his family had helped to usurp the rightful queen.

* FourStarBadass: Commanded the Greens' Reach forces, wining several major battles.