House Flint of the mountains

House Flint of the mountains,^[2][3] alternatively House Flint of the hills,^[4] is one of the mountain clans of the north. The Flints inhabit the high mountains north of the wolfswood.^[2] They like to be called the First Flints as they say that House Flint of Widow's Watch and House Flint of Flint's Finger were founded by younger sons of the family.^[3] Their chief is known as "The Flint", although at Winterfell the treatment of "Lord Flint" is used.

Neither their arms and motto appear in the books, nor has George R. R. Martin submitted them in semi-canon material.

History

It is possible that the Flints of the mountains are the same as House Flint of Breakstone Hill, who ruled as First Men kings after the Long Night until being reduced to vassalage by the Kings of Winter, House Stark of Winterfell.^[5]

It is suggested that the Night's King was a Flint, among the many possibilities.^[6] Lord Commander Rodrik Flint is regarded as one of the worst commanders of the Night's Watch, for trying to make himself King-Beyond-the-Wall.^[7] One of the dark legends surrounding the Nightfort is the rape and murder of brave young Danny Flint.^[6]

A branch of House Flint held the Wolf's Den for a century after the extinction of the Greystarks.^[8]

The Flints of the hills aided Lord Cregan Stark in hunting down the free folk raiders of Sylas the Grim.^[4]

Lord Eddard Stark's maternal grandmother, Arya Flint, was a Flint from the mountains. Old Nan used to say to Bran Stark that it was her blood that made him climb so foolishly.^[2]

The Flints of the mountains have been raided by wildlings led by the Weeper.^[9]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

The Flints are reported to have ties to House Hornwood through the female line, though A Clash of Kings does not specify which branch.^[10]

A Storm of Swords

Bran Stark recalls there are some Flints living in the high places during his trip to the Wall with Hodor, Meera Reed, and Jojen Reed.^[2]

A Dance with Dragons

The Flints join Stannis Baratheon in his campaign to take the north away from the ironborn and House Bolton. They hope to save "The Ned's" girl, "Arya Stark", from the Boltons.^[11] Prior to the fight by Deepwood Motte, a Flint is part of a small group of northmen who try to infiltrate the castle. They are detected by ironborn, however, and the Flint is killed by Asha Greyjoy.^[12]

Torghen Flint visits Castle Black with five fighting men, as well as a fourteen-year-old wet nurse who attends Monster.^[3] The Flint and the Norrey are wary of Lord Commander Jon Snow's plan to settle wildlings in the Gift.^[9]

House Flint of the mountains at the end of the third century

The known Flints of the mountains during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

• Lord Torghen Flint, of the First Flints, called The Flint, or Old Flint.
  • Donnel Flint, called Black Donnel Flint, his son and heir.
  • Artos Flint, his second son, half-brother to Black Donnel.

Historical Members

• Arya Flint, married Rodrik Stark, mother of Branda and Lyarra Stark.^[13]

Quotes

His father's mother's mother had been a Flint of the mountains. Old Nan once said that it was her blood in him that made Bran such a fool for climbing before his fall.^[2]

—thoughts of Bran Stark

The First Flints, they call themselves. They say the other Flints are the blood of younger sons, who had to leave the mountains to find food and land and wives.^[3]

—Jon Snow to Alys Karstark

It's peaceful in my dungeons. Give the Weeping Man to me.^[9]

—Torghen Flint to Jon Snow

References

v d e Houses of the North   At the start of A Game of Thrones Great House Stark Lordly Houses Bolton BurleyM Cerwyn Dustin Flint of the mountainsM Flint of Widow's Watch HarclayM Hornwood Karstark KnottM LiddleM Locke Manderly Mormont NorreyM ReedC Ryswell Slate Stout Umber WullM Masterly Houses Glover Tallhart Other Houses (noble rank unknown) Ashwood BlackmyreC BoggsC BoleW BranchW Cassel Condon CrowlS CrayC FennC Flint of Breakstone Hill Flint of Flint's Finger ForresterW Holt GreengoodC Ironsmith Lake Lightfoot Long MagnarS Marsh Mollen Moss Overton PeatC Poole QuaggC StaneS Waterman Wells Whitehill WoodsW Woolfield Exiled Houses Blackwood Extinct Houses Amber Greenwood Fisher of the Stony Shore Frost Greystark Ryder Towers Woodfoot   At the end of A Dance with Dragons Great House Bolton Lordly Houses Bolton of Winterfell BurleyM Cerwyn Dustin Flint of the mountainsM Flint of Widow's Watch HarclayM Karstark KnottM LiddleM Locke Manderly Mormont NorreyM ReedC Ryswell Slate Stout ThennF Umber WullM Masterly Houses Glover Tallhart Other Houses (noble rank unknown) Ashwood BlackmyreC BoggsC BoleW BranchW Cassel Condon CrowlS CrayC FennC Flint of Breakstone Hill Flint of Flint's Finger ForresterW Holt GreengoodC Ironsmith Lake Lightfoot Long MagnarS Marsh Mollen Moss Overton PeatC Poole QuaggC RedbeardF StaneS Waterman Wells Whitehill WoodsW Woolfield Deposed Houses Hornwood Stark Exiled Houses Blackwood Extinct Houses Amber Greenwood Fisher of the Stony Shore Frost Greystark Ryder Towers Woodfoot C Crannogmen F Free folk Houses M Mountain Clans S Skagosi Clans W Wolfswood Clans