Benjen Stark
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 Benjen Stark by Amok © | ||||
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| Aliases | ||||
| Title | First Ranger | |||
| Allegiances | ||||
| Culture | Northmen | |||
| Born |
267 AC or later[5] Winterfell, the North[6] | |||
| Died |
298–300 AC beyond the Wall[7] (presumed) | |||
| Father | Rickard Stark | |||
| Mother | Lyarra Stark | |||
| Books |
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| Played by |
Joseph Mawle ~ Season 1 - Season 6 Matteo Elezi ~ Season 6 | |||
| TV series |
Game of Thrones: Season 1 | 6 | 7 | |||
Benjen Stark, also known as Ben Stark,[8] is the First Ranger of the Night's Watch and the younger brother of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell.
In the television adaptation Game of Thrones, Benjen is portrayed by Joseph Mawle and in a Season 6 flashback by Matteo Elezi.
Contents
Appearance and Character
- See also: Images of Benjen Stark
The gaunt Benjen has sharp features and blue-grey eyes, in which a hint of laughter is often present. The thin ranger has long legs.[1]
Benjen dresses in black, as befits a man from the Night's Watch. On formal occasions he wears rich velvet, high leather boots, a silver buckle on his wide belt, and a heavy silver chain.[1]
Benjen is observant[1] and genial,[2] although he shares his brother Eddard's dislike for House Lannister.[9] He enjoys summerwine.[1] The First Ranger is a likely successor to Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.[6]
Ser Denys Mallister, Commander of the Shadow Tower, thinks of Benjen as a great man,[10] and Jon Snow considers his uncle to be a man of honor.[11] Mance Rayder refers to Benjen, who does not know of the King-Beyond-the-Wall by sight, as the bane of the free folk.[12]
History
Youth
Benjen was the youngest child of Lord Rickard Stark and Lady Lyarra Stark.[13][14]
Benjen attended the tourney at Harrenhal with his siblings, Brandon, Eddard, and Lyanna, in 281 AC. At the tournament Lyanna rescued their father's vassal, Howland Reed, from an attack by three squires. Benjen offered Howland a horse and some armor so he could challenge his attackers. During the feast held to celebrate the start of the tournament, Benjen teased Lyanna when she cried for a sad and beautiful song performed by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, a noted musician. Lyanna poured wine over Benjen's head for teasing her.[3] When a black brother from the Night's Watch spoke up during the feast, attempting to convince the gathered people to join the black brothers,[3] Benjen took the plea to heart.[6]
The first time Benjen got well and truly drunk, he was younger than fourteen.[1]
Night's Watch
Benjen was the Stark in Winterfell during Robert's Rebellion. Although House Stark had been reduced to Benjen, Lord Eddard, Eddard's infant son Robb, and Eddard's infant bastard son Jon Snow due to the events of the war, Benjen joined the Night's Watch within a few months of Eddard's return north. His reasons for doing so are unknown.[15] Benjen took his vows in front of a heart tree,[16] presumably at the weirwood grove located in the haunted forest half a league from Castle Black.
Benjen's skills served him well as a ranger,[17] and he quickly rose to the position of First Ranger.[2][6] He has heard direwolves during rangings beyond the Wall.[1] The seasoned Benjen is familiar with the haunted forest[18] and considers Hardhome to be cursed.[19] Like other rangers, Benjen is aware that Craster sacrifices his sons.[20]
Benjen visited Winterfell on several occasions over the years.[21][22] During one visit, Bran Stark asked his uncle about the mysterious Nightfort, but Benjen refused to confirm or deny its stories.[22] Benjen and Eddard had discussed repopulating the Gift by raising new lords, so they could function as a shield against the wildlings. Benjen was convinced that Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, could be convinced to part with the land, on the condition that taxes would be paid to Castle Black instead of Winterfell.[23][24]
Benjen has written his brother Eddard about the military strength of the Night's Watch.[25] Since the manpower of the black brothers has declined over time, Benjen originated the tactic of sending larger forces to one of the abandoned castles along the Wall for a fortnight or a moon's turn to make wildlings unsure of the Watch's strength.[26] According to Qhorin Halfhand, Benjen and Lord Commander Mormont have grown concerned about threats beyond the Wall and the return of winter.[27]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
When King Robert I Baratheon rides for the north, Lord Eddard Stark sends word to Benjen on the Wall.[25] During the feast in honor of King Robert's visit to Winterfell, Bran Stark impresses his uncle by reciting the names of the Night's Watch castles along the Wall.[21] Also during the feast, Benjen speaks with Eddard's bastard son, Jon Snow. The youth rashly asks to be allowed to join the Watch, which results in an argument after Benjen states Jon is rather young. Jon angrily refuses Benjen's suggestion that he father some bastard sons of himself before committing to a life at the Wall.[1] Nonetheless, Benjen approaches Maester Luwin about Jon, informing the maester of Jon's question. This leads to Luwin informing Eddard, and eventually Eddard approves of Jon joining the Watch.[28] Benjen is part of Robert's party when the king hunts for boar near Winterfell.[29]
Tyrion Lannister decides to join Benjen and Jon for the journey north so that he can see the Wall. Tyrion is accompanied by Jyck and Morrec, and Jon brings Ghost, his direwolf. They are joined in the wolfswood by Yoren, who has two recruits for the Watch. Benjen's party has twenty horses and a cage of ravens given to him by Maester Luwin.[9]
Once back at Castle Black, Benjen is busy with his duties as First Ranger and does not have much time for Jon. He reminds his nephew that the men of the Night's Watch leave their families and loyalties behind when they join the brotherhood.[2]
Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, sends Benjen with six rangers[2] to find Ser Waymar Royce, who has not returned from a ranging beyond the Wall.[2][30][20] Benjen thinks they might have to search as far as the Shadow Tower. Jon asks to accompany them, but Benjen refuses because of the youth's inexperience.[2]
When there is no word from Benjen, Ser Jaremy Rykker leads two sweeps in search of him, while Qhorin Halfhand leads another search party going north from the Shadow Tower. Nothing is found except a few blazes in trees that Benjen used to mark his way. The marks stop in the stony highlands to the northwest and all trace of Benjen vanishes.[31] Jaremy takes over command of the rangers in Benjen's absence.[16]
The bodies of the rangers Othor and Jafer Flowers, who had accompanied Benjen on his ranging, are later found in a weirwood grove near the Wall. There is no trace of Benjen or any of the others, however.[8] That night, the two corpses rise as wights at Castle Black and attempt to kill Lord Commander Mormont.[8]
Dywen and Hake unsuccessfully search for Ben.[32] Jeor plans to find Benjen, either dead or alive, and makes it one of the goals of his great ranging.[33] When Jeor tells Jon about mysteries beyond the Wall, Mormont's raven repeats the name "Ben Jen".[33]
A Clash of Kings
Jeor rejects Thoren Smallwood's insistence that he is now First Ranger with Benjen missing.[34] The great ranging finds wildling villages to be abandoned, and Jon and Lord Commander Mormont wonder if Benjen's disappearance is connected.[35]
When arriving at Craster's Keep, the Lord Commander asks Craster whether he had seen Benjen recently, as Benjen was supposed to have passed the keep during his ranging the previous year. Craster claims not to have seen Benjen in three years.[20]
Jeor believes that Benjen cannot fail to notice the trail two hundred men from the Night's Watch and their horses leave behind during their great ranging, and is convinced that, if Benjen is still alive, he will be able to find his brothers at the Fist of the First Men.[36] When Jon finds an old warhorn and a cache of dragonglass wrapped in an old cloak of the Night's Watch,[36] he wonders if it had been hidden by his uncle.[37]
Jon asks the captured Ygritte if she knows anything about Benjen, but the wildling does not answer.[38]
A Storm of Swords
Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, tells Jon that one of his reasons for infiltrating King Robert's feast at Winterfell was to evaluate Benjen, the First Ranger.[12]
Ser Alliser Thorne accuses Jon of being a turncloak and ponders if the missing Benjen is conspiring with Mance.[11]
During the choosing of a new Lord Commander after Jeor Mormont's death, Othell Yarwyck mentions Jon's relation to Ben Stark among the reasons to support the youth. Jon is ultimately chosen by the black brothers.[10]
A Feast for Crows
Benjen is presumed dead.[7]
A Dance with Dragons
Black Jack Bulwer has replaced Benjen as First Ranger.[39] Jon, now Lord Commander, includes his uncle among losses of the Night's Watch.[40] He still hopes that rangers will find some sign of Benjen, however.[41] After Jon arrange the wedding of Sigorn and Alys Karstark, he wonders how his father and uncle would have handled the situation.[42]
Bran Stark witnesses a vision from the past in which he sees a boy and a girl playing with wooden branches in the godswood of Winterfell.[43] Some readers believe this to have been Benjen and his older sister, Lyanna, as Bran describes the girl as being the eldest of the two, and states that she looks like his sister Arya,[44] who is said to look like Lyanna had.[45] Additionally, the girl refers to Old Nan,[43] placing the event Bran witnesses as having taken place in more recent generations.
Quotes by Benjen
Benjen: You don't miss much, do you, Jon? We could use a man like you on the Wall.
Jon: Robb is a stronger lance than I am, but I'm the better sword, and Hullen says I sit a horse as well as anyone in the castle.
Benjen: Notable achievements.[1]—Benjen and Jon Snow
Benjen: Until you have known a woman, you cannot understand what you would be giving up.
Jon: I don't care about that!
Benjen: You might, if you knew what it meant. If you knew what the oath would cost you, you might be less eager to pay the price, son.
Jon: I'm not your son!
Benjen: More's the pity.[1]—Benjen and Jon Snow
The Night's Watch is a sworn brotherhood. We have no families. None of us will ever father sons. Our wife is duty. Our mistress is honor.[1]
—Benjen to Jon Snow
Benjen: I warn you, Lannister, you'll find no inns at the Wall.
Tyrion: No doubt you'll find some place to put me. As you might have noticed, I'm small.[9]—Benjen and Tyrion Lannister
Quotes about Benjen
His uncle was sharp-featured and gaunt as a mountain crag, but there was always a hint of laughter in his blue-grey eyes.[1]
—thoughts of Jon Snow
Benjen Stark was a Sworn Brother. Jon would be a son to him, the child he would never have.[28]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
Yoren: Most like he's dead.
Robb: My uncle is not dead. Do you hear me? My uncle is not dead!
Yoren: Whatever you say, m'lord.
Black brother: There's not a man on the Wall knows the haunted forest better than Benjen Stark. He'll find his way back.
Yoren: Well, maybe he will and maybe he won't. Good men have gone into those woods before, and never come out.[30]
His blood ran black. Made him my brother as much as yours.[46]
—Yoren to Eddard Stark
Jeor: If Ben Stark had come under wildling attack a half day's ride from Castle Black, he would have returned for more men, chased the killers through all seven hells and brought me back their heads.
Jaremy: Unless he was slain as well.[8]
Jon: If my uncle found all these villages empty as well—
Jeor: —he would have made it his purpose to learn why, and it may well be someone or something did not want that known.[35]—Jon Snow and Jeor Mormont
I've not seen Benjen Stark for three years. And if truth be told, I never once missed him.[20]
—Craster to Jeor Mormont
Alliser: You know these Starks, my lord.
Janos: I do. I know them too well.
Jon: I burned my hand defending Lord Mormont from a wight. And my uncle was a man of honor. He would never have betrayed his vows.[11]
Family
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
- ↑ "The Citadel: FAQ, entry 6.2.6- Who were the different people in Meera's story?" (2007
- ↑ See the Benjen Stark calculation.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Benjen Stark.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 52, Jon VII.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 69, Jon IX.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Stark lineage.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: ConQuest (Kansas City, MO; May 27-29), May 27, 2005
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: About Benjen Stark, December 15, 2000
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 36, Daenerys VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 39, Jon VIII.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 23, Jon III.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 40, Bran III.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 56, Bran IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 41, Jon V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 76, Jon XI.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 26, Jon III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 53, Jon VII.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 8, Bran II.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 13, Jon II.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 34, Jon IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 43, Jon V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 21, Jon V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 28, Jon VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 49, Jon X.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 34, Bran III.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 43, Daenerys VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 32, Arya III.
External Links
- Benjen Stark on the Game of Thrones wiki.