Gowen I Baratheon was the King of Westeros and the head of House Baratheon of King's Landing from 345 AC until 369 AC.
History[]
Gowen grew up closer to the council table than the Throne, and was notably extremely bookish. Martial pursuits did not interest him. He notably led the realm through an Era of Reconstruction and then its considered Golden Age of Peace. He ruled notably the longest of Stannis’ children, from 345-369AC. Gowen was known for leading several reforms, particularly economic reforms. He was also known for hosting lavish feasts.
He is also remembered for disbanding the Iron Order, the organisation founded by his father as a knightly group to help maintain order throughout the seven kingdoms.
His personal life is not well documented, but his lady wife said that he went through periods where he resembled his father, brooding, serious. Neglected as a child, his feasts were merely concealing how he felt. He was a doting father to his own son, Alaric.
Death[]
As Gowen's feasts grew in frequency and scale, becoming regular and lavish, his health declined further. In his final days he was noted to have difficulty walking any more than short distances, his feet plagued by great necrotic sores, although they gave him little pain. In the moons preceding his demise, it is said that his vision started to falter, although the King remained in high spirits, continuing to encourage merriment within his halls. In 369AC however, upon returning from his most recent banquet, he found himself suddenly short of breath, and collapsed rapidly after. His son, Alaric, succeeded him.