The Great Houses of Game of Thrones
By rowankaiser
House Tully
House Words: “Family, Duty, Honor”
House Sigil: A jumping fish
Location: Riverrun, at the heart of the Riverlands in the center of Westeros
Status at the start of Season 5: Formerly allied to the Starks, House Tully was shattered at the Red Wedding, when their lord Edmure was captured during a marriage to Roslin of House Frey and their Stark friends destroyed. Their lands have been given to the Freys, and their status is otherwise unknown.
Role in the War of the Five Kings: The holdings of House Tully were targeted by the Lannisters following Catelyn Tully’s arrest of Tyrion Lannister. They were pushed back to Riverrun and besieged until Robb Stark broke the siege at the Battle of Whispering Wood, capturing Jaime Lannister. Edmure Tully commanded the central front of the war from Riverrun, drawing Robb Stark’s ire for preventing the Young Wolf from being able to capture and kill The Mountain. (In the novels, Edmure’s mistake is that he keeps Tywin close enough for the Lannister to turn and march on the Blackwater, preventing Stannis from winning.)
With his army disintegrating, Robb Stark’s new plan is to marry Lord Edmure to House Frey to rebuild that alliance. The famous bachelor Edmure is initially resistant, but charmed by his pretty new bride. However, once he retreats to the bedchamber, the Freys murder the rest of the wedding party. Edmure is captured, and Brynden Tully’s location is unknown. House Frey is granted Riverrun by the Lannisters.
Role in Robert’s Rebellion: Catelyn Tully was betrothed to Brandon Stark when he was murdered by the Mad King. As Ned Stark and Jon Arryn raised their banners, Lord Hoster Tully negotiated marriages between the two of them to his two daughters, Catelyn and Lysa. From there, House Tully and the Riverlands served with Robert’s armies.
History: House Tully was a major house in the Riverlands throughout the history of Westeros. When the Targaryens invaded, the Tullys switched allegiances from the Ironborn to Aegon, and were rewarded by being named Lords Paramount of the Riverlands.
Profile: The Riverlands are adjacent to almost every other region of the Seven Kingdoms and do not possess many natural defenses, making them traditionally the battlegrounds of the continent, and one which had been taken over regularly, including by the Stormlords and the Ironborn. House Tully’s fortress at Riverrun was one of the easiest to defend, and helped them become one of the premiere lords of the region, though they do not, on their own, possess the power of the other Great Houses.
House Lord: Edmure Tully
Heir: Unclear. Brynden Tully if the line passes through male blood, Robin Arryn if through female, Bran Stark if through female and the truth of the Stark heirs is revealed.
Family Members: Edmure Tully, Roslin Frey, Catelyn Tully (deceased), Ned Stark (deceased), Lysa Tully (deceased), Jon Arryn (deceased), Petyr Baelish, Brynden Tully
Retainers: None depicted
Notable Vassals: House Frey, House Blackwood, House Darry, House Mallister, House Piper, House Whent