View source for Brandon Stark

{{See homonyms | Brandon Stark (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:House_Stark.svg|50px|left]] Brandon Stark [[File:House_Stark.svg|50px|right]]
| image          = [[File:Brandon stark the wild wolf by mike hallstein-dadi0nx.jpeg|350px]]
| image_caption  = Brandon Stark - by Mike Hallstein
| Alias          = The Wild Wolf
| Title          =
| Allegiance     = [[House Stark]]
| Race           =
| Culture        = [[Northmen]]
| Spouse         =
| Place_of_Birth = [[Winterfell]]{{Ref|AWOIAF| Brandon Stark}}
| Date_of_Birth  = {{Date|262}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
| Place_of_Death = [[King's Landing]]
| Date_of_Death  = {{Date|282}}
| Books          = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms   =
| Played_by      =
| TV_series      = 
}}
'''Brandon Stark''' was the oldest son of Lord [[Rickard Stark]] and Lady [[Lyarra Stark]] and the heir to [[Winterfell]] prior to [[Robert's Rebellion]]. His younger siblings were [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]], and [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]].

==Appearance and Character==
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Brandon Stark|Images of Brandon Stark]]''

Brandon was in appearance and character very different from Eddard.{{Ref|aSoS|45}} He had grey eyes,{{Ref|AGOT|40}}, and was tall and handsome.{{Ref|ASOS|45}}{{Ref|AWOIAF| Brandon Stark}} Brandon was absolutely not shy about taking what he wanted.{{Ref|ADWD|41}} He was rather hot-blooded,{{Ref|AGOT|22}}{{Ref|ASOS|45}} a trait their father, Lord Rickard, described as originating from "the wolf blood". Brandon shared this trait with his sister, Lyanna, and Eddard believes this led them both to early deaths.{{Ref|aGoT|22}} Brandon was the best swordsman among his siblings, and an excellent jouster.{{Ref|AWOIAF| Brandon Stark}}<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Benjen_Stark About Benjen Stark (December 15, 2000)]</ref> He loved to hone his sword, preferring it to be as sharp as possible.{{Ref|ADWD|41}} He also loved to ride, and has been described by [[Barbrey Dustin]] as a centaur in that regard.{{Ref|ADWD|41}}

==History==
===Early Life===
Born in {{Date|262}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} at [[Winterfell]],{{Ref|awoiaf| Brandon Stark}} Brandon was the eldest son and heir of Lord [[Rickard Stark|Rickard]] and Lady [[Lyarra Stark]].{{Ref|twoiaf| Appendix: Stark lineage}} Brandon was fostered at [[Barrowton]] with Lord [[House Dustin|Dustin]], father of [[Willam Dustin]]. He spent most his time riding in the [[Rills]]. He took the maidenhead of [[Barbrey Dustin|Barbrey Ryswell]], who was infatuated with him.{{Ref|ADWD|41}} He was eventually betrothed to [[Catelyn Tully]] of [[Riverrun]],{{Ref|ADWD|41}}{{Ref|AGOT|6}} who considered him to be more handsome than his younger brother [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]].{{ref|asos|45}} To Barbrey, Brandon swore he did not want to marry Catelyn, but Lord [[Rickard Stark|Rickard's]] ambitions did not allow him to marry the daughter of a northern vassal.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}

In {{Date|281}}, Brandon was present at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]] in {{Date|281}}. There, he was introduced to the [[crannogmen|crannogman]] [[Howland Reed]] by his sister, [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]]. During the opening feast of the tourney, Brandon asked [[Ashara Dayne]] to dance with Eddard, who was too shy to ask her himself.{{ref|asos|24}} Brandon later entered the lists, but was unhorsed by Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].{{Ref|aGoT|58}}{{ref|asos|24}} After Prince Rhaegar won the tournament, he crowned Brandon's sister Lyanna as his [[queen of love and beauty]], passing over his own wife, Princess [[Elia Martell]].{{Ref|AGOT|58}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} Brandon had to be restrained from confronting Rhaegar, as he took Rhaegar's action as a slight upon Lyanna's honor, since Lyanna had been betrothed to Lord [[Robert Baratheon]] for a long time.{{Ref|twoiaf| The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}}

In {{Date|282}},<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Events#Riverlands|Petyr Baelish's duel against Brandon Stark]]''</ref> Brandon was present at [[Riverrun]] when the date for his wedding to Catelyn was announced.{{Ref|awoiaf| Petyr Baelish}} [[Petyr Baelish]], the ward of Catelyn's father, Lord [[Hoster Tully]], challenged Brandon to a duel for her hand.{{Ref|AGOT|18}} They fought in the lower bailey at Riverrun. Catelyn begged him to spare Petyr's life, and Brandon promised her to do so. Brandon armored himself for battle, aided by Catelyn's young brother, [[Edmure Tully]], who served as Brandon's [[squire]]. When Brandon saw that Petyr wore only a helm and a breastplate, and mail, he took off most of his own armor. Brandon was no match for the much younger Petyr. He offered the boy several chances to yield, but when Petyr kept refusing, Brandon ended the duel by injuring Petyr severely.{{Ref|AGOT|40}} Afterwards he departed Riverrun, promising Catelyn to return soon so they could wed.{{Ref|AGOT|63}}

===Death and legacy===
[[File:Brandon Rickard Deaths.png|400px|thumb|Deaths of Brandon and [[Rickard Stark]]]]
From [[Riverrun]], Brandon left to join his [[Rickard Stark|father's]] wedding party, coming down from the [[north]].{{Ref|AWOIAF| Catelyn Tully}} They were on their way again back to Riverrun for the wedding when word reached Brandon of Lyanna's supposed abduction by Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]].{{Ref|ACOK|55}} Brandon, along with his squire [[Ethan Glover]], [[Kyle Royce]], [[Elbert Arryn]], and [[Jeffory Mallister]], rode to [[King's Landing]] immediately.{{Ref|ACOK|55}} Upon entering the [[Red Keep]], Brandon shouted for Rhaegar to "come out and die". Rhaegar was not present, however, and Brandon and his companions were arrested by King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] and charged with plotting Rhaegar's murder. Their fathers were called to court to answer the charges.{{Ref|ACOK|55}}{{Ref|AGOT|53}} Brandon was placed in a strangle device from [[Tyrosh]], with a longsword placed just out of reach. He was forced to watch as his father was burned alive in his own armor and strangled himself while attempting to get to the sword so he could save his father. He was twenty years old at the time.{{Ref|aGoT|4}}{{Ref|aCoK|55}}

Brandon was buried in the [[crypt of Winterfell|crypts beneath Winterfell]]. Though only the [[King of Winter|kings]] and lords of [[Winterfell]] normally have statues in their likeness placed beside their tombs, both Brandon and his sister Lyanna were given a statue by their brother [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], as he had loved them very much.{{Ref|AGOT|66}}
[[File:Brandon Stark final moments.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Brandon Stark's final moments]]

[[Eddard Stark]] named his second true born son [[Bran Stark|Brandon]] (affectionately known as "Bran") in his elder brother's memory.

==Recent Events==
===''A Clash of Kings''===
[[Theon Greyjoy]] has a nightmare involving a feast of the dead at [[Winterfell]]. Many of the dead men and women attending are people that Theon knew personally or were slain by his own hand and/or command. Yet he also notices faces that he had never known in life. Among them is Brandon, standing with his father and sister.{{ref|acok|56}}

When Bran, [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]], [[Osha]], [[Hodor]] and the Reeds escape the crypts after the [[Sack of Winterfell]], Bran takes with him the sword of Brandon's statue, from the crypts. As he does so, he notes the relevance of using the steel of his namesake.{{Ref|acok|69}} 

When [[Catelyn Stark]] visits his cell, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] tells her the tale of Brandon's death, when he notices she doesn't know the details. Catelyn calls the story so hideous, that it must be true.{{Ref|ACOK|55}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[Theon Greyjoy|Reek]] and Lady [[Barbrey Dustin]] enter the [[crypts of Winterfell]], and shortly discuss Brandon. Reek notices that Brandon's sword is missing, prompting Dustin to state that Brandon would not be happy.{{ref|adwd|41}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|A bloody sword is a beautiful thing.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}}} – Brandon to [[Barbrey Dustin|Barbrey Ryswell]]

==Quotes about Brandon==
{{Quote|Brandon. Yes. Brandon would know what to do. He always did. It was all meant for Brandon. You, [[Winterfell]], everything. He was born to be a [[Hand of the King|King's Hand]] and father to queens. I never asked for this cup to pass to me.{{ref|agot|6}}}}
– [[Eddard Stark]] to [[Catelyn Stark]]


{{Quote|The gallant fool.{{ref|acok|55}}}}
– [[Hoster Tully]], upon learning of Brandon's plans to ride south


{{Quote|Brandon was different from [[Eddard Stark|his brother]], wasn't he? He had blood in his veins instead of cold water. More like me.{{ref|acok|55}}}}
– [[Jaime Lannister]] to [[Catelyn Tully]]


{{Quote|Brandon was never shy about taking what he wanted. I am old now, a dried-up thing, too long a widow, but I still remember the look of my maiden’s blood on his cock the night he claimed me. I think Brandon liked the sight as well. A bloody sword is a beautiful thing, yes. It hurt, but it was a sweet pain.{{Ref|aDwD|41}}}}
– [[Barbrey Dustin]] to [[Theon Greyjoy]]

==Family==
{{Stark_tree}}


==References==
{{references}}

[[Category:House Stark]]
[[Category:Characters from the North|Stark, Brandon]]
[[Category:Nobles|Stark, Brandon]]
[[Category:Statues|Stark, Brandon]]
[[Category:Executions for treason|Stark, Brandon]]
[[Category:Characters killed by Aerys II Targaryen|Stark, Brandon]]
[[Category:Characters killed by Rossart|Stark, Brandon]]

[[fa:برندون استارک]]
[[fr:Brandon Stark]]
[[ru:Брандон Старк (брат Неда Старка)]]
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