House Whent of Harrenhal was a noble house of the Riverlands, sworn to House Tully of Riverrun. The Whents were not ancient lords but came late to greatness, having served as landed knights in the household of the Lothstons, the previous masters of Harrenhal. When the mad Lady Danelle Lothston turned to sorcery and dark arts in the reign of King Maekar I Targaryen, it fell to the Whents and others to aid the crown in extinguishing that cursed line. For their part in the Lothstons' defeat, the Whents were raised to lordship and granted Harrenhal, that vast and broken castle on the northern shore of the Gods Eye.
The Whents were the seventh house to hold Harrenhal since Harren the Black built it, and like their predecessors they found greatness purchased at great cost. Lord Walter Whent won renown as the host of the great tourney of 281 AC, a gathering so lavish that tongues wagged at how he could afford it. His brother Ser Oswell Whent served with distinction as a knight of the Kingsguard under Aerys II. Lady Minisa Whent, of the same line, had wed Lord Hoster Tully and borne him Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure before her death in childbed. Yet Robert's Rebellion undid the house. Lord Walter died without male heirs, and his lady wife Shella held Harrenhal alone until her own death, after which the Iron Throne passed the seat to newer favorites. House Whent became the latest name carved into Harrenhal's long and ruinous history.