- "Orys slew Argilac and took Argilac's castle, kingdom, daughter, sigil and house words. House Baratheon became the Lord of the Stormlands."
- ―Brienne of Tarth
Orys Baratheon, the original holder of the title.
Lord Paramount of the Stormlands is a title held by the ruler of the Stormlands from their seat at Storm's End. The former holder of the title, Robert Baratheon, passed the title to his younger brother Renly after conquering the Iron Throne. Before Robert, the title was held by their father Steffon Baratheon. The title has been consistently held by a member of House Baratheon since the War of Conquest.
After Robert and Renly's deaths, the title should have fallen to Stannis Baratheon, the middle brother of Robert and Renly, as the only surviving Baratheon brother. However, with the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings, Stannis declared himself king as he was the rightful heir, and so did not incorporate the title into his official style. Stannis fought against Robert's alleged sons, Joffrey and then Tommen, who were actually bastards born of incest between Queen Cersei Lannister and her twin brother Jaime. This caused the title of Lord Paramount to remain in dispute between the two branches of House Baratheon.
After the legal extinction of all legitimate Baratheons, Robert Baratheon's unacknowledged bastard son Gendry was legitimized by the decree of Queen Daenerys Targaryen and named Gendry Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, also becoming Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.[1] This is upheld by the lords of Westeros even after her assassination, shown by Gendry's participation at the Great Council of 305 AC.[2]
Known Lords Paramount of the Stormlands
- 1–? AC: {Orys Baratheon}, first Lord Paramount of the Stormlands
- ?–44 AC: {Axel Baratheon}, eldest son of Orys
- 44–73 AC: {Serac Baratheon}, second son of Orys
- 73–83 AC: {William Baratheon}, son of Serac
- ? AC: {Borros Baratheon}, Lord Paramount during the Dance of the Dragons
- ? AC: {Symeon Baratheon}, Lord Paramount at the turn of the second-third centuries, father of Lyonel
- ~210 AC: {Lyonel Baratheon}, Lord Paramount during the reign of Aegon V Targaryen, son of Symeon
- ?–258 AC: {Ormund Baratheon}, son of Lyonel
- 258–278 AC: {Steffon Baratheon}, son of Ormund
- 278–281 AC: {Robert Baratheon}, son of Steffon
- 281–299 AC: {Renly Baratheon}, youngest brother of Robert
- 299–302 AC (disputed): {Stannis Baratheon}, brother of Robert. Title disputed with Joffrey and then Tommen Baratheon.
- 299–301 AC (disputed): {Joffrey Baratheon}, legal son of Robert. Title disputed with Stannis Baratheon.
- 301–303 AC (disputed): {Tommen Baratheon}, legal son of Robert. Title disputed with Stannis Baratheon until 302 AC, thereafter undisputed.
Vacant 303–305 AC: House Baratheon is legally extinct after the death of Tommen
- 305 AC–present: Gendry Baratheon, legitimized bastard son of Robert, appointed by Queen Daenerys I
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire books, the title is granted by the Iron Throne to the liege lord of the stormlands within the Seven Kingdoms.
According to The World of Ice & Fire, Argilac Durrandon, the last Storm King, was killed by Orys Baratheon in the Last Storm during Aegon's Conquest. Aegon the Conquerer named Orys the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and Hand of the King.
