Difference between revisions of "Capture of Winterfell"

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m (moved Battle of Winterfell to Capture of Winterfell: GRRM doesn't describe this as a battle)
(Rewrote about capture of Winterfell by Theon)
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| image =  
 
| image =  
 
| caption =  
 
| caption =  
| battle_name = Battle of Winterfell
+
| battle_name = Capture of Winterfell
 
| conflict = [[War of the Five Kings]]
 
| conflict = [[War of the Five Kings]]
 
| date = {{Date|299}}
 
| date = {{Date|299}}
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| commander1 = [[Bran Stark]]
 
| commander1 = [[Bran Stark]]
 
| commander2 = [[Theon Greyjoy]]
 
| commander2 = [[Theon Greyjoy]]
| strength1 = very few castle garrison ([[Rodrik Cassel]] took most of them)
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| strength1 = minimal castle garrison ([[Rodrik Cassel]] took most of them)
| strength2 = 20
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| strength2 = ~30
| casualties1 = [[Alebelly]]+ <br> remaining castle garrison <br> [[Winterfell]] captured <br> fake deaths of Prince [[Bran Stark|Bran]]+  & Prince [[Rickon Stark]]+
+
| casualties1 = [[Alebelly]]+<br>[[Mikken]]+<br>[[Chayle]]+
| casualties2 = 2 ironborn
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| casualties2 = none
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''Battle of Winterfell''' is a daring raid that ends in the capture of [[Winterfell]], the ancestral home of [[House Stark]] for millennia. It marks a turning point in the [[War of the Five Kings]].
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The '''capture of Winterfell''',{{ref|ACOK|56}} '''fall of Winterfell''',{{ref|ACOK|49}} or '''taking of Winterfell'''{{ref|ACOK|46}}{{ref|ACOK|50}}  is a daring raid that ends in the capture by [[House Greyjoy]] of [[Winterfell]], the ancestral home of [[House Stark]]. It marks a turning point in the [[War of the Five Kings]].
  
 
==Prelude==
 
==Prelude==
As [[Theon Greyjoy]] planned, after [[Dagmer|Dagmer Cleftjaw]] laid siege to [[Torrhen's Square]] as a diversion, Ser [[Rodrik Cassel]] raises Winterfell's levies and marches with six hundred men, leaving Winterfell minimally defended.{{Ref|aCoK|35}}{{Ref|aCoK|46}} Theon travels inland with twenty [[ironborn]] to Winterfell, planning to take it by surprise.
+
As [[Theon Greyjoy]] planned, after [[Dagmer|Dagmer Cleftjaw]] laid siege to [[Torrhen's Square]] as a diversion, Ser [[Rodrik Cassel]] raises Winterfell's levies and marches with six hundred men, leaving Winterfell minimally defended.{{Ref|aCoK|35}}{{Ref|aCoK|46}} Theon travels inland with about thirty [[ironborn]] to Winterfell, planning to take it by surprise.
  
==Battle==
+
==Capture==
The [[ironborn]] descend on the few remaining Winterfell guards. Theon has his best swimmers cross the moat and go over the walls with grappling hooks. From there they sneak up on [[Alebelly]], who they slay at the gate, and open the gate to let the rest of the ironborn in. With speed and surprise they take the remaining garrison unawares.{{Ref|aCoK|46}}
+
The ironborn attack in the night eight days after Rodrik leaves. Theon sends four ironborn to go over Winterfell's double walls with grappling hooks and swim its moat. From there they sneak up on [[Alebelly]], whom they slay in a postern gate's turret, and they open the gate to let in the rest of the ironborn. With speed and surprise they take the remaining garrison unawares. [[Hayhead]] is also wounded. The crippled [[Bran Stark]] is able to sense intruders while in the mind of his direwolf, [[Summer]], but Summer and [[Shaggydog]] are unable to escape the [[godswood]]. A wounded Maester [[Luwin]] tells Bran that he was able to send a [[raven]] to [[White Harbor]], but a second raven was shot down by the ironborn.{{Ref|aCoK|46}}
 +
 
 +
Theon has the people of Winterfell brought to the Great Hall so they can hear Bran yield the castle. Declaring himself the [[Prince of Winterfell (Theon Greyjoy)|Prince of Winterfell]], Theon takes Bran and [[Rickon Stark]], [[Big Walder Frey|Big Walder]] and [[Little Walder Frey]], [[Meera Reed|Meera]] and [[Jojen Reed]], and [[Beth Cassel]] as wards and hostages. "[[Ramsay Snow|Reek]]", who has been released from a tower cell, and [[Osha]] agree to serve Theon. [[Stygg]] slays the blacksmith [[Mikken]] when he refuses to yield and Theon has Septon [[Chayle]] drowned as a sacrifice to the [[Drowned God]].{{Ref|aCoK|46}}{{ref|ACOK|50}}
  
 
==Aftermath==
 
==Aftermath==
Theon declares himself the Prince of Winterfell and takes [[Osha]] and [[Ramsay Snow]], (disguised as "[[Reek]]"), as retainers. [[Bran Stark]], [[Rickon Stark]], [[Little Walder Frey]], [[Big Walder Frey]], [[Meera Reed]], [[Jojen Reed]] and [[Beth Cassel]] are all kept as hostages.{{Ref|aCoK|46}} However, the Stark and Reed children escape. To avoid embarrassment, Theon has Ramsay kill two boys in place of the Starks and announce to the world that they are dead.{{Ref|aCoK|50}}{{Ref|aCoK|55}} The grief over this news causes King [[Robb Stark]] to seek solace in [[Jeyne Westerling]]'s arms and, ultimately marry her. Realising that he is in danger of losing the [[The North|North]], Robb's army begins its march home, a route that will require crossing [[the Twins]].
+
 
 +
The Stark and Reed children eventually escape. To avoid embarrassment, Theon has Ramsay kill two boys in place of the Starks and announce to the world that they are dead.{{Ref|aCoK|50}}{{Ref|aCoK|55}} The grief over this news causes King [[Robb Stark]] to seek solace in [[Jeyne Westerling]]'s arms and, ultimately marry her. Realising that he is in danger of losing [[the North]], Robb's army begins its march home from [[Riverrun]], a route that will require crossing [[the Twins]].
 +
 
 +
==Quotes==
 +
{{quote|I'm '''Prince''' Theon now. We're both princes, Bran. Who would have dreamed it? But I've taken your castle, my prince.{{ref|ACOK|46}}}} - [[Theon Greyjoy]] to [[Bran Stark]]
 +
 
 +
 
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{{quote|All's well, Greyjoy. Hear the quiet? You ought to be drunk with joy. You took Winterfell with fewer than thirty men, a feat to sing of.{{ref|ACOK|50}}}} - thoughts of [[Theon Greyjoy]]
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 +
 
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{{quote|With thirty men, I captured Winterfell in a night. You needed a thousand and a moon's turn to [[Battle of Deepwood Motte|take Deepwood Motte]].{{ref|ACOK|56}}}} - [[Theon Greyjoy]] to [[Asha Greyjoy]]
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==
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{{Template:War of the Five Kings}}
 
{{Template:War of the Five Kings}}
  
[[Category:Battles|Winterfell]]
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[[Category:Battles|Winterfell, Capture of]]
[[Category:War of the Five Kings|Winterfell]]
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[[Category:War of the Five Kings|Winterfell, Capture of]]
 
[[Category:Winterfell]]
 
[[Category:Winterfell]]
 
[[Category:House Greyjoy]]
 
[[Category:House Greyjoy]]

Revision as of 16:15, 30 September 2014

Capture of Winterfell
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Date 299 AC
Place Winterfell
Result Greyjoy victory
Combatants
House Stark House Greyjoy
Commanders
Bran Stark Theon Greyjoy
Strength
minimal castle garrison (Rodrik Cassel took most of them) ~30
Casualties
Alebelly+
Mikken+
Chayle+
none

The capture of Winterfell,[1] fall of Winterfell,[2] or taking of Winterfell[3][4] is a daring raid that ends in the capture by House Greyjoy of Winterfell, the ancestral home of House Stark. It marks a turning point in the War of the Five Kings.

Prelude

As Theon Greyjoy planned, after Dagmer Cleftjaw laid siege to Torrhen's Square as a diversion, Ser Rodrik Cassel raises Winterfell's levies and marches with six hundred men, leaving Winterfell minimally defended.[5][3] Theon travels inland with about thirty ironborn to Winterfell, planning to take it by surprise.

Capture

The ironborn attack in the night eight days after Rodrik leaves. Theon sends four ironborn to go over Winterfell's double walls with grappling hooks and swim its moat. From there they sneak up on Alebelly, whom they slay in a postern gate's turret, and they open the gate to let in the rest of the ironborn. With speed and surprise they take the remaining garrison unawares. Hayhead is also wounded. The crippled Bran Stark is able to sense intruders while in the mind of his direwolf, Summer, but Summer and Shaggydog are unable to escape the godswood. A wounded Maester Luwin tells Bran that he was able to send a raven to White Harbor, but a second raven was shot down by the ironborn.[3]

Theon has the people of Winterfell brought to the Great Hall so they can hear Bran yield the castle. Declaring himself the Prince of Winterfell, Theon takes Bran and Rickon Stark, Big Walder and Little Walder Frey, Meera and Jojen Reed, and Beth Cassel as wards and hostages. "Reek", who has been released from a tower cell, and Osha agree to serve Theon. Stygg slays the blacksmith Mikken when he refuses to yield and Theon has Septon Chayle drowned as a sacrifice to the Drowned God.[3][4]

Aftermath

The Stark and Reed children eventually escape. To avoid embarrassment, Theon has Ramsay kill two boys in place of the Starks and announce to the world that they are dead.[4][6] The grief over this news causes King Robb Stark to seek solace in Jeyne Westerling's arms and, ultimately marry her. Realising that he is in danger of losing the North, Robb's army begins its march home from Riverrun, a route that will require crossing the Twins.

Quotes

I'm Prince Theon now. We're both princes, Bran. Who would have dreamed it? But I've taken your castle, my prince.[3]

- Theon Greyjoy to Bran Stark


All's well, Greyjoy. Hear the quiet? You ought to be drunk with joy. You took Winterfell with fewer than thirty men, a feat to sing of.[4]

- thoughts of Theon Greyjoy


With thirty men, I captured Winterfell in a night. You needed a thousand and a moon's turn to take Deepwood Motte.[1]

- Theon Greyjoy to Asha Greyjoy

References and Notes