This article is about Eddard Stark's elder brother, for other uses see Brandon Stark (disambiguation).

Brandon Stark is an unseen character mentioned in the first season. He is deceased when the events of the series begin. He was scheduled to appear in the first season in flashback in a scene that was filmed, but later dropped for time reasons. Brandon Stark was the heir of Rickard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell. He was killed by the Mad King when he protested the kidnapping of his sister Lyanna Stark by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Background 1.2 Season 1 2 Family tree 3 Behind the scenes 4 In the books 5 See also 6 References

BiographyEdit

BackgroundEdit

Brandon Stark was the eldest son and heir 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.^[1]

Brandon was the older brother of Eddard, Lyanna and Benjen Stark. His father arranged for his betrothal to Catelyn Tully. Brandon defended Catelyn's honor in a duel with Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish. He defeated Baelish and left him with a scar that ran from neck to stomach.^[2]

Brandon was killed by the Mad King, along with his father, after they protested the kidnapping of Lyanna by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Lord Rickard was burned alive inside his armor with wildfire, while Brandon was tied to a strangulation device, with a sword mere inches from his hands and strangled himself by trying to reach the sword.^[3] This brutal act triggered Robert's Rebellion, the civil war that led to the removal of House Targaryen from the Iron Throne.^[4]

Eddard named his son Bran in his elder brother's memory.

Season 1Edit

Reaching King's Landing, Lord Eddard Stark is greeted by Ser Jaime Lannister in the throne room, who recalls listening to Eddard's father and brother scream as hundreds watched them die at the whim of the Mad King. He suggests his assassination of the Mad King was an act of justice, but Eddard dismisses that as a paltry self-justification for breaking his solemn vows. Shortly afterwards, Littlefinger recounts how Brandon wounded him in a duel. Eddard is unsympathetic to Littlefinger's predicament.^[5]

Family treeEdit

Rickard Stark Deceased

Unknown Lady Stark Deceased

Brandon Stark Deceased

Catelyn Stark née Tully

Eddard Stark Deceased

"Wylla"

Lyanna Stark Deceased

Benjen Stark Night's Watch

Robb Stark

Talisa Stark née Maegyr

Tyrion Lannister

Sansa Stark

Arya Stark

Bran Stark

Rickon Stark

Jon Snow Night's Watch

Behind the scenesEdit

An unidentified actor was cast to play Brandon in a flashback scene. Footage of the scene appeared in the "Fear and Blood" first season trailer but has not appeared in any aired episode of the series. The scene was cut for time reasons.

In the booksEdit

Shortly after the confrontation between Brandon and Littlefinger mentioned above, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna Stark. Brandon and a group of close friends, all sons of powerful lords, rode to King's Landing to seek redress from King Aerys II Targaryen. The Mad King, furious that anyone would question his son's actions, took Brandon prisoner and summoned Lord Rickard to answer for his impertinence. He had both Starks executed: Rickard was cooked alive in his armor by pyromancers led by Wisdom Rossart, while Brandon watched, bound with a leather cord around his neck and a longsword just out of reach, strangling himself trying to get to the sword to save his father.

Brandon's brother Eddard became Lord of Winterfell, married Catelyn Tully in his stead, and raised the banners of rebellion, beginning a bloody civil war that ended with deaths of both Prince Rhaegar and the Mad King.

In the books, Brandon was described as a larger and more handsome man than his younger brother Ned. The TV series makes a departure from this, with Petyr Baelish stating that Eddard is an 'even more impressive specimen' than his older brother.

See alsoEdit

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

ReferencesEdit

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