Yara Greyjoy

Season(s)

2

First seen

"The Night Lands"

Last seen

"The Prince of Winterfell"

Appeared in

4 episodes (see below)

Mentioned in

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Titles

Princess of the Iron Islands

Also known as

Status

Alive

Age

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Date of birth

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Death

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Origin

Pyke

Allegiance

House Greyjoy

Family

Balon Greyjoy - father
Alannys Greyjoy - mother
Rodrik Greyjoy - brother (deceased)
Maron Greyjoy - brother (deceased)
Theon Greyjoy - brother
Euron Greyjoy - uncle
Victarion Greyjoy - uncle
Aeron Greyjoy - uncle

Portrayed by

Gemma Whelan

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

Princess Yara Greyjoy is a recurring character in the second season. She is played by guest star Gemma Whelan and debuts in "The Night Lands." Yara Greyjoy is ironborn, Theon Greyjoy's elder sister and his only surviving sibling. Yara was raised at the House Greyjoy stronghold of Pyke. She is a fierce warrior and commands her own longship.

Biography

Background

Yara is the only daughter of Lord Balon and his wife, Lady Alannys of House Harlaw. Balon is the head of House Greyjoy and the Lord of the Iron Islands. The Iron Islands are one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms and House Greyjoy is one of the Great Houses of the realm. House Greyjoy rules the region from their seat at Pyke and Balon also holds the title Lord Reaper of Pyke.

Yara was born and raised at Pyke. She was Balon and Alannys's third child after Rodrik and Maron. She also has a younger brother, Theon. Eight years before the start of the series, Balon rose in rebellion against the Iron Throne and was defeated in a bloody war. Balon's elder two sons were killed and Theon was taken by Lord Eddard Stark as a hostage for Balon's good behavior and obedience.^[1] Yara has remained on the Iron Islands and has become a reaver in her own right, which is unusual for women on the isles. She is a fierce warrior and commands her own longship, to the disquiet of some of the ironborn who hold that women should not fight or command men in battle.^[2]

Season 2

Main: Yara Greyjoy Season 2

Theon returns to Pyke as an envoy from King Robb Stark. Yara rides out to greet him, posing as a commoner to get the measure of her brother. He does not recognize her and is relentless in attempting to seduce her. He presents Robb's suggested alliance to their father, Balon Greyjoy. Balon roundly rejects the terms, insisting that he is Ironborn and will seize his crown. He compares Theon unfavourably to Yara, revealing her identity. He says that Yara will lead his assault.^[3] Balon details a plan to attack the poorly defended north while Robb is distracted by his war with House Lannister. Yara is assigned thirty ships to seize Deepwood Motte while Theon is given a single ship to raid the Stony Shore. Theon is baptised by a Drowned Priest on the shores of Pyke in a show of loyalty to his blood relatives. Balon and Yara watch as he proclaims his faith in the Drowned God.^[4]

Yara assembles her ships at Red Harbor. She rides to Lordsport to reach her fleet and encounters Theon struggling to command his unruly crew. She seizes the opportunity to mock him again.^[5] Yara's force takes Deepwood Motte as planned. Theon ignores his orders and captures Winterfell by luring the garrison out to defend Torrhen's Square. He writes to Yara to request reinforcements to hold the castle.^[6] She later hears that he has executed Bran Stark and Rickon Stark for attempting to escape captivity. She rides to Winterfell with just 20 men and tries to convince Theon to return home with her. She warns that the entire north wants him dead and appeals to him as her brother not to die so far from the sea but cannot convince him.^[7]

Appearances

Image gallery

Yara arrives at Winterfell in The Prince of Winterfell

Yara and Theon discussing in the Great Hall of Winterfell in The Prince of Winterfell

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Family tree

Balon Greyjoy

Alannys Greyjoy née Harlaw

Euron Greyjoy

Victarion Greyjoy

Aeron Greyjoy

Rodrik Greyjoy Deceased

Maron Greyjoy Deceased

Yara Greyjoy

Theon Greyjoy

In the books

In the books Yara is called Asha Greyjoy, but her name was changed in the TV series; possibly to prevent confusion with Osha the Wildling. Ironically, as the daughter of a Great House and one of Balon Greyjoy's only two surviving children, Asha Greyjoy is actually a much more prominent character than Osha the Wildling; thus it is curious why they changed Asha's name and not the other way around. It is probably because Osha was already introduced in Season 1, and the similarity with Asha Greyjoy's name wasn't realized until production on Season 2 began.

See also

• Asha Greyjoy at A Wiki of Ice and Fire (spoilers).

References

v • d • e House Greyjoy
Lord:	Balon Greyjoy	Heir:	Theon Greyjoy · Yara Greyjoy (disputed)
Seat:	Pyke, Pyke	Lands:	The Iron Islands
Title(s):	King of the Iron Islands · Lord Reaper of Pyke · King of Salt and Rock · Son of the Sea Wind · Lord of the Iron Islands
Ancestors:	The Grey King · Vickon Greyjoy
Current members:	Alannys Greyjoy · Euron Greyjoy · Victarion Greyjoy · Aeron Greyjoy
Deceased members:	Rodrik Greyjoy · Maron Greyjoy
Household:	Dagmer · Lorren · Drennan · Gelmarr · Stygg · Aggar · Wex · Urzen