The Great Houses of Game of Thrones
By rowankaiser
House Bolton
House Words: “Our Blades Are Sharp”
House Sigil: The Flayed Man
Location: The Dreadfort, on the Eastern side of the North.
Status at the start of Season 5: Roose Bolton has been rewarded for his betrayal of Robb Stark by being named Warden of the North. With his newly legitimized son Ramsay and the brainwashed Theon Greyjoy, the Boltons are consolidating their hold on the North and attempting to drive the Ironborn out.
Role in the War of the Five Kings: The Boltons join when Robb Stark calls the banners, and Roose is one of Robb Stark’s main leaders. The Boltons are given the second army, which is initially used as a decoy to distract Tywin Lannister as Robb defeats and captures Jaime. When Harrenhal is captured with the secret aid of Arya Stark, Roose Bolton is placed in charge of the keep.
Bolton also marries a Frey, Walda, after Robb completes his alliance with that House. When Robb reneges on his agreement with Lord Walder, Frey by falling for and then marrying Talisa Maegyr, the Boltons and Freys secretly switch sides. After Theon Greyjoy and his Ironborn capture Winterfell, Roose sends his bastard son Ramsay to “retake” the keep, but Ramsay destroys it and captures Theon Greyjoy.
Roose and Walder plot the Red Wedding, where they murder King Robb and destroy his armies. Roose is named Warden of the North for his work, where he, Ramsay, and the tortured-into-submission Theon work to expel the Ironborn.
Role in Robert’s Rebellion: House Bolton joined House Stark in the rebellion.
History: The Boltons ruled in the North as the Red Kings, rivals to the Starks, before the Starks finally gained their submission thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones. Although the Boltons rebelled occasionally and were secretly said to be continuing their banned practice of flaying their enemies, they were, by all appearances, loyal vassals to House Stark.
Profile: The Boltons are old rivals of the Starks, and famous for coldness and cruelty—most notably the flaying of prisoners, despite flaying being banned in the North.
House Lord: Roose Bolton
Heir: Ramsay Bolton (nee Snow)
Family Members: Roose Bolton, Walda Frey, Ramsay Bolton
Retainers: Myranda, Theon Greyjoy, Locke (deceased)
Notable Vassals: House Whitehall
