When the final credits role on Game of Thrones season 8, in 2019, all eyes will look to HBO’s newly announced Game of Thrones prequels series set in an era called the Age of Heroes. The Age of Heroes began with a peace treaty the First Men had with the Children of the Forest called the Pact, some 10,000 years before the current Thrones timeline. According to the terms of the Pact, the Children of the Forest would remain living in peace in the forests of Westeros, while the First Men would inhabit and populate the open lands consisting of coastlines, mountains, high plains, meadows, and bogs.
Many current noble Houses of Westeros can trace their lineage to heroes of that age, with House Stark being the most notable of the bunch. But who were these heroes, and what did they do to cement their names in Westerosi legend and lore? Let’s crack open the history books and have a look.
Perhaps the most recognizable hero from the Age of Heroes is Bran the Builder, who is said to be the first King of Winter — or King in the North. Brandon founded House Stark and is credited with building several key structures throughout Westeros, beginning with the ancestral home of House Stark, Winterfell.
Bran the Builder is said to have built the Wall with the help of the Children of the Forest and giants. When that was done, he gave the Night’s Watch a parcel of land called Brandon’s Gift so the order could raise crops to provide food and support.
As a boy, he helped Durran Godsgrief of the Stormlands rebuild his castle Storm’s End, which helped it endure the battering assault of winds and sea from the sea god and goddess of the wind. There are even tales that Brandon helped design the famous High Tower in Oldtown for King Uthor of the High Tower.
As great as his legend is, Bran is said to have descended from another mythical figure from a different part of Westeros — Garth Greenhand of the Reach.
Garth Greenhand is said to have been the High King of all the First Men, and most of, if not all, the noble Houses of the Reach claim to trace their lineage back to him. According to legend, it was Garth Greenhand who led the First Men across the land bridge known as the Arm of Dorne into Westeros, and it was he who first conversed with the Children of the Forest and the giants.
In some tales, Garth is described as a god who brought fertility to any place and anyone he visited. He was known as Garth Greenhair and Garth the Green, and wore a crown of vines and flowers that was said to have magical powers of its own that caused the land to bloom wherever he went.
Garth taught the First Men how to plant seed, and to grow and harvest their crops, and his descendants went on to become just as legendary as he was.
- Garth the Gardener was his eldest son and from him sprang House Gardener which was supplanted by House Tyrell after Aegon the Conqueror decimated it in the Field of Fire.
- John the Oak, founder of House Oakheart.
- Gilbert of the Vines who taught the First Men of the Arbor how to make wine from grapes, and from whom House Redwyne sprang.
- Florys the Fox, Garth’s daughter who earned her name due to her cunning. House Florent claims to be descended from her.
- Harlon the Hunter and Herndon of the Horn, twin brothers who built the castle of Horn Hill and became the ancestors of House Tarly.
Garth Greenhand’s descendants were many, and his mark on the history of Westeros cannot be understated. There’s even a legend that his son Brandon of the Bloody Blade was the father of Bran the Builder, meaning Garth Greenhand could possibly be the connection that unites all the Houses of Westeros under one common ancestor. Garth Greenhand may very well have been the father of Westeros.
Durran Godsgrief was known as the first Storm King, and he founded House Durrandon. Durran fell in love with and married Elenei, the daughter of the sea god and goddess of the wind. Their marriage angered her parents and during their wedding feast, the gods raised a storm that destroyed Durran’s castle, killing his friends and family. Only Durran and his wife Elenei survived because she protected him.
Durran raised another castle which the gods destroyed in their wrath. In his defiance, Durran raised seven castles, each one stronger than the one before it, but the gods destroyed them all the same until a boy named Bran the Builder gave Durran advice on how to build a keep that would withstand the gods’ wrath. That castle was called Storm’s End, and it stands to this day.
Eventually, Aegon the Conqueror would come calling, and Durran’s line would resist him…for a time. However, Aegon and his dragons won, and House Durrandon became House Baratheon through the female line, but its sigil, a crowned stag on a field of gold, and its words, “Ours is the Fury,” were adopted by the Baratheons, ensuring Durran’s legacy would live on.
Lann the Clever is known in legend as a trickster who swindled Casterly Rock from House Casterly and founded his own house, House Lannister in its place. During the Dawn Age, the founding members of House Casterly discovered gold on Casterly Rock and began to mine it. Eventually, this discovery would make them the richest family in all of Westeros.
During the Age of Heroes, Lann the Clever came along and somehow tricked the Casterlys out of their castle, land, and gold using nothing but his wits. Lann was described as a handsome man with golden hair — a trait his descendants carry to this day — and it was said that he had so many children, the town of Lannisport was created so the lesser members of his family would have a place to live.
Lann’s origins are a thing of debate, as some say he was an Andal adventurer who made his way to Westeros. Regardless, he was still considered a First Man, who did not style himself as a king, despite being possibly the richest man in all the land. It wasn’t until the Andals came to Westeros and married into House Lannister that they began to call themselves kings.
House Greyjoy proudly traces its ancestry all the way back to a legendary figure called the Grey King. As a First Man of the Iron Islands, the Grey King was said to be blessed by the Drowned God himself, while he constantly waged war with the Storm God.
The Grey King killed the first sea dragon named Nagga, and in its bones, he built his great hall. He wore robes of woven seaweed and a crown made from Nagga’s teeth. It was also said he married a mermaid, and carved the first Ironborn ship from a demonic tree that feasted on the flesh of men, Ygg.
After his death, the Grey King’s 100 sons fought and killed each other to see who would rule in his stead. When there were 16 left, they held the very first Kingsmoot in the bones of Nagga, to elect the strongest one to be the king of the Iron Islands.
As the legend goes, when the Grey King finally died, the Storm God tried to erase his memory by snuffing out Nagga’s eternal fire in the king’s great hall. However, the Ironborn continue to tale tells and sing his songs to this day, ensuring his legend will live on forever.
Not every First Man from the Age of Heroes founded a great House or became a king. There were also warriors of renown who forged their own legends through great deeds. The first of these is Symeon Star-Eyes. Even though there was no chivalry in the Age of Heroes, Symeon Star-Eyes was known as the blind knight who fought with a long staff with blades at each end. Symeon earned the name “Star-Eyes” because he replaced his ruined eyes with sapphires.
Serwyn of the Mirror Shield was also a legendary knight from the Age of Heroes, who saved a princess from a dragon. He earned his name because he approached the dragon from behind his shield so that the dragon could only see its reflection. This allowed him to get close enough to stab the dragon in the eye, killing it, and allowing him to save the princess. Legend states that Serwyn was haunted by the ghosts of all the men he killed.
The Last Hero went in search of the Children of the Forest during the Long Night, to seek their help in defeating the White Walkers. He ventured out with 12 of his friends, a sword, his horse and his dog. For years they searched, but could not find the Children, and one by one, his companions began to die, then so did his horse, and finally, his dog. It was so cold, his sword shattered, and that’s when the White Walkers found him, by smelling his warm blood.
Eventually, the Last Hero found the Children of the Forest, and they helped him form the Night’s Watch. Together, with the King of Winter, they defeated the Night King and ended the Long Night. Many people confuse the Last Hero with Azor Ahai, but their stories and origins are different.
What legendary figures from the Age of Heroes would you like to see in the Game of Thrones prequel series? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
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