Lore

What was the Siege of Longtable, and will we see it in House of the Dragon?

How the Siege of Longtable shaped alliances during the Dance of the Dragons.

Published

16 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Ved Prabhudesai

Credits: HBO

The Siege of Longtable is an important event during the Dance of the Dragons. The battle is described in George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood but has not yet been depicted in House of the Dragon. It forms a necessary part of the Greens’ and the Hightowers’ campaign from Oldtown to King’s Landing.In the books, Lord Ormund Hightower leads the Greens’ forces to capture Longtable. The siege plays a crucial role in their strategy to secure the Reach and advance toward the capital. Fans familiar with the books may wonder if this battle will be included in future episodes of the HBO series.

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Contents

4 Minutes Read

What happened at the Siege of Longtable?

Credits: HBO

Lord Ormund Hightower led the Greens to capture Longtable, the seat of House Merryweather. This strategic move strengthened their position in the Reach. The siege followed their victory at the Battle on the Honeywine, where Prince Daeron Targaryen and Tessarion secured an important win for the Greens.

Refugees fled Longtable to Bitterbridge, highlighting the war’s impact on the people. Lady Merryweather surrendered without resistance. Lord Ormund spared the inhabitants but seized the castle’s supplies. He then led his forces to Bitterbridge, seeking vengeance for Prince Maelor Targaryen’s death.

Quick Facts

Books

The siege is detailed in Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin.
Ormund Hightower captures Longtable after Lady Merryweather’s surrender.
The events follow the Battle on the Honeywine.

In the Show

Credit: HBO

The Siege of Longtable has not yet taken place in House of the Dragon. However, we have seen the Hightower army depart from Oldtown, accompanied by Prince Daeron and Tessarion. There has been no casting announcement for Lord Ormund Hightower, leaving his inclusion in the show uncertain.

In the past, major battles, such as the Battle of the Burning Mill, were condensed into brief scenes. This suggests the siege may receive similar treatment in the adaptation. Additionally, an important aspect of the battle in the books was Ser Rickard Thorne’s attempt to bring Prince Maelor to the safety of the Hightower army while fleeing King’s Landing. However, since Prince Maelor has been excluded from the show, some fans speculate that Ser Rickard may instead flee with Queen Alicent, as he now serves as her sworn shield.

In Fire and Blood

Credits : Generated with Leonardo AI

After the Battle on the Honeywine, Lord Ormund Hightower and Prince Daeron Targaryen secured the loyalty of the Oakhearts, Rowans, and the lords of the Shield Islands for King Aegon II Targaryen. While Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen held King’s Landing, Ormund led his forces to Longtable, the seat of House Merryweather.

The siege of Longtable caused many civilians to flee to Bitterbridge ahead of Ormund’s advancing host. Among them, Ser Rickard Thorne attempted to escort Prince Maelor Targaryen and his dragon egg to the safety of Ormund’s camp. However, both Ser Rickard and Maelor were killed at Bitterbridge, and Lady Caswell sent Maelor’s dragon egg to Ormund as a gesture of support.

Lady Merryweather ultimately surrendered Longtable to Ormund. He claimed the castle’s wealth and supplies while sparing Lady Merryweather and her household. His army continued its campaign, marching toward Bitterbridge and Tumbleton.

Key Figures

Lord Ormund Hightower
Lady Merryweather
Prince Maelor Targaryen
Lady Caswell

Aftermath

Prince Maelor and his dragon egg meet their end at Bitterbridge.
Lady Caswell surrenders Maelor’s dragon egg to Ormund.
Lady Merryweather yields Longtable without resistance.

Quotes

“With Ormund Hightower besieging Longtable some thirty leagues to the southwest, Bitterbridge was crowded with men and women fleeing before his advancing host.” – Fire and Blood

Quick Answers

What was the Siege of Longtable?

The siege was a major battle during the Dance of the Dragons. It is depicted in both the show and the books.

What happened to Prince Maelor Targaryen?

Prince Maelor was killed at Bitterbridge during his transport. This is described in Fire and Blood.

Who surrendered Longtable?

Lady Merryweather surrendered Longtable to Lord Ormund Hightower during the siege. This event is detailed in the books.

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01/03/2025 12:27 pm GMT

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Related Topics:Fire and Blood

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Ved Prabhudesai

Ved Prabhudesai is an avid enthusiast of all things pop culture. He has a special interest in the field of animation and art, with a background in Fine Arts and Digital Media Arts. He has begun his first into the field of Entertainment Journalism with Wiki of Thrones, and has been writing for them since 2023. He also has experience working as a screenplay writer, animator and comic book artist. His hobbies include holding discussions and organising events focused around pop culture, dissecting the importance of media in today's world. He began reading A Song Of Ice And Fire shortly before Game of Thrones debuted on HBO. He has followed the series religiously and has spent hours reading Wikis learning about Targaryen history and possible plot points we will see in the Winds of Winter.