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#REDIRECT [[List of A Song of Ice and Fire characters#House Stark]]
[[Image:Winterfell.jpg|thumb|300px|Winterfell, the seat of House Stark by [http://www.amoka.net/ Roman Papsuev]]]
'''House Stark''' is a fictional noble family from [[George R. R. Martin]]'s ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''. Several of the main [[Point of view (literature)|point of view]] characters of the series are members of House Stark. House Stark is the principal noble house in [[Westeros#The_North|the North]]; many lesser houses are sworn to them, including Bolton, Glover, Karstark, Manderly, Mormont, Tallhart, and Umber. Their seat is [[Westeros#Winterfell|Winterfell]]. Their sigil is a grey direwolf on a field of white, and their words are "Winter Is Coming." The Starks are descended from Bran the Builder, a lengendary figure from 10,000 years ago who built Winterfell and the [[Westeros#The_Wall|Wall]]. They were Kings in the North from Bran the Builder's time until Torrhen Stark submitted to [[House_Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]]. Since that time the Starks have held the North for the kings of [[Westeros]] as Lords of Winterfell and Wardens of the North.
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==Genealogy of recent Starks==
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Edwyle Unknown daughter==+==member of House Royce
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Rickard 3 daughters==+==Vale lords
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+---------+--------+------+ offspring
Brandon | Benjen Lyanna
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? =/==Eddard==+==Catelyn Tully
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+ +-----------------------+------+--------+--------+
Jon Snow | | Arya Brandon Rickon
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Robb + Jeyne Westerling Sansa + Tyrion Lannister
==Starks in ''A Song of Ice and Fire''==
===Eddard===
[[Image:Eddard Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Eddard Stark by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
Eddard "Ned" Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell at the beginning of the series, is a [[point of view (literature)|POV character]]. He and [[House_Tully#Catelyn|Catelyn Tully Stark]] have five children, and Eddard has a bastard son. Eddard is known for his sense of honor and justice; he dislikes deceit, intrigue, and secrecy. Though his family finds him kind, his reserved personality strikes some as coldness.
{{spoiler}}
During his youth, Ned's father and older brother were killed by Mad King Aerys II and his sister Lyanna abducted by Rhaegar Targaryen. [[House Arryn#Jon|Jon Arryn]] took him and [[House Baratheon#Robert|King Robert Baratheon]] to the Eyrie, where he protected them protected them from Aerys' further wrath and served as a foster father. Together, the three men began the [[Wars in A Song of Ice and Fire#War of the Usurper|rebellion]] that ultimately toppled the Targaryen regime. During the fighting, Ned acted as one of the chief commanders of the rebellion forces. Ned was also present, along with Howland Reed, at the Tower of Joy when Lyanna died there, an incident surrounded in mysery that haunted Ned ever since.
Ned spent much of the years following the rebellion at home in Winterfell. After the sudden death of Jon Arryn, Robert asked Eddard to become Hand of the King, his closest advisor, after the death of the previous Hand. In the course of investigating Arryn's death, Eddard discovered that Robert's children were actually the product of incest between Robert's wife [[House Lannister#Cersei|Cersei]] and her brother, Ser [[House Lannister#Jaime|Jaime Lannister]]. Eddard was too honorable and lacked the necessary skill in intrigue to play the "Game of Thrones" effectively. He confronted Cersei with his knowledge, giving her a warning to flee while she could. Instead, Cersei used her time to orchestrate Robert's assassination and buy off the City Guard. Ned trusted in Petyr Baelish to keep the Guard loyal to him, but Baelish betrayed him. Cersei had Ned imprisoned for treason and intended to allow him to take the black, but the new King [[House_Baratheon#Joffrey|Joffrey]] had him executed out of simple spite. Ned's death prompted the Starks and their allies to make war on the king.
===Catelyn===
Catelyn Tully Stark is Eddard Stark's wife.
''See [[House Tully#Catelyn|House Tully]].''
===Robb===
[[Image:Robb Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Robb Stark by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
Robb is Eddard Stark's eldest legitimate son, and thus heir to Winterfell. He bears great responsibility with scant complaint, and shares his father's devotion to honor and justice.
{{spoiler}}
When Lord Eddard became the King's Hand, Robb remained at Winterfell to rule in his father's stead. Upon Eddard's execution, Robb was declared King in the North by his father's bannermen. The armies of the north and the riverlands rallied to his cause. Robb won many great battles against the [[House Lannister|Lannister]] armies. He was pledged to marry one of the women of House Frey, but broke that pledge when he fell in love with and married Jeyne Westerling. Frey pretended to accept Robb's apology and agreed to marry a daughter to Robb's uncle instead, but was secretly in league with the Lannisters and murdered the sixteen-year-old Robb, his mother, and many of his men at his uncle's wedding feast, later called the Red Wedding. His direwolf Grey Wind was killed, and both bodies desecrated.
===Sansa===
[[Image:Sansa Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Sansa Stark by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
Eddard's elder daughter, Sansa (a [[Point of view (literature)|POV character]]) loves the pageantry and gallantry of the court. Feminine, beautiful and gracious, she is also moon-eyed and dreamy, believing in the [[chivalry]] and honor she has heard about in story and song.
{{spoiler}}
Sansa was betrothed to Prince Joffrey, and her belief in her handsome prince initially caused her to overlook his violent mood swings and dangerous temper. After her father's execution and imprisonment, the scales fell from her eyes, and she came to loathe the new king, who remained betrothed to her (and continued to physically and verbally abuse her) until he became engaged to [[House_Tyrell#Margaery|Margaery Tyrell]] after the powerful Tyrells formed an alliance with the Lannisters. Sansa was instead forced to marry the king's uncle, the dwarf [[House Lannister#Tyrion|Tyrion Lannister]], though the marriage was never consummated. Sansa ultimately escaped King's Landing on the day of Joffrey's wedding, when during the choas caused by Joffrey's poisonin the scheming lord Petyr Baelish took her by ship to the Eyrie, which was ruled by Sansa's aunt, [[House_Tully#Lysa|Lysa Arryn]], whom Baelish had just married. He proved to be attracted to Sansa, and murdered his wife after she threatened Sansa and inadvertently revealed her and Baelish's complicity in Jon Arryn's death. While at the Eyrie, Sansa pretended to be Baelish's bastard daughter and took the name Alayne Stone. Baelish plans to marry her to Arryn heir Harrold Hardyng after he becomes Lord of the Eyrie, at which point she will reveal her true identity and lead a rebellion to reclaim Winterfell.
===Arya===
[[Image:Arya Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Arya Stark by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
Arya (a [[Point of view (literature)|POV character]]) is a skinny, athletic girl with an interest in fighting and exploring. She is plain of face, resembling her father and her half-brother [[Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Jon Snow]], and she is often mistaken for a boy. She is a [[Foil (literature)|foil]] of her sister Sansa, whom she often describes as "stupid." Throughout her travels Arya displays great resourcefulness, stealthy cunning, and a certain grim toughness.
{{spoiler}}
Arya traveled with her father to King's Landing, where she trained under Syrio Forel with Needle, a secret [[rapier]] Jon Snow gave her. She was forced to abandon her direwolf Nymeria when it defended her from Prince Joffrey. Upon her father's capture, Syrio sacrificed himself so she could escape, living on the streets until the day she witnessed her father's execution.
With no family or home, and being hunted as a traitor for ransom, Arya became a captive or servant to many parties, including Yoren of the Night's Watch, who planned to return her to the north until he was, Weese at [[Westeros#Harrenhal|Harrenhal]], the Brotherhood without Banners, [[Characters from A Song of Ice and Fire#Sandor Clegane|Sandor Clegane]], the Faceless Men of Braavos, and a fish peddler at Braavos. She has disguised herself with many names, including Arry, the Ghost of Harrenhal, Nan the Cup Bearer, Weasel, and Cat of the Canals.
She has made a few friends along her way, including blacksmith and royal bastard Gendry, who helps her escape various traps, and Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man of Braavos who performs several murders for her. She also makes many enemies, including Prince [[House Baratheon#Joffrey|Joffrey]], Gregor Clegane and several of his thugs, and Queen [[House Lannister#Cersei|Cersei]]. At bedtime, Arya recites the names of her living enemies in prayer, finishing with "''Valar Morghulis''," a High Valyrian phrase for "all men must die," which has special importance to the Faceless Men. She has eliminated several names from her list, and kills without remorse.
After traveling to Bravos, she became an acolyte of the Faceless Men, who serve the various gods of death, and is instructed in the order's ways by an old, nameless man who appears to have some magical abilities. On her most recent return to the temple of the Faceless Men, she failed a test presented by her instructor when she drinks poisoned milk prepared for "Arya." The next morning, she awoke in the Faceless Temple, blind.
[[Image:Bran Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Bran Stark and Hodor by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
Meanwhile, a false Arya Stark who bears many similarities to Jeyne Poole was sent from King's Landing to Harrenhal. This Lannister ruse is betrothed to Ramsay Snow, bastard son of [[Characters_from_A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire#Roose_Bolton|Roose Bolton]].
===Bran===
Catelyn and Eddard's second son, Bran (a POV character) enjoys climbing and exploring Winterfell. Like his siblings, he is dutiful and tough-minded. His full name is Brandon, for his deceased [[House Stark#Brandon|uncle]].
{{spoiler}}
On a climbing expedition, he passed a window through which he could see the [[House Lannister#Cersei|queen]] and her [[House Lannister#Jaime|brother]] making love. Jaime Lannister pushed him from the window to kill him and keep the secret, but Bran survived and entered a coma. During that coma, Bran had visions of a three-eyed crow that told him it could teach him to fly. With the crow's guidance, Bran awoke from his coma and immediately named his direwolf "Summer". Though crippled from the fall, Bran's experience also turned him into what some call a "warg", a person with the ability to enter the minds of animals and control them.
[[Image:Rickon Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Rickon Stark by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
After Robb became King in the North, Bran acted as Lord of Winterfell in his absence, befriending Meera and Jojen Reed, children of his father's most trusted friend. While sleeping, Bran frequently entered Summer's mind, though he thought he was simply dreaming, and began to become more bestial. Jojen recognized Bran's ability and instructed him on how to use it properly. After learning of Bran's visions, Jojen claimed that if Bran went north beyond the Wall, he could find the three-eyed crow. When [[House_Greyjoy#Theon|Theon Greyjoy]] betrayed the Starks and captured Winterfell, Bran hid in the crypts until Theon was betrayed and Winterfell burned. He, the Reeds, and Hodor went north to seek the crow. They traveled beyond the Wall and met Coldhands, an enigmatic figure of uncertain allegiance.
===Rickon===
Eddard's youngest child, only three when the series begins. His youth made it difficult for him to understand the great changes in his family and life, leaving him prone to childish outbursts of violent temper. His rage is emulated by his direwolf, who harms several people before being restrained.
{{spoiler}}
Shortly before Eddard's death in King's Landing, both Bran and Rickon shared a vision of Eddard in the crypts.
He hid with Bran in the crypts during Theon's reign, then traveled to parts unknown in the care of the wildling Osha.
===Jon Snow===
[[Image:Jon Snow Amok.JPG|thumb|Jon Snow by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
''Main article: [[Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Jon Snow]]''
Jon Snow is the bastard son of Lord Eddard by an unknown mother. He is a POV character and he owns an albino direwolf named Ghost.
{{spoiler}}
After King [[House Baratheon#Robert|Robert Baratheon]]'s visit to Winterfell, he traveled north with Benjen Stark to join the Night's Watch. Once there he becomes the leader of a group of new recruits after he protects several from their cold-hearted trained trainer, Ser Alliser Thorne, and teaches several others far better than Thorne. After this he becomes steward and squire to the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, Jeor Mormont. He eventually goes beyond the wall with the Lord Commander and a host of men to investigate strange disappearances. He is selected to go ahead with a small group of rangers led by noted Nights Watch member Qhorin Halfhand and scout the way. His party is discovered by the wildlings, however, and soon comes under pursuit. Before his party is taken, he is commanded to join the wildlings to learn what they know about recent events. He joins them for a time even becoming the lover of a woman wildling, but eventually flees back to the Nights Watch where he defends the wall from a wildling attack. After that he is put in a cell by his enemies, led by Ser Alliser Thorne and ambitious new arrival Janos Slynt, and accussed of being a turncloak, but is released eventually and voted to be the next Lord Commander.
===Brandon===
Eddard's elder brother, who died before the Usurper's Rebellion. He is described by those who knew him as taller, more handsome, and more passionate than Eddard. He was also an excellent swordsman.
{{spoiler}}
Brandon was fostered in Riverrun and raised with Catelyn Tully and Petyr Baelish. Brandon and Catelyn were betrothed to each other, but Petyr challenged him to a duel for her. Brandon dominated the duel, but refused to kill Petyr. When Lyanna disappeared he went to King's Landing and threatened Rhaegar's life, for which he was arrested by [[Aerys Targaryen]]. He later died while trying to save his father from being burned to death by Aerys.
===Lyanna===
Eddard's only sister, who died at the end of the Usurper's Rebellion. She is described by many people who knew her as a spirited young woman and an excellent rider.
{{spoiler}}
[[House Targaryen#Rhaegar|Rhaegar Targaryen]] crowned her queen of beauty after winning the [[Tourneys in A Song of Ice and Fire#Harrenhal tourney|Harrenhal tourney]]. Shortly thereafter, he apparently abducted her, an event which ultimately triggered her betrothed [[House Baratheon#Robert|Robert Baratheon]]'s rebellion. Some time after the abduction, Eddard and six companions confronted three members of the Kingsguard, Rhaegar's elite bodyguards and friends, outside what Rhaegar had named the "Tower of Joy". After a fierce battle in which all but Eddard and Howland Reed were killed, Eddard found Lyanna dying inside the tower. Just before she died, he made an unidentified promise to her that haunted him for the rest of his life.
===Benjen===
[[Image:Benjen Stark Amok.JPG|thumb|Benjen Stark by [http://www.amoka.net Roman Papsuev]]]
Eddard's younger brother, and First Ranger of the [[Night's Watch]].
{{spoiler}}
Benjen's talk with Jon Snow ultimately prompted the young bastard to join the Night's Watch. However, Benjen disappeared while ranging beyond the Wall shortly after Jon Snow arrived at Castle Black. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont refused to name a new First Ranger until Benjen was recovered, dead, alive or otherwise, but he has not been seen or heard from since.
==Notable Starks from the past==
No precise lineage of House Stark is known, but the individuals listed below are supposed to be in rough chronological order.
*Bran, the Builder
*Theon, the Hungry Wolf
*Brandon, the Shipwright
*Brandon, the Burner
*Dorren
*Jon
*Rickard
*Rodrick
*Edrick
*Benjen, the Bitter
*Benjen, the Sweet
*Eyron
*Edderion, the Bridegroom
*Walton, the Moonking
*Brandon, the Bad
*Jorah and Jonos
*Edwyn, the Spring King
*Bran, the Daughterless
*Torrhen, the King Who Knelt, The last King in the North, who bent the knee to [[House_Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]], making the North part of the Seven Kingdoms.
*Cregan, who fought Aemon the Dragonknight
*Brandon
*Barth
*Jonnel
*Rodwell
*Beron
*Donner
*Artos, the Implacable
*Willam
*Edwyle
*Rickard, killed by order of King [[Aerys Targaryen]] at the start of Robert's Rebellion.
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{{Great_Houses_from_a_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire}}
[[Category:A Song of Ice and Fire]]
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