Lyanna Stark

Lyanna Stark
Biographical information
Died	Slain during Robert's Rebellion, 281 AL
World of Westeros
Season(s)	1

"That's Lyanna, my father's sister. King Robert was supposed to marry her, but Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped her. Robert started a war to win her back, he killed Rhaegar, but she died anyway."

―Bran Stark at Lyanna's tomb

Lyanna Stark is an unseen character in Game of Thrones. She is deceased when the events of the series begin. Lyanna Stark is the younger sister of major character Eddard Stark. Her kidnap by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen contributed to the outbreak of Robert's Rebellion. She died during the conflict.

Biography

Background

Lyanna Stark was the only daughter 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.

Lyanna is betrothed to Robert Baratheon

Lyanna was the sister of Brandon, Eddard and Benjen Stark. She was betrothed to Lord Robert Baratheon. She was kidnapped for reasons unknown by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen of the ruling royal house. Her brother Brandon protested and both Brandon and Rickard were executed by the Mad King. This sparked the uprising known as Robert's Rebellion which saw House Targaryen almost completely destroyed and Robert installed as king. During the war she died from unknown causes in Eddard's arms. She was buried next to her brother Brandon in the crypts at Winterfell. Robert continued to mourn her despite becoming King and marrying Cersei Lannister.

Season 1

Lyanna is taken by Rhaegar Targaryen

King Robert Baratheon visits Lyanna's tomb under Winterfell almost immediately after arriving. He becomes emotional and tells Eddard how he relives killing Rhaegar Targaryen again and again in his dreams for what he did to Lyanna. He asks Eddard if it was necessary to bury Lyanna in a cold tomb rather than somewhere in the sunlight, but Eddard responds that she was of the North and of House Stark; this is her place.

In King's Landing, Robert shares a drink with his wife, Cersei Lannister, and Robert says he could never love Cersei because of his feelings for Lyanna. Cersei is regretful, as she loved Robert at the start of their marriage. Robert ruminates on the fact that he cannot really remember her face any more.

When Eddard discovers that Cersei has been having an incestuous affair with her twin brother Jaime, he confronts her. Cersei tells him she loved Robert but that love turned to hate on their wedding night, when he muttered Lyanna's name in her ear.

Lyanna is buried in the tomb beneath Winterfell

Bran Stark shows Osha the tombs under Winterfell and gives a quick summary of the events leading to the civil war: how Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna, who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, and the Mad King then killed Lyanna's brother and father, triggering the war.

Family tree

Template:House Stark family tree

Quotes

"Do you want to know the horrible truth? I can't even remember what she looked like. All I know is that she was the one thing I ever wanted. Someone took her from me and seven kingdoms couldn't fill the hole she left behind."

―Robert Baratheon to Cersei Lannister about Lyanna

In the books

In the Song of Ice and Fire novels Lyanna only appears in flashbacks. She is described as intelligent, tomboyish and willful, but also beautiful (comparisons are often made between her and her niece Arya). She met Rhaegar Targaryen at the great tourney at Harrenhal and crowned her the Queen of Love and Beauty over his own wife after he won the tournament. During the war she was hidden at a remote location and defended by three members of the Kingsguard, whom Eddard and his retainers had to kill. Only Eddard and Howland Reed, a vassal of House Stark, survived. However, she died from unknown causes before they could successfully rescue her. Her last words were: "Promise me, Ned."

Lyanna's death instilled in Robert a great hatred of the Targaryens, and he vowed not to rest until every last scion of the house was killed, though Eddard refused to let Lyanna's tragic death skew his views on justice and mercy.

See also

• Lyanna Stark at A Wiki of Ice and Fire.

References

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