Balon Greyjoy is the Lord Reaper of Pyke, father of Theon Greyjoy, the head of House Greyjoy (one of the Great Houses of Westeros) and the ruler of the Iron Islands. He is a hard, ambitious and ruthless man. Nine years before the start of the series he rose in rebellion against the Iron Throne and was defeated in a bloody war. His elder two sons were killed and his third son, Theon, was taken by Lord Eddard Stark as a hostage for Balon's good behavior and obedience.