Amid the tangled loyalties of the Riverlands, one finds House Charlton, a noble line whose arms bear three sprigs of mistletoe, green and red, upon a golden field within a green border. Once fierce in their struggles for dominion, the Charltons now bend the knee as vassals to House Frey of the Crossing. Their path through history is marked by shifting banners, bloody battles, and the slow fading of power.
History
In the century that followed the fall of House Justman, the Riverlands became a patchwork of rival claimants. The Charltons were among those who sought to secure greater sway in those troubled days.
- Lord Theo Charlton threw his support behind Harwyn Hoare, King of the Iron Islands, standing against the Storm King Arrec Durrandon in the Battle at Fairmarket.
- In the next age of strife, another Charlton lord backed Prince Aegon Targaryen, the Uncrowned, in his doomed rebellion against King Maegor I Targaryen, fighting in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.
- During the Dance of the Dragons, Lord Jon Charlton marched beneath the banners of the blacks. At the Battle by the Lakeshore, his sword was stilled forever.
- Ser Clarence Charlton was among the knights at the wedding tourney of Whitewalls, though he was handily unseated by Ser Tommard Heddle.
At some point thereafter, the Charltons fell beneath the shadow of the Freys, who began raising the Twins some six centuries ago. The once-proud house, which some chronicles hint may even have borne the title of River King in elder days, became another banner among many in the swelling Frey host. (This, however, is not firmly confirmed.)
Recent Events
- A Storm of Swords: Ser Andrey Charlton and his squire, Lucas Roote, met their end against House Lannister during the War of the Five Kings.
- A Feast for Crows: The banners of Charlton were sighted by Ser Jaime Lannister among the Frey encampment during the siege of Riverrun.
House Charlton in the Late Third Century
Known members of the house in the era of the novels include:
- Ser Andrey Charlton, a knight, was slain during the War of the Five Kings.
- The wife of Ser Walder Rivers.
- Their son, Ser Aemon Rivers.
- Walda Rivers, daughter of Aemon.
- Another Walda Rivers, daughter of Walder’s wife.
Historical Members
- Lord Theo Charlton, who fought at Fairmarket.
- Lord Charlton, supporter of Aegon the Uncrowned.
- Lord Jon Charlton, who perished during the Dance of the Dragons.
- Ser Clarence Charlton, a knight at Whitewalls.
Behind the Scenes
It is whispered beyond the lore that House Charlton may be a playful nod by George R. R. Martin to Charlton Comics, which he read in his youth. Many of Charlton’s heroes—such as Blue Beetle and Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt were later acquired by DC Comics in 1983. This echoes how the once-bold Charltons were absorbed as vassals beneath the Freys.
House Facts
- Coat of Arms: Or, three sprigs of mistletoe vert, fructed gules, within a bordure of the second.
- Region: Riverlands.
- Head: Unknown.
- Overlord: House Frey.
- Title (historical): River King.
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