- "The brothers Gendel and Gorne, Kings-Beyond-the-Wall, went under the Wall through ancient caves buried deep in the Earth. But on the way back they took a wrong turn and were lost in in the darkness. People say that their children's children's children are still down there... looking for a way up, or for more food to find its way down."
- ―Samwell Tarly
Gorne and Gendel's War was one out of seven major Free Folk invasions of The North, led by Kings-Beyond-the-Wall Gendel and Gorne, during the Age of the Hundred Kingdoms. Like the other six invasions, it was repulsed.[1]
Battle
The invasion is remembered more for the Free Folk retreat than the battle itself. The brothers Gorne and Gendel, who ruled together as Kings-Beyond-the-Wall, led an army of Free Folk through ancient caves. When the joint strength of the Night's Watch and the Kingdom of the North defeated the invasion, the kings attempted to retreat back beyond the wall through the same caves, only to get lost there forever.
In the books
According to the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the Free Folk initially managed to bypass the Night's Watch, only to run straight into the army of the King in the North. When learning that a battle was taking place, the Night's Watch intervened and helped the Stark army surround the Free Folk army. Together, they destroyed the invading army.
Samwell claims that both kings got lost under the wall during the retreat; according to the books, Gorne was confirmed killed, but Gendel's fate is disputable. Northern traditions have it he was killed with his brother, while according to the traditions of the Free Folk he escaped, though got lost on his way.
References
Wars | |
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Wars in Westeros |
Andal Invasion · Unification of the North · Gorne and Gendel's War · Nymeria's War · Targaryen Conquest · First Dornish War · Vulture Hunt · Faith Militant uprising · Dance of the Dragons · Conquest of Dorne · Blackfyre Rebellion · Raymun Redbeard's War · War of the Ninepenny Kings · Reyne Rebellion · Defiance of Duskendale · Robert's Rebellion · Greyjoy Rebellion · War of the Five Kings · Conflict Beyond the Wall |
Wars outside of Westeros |
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