In George R. R. Martin’s lore, Lyonel Baratheon – “the Laughing Storm” – ultimately rebels against the Targaryen crown, is defeated in single combat by Ser Duncan the Tall, and then reconciles with King Aegon V through a political marriage pact.

What Happens to Lyonel Baratheon?

Quick Scoop

Lyonel Baratheon, known as the Laughing Storm , is Lord of Storm’s End during the reign of King Aegon V Targaryen.

His story is a mix of pride, rebellion, and a very “Baratheon” kind of stubborn honor that sets up future Baratheon history all the way to Robert.

Who Lyonel Baratheon Is

  • Lord of Storm’s End and head of House Baratheon in Aegon V’s time.
  • Nicknamed “the Laughing Storm” for his loud, larger‑than‑life personality.
  • Appears in the Dunk and Egg era and in the prequel show A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

In the show, he’s portrayed as a rowdy, charismatic knight who drinks, laughs, and befriends Ser Duncan the Tall at the Ashford tourney.

The Broken Betrothal and His Rebellion

The key turning point: a royal insult to his house.

  • Aegon V’s son, Prince Duncan Targaryen, is betrothed to Lyonel’s daughter.
  • Duncan breaks this betrothal to marry Jenny of Oldstones, a commoner he loves.
  • The insult is public and humiliating; Lyonel feels his daughter and his house are dishonored.

In classic Baratheon fashion, Lyonel does not shrug this off:

  • He declares himself “Storm King,” effectively claiming independence from the Iron Throne.
  • This sparks a short but bloody uprising against Aegon V.

So when people ask “what happens to Lyonel Baratheon,” the big plot beat is: he turns from royal ally into open rebel.

How His Rebellion Ends

Lyonel’s rebellion doesn’t end with his execution – it ends in spectacle and compromise.

  1. Trial by Battle vs. Ser Duncan the Tall
    • The conflict is settled in a duel: Lyonel fights Ser Duncan the Tall.
 * Duncan, now one of Aegon’s key men, defeats Lyonel and ends the uprising.
  1. Royal “Apology” and Political Repair
    • Instead of destroying House Baratheon, Aegon V mends fences.
 * He betroths his daughter Rhaelle Targaryen to Lyonel’s heir, Ormund Baratheon.

 * Rhaelle is sent to Storm’s End as cupbearer and companion to Lyonel’s wife, a clear gesture of reconciliation and trust.

From a lore perspective, this is huge: this union makes their grandson Robert Baratheon a Targaryen descendant and positions him to eventually overthrow the Mad King.

Lyonel’s Fate and Legacy

The exact manner of Lyonel’s death isn’t dramatized in detail in the main canon sources; what matters is what his story sets in motion.

In-canon outcomes:

  • His rebellion fails, but House Baratheon survives intact.
  • His line is tied directly to House Targaryen through Rhaelle and Ormund.
  • Generations later, Robert Baratheon “finishes” Lyonel’s anti‑Targaryen stance by leading the rebellion that topples the dynasty.

So narratively, what happens to Lyonel Baratheon is that he becomes the prototype Baratheon rebel: proud, wronged, briefly crowned in defiance, beaten but then woven into the very bloodline that will one day destroy the dragons.

Forum & Fan Discussion Angle (Trending Context)

Recent discussions, especially since A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms started airing, focus on:

  • Whether Lyonel’s outburst and harsh anti‑Targaryen lines in the Season 1 finale foreshadow his future rebellion.
  • The idea that Lyonel “starts” the long chain that ends with Robert’s Rebellion, making him an underrated pivot in Westerosi history.
  • Speculation that future seasons will actually show his duel with Dunk and the formal Storm King rebellion on screen.

You’ll also see some fanon and alternate-universe takes that invent other “King Lyonel Baratheon” timelines, but those are non‑canon stories on fan wikis.

TL;DR: Lyonel Baratheon is insulted when Prince Duncan breaks his betrothal to marry Jenny, declares himself Storm King, rebels, loses a duel to Ser Duncan the Tall, then has his house reconciled to the crown via a Targaryen–Baratheon marriage that eventually leads to Robert Baratheon overthrowing the Targaryens.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.