Wildfire plot
| Wildfire plot | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Robert's Rebellion |
| Date | 283 AC |
| Place | Red Keep, King's Landing |
| Participants |
|
| Goal | Complete destruction of King's Landing with wildfire |
| Result |
|
| Casualties |
|
The wildfire plot was a plan developed by King Aerys II Targaryen during the latter stages of Robert's Rebellion.
History
After the rebel victory of Lord Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Bells, King Aerys II Targaryen was fearful that Robert might actually win the War of the Usurper. The Mad King enlisted the aid of several members of the Alchemists' Guild in a plot to destroy the city of King's Landing should the rebel forces prove victorious. Ser Jaime Lannister was present when this was planned, while the rest of the Kingsguard was absent or with Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.
Thousands of jars of wildfire were gathered and placed in key positions under King's Landing. Hundreds were placed under the Dragonpit and the Great Sept of Baelor, under every one of the city's gates and even under the Red Keep itself. The pyromancers did their work in secret and did not trust their apprentices with the knowledge.[1]
The rest of House Targaryen were unaware of this; apparently Queen Rhaella Targaryen's eyes had long been shut to her husband's insanities, and Rhaegar was busy marshalling an army. The Hand of the King, Lord Qarlton Chelsted, grew suspicious of the constant comings and goings of the pyromancers from the Red Keep. When Chelsted discovered the plot, he confronted Aerys. When reasoning, threatening, jesting and even begging on his part failed to dissuade Aerys from this course of action, Chelsted resigned his position, flinging his chain of office at Aerys's feet. Aerys had him burned alive for this and made the pyromancer Rossart his new Hand of the King.[1]
During the Sack of King's Landing, Aerys commanded Rossart to ignite the wildfire to destroy the city and Jaime to bring the head of his father, Lord Tywin Lannister. Jaime, however, intercepted and slew Rossart to prevent his message from reaching other pyromancers. Jaime then slew Aerys, slitting his throat.[2][3] A few days later Jaime hunted and killed Garigus and Belis, the other pyromancers involved in the plot.[1]
Quotes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.