Kinslaying

"We are kin. Stark and Karstark.[...] Kill me and be cursed."

―Lord Rickard Karstark to King Robb Stark, his distant kin.

Kinslaying is the act of slaying a family member and a great taboo in the Seven Kingdoms. Whoever commits it is dubbed a kinslayer. Any individual who slays a member of their own family is believed to be cursed forever in the sight of gods and men.

Like incest or violating guest right, kinslaying is an abomination to every major religion in Westeros, including the Faith of the Seven, the Old Gods of the Forest, and the Drowned God.

Known and alleged kinslayers

• King Aegon II Targaryen, who fed Rhaenyra Targaryen, his sister, to his dragon.
• Ser Gregor Clegane, suspected to have murdered his infant sister as well as his father.
• Craster, who sacrifices his male offspring to the White Walkers.
• Daenerys Targaryen stood by and allowed her husband Khal Drogo to execute her brother Viserys by pouring molten gold onto his head. This may not be considered an outright example of kinslaying, as Viserys had drawn a sword and threatened her within the Dothraki holy city of Vaes Dothrak, where drawing a sword is punishable by death (and Daenerys even warned Viserys as much). Thus, Drogo was within his rights to execute Viserys for this violation.
• King Stannis Baratheon, who conceives a shadow assassin with Melisandre to kill his brother Renly.
• Ser Jaime Lannister, who murders Alton Lannister, his distant cousin, in his attempt to escape captivity.
• King Robb Stark, is accused of it by Lord Rickard Karstark when the former is about to execute the latter. This was due to the distant blood ties between House Stark and House Karstark, and it is debatable if Robb would be officially labelled a kinslayer as a result.

See also

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