Re: The Reach
The Reach History Continued
The beginnings of the Reach can be traced back to Garth Gardener, one of the First Men, more commonly known as Garth Greenhand. It is said Garth’s crown was fashioned of flowers and vine, and it is whispered he fathered so many children his hand was not the only green thing about him. Indeed, many of the current houses in the region can claim a bloodline back to Garth, including House Tyrell. This bloodlink has led to no small amount of grumbling amongst the houses of the Reach, for some believe the Tyrells were placed above more deserving families with stronger ties to the Gardener Kings. Of course, the houses of the Reach were in no position to make demands when the Tyrells were raised from among them.
When Aegon I led his host into the Reach he met the combined forces of two kings: King Loren Lannister and King Mern Gardener. Although Mern’s and Loren’s troops outnumbered the Targaryen army by almost five to one, Aegon and his sisters had the power of three dragons at their command. When the full fury of the three beasts was unleashed, the battlefield was transformed into the legendary Field of Fire, burning out the last of the Gardener line in the process. When Aegon then marched his host to Highgarden, its steward, Harlen Tyrell, surrendered the castle rather than see it and its inhabitants burned. For this, the Tyrells were given dominion over the Reach.
After the submission of Highgarden, Aegon took his host further south to Oldtown, which was still the largest city on the continent at that time. The Hightower who reigned in Oldtown opened the gates of the city on the advice of the High Septon, who perhaps noted the wisdom of the tactic after hearing of Aegon’s mercy at Highgarden. Aegon entered the city unopposed and was acknowledged as the rightful King of Westeros by the High Septon, thereby legitimizing his reign. Aegon began numbering the years of his reign from the surrender of Oldtown, a system eventually adopted by the rest of the continent.
