Ulf White

Ulf White
Art by Enife
Aliases	Ulf the White[1] Ulf the Sot[1] The Betrayer[2]
Titles	Ser Lord of Bitterbridge Lord of Highgarden (claimant)
Allegiances	Blacks Greens Two Betrayers
Race	Uncertain (Valyrian descent)
Culture	Crownlands
Born	Dragonstone
Died	130 AC Tumbleton
Books	The World of Ice & Fire (mentioned) Fire & Blood (mentioned) The Rise of the Dragon (mentioned) The Princess and the Queen (mentioned)
Played by	Tom Bennett
TV series	House of the Dragon: Season 2

Ulf White,^[3] also known as Ulf the White and Ulf the Sot, was a dragonseed who became a dragonrider during the Dance of the Dragons.^[1]

In the television adaptation House of the Dragon, Ulf is portrayed by Tom Bennett.^[4]

Appearance and Character

Ulf was pale-haired and named for his white hair.^[1] Although Ulf had Valyrian features and was able to successfully bond with a dragon, his parentage was not stated - and it is possible that Ulf himself did not know exactly which Targaryen he descended from.

Ulf was known for his drinking.^[1] He could not read or write.^[3]

History

A dragonseed of Dragonstone, Ulf the White was a man-at-arms when the Dance of the Dragons began. When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon called for dragonriders in 129 AC, Ulf was able to mount Silverwing. Ulf and his fellow dragonseeds—Hugh Hammer, Nettles, and Addam Velaryon—fought valiantly besides Jacaerys in the Battle of the Gullet, but Jace fell during the battle.^[1] The dragonrider began to call himself "Ulf White".^[3]

After the fall of King's Landing, Prince Daemon Targaryen suggested that Ulf be wed to the daughter of the late Lord Stokeworth, but Rhaenyra declined. The queen instead granted knighthood to Ulf and Hugh and granted them lands on Driftmark. According to Mushroom, a drunken Ulf rode through Flea Bottom wearing only golden spurs.^[3] When Daemon suggested that Houses Baratheon and Lannister should be destroyed for their support of King Aegon II Targaryen, he proposed granting Storm's End to Ulf, but after Lord Corlys Velaryon opposed the idea, Rhaenyra refused the suggestion.^[3]

In 130 AC, Ulf White and Hugh Hammer were sent to help the blacks defend the town of Tumbleton from Lord Ormund Hightower's approaching host. During the First Battle of Tumbleton, however, the Two Betrayers defected to the greens. Prince Daeron Targaryen named Ulf as Lord of Bitterbridge, but Ulf desired to receive Highgarden as his seat, not considering Bitterbridge to be sufficient. According to Mushroom, Ulf raped three maidens each night and fed those who displeased him to his dragon, Silverwing.^[3] Ulf took the Bawdy Badger as his favored inn.^[2]

The Caltrops conspired to kill both Ulf and Hugh Hammer. Lord Unwin Peake had warrants for their executions drawn up, which were signed by Prince Daeron. The day that the Caltrops planned to strike, however, the Second Battle of Tumbleton took place. Ulf survived the battle, drunkenly sleeping through every attempt to wake him. When he learned that Hugh had died during the battle, Ulf informed Lord Peake that he was going to claim the Iron Throne.^[2]

The next day, Ser Hobert Hightower brought Ulf two casks of wine, one Dornish red and one Arbor gold. As Ulf preferred the sweeter vintage, the Arbor gold had been poisoned. Suspicious of Hobert's behavior, Ulf commanded the Dornish red to be set aside, and only dared drink from the poisoned Arbor gold after he had seen Hobert drink from it himself. After Hobert asked for a second cup, Ulf drank three cups himself, and soon fell asleep before dying peacefully due to the poison.^[2]

Quotes by Ulf

Hugh: We are knights now, truly.
Ulf: Fie on that, we should be lords.^[1]

—Hugh Hammer and Ulf

Quotes about Ulf

Ser Ulf gave himself entirely over to drunkenness, drowning himself in wine and flesh.^[3]

—writings of Gyldayn

References