Brotherhood Without Banners
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
The Brotherhood Without Banners is a outlaw group who fights Lannister rule in the name of former King Robert. The group came was founded by the soldiers and nobles who were sent by Hand of the King Eddard Stark to bring Gregor Clegane to justice. After they were ambushed while crossing a ford and nearly defeated, the group continued the fight as guerrilla group. Their number increased by adding defeated soldiers from other battles and refugees from the fighting. After the death of their leader Beric Dondarrion the undead Catelyn Tully took over the group. Under her leadership the Brotherhood aims more at revenge for killings then justice and protection of the small folk.
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[edit] Founding
After reports of marauding raiders had reached Kingslanding Eddard Stark sent out a force to stop them and bring them to justice. According to witnesses the raiders were led by a man of monstrous size. Eddard realized that that man could only be Gregor Clegane. In a conversation with his son Tyrion Tywin Lannister revealed that the intention was to draw Eddard Stark to them as they assumed that Stark would led the party himself. He would then be captured and exchanged against Tyrion who had been taken prisoner by Catelyn Tully. But because he had been wounded Stark entrusted the leadership of the party to Beric Dondarrion.
[edit] Outlaw
When the group was sent out Clegane had been declared outlaw but after the death of Robert Baratheon and the fall of Eddard Stark the roles were reversed. Now Clegane was fighting for in the name of the law and Dondarrion and his group were declared outlaws.
According to what Thoros of Myr later told Arya, there had been discussions within the group that they should surrender themselves, but Dondarrion convinced everybody to continue the fight in the name of King Robert.
During the war in the Riverlands the Brotherhood fought a guerrilla war against the invaders. At first the Lannisters and their allies were their targets, but eventually the Brotherhood saw as their task to protect the small folk against all who would harm them. Because of this Northern raiders and common outlaw were now also attacked by the brotherhood.
This phase can be seen as the high point of the Brotherhood. They believed in the nobility of their cause and gained much support by the small folk who informed and sometimes supplied them with food. Against their enemies they were very successful but sill gave captured enemies a trial.
Dondarrion was killed a number of times by the enemies but was each time resurrected by Thoros of Myr. Most of his crew refused to acknowledge this and according to them Dondarrion had just been wounded and Thoros a competent healer.
When Sandor Clegane fell into their hands he was accused of being a killer and given a trial by battle. Sandor was able to defeat Dondarrion (who died and was resurrected again) and because of that was set free although his gold and horse was kept. The Brotherhood planned to ransom Arya to the Tully - Stark cause but Arya managed to escape, which lead to her being captured by Sandor who had been following the band.
[edit] Leadership change
After the Red Wedding the Brotherhood found the body of Catelyn Tully. Dondarrion asked Thoros to resurrect her. Thoros refused because she had been dead for too long. In some way Dondarrion then gave up his life to resurrect Catelyn him. After this event Catelyn took over the Brotherhood.
Under the leadership of the undead Catelyn Tully the Brotherhood was less busy with the protection of the small folk then with the revenge against people who were their enemies. Participants of the Red Wedding (Freys were their favourite target.
In the epilogue of A Storm of Swords is described that the Brotherhood had captured Petyr. When Merrett Frey came to ransom him he saw that Petyr had already been hanged. They hanged Merret hanged next to him.
Later, after he has been dismissed by Jaime Lannister Ryman Frey was ambushed by the Brotherhood and hanged with his entire party.
According to Thoros the Brotherhood had fallen low and had become not very different then regular outlaws.
Later the Brotherhood captured Brienne of Tarth and her companions Podrick and Ser Hyle Hunt who had been searching for Sansa Stark and Arya Stark as she swore to Catelyn Tully (when the later was alive). She run into the Brotherhood after defending some supporters of them. The undead Catelyn recognized Brienne but was not interested in the fate of her daughters (although Brienne had some crucial information about Arya). Instead she demanded of her to kill Jaime Lannister or to suffer death herself. Brienne refused because she had been rescued by Jaime and believed him to be changed. Catelyn then gives the command to hang her with her companions. When they pull the rope Brienne screams something...
[edit] Known members
- Beric Dondarrion. Was killed multiple times but was each time resurrected by Thoros of Myr He was the leader of the Brotherhood until he gave up his life for Catelyn Tully
- undead Catelyn Tully resurrected by Beric Dondarrion. She has made the Brotherhood her tool for revenge.
- Thoros of Myr Red priest of R'hllor.
- Lem Lemoncloak
- Tom O'Sevens. He is a troubadour. In A Feast for Crows he was with the besiegers at Riverrun. It is not clear if he had left the Brotherhood or that he was there to spy. After Ryman Frey was sent back to the Twins by Jaime Lannister he was ambushed with his party by the Brotherhood. His son suspected that someone had informed them.
- Archer
- Gendry Waters. He requested to become a member of the Brotherhood and was knighted by Beric Dondarrion. He now works as a smith for them.
