Benjen Stark

Benjen Stark
World of Westeros
Season(s)	1
Appeared in	3 episodes (see below)
First seen in	"Winter is Coming"
Last seen in	"Lord Snow"
Portrayed by	Joseph Mawle

"On the Wall, a man gets only what he earns"

―Benjen Stark to Jon Snow

Benjen Stark is a recurring character in the first season. He is played by guest star Joseph Mawle and debuts in the series premiere. Benjen Stark is the First Ranger of the Night's Watch and is missing north of the Wall.

Biography

Background

Benjen Stark is the youngest son of Lord Rickard Stark. Rickard was the head of House Stark and Lord Paramount of the North. The North is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms and House Stark is one of the Great Houses of the realm. House Stark rule the region from their seat of Winterfell and Rickard also held the title Lord of Winterfell.

Benjen is the younger brother of Brandon, Eddard and Lyanna. Rickard, Brandon and Lyanna were all killed in the civil war known as Robert's Rebellion. Eddard inherited his father's titles and responsibilities.

Benjen joined the Night's Watch , the military force which patrols the Wall and guards the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms. He earned the rank of First Ranger. Benjen is a hero to Eddard's bastard son Jon Snow.

Season 1

File:Benjen Stark.jpg

Eddard Stark talking to his brother in Winterfell's great hall.

Benjen travels south from the Wall to join in the feast welcoming King Robert Baratheon to Winterfell. He brings news about ill omens from beyond the Wall. Benjen tells Eddard that the young deserter he executed was a good and loyal man, a true ranger who would not desert his post lightly. He invites his nephew Jon Snow to join the Night's Watch; Jon agrees despite Benjen's warning that it is a hard life. Eddard agrees to become the Hand of the King. A few days later, the royal party heads south. Benjen accompanies them to the Kingsroad and then escorts Jon and Tyrion Lannister north to Castle Black. Along the way they are joined by fresh recruits, including a rapist named Rast. Jon begins to realize that the Watch may not be the noble institution he thought it was.

Benjen says goodbye to his nephew Jon Snow atop the wall.

Upon arriving at Castle Black Jon begins his training. Benjen tells Jon that he is going north of the Wall on a ranging. Jon asks to go with him, but Benjen tells him that he is not ready and cautions that on the Wall a man only gets what he earns, not what his birth entitles him to. Benjen says farewell to his friend Yoren, a recruiter for the Watch. He also exchanges words with Tyrion, who is about to head south with Yoren. Benjen feels that Tyrion holds the Watch in disregard despite Tyrion's protests to the contrary.

Catelyn Stark takes Tyrion prisoner at the Crossroads Inn believing he attempted to kill her son, Bran. Because of his friendship with Benjen, Yoren rides on to King's Landing and reports Catelyn's actions to Eddard.

Benjen's horse returns to Castle Black, but there is no sign of Benjen himself. Shortly afterwards, two of the rangers who accompanied Benjen, Othor and Jafer Flowers, are found dead in the forest beyond the Wall. They are brought back to Castle Black for Maester Aemon to study, but in the middle of the night they reanimate as wights. Both are killed again and their bodies are burned. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont vows to take the Watch beyond the Wall in force to investigate what's going on and promises Jon that they will find Benjen alive or dead.

Appearances

Template:Season One Appearances

Family tree

Template:House Stark family tree

In the books

In the Song of Ice and Fire novels Benjen is the First Ranger of the Night's Watch, a position of high honor and achievement. He is a noted tracker and fighter. Benjen attends King Robert Baratheon's visit to Winterfell and offers Jon Snow the chance to find a new home by joining the Night's Watch.

See also

• Benjen Stark at A Wiki of Ice and Fire (spoilers from the books).

References

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