Brandon the Builder
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Brandon the Builder, by Feliche © | ||||
Monarch | ||||
Reign | During the Age of Heroes | |||
Title | King of Winter (possibly)[1][2] | |||
Personal Information | ||||
Alias | Bran the Builder | |||
Culture | First Men | |||
Family | ||||
Dynasty | House Stark | |||
Issue | Brandon Stark | |||
Father | Brandon of the Bloody Blade (in some tales) | |||
References | ||||
Books |
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Brandon the Builder,[3][4][5] also known as Bran the Builder,[6][7] was a legendary figure from the Age of Heroes[8] who is said to have founded House Stark[9] and been the ancestor of the Kings of Winter.[10] Works attributed to Brandon in various tales include the Wall,[4] Winterfell,[11] the Hightower,[12] and Storm's End.[7] Scholars, however, believe an ancient king's actions have been exaggerated into legend, or the reigns of multiple kings have been remembered as one through the passage of time.[13]
Contents
History
Brandon the Builder is said to have lived during the Age of Heroes.[8] Legends from the Reach claim that he was a descendant of Brandon of the Bloody Blade, a son of the mythical Garth Greenhand.[14] Tales from the stormlands claim that when Brandon was a boy, he helped Durran Godsgrief build Storm's End.[7]
Legends claim that Brandon built the Wall[4][15] after the Long Night.[10] According to a ballad in Maester Childer's Winter's Kings, or the Legends and Lineages of the Starks of Winterfell, Brandon sought assistance from the children of the forest in building the Wall, and he learned to understand the True Tongue in order to do so.[3] The children are said to have have used magic during the construction of the Wall, which was composed of huge blocks of ice moved with the aid of giants.[16]
Bran the Builder is also said to have raised Winterfell,[11][4] the seat of House Stark in the north, again with the help of giants,[17] and legends claim that Brandon prayed in the castle's godswood.[10] The Kings of Winter and Lords of Winterfell descend from Brandon the Builder.[18] It is said that he gave Brandon's Gift, a stretch of land twenty-five leagues wide south of the Wall, to the Night's Watch, though some maesters argue this was done by another Brandon of House Stark.[19]
Some stories claim King Uthor of the High Tower commissioned Brandon to design the stone Hightower at Oldtown, while others state it was Bran the Builder's son, who was also named Brandon.[12]
Brandon the Builder is not as beloved among singers and storytellers as Lann the Clever, the legendary founder of House Lannister.[6]
Quotes
Names such as Brandon the Builder, Garth Greenhand, Lann the Clever, and Durran Godsgrief are names to conjure with, but it is likely that their legends hold less truth than fancy.[13]
—writings of Yandel
Thousands and thousands of years ago, Brandon the Builder had raised Winterfell, and some said the Wall.[4]
—thoughts of Bran Stark
Family
Notes: |
See also
References
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Dawn Age.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The North: Winterfell.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Oldtown.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Age of Heroes.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 78, Samwell V.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 41, Jon V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 40, Bran III.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: The Wall, September 09, 2000