House Staunton

House Staunton of Rook's Rest
Coat of arms	Two black wings upon a white fess on checkered black and grey (Chequy sable and cendrée, on a fess argent two wings of the first)
Seat	Rook's Rest
Head	Unknown
Region	Crownlands
Overlord	House Baratheon of Dragonstone

House Staunton of Rook's Rest is a noble house from Rook's Rest in the crownlands. Neither their arms nor their motto have appeared in the books, but according to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with two black wings upon a white fess on checkered black and grey.^[1]

History

When the realm began to turn against King Maegor I Targaryen for Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, Lord Staunton was among the score of lesser lords who gathered at his command.^[2] Along with Lords Towers and Darklyn, Lord Staunton yielded the Red Keep to Jaehaerys, Princess Rhaena, and Princess Alysanne Targaryen. The three lords were sent to the black cells, but were eventually pardoned by King Jaehaerys I after surrendering some of their land.^[3] When the young Jaehaerys resided at Dragonstone, Lord Staunton was one of the several lords who traveled to the island to speak with the king.^[4]

The pretty Cassella Staunton, a companion to Queen Rhaena Targaryen, was murdered by Androw Farman.^[5] Lord Staunton and his wife and children died of the Shivers in 59 AC.^[6] Simon Staunton was one of the squires who kept company with Princess Daella Targaryen.^[6]

The Stauntons supported the blacks and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's claim to the Iron Throne during the Dance of the Dragons. Lord Staunton was killed by the greens during the battle at Rook's Rest, and his head was taken to King's Landing. Lord Walys Mooton led the retaking of Rook's Rest.^[7] Lady Staunton joined the host of Ser Corwyn Corbray and Clement Celtigar during the Hour of the Wolf.^[8] When a bride was sought for the widowed King Aegon III Targaryen, Lord Unwin Peake spread gossip that Ysabel Staunton was too fond of wine.^[9]

Ser Joffrey Staunton served in the Kingsguard during the reign of Aegon III Targaryen.^[10]

Septon Sefton was the brother of Ser Simon Staunton, the third husband of Lady Rohanne Webber. Sefton served at the Great Sept of Baelor and at Coldmoat.^[11]

Lord Symond Staunton served as master of laws for King Aerys II Targaryen. He unsuccessfully tried to persuade the king to prohibit tourneys and inflamed the king's suspicions against his son, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.^[12]

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

The maester of the Dun Fort tells Brienne of Tarth that smallfolk believe the Defiance of Duskendale could have been avoided if Lord Denys Darklyn had married a Staunton or a Stokeworth instead of Serala of Myr.^[13]

House Staunton at the end of the third century

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

• no member has appeared yet.

Historical Members

• Lord Staunton, one of King Maegor I Targaryen's last supporters.^[2] He died from the Shivers in 59 AC.^[6]
  • Cassella Staunton, his daughter. A lady companion to Queen Rhaena Targaryen poisoned by Androw Farman.^[5]
  • His lady wife and children who also died from the Shivers.^[6]
• Simon Staunton, a squire in the court of Jaehaerys I Targaryen^[6]
• Lord Staunton, the Lord of Rook's Rest and head of the house during the Dance of the Dragons. He sided with Rhaenyra Targaryen and sat on the black council.^{[14][N 1]}
  • Lady Staunton, his wife, and later widow, who rode to King's Landing from Duskendale with Ser Corwyn Corbray after the ascension of King Aegon III Targaryen.^[8]
• Ysabel Staunton, a possible marriage candidate for King Aegon III Targaryen.^[9]
• Ser Joffrey Staunton, a knight of Aegon III Targaryen's Kingsguard.^[10]
• Ser Simon Staunton, the third husband of Lady Rohanne Webber.^[11]
  • A daughter (possibly).^{[N 2]}
  • Sefton Staunton, Simon's brother and a septon of the Faith.^[11]
• Lord Symond Staunton, master of laws under Aerys II Targaryen.^[12]

Behind the Scenes

House Staunton of Rook's Rest may be a reference to the game of chess by George R. R. Martin, a proficient chess player.^[15] The House's arms are checkered like a chessboard, the rook is a piece in the game, and Howard Staunton was a chess master.

Notes

References

v d e Houses of the Crownlands   At the start of A Game of Thrones Royal House Baratheon of King's Landing Lordly Houses Bar Emmon1 Baratheon of Dragonstone1 Brune of the Dyre Den2 Buckwell Byrch Bywater Celtigar1 Chelsted Chyttering Cressey Follard Harte Hayford Mallery Massey Rollingford Rosby Rykker Staunton Stokeworth Sunglass1 Velaryon1 Knightly Houses Brune of Brownhollow2 Hogg Other Houses (noble rank unknown) Blount Boggs2 Cave2 Crabb2 Dargood Darke Darkwood Edgerton Farring Gaunt Hardy2 Hollard Langward Largent Longwaters Manning Pyle Pyne2 Rambton Scales Thorne Wendwater Exiled Houses Targaryen Extinct Houses Blackfyre Cargyll Darklyn   At the end of A Dance with Dragons Royal House Baratheon of King's Landing Lordly Houses Bar Emmon1 Baratheon of Dragonstone1 Buckwell Brune of the Dyre Den2 Byrch Bywater Celtigar1 Chelsted Chyttering Cressey Follard Harte Hayford Mallery Massey Rollingford Rosby Rykker Slynt Staunton Stokeworth Sunglass1 Velaryon1 Knightly Houses Brune of Brownhollow2 Hogg Kettleblack Other Houses (noble rank unknown) Blount Boggs2 Cave2 Crabb2 Dargood Darke Darkwood Edgerton Farring Gaunt Hardy2 Langward Largent Longwaters Manning Pyle Pyne2 Rambton Scales Thorne Wendwater Exiled Houses Targaryen Extinct Houses Blackfyre Cargyll Darklyn Hollard 1 Narrow Sea Houses 2 Crackclaw Point Houses