Maester Luwin is a supporting character in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series and the tv adaptation Game of Thrones. He is a maester, healer and tutor who has served House Stark for many years and acts as a teacher to Ned and Catelyn's children, their ward Theon Greyjoy, and Jon Snow.
Luwin presumably succeeded Maester Walys, a Hightower bastard, who was the maester of Winterfell during the times before Robert's Rebellion. He was known to have been part of the rebel side during Robert's Rebellion, having served as one of the maesters in Robert Baratheon's army and having delivered the newborn Robb Stark in Riverrun. He personally delivered all of Catelyn's other children as well.
In the television series Game of Thrones, he was portrayed by Donald Sumpter.
Biography[]
A Song of Ice and Fire[]
Game of Thrones[]
Luwin helped deliver all of Catelyn's children and was regarded by Bran and Rickon in particular as a surrogate father figure. After Bran was crippled Luwin helped have the saddle built that Tyrion Lannister designed for him and comforted him when Catelyn left to investigate to learn who was responsible. After Robb left Winterfell to fight his war with the lannisters Luwin helped Bran as acting lord.
When Theon invaded Winterfell on behalf of his family Luwin was shocked by the betrayal and tried to convince him to show mercy and compassion. Despite his anger over several of Theon's actions such as his killing of two innocent farm boys and murder of Rodrik Cassel Luwin shows him sympathy when he vents over being a prisoner of the starks and tries to help him by advising him to join the Night's Watch.
When Theon is knocked down by Dagmer Luwin attempts to come to his aid and is stabbed. When he is later found by Bran, Rickon and Osha he instructs the boys to leave for Castle Black where they will be protected by their bastard brother Jon Snow and has Osha kill him to end his suffering.
Trivia[]
- Along with Maester Cressen, Grand Maester Pycelle, and Maester Pylos, Luwin broke the maester's vows of neutrality to serve whichever lord assumes rule of the castle the maester is serving in. Luwin, whose kingdom of birth is unknown, became a biased Stark supporter due to personal attachment, just like Cressen is a biased Baratheon supporter, Pycelle is biased for any politician he personally favors (becoming Lannister supporter due to the political skills of Tywin and Kevan), and Pylos helped a group of king's men to smuggle Edric Storm away from Dragonstone against Stannis's orders. While Maester Themore (born Theomore Lannister) cannot verbally hide his possible bias for his family while serving House Manderly in the North, he didn't break his vows like Luwin and the others. Maester Luwin has an emotional attachment to House Stark, especially to protect its children, like Cressen wants to protect the Baratheon brothers.
- When the ironborn invaded Winterfell, Luwin remained a supporter of the Starks due to his bond with the family and the Stark children, although he did help and advise his new lord, Prince Theon Greyjoy on how to handle his situation against the army of the North.
- In the novels, while looking for medical help for Lommy Greenhands, Arya Stark tries to find a castle in order to call a maester, but Gendry is convinced maesters would never touch someone as lowborn as Lommy. While not replying, Arya is firmly convinced that Maester Luwin would help any person in need, refusing to believe otherwise.
- Theon Greyjoy's former squire and mute child, Wex Pyke, is the sole ironborn survivor and escapee of the Sack of Winterfell. He survived the attack and betrayal by climbing up the heart tree of Winterfell's godswood, while the Boltons burned the castle and the Winter Town. Wex watched the mortally wounded Luwin dragging himself beneath the tree he is using, and subsequently witnessed the arrival of Bran and Rickon Stark, Osha, Meera and Jojen Reed, Hodor, and two direwolves.
- Unnoticed by them, Wex spied on them atop the tree as he listened to Luwin's dying words and farewell to the Stark boys, and then learned that Bran most of his company were heading beyond the Wall, while Osha and Rickon planned to go to the island of Skagos. Wex witnessed Osha giving to Luwin the gift of mercy, a quick death. While roaming in the North, away from Winterfell, in the attempt to reunite with other ironmen, Wex was captured by soldiers of White Harbor, resulting with the boy revealing to Lord Wyman Manderly that Bran and Rickon are still alive.
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