House Tyrell
Masters of the Reach who replaced the Gardners after Aegon's Conquest.
House Tyrell rules the Reach, one of the nine regions that make up the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros. Their seat is Highgarden, and they rose to power after Aegon the Conqueror defeated House Gardener, the previous rulers of the kingdom. The Targaryen dragonlord wiped out three ruling houses that refused to bend the knee, replacing House Gardener with House Tyrell. While the source notes their political rise through conquest or treaty, it does not detail their motto, specific members like Olenna or Mace, or their modern diplomatic maneuvers.
- Ruling Region
- The Reach
- Seat
- Highgarden
- Predecessor House
- House Gardener
- Ascension Event
- Replaced by Aegon the Conqueror after House Gardener refused to bend the knee
- Current Allegiance
- Iron Throne (Seven Kingdoms)
Lore & Background
The history of House Tyrell is tied directly to the Targaryen invasion three hundred years before the novels begin. Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush with their fire-breathing dragons. They subdued six of the Seven Kingdoms, including the Kingdom of the Reach, which was previously ruled by House Gardener of Highgarden. The Targaryens wiped out House Gardener for refusing to bend the knee and replaced them with House Tyrell. This change occurred alongside other replacements: House Durrandon became House Baratheon, and House Hoare was split between Houses Tully and Greyjoy. Only Dorne remained independent for nearly two hundred more years until it joined through a marriage-alliance by King Daeron II in 187 AC. The Tyrells have held Highgarden since that pivotal moment of conquest.
In Their Own Story
Three centuries before the current narrative, the Kingdom of the Reach fell to Targaryen fire and steel. Aegon the Conqueror, aided by his dragons, demanded submission from House Gardener. When they refused, their line ended. In their place rose House Tyrell, a house that had likely served as stewards or allies during the conquest, now elevated to rule the fertile lands of the Reach. This transition was part of Aegon's broader strategy: he built Aegonfort at the Blackwater Rush mouth, which grew into King's Landing, and forged the Iron Throne from the swords of his defeated enemies. The new Tyrell lords owed fealty to the Iron Throne, just as the other great houses did, marking the end of independent feudal kingdoms in the south.
Reader's Guide
House Tyrell is the ruling house of the Reach, one of the nine regions of Westeros. They hold Highgarden and succeeded House Gardener after Aegon's Conquest three hundred years prior to the story's start. The source confirms they were installed by the Targaryens alongside other new houses: Baratheons in the Stormlands, Lannisters in the Westerlands (though the Lannister line continued under new terms), and others. Their power stems from controlling a major agricultural region, though the text does not specify their wealth or specific family members beyond their historical placement. They remain loyal vassals to the Iron Throne, like all other great houses of the Seven Kingdoms.
Did You Know?
- Aegon the Conqueror replaced House Gardener of Highgarden with House Tyrell after they refused to submit.
- The Targaryens wiped out three of the seven original ruling houses during their invasion of Westeros.
- House Tyrell has ruled the Reach for approximately three centuries, since the time of Aegon's Conquest.
- The Seven Kingdoms were originally independent feudal realms that fluctuated in territory over thousands of years before Targaryen unification.
- Only Dorne remained independent after Aegon's initial conquest, finally joining the Iron Throne through a marriage-alliance by King Daeron II in 187 AC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who rules House Tyrell and where is their seat?
House Tyrell governs the fertile region known as the Reach from their ancestral seat at Highgarden. They serve as the primary lords of this area under the authority of the Iron Throne.
How did House Tyrell come to power in Westeros?
The house rose to prominence after Aegon the Conqueror defeated the previous rulers, House Gardener, who refused to submit during his invasion. Aegon then installed the Tyrells as the new masters of the Reach following this conquest.
What is the historical significance of House Tyrell's rise?
Their ascension marked a pivotal moment where Aegon replaced three defiant ruling houses with loyalists to secure control over the Seven Kingdoms. This shift ensured the Reach remained under Targaryen influence through the new leadership.
Which region does House Tyrell control?
They hold dominion over the Reach, one of the nine distinct regions that comprise Westeros. Their power base is centered around Highgarden, which serves as their administrative and military headquarters.
What was the fate of the previous rulers before the Tyrells took over?
House Gardener, the former lords of the Reach, were wiped out after they refused to bend the knee to Aegon I. Their elimination allowed House Tyrell to inherit their lands and titles as part of the Conquest.
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