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House Blackwood
House Blackwood

"I once vied for Queen Rhaenyra's hand, before she wed Ser Laenor. I always liked her spirit. She had the true blood of the dragon."
―Willem Blackwood[src]

Ser Willem Blackwood was a member of House Blackwood during the reign of Viserys I. By the early stages of the Dance of the Dragons he has achieved knighthood and become the regent of Raventree Hall, in the name of the child lord Benjicot Blackwood.

Biography[]

Background[]

Willem is a member of House Blackwood of Raventree Hall.[2] He is a younger brother of Lord Samwell Blackwood and uncle to Benjicot Blackwood.[3]

House of the Dragon: Season 1[]

When Rhaenyra Targaryen's tour of the realm reaches Storm's End, Willem is among the suitors gathered to seek the princess's favor, though the princess is skeptical due to his youth. He cites the long relationship between House Blackwood and House Targaryen, and his house's deep roots in Westeros. Meanwhile, an older suitor, Jerrel Bracken, taunts and mocks him and his house. Rhaenyra seems to prefer Jerrel to Willem, so Willem turns to leave, stung by the princess's rejection. As he leaves, Jerrel calls him a craven, prompting him to draw his sword, followed by Jerrel drawing a dagger, and a duel ensues. Though Jerrel initially has the upper hand, knocking Willem to the floor, Willem soon defeats and fatally stabs Jerrel in the gut. As Jerrel dies, Willem stumbles back and begins to vomit.[2]

House of the Dragon: Season 2[]

Willem, now a knight and regent for the child Lord Benjicot Blackwood answers the summons of King Consort Daemon Targaryen and attends a council at Harrenhal where he offers the levies of House Blackwood in exchange for Daemon's and Caraxes's aid against House Bracken.[3]

Willem is present at a meeting between Daemon and Lord Amos Bracken; when Amos insults both House Blackwood and Willem's late brother, Lord Samwell Blackwood, Willem urges Daemon to kill Amos. After Amos rebuffs Daemon's terms and departs, Daemon unofficially gives Willem leave to commit a terror campaign to force House Bracken's submission, provided he does not appear to be acting under the crown's orders. Willem's terror tactics on Bracken lands force the Brackens to yield, but because his forces fly House Targaryen's banner during their raids, the Riverlords quickly deduce and are outraged that his atrocities were sanctioned by Daemon, and confront Daemon at Harrenhal, denouncing him as a tyrant and making clear their refusal to give him their allegiance.[4]

In the books[]

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels and Fire & Blood, there is no character named Willem Blackwood. His first appearance is loosely based on Lord Samwell Blackwood, who lost a duel (but was not killed) to Amos Bracken for Rhaenyra's hand.

In the books, there are no recorded knights from House Blackwood. Indeed, the Blackwoods refuse knighthood as they follow the old gods, and knighthood is an institution of the Faith of the Seven. For this reason, they are often granted the right to compete in knights' tourneys without knighthoods, for example the tournament at Ashford Meadow.

Appearances[]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. In "A Son for a Son," Daemon Targaryen and Otto Hightower mention that days have passed since Viserys Targaryen and Lucerys Velaryon's deaths. Unlike the first season, no major time jumps are expected; therefore, House of the Dragon: Season 2 takes place in 132 AC.

External links[]


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