A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Lyonel Baratheon Sets Up a Rebellion

by

HBO recently introduced viewers to Lyonel Baratheon, a key figure in the history of Westeros, particularly regarding the strained relationship between House Targaryen and House Baratheon. While the Baratheons originally came from the Targaryen family, the two houses grew distant over time as new marriages and families formed. By this point, their shared family history was less important than their individual sense of pride and duty.

Lyonel, nicknamed the Laughing Storm, initially appears as a friendly and lively companion to Dunk and Egg. However, his story in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms highlights how fragile alliances can be in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire world. Though the conflict between Lyonel and his companions doesn’t fully erupt until much later, it ultimately has a lasting and significant impact on Westeros.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Sets the Stage for Robert’s Rebellion

Currently, the relationship between characters in HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is strong. But this relationship eventually breaks down, contributing to the events that trigger a war and ultimately define the world depicted in Game of Thrones. The disagreement between Lyonel and the future King Egg sheds light on the delicate balance of power between Houses Baratheon and Targaryen.

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, we meet Egg and Duncan long before they become Aegon V Targaryen and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, respectively. Westeros is enjoying a period of peace after the First Blackfyre Rebellion, but as fans of the series know, trouble doesn’t stay away for long.

The strong connection between the characters is important because it makes their eventual conflict feel real. Lyonel’s problems with Egg don’t seem like a grab for power, but a genuine response to being hurt. When Lyonel opposes Egg after he becomes king, it’s because of a broken trust, not a desire to take the throne. This also emphasizes Lyonel’s unpredictable and stormy nature – once he feels betrayed, he becomes fiercely resentful and volatile, earning him the nickname ‘The Laughing Storm’.

The conflict starts when Duncan, the son of Lord Egg, becomes engaged to the daughter of Lyonel. However, young Prince Duncan falls in love with Jenny of Oldstones—a character viewers might recall from a song sung by Podrick in Season 8 of Game of Thrones—and breaks his promise to Lyonel’s daughter. Lyonel views this as a deep betrayal and launches a rebellion against King Aegon, an uprising that occurs remarkably years later.

By the time Robert’s Rebellion began, it was obvious that people valued personal honor more than loyalty to the king. While Lyonel’s disagreement with Egg doesn’t immediately end the Targaryen dynasty, it hints at the coming war. Lyonel’s rebellion ends when Ser Duncan the Tall defeats him in a duel. After this, King Aegon promises his daughter in marriage to Lyonel’s son, Ormund.

Egg’s Truce with Lyonel Births The Baratheon Storm

It’s ironic that the marriage between Lyonel Baratheon and Egg ultimately led to the birth of Steffon, Robert, Stannis, and Renly. Robert, a relative of the royal family, secured his right to the Iron Throne by defeating Rhaegar Targaryen at the Battle of the Trident. In effect, the union between Egg’s daughter and Lyonel’s son gave the Baratheons control of the kingdom.

The friendship that developed between Lyonel, Duncan, and Egg at the Ashford tournament unexpectedly played a role in the future succession to the Iron Throne. This impact was made even stronger by the death of King Baelor Targaryen, which moved the claim to the throne to Egg’s father, Maekar. What seemed like a harmless bond between these characters actually created a dangerous situation and ultimately changed the balance of power in Westeros.

Read More

2026-02-14 14:06