The Great Houses of Game of Thrones
By rowankaiser
House Stark
House Words: “Winter Is Coming”
House Sigil: The direwolf
Location: Winterfell, in the heart of the northern half of Westeros
Status at the start of Season 5: The Starks are broken and scattered, with their home sacked, their armies destroyed, and their surviving children in hiding, believed either dead or wanted for regicide.
Role in the War of the Five Kings: King Robert names Ned Stark Hand of the King, where he comes into conflict with the Lannisters in King’s Landing. After Ned attempts a coup against the incest-born King Joffrey, he is thrown into prison. Ned’s heir Robb Stark calls the banners and marches south. When Joffrey executes Ned, Robb is declared King in the North and allies with his mother’s family, House Tully, to fight for independence. Robb wins multiple battles but isn’t able to win the war.
Former Stark ward Theon Greyjoy joins with Balon Greyjoy’s sneak attack on the North, and Theon captures Winterfell and apparently kills Robb’s heirs. Bolton forces under Ramsay Snow retake the keep, but massacre its inhabitants and burn it to the ground.
Robb marries Talisa Maegyr, breaking a marriage alliance with House Frey. Despite winning every battle in the South, Robb cannot force the Lannisters to surrender, and he slowly loses his vassals and army. He attempts to regain House Frey’s support by marrying them to Lord Edmure Tully, but the Freys and Boltons betray and murder him, his wife and mother, and the bulk of the Northern army.
Role in Robert’s Rebellion: Lyanna Stark’s apparent kidnapping by Rhaegar Targaryen causes Lord Rickard and his son Brandon to demand her release from the Mad King, who has them both publicly murdered, starting the war. Brandon’s younger brother, Eddard, becomes lord and loyally serves Robert Baratheon.
History: House Stark has ruled the North for millennia. When confronted by the victorious armies and dragons of Aegon the Conqueror, the Starks knelt and became the Wardens of the North.
Profile: Unlike the southern houses, the Starks are the only Great House to still worship the Old Gods and are descended from the First Men instead of the Andals.
House Lord: Officially, Sansa Stark is the only known surviving Stark, but she has fled King’s Landing for The Vale and is wanted for regicide. The true heir to Winterfell is Bran Stark, though he is believed dead.
Heir: No known heir lives, although Arya Stark is only assumed, not known, to be dead, by the other characters in Westeros. Rickon Stark would be the true heir but, like his brother Bran, he is believed dead. Benjen Stark is in the Night’s Watch and missing. Jon Snow is illegitimate and in the Night’s Watch, but publicly known as Ned Stark’s son.
Family Members: Eddard (Ned) Stark (deceased), Catelyn Tully (deceased), Benjen Stark, Robb Stark (deceased), Talisa Maegyr (deceased), Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Jon Snow
Retainers: Rodrik Cassel (deceased), Jory Cassel (deceased), Septa Mordane (deceased), Maester Luwin (deceased), Osha, Hodor, Rickard Karstark (deceased), Greatjon Umber
Notable Vassals: House Cassel, House Bolton, House Reed, House Forrester, House Mormont, House Umber, House Karstark, House Manderly