Pyke (castle)

Pyke is the stronghold and seat of House Greyjoy, located on the island of the same name, which is one of the seven major Iron Islands.

'Pyke' is also the name given to bastards born on the Iron Islands.

Notable residents of the castle

 * Lord Balon Greyjoy, the head of the family.
 * Asha Greyjoy, his only daughter.
 * Victarion Greyjoy, Balon's brother, commander of the Iron Fleet.
 * Aeron Greyjoy, known as Damphair, Balon's youngest brother, a priest of the Drowned God.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Pyke is an ancient, storm-worn fortress built atop several rocky towers jutting out of the sea. It is connected to the main island by a treacherous-footed rope bridge, and defended by tall walls.

Pyke was long considered impregnable, but during the Greyjoy Rebellion immense siege-ships commanded by Stannis Baratheon smashed the walls down with boulders, allowing ground troops to storm the castle. The onslaught was so severe that the first men through the breach, including Thoros of Myr and Ser Jorah Mormont, suffered relatively few losses and were able to secure a bridgehead within the walls.

The island of Pyke also contains a safe anchorage at Lordsport, which is held by House Botley in the name of the Greyjoys.