House Karstark

Sigil

A white sunburst on black.

Motto

"The Sun of Winter"

Titles

Lord of Karhold

Seat

Karhold

Region

The North

Lord

Rickard Karstark

Heir

Allegiance

House Stark

Vassals

Military strength

{{{Military}}}

Cadet branches

{{{Cadets}}}

Date of founding

{{{Founding}}}

Age

700 years

Founder

Karlon Stark

Ancestral weapon

{{{Weapon}}}

[[:Category:{{{Images}}}|Images]]

House Karstark of Karhold is a vassal house that holds fealty to House Stark of Winterfell. Their lands are north-east of Winterfell, located in heavy forested lands overlooking the Shivering Sea. Their stronghold is a castle called Karhold and the head of the house is the Lord of Karhold.

HistoryEdit

BackgroundEdit

House Karstark is a cadet branch of House Stark and trace their descent to Karlon Stark, and through him, to the Starks and the First Men.^[1]

Karlon Stark was a younger son of the King in the North who was awarded lands on the eastern region of the North after putting down a rebellion of House Bolton of the Dreadfort, about 700 years ago. Over time, Karlon's seat, originally known as Karl's Hold, became known as Karhold, while the Karl's Hold Starks became known as Karstarks.^[2][3]

The Karstark sigil is a white sunburst on black. Their words are "The Sun of Winter."

Season 3Edit

As an act of revenge against House Lannister, Lord Rickard Karstark, the Lord of Karhold, breaks into the dungeons of Riverrun and murders Martyn and Willem Lannister, without the permission of Robb Stark, the King in the North.

Robb executes Lord Karstark and the members of his household who assisted him under charges of treason. When Robb asks Karstark if he has any last words, he replies with "You are no king of mine" and is beheaded. ^[4]

MembersEdit

• Lord {Rickard Karstark}, Lord of Karhold, executed by King Robb Stark under charges of treason for the murder of Martyn and Willem Lannister.
  • His son, {Harrion Karstark}. Slain fighting by the side of King Robb Stark during the War of the Five Kings.
  • His son, {Torrhen Karstark}. Killed by Ser Jaime Lannister during an escape attempt.

In the booksEdit

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Karstark's origins remain the same. The Karstarks are reliable and fierce warriors. Their military power is formidable, as they are able to field some 300 cavalry and 2,000 infantry. They fought alongside the Starks during Robert's Rebellion.

Harrion takes part in the Battle of the Green Fork and taken as a hostage, while it is his brother Eddard who is killed by Jaime Lannister during the Battle of the Whispering Wood. Eddard serves alongside his brother Torrhen as part of Robb Stark's personal bodyguard. When Jaime realizes that his army is lost during the Battle of the Whispering Wood, he makes a final push to single-handedly carve his way through the Northern army in an attempt to kill Robb Stark in single combat. Jaime manages to reach Robb's personal bodyguard and kill several of them, including Eddard and Torrhen, before being knocked unconscious.

Eddard Karstark was apparently switched with his brother Harrion Karstark (or at least, the names were switched) so TV viewers who haven't read the books would not be confused that more than one character named "Eddard" exists, even though George R.R. Martin made it a point in the books to re-use certain names for minor characters, i.e. to emphasize that "Robert Baratheon" isn't the only person named "Robert" in the entire continent of Westeros.

As a result, following the execution of Rickard Karstark by Robb Stark, it isn't clear who the current head of House Karstark is within the TV continuity. A third son named "Eddard Karstark" may subsequently be introduced into the TV series, but it is unknown if he would still be the third son of Rickard, or changed so that he is Rickard's eldest son (swapping the names of the first and third son); given their unease at introducing another character named "Eddard", the TV series may introduce a third son with an entirely different name.

Members in the books:

• Rickard Karstark, executed by Robb Stark for treason
  • His eldest son and heir, Harrion, taken hostage by House Lannister.
  • His second son, Torrhen, killed by Jaime Lannister in the Battle of the Whispering Wood.
  • His third son, Eddard, also killed by Jaime Lannister in the Battle of the Whispering Wood
  • His daughter, Alys.
• His uncle, Arnolf, castellan of Karhold.
  • Cregan, Arnolf's eldest son
  • Arthor, Arnolf's second son
    • Three grandchildren, sons of Arthor

GalleryEdit

The banner of House Karstark at the Tourney of the Hand in "Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things".

The banner of House Karstark at the Stark camp in "Fire and Blood".

HBO viewer's guide icon for House Karstark.

A map-marker used to represent House Karstark forces.

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

ReferencesEdit

See alsoEdit

• House Karstark at A Wiki of Ice and Fire (MAJOR spoilers from the books)

v • d • e House Karstark
Lord:		Heir:
Seat:	Karhold	Lands:	The North
Title(s):	Lord of Karhold
Ancestors:	Brandon the Builder · Rodrik Stark · Karlon Stark · Beric Karstark · Mara Karstark · Commard Karstark · Regan Karstark · Berrican Karstark · Petyr Karstark · Laurence Karstark · Jon Karstark
Deceased members:	Rickard Karstark · Torrhen Karstark · Harrion Karstark
Overlord:	House Bolton