Who is Lyanna Mormont? We explore the Lady of Bear Island and her family

During last week’s episode of Game of Thrones, “The Broken Man,” we were introduced to a pint-sized girl who did not mess around: scene stealer Lady Lyanna Mormont. As the current ruler of the Bear Island, she’s proving she can hold her own in formidable fashion. Let’s explore the history of that island, and of the small but proud people that call it home: the members of House Mormont.

Bear Island was once a disputed area fought over by the North and the Iron Islands. The North won the island back for good during the reign of King Rodrik Stark, supposedly as the result of a wrestling match between he and an unknown King of the Iron Islands. It was King Rodrik who gave the island to House Mormont. Their motto is “Here We Stand,” and their sigil is a black bear in a green wood. Interestingly, and unlike most areas of Westeros, Bear Island’s women are known as being just as ferocious as their male counterparts. This warrior culture is a holdover from days past when women had to defend the island from wildlings and the Ironborn while the men were at sea.

Now let’s look at some of the notable Mormonts, both on the show and from the books.

Jeor Mormont:

Jeor is also known as the Old Bear, and was at one point the  lord of Bear Island. It’s unknown who his wife was, but Jorah “King of the Friendzone” Mormont is his only child. Jeor eventually passed his lordship of the island on to Jorah and joined the Night’s Watch, where he rose through the ranks and in 288 AC was elected as the 997^th Lord Commander. He was greatly concerned by the Watch’s declining numbers and the increasing threat of wildlings beyond the Wall, as well as the White Walkers.

We meet Jeor when his well into his tenure as Lord Commander, and watched him serve as a mentor to his steward, Jon Snow. After Jon saved Jeor from a wight, he gifted Jon with Longclaw, a Valyrian steel sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor survived a White Walker attack at the Fist of the First Men only to be murdered by his own men during a mutiny at Craster’s Keep. In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, as he lays dying, he asks Samwell Tarly to write to Jorah, tell him that he’s forgiven of his crimes (see below), and asks that he return to Westeros to join the Night’s Watch.

Jorah Mormont:

Whether you’re a fan of the show or the books, you’re familiar with Jorah’s loyalty and love for Daenerys Targaryen. Prior to him joining her, he was married twice. His first marriage was to a member of House Glover and lasted ten years, but was plagued by infertility. His wife was unable to carry a child to term and died after her third miscarriage.

Jorah went on to fight against the Greyjoy’s during Balon Greyjoy’s Rebellion and was knighted by King Robert Baratheon for his bravery. During the siege of Pyke, it’s said that Jorah was one of the first through the breach. A tourney was held at Lannisport to celebrate victory over the Greyjoy rebels. It was there that Jorah met his second wife, Lynesse Hightower, who’s said to resemble Dany. He wore Lynesse’s favor and won an improbable victory over all challengers and named her his queen of love and beauty. They eventually married, but weren’t happy for long. Lynesse did not enjoy living in the harsh North and was also used to having great wealth. Jorah tried to appease her with lavish gifts, but was eventually ruined financially. To pay off his debts, he sold men into slavery, a crime punishable in Westeros by death. Before he could be executed by Ned Stark, he left Longclaw behind and fled with Lynesse to Lys, where he began his career as a sellsword.

During one campaign, he fought with the Braavosi on the Rhoyne, but when he returned to Lys, Lynesse had taken a new lover, the merchant prince Tregar Ormollen, who told Jorah he’d be made a slave for his debts unless he gave Lynesse up and left the city. Jorah left heartbroken and continued on as a sellsword in the Free Cities, eventually entering the service of Viserys Targaryen. He informed on Viserys and Dany to Varys the Spider in hopes of earning a pardon for his crimes and returning to Westeros, although he eventually stops informing and devotes himself entirely to the Mother of Dragons. Still, when she discovers what he did, Dany banishes him.

Jorah eventually returns and helps to save her life multiple times. Currently, on the show, Dany has sent Jorah away in search of a cure for the fatal greyscale he contracted while saving Tyrion Lannister.

Maege Mormont:

Maege Mormont, also known as the She-Bear, is Jeor’s younger sister and inherits the title of Lady of Bear Island when Jorah flees Westeros. During Season 1 of the show, she was a recurring background character.

Maege is known as a fierce warrior (she’s the mom Lyanna was talking about in “The Broken Man”), and her weapon of choice is a spiked mace. According to her brother, she is stubborn, short-tempered, and willful. In the books Maege has five daughters: Dacey, Alysane, Lyra, Jorelle, and Lyanna. It’s unknown who her husband was or why she and her daughters continue to bear the name Mormont, rather than the name of her husband. One possible explanation is that her spouse came from a family of lower nobility, or no nobility at all.

In the books, when Robb Stark calls his banners, Maege and her heir Dacey join him. Before they can reach the Twins for Edmure Tully’s wedding, Robb commands Maege and Galbart Glover to travel up the Neck and search for Greywater Watch, the seat of House Reed. Dacey is eventually killed at the Red Wedding. Maege is dead on the show, but in the books, her current whereabouts are unknown. During A Dance with Dragons, her daughter and heir Alysane mentions that she believes her sisters Lyra and Jorelle are also with Maege.

Alysane Mormont:

Alysane does not appear on the show, but in the books her nickname is the Young She-Bear. When her sister Dacey is killed, she becomes Maege’s heir. She is described as short and muscular, and her snoring is worse than any man’s. She’s not married, but has a son and a daughter she claims were fathered by a bear. She also claims the Mormont women are skinchangers who can turn into bears. In A Dance with Dragons, Alysane and her men launch a surprise attack on the Ironborn ships near Deepwood Motte. She burns and captures all the ships and is able to secure several Ironborn captains and knights for ransom.

Lyanna Mormont:

Lyanna is Maege’s youngest daughter and was named after Lyanna Stark. Onscreen, she’s holding her own as Lady of Bear Island by forcing Jon, Sansa, and Davos to prove why she should risk more of her people’s lives for their cause. She never appears in person in the books, but is mentioned by Stannis when he receives her letter saying she will not pledge fealty to him. Her letter reads, “Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is STARK.”

The men and women of House Mormont have proven that they’re great warriors. But what about the rest of Bear Island’s fighters? During “The Broken Man”, Lyanna pledges 62 men to the Starks and claims that one man from Bear Island is worth ten from the mainland. We’ll find out if she’s right soon enough, during the Battle of the Bastards.