This article is about founder of House Stark, for other uses see Brandon Stark (disambiguation).

Brandon Stark, also known as Bran the Builder or Brandon the Builder, is an unseen character in Game of Thrones. He lived roughly eight thousand years ago, and thus died long before the timeframe of the TV series. He is mentioned in Season 1, and has appeared in "The Complete Guide to Westeros: The Age of Heroes" and "The Complete Guide to Westeros: House Stark" featurettes.

Contents 1 Background 2 Season 1 3 In the books 4 See also 5 References

BackgroundEdit

Bran the Builder was a legendary First Men figure of the Age of Heroes, the founder of House Stark, and the first King in the North. Many famous structures are attributed to have been built under his direction, hence his nickname of "the Builder", including Winterfell and most famously the Wall, which according to legend, he raised with the aid of giants. Also according to legend, it is said he aided Durran with the construction of Storm's End.^[1][2]

Season 1Edit

When Arya Stark asks her father Eddard if her brother Bran can ever be a knight now that he is paralyzed, he says no, but he can be lord of a holdfast, or sit on the king's council. Eddard also says that Bran might even raise a castle, like his ancestor and namesake Brandon the Builder.^[3]

In the books Edit

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books, Bran the Builder is also considered the founder of House Stark. According to legend, he advised Durran during the building of Storm's End when he was just a boy. He's also traditionally attributed to having granted the Gift to the Night's Watch, though Maesters argue that it must have been a different King in the North also named Brandon.

Bran the Builder did not, of course, construct all of Winterfell as it exists in the modern day. Even the original Winterfell was a massive fortress, but eight thousand years worth of incremental additions greatly expanded upon his original work. Nonetheless, there are still many parts of Winterfell which are said to date back to the time of Bran the Builder, and stand just as strong as the sections that were added later.

Names are often repeated in aristocratic families, and House Stark is no exception. Due to the fame of "Brandon the Builder" as the founder of House Stark, "Brandon" became a very common name in the family. Given the astonishing eight thousand year history of House Stark (albeit much of it predating written history), there are quite a large number of characters named "Brandon Stark" who lived at one time or another within the fictional history of Westeros. Many of them aren't necessarily named for the original Brandon, but because a close relative was named after the original Brandon (or both), thus reinforcing the popularity of the name. There are at least eight distinct historical characters named "Brandon Stark" in the novels, though this is stretched across thousands of years. Within the relatively recent history of House Stark, two important characters are named "Brandon Stark": Ned Stark's older brother Brandon Stark, who was killed by the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen, and Ned Stark's second youngest son Brandon Stark, who was crippled when thrown out a window by Jaime Lannister. Ned's son was specifically named in memory of his uncle, who died about seven years before Ned's son Brandon was born. For TV viewers, only three of these Brandons are important, and in general there is usually little confusion in which one is being referred to: Brandon the Builder lived thousands of years ago, and Ned's son is usually called "Bran" for short to distinguish him from his uncle.

See also Edit

• Bran the Builder at A Wiki of Ice and Fire

ReferencesEdit

v • d • e Legendary Figures
Artys Arryn · Bran the Builder · Durran Godsgrief & Elenei · Garth Greenhand Florian & Jonquil · The Grey King · The Griffin King · Joramun · Lann the Clever · The Night's King · The Prince That Was Promised

v • d • e House Stark
Lord:	King Robb Stark	Heir:	Prince Bran Stark
Seat:	Winterfell	Lands:	The North
Title(s):	King in the North · Lord Paramount of the North · Lord of Winterfell
Ancestors:	Brandon the Builder · Rodrik Stark · Karlon Stark · Torrhen Stark
Current members:	Catelyn Stark · Talisa Stark · Sansa Stark · Arya Stark · Rickon Stark · Benjen Stark · Jon Snow
Deceased members:	Rickard Stark · Brandon Stark · Eddard Stark · Lyanna Stark
Household:	Ser Rodrik Cassel · Maester Luwin · Jory Cassel · Vayon Poole · Septa Mordane · Theon Greyjoy · Jeyne Poole · Osha · Hodor · Farlen · Old Nan · Mikken · Varly · Heward · Wyl · Tomard · Tommy · Jacks