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The Shrike (real name: Unknown) is a minor character in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series. He was a fanatical priest of the Drowned God who lived during the reign of King Harmund III Hoare.
Biography[]
During his reign, King Harmund III Hoare went against ironborn tradition by announcing that ironborn reavers would be hanged as pirates. He even went as far as to outlaw the taking of salt wives, declaring that children of such unions are no more than bastards and have no right to inheritance. In addition, King Harmund also considered ending the practice of thralldom.
Unfortunately, this angered the Shrike, who began preaching against Harmund as well as leading a rebellion against him. When his fellow priests of the Drowned God took up the cry, the lords of the Iron Islands listened to them. Though King Harmund was supported by septons and their followers of the Faith of the Seven, the Shrike was triumphant in overthrowing the former without shedding any blood. He then proceeded to remove Harmund's tongue so that he would never speak "lies and blasphemies" ever again. The Shrike then blinds the deposed Harmund before cutting his nose "off" so that all men would see him for the monster he is.
When Harmund's brother Hagon became king, the latter allowed his and his brother's own mother, Dowager Queen Lelia Lannister, to be mutilated, as the Shrike also blamed her for turning her husband, King Harmund II Hoare, and his sons away from the faith of the Drowned God to the Faith of the Seven.
Unfortunately for King Hagon the Heartless, Lelia's mutilation angered her nephew, the then King of the Rock, and he raised his banners in revenge. The Westermen, who are led by Ser Aubrey Crakehall, invaded the Iron Islands, and during an ensuing battle that lasted for seven years, they defeated Hagon's army at Great Wyk before capturing Hoare Castle, one of House Hoare's seats, and having it razed. After putting his Aubrey down, he took the crown for himself and succeeded Hagon as King of the Iron Islands, much to House Lannister's disapproval. However, his entire reign lasted less than half a year before he was captured by the ironborn. The Shrike then sacrificed him to the sea.
Overall, the war between the Iron Islands and the Westerlands kept going and ended up lasting twelve years. By the time the war was over, the Iron Islands were left defeated, impoverished, and ill-prepared for the long and harsh winter that followed, which became historically known by the ironborn as the Famine Winter. It is unknown if the Shrike survived the rest of the warfare or the Famine Winter, leaving his fate unknown.
Legacy[]
The Shrike is a historical figure in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. In 300 AC, the Iron Fleet captures a Myrish cog named Dove near Slaver's Bay, and Lord Captain Victarion Greyjoy renames it Shrike, possibly after the priest Shrike, indicating he is likely a well-respected and beloved figure in the Iron Islands.
External Link[]
- Shrike on the A Wiki of Ice and Fire.
