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| “ | Tywin Lannister: What do they say of Robb Stark in the North? Arya Stark: They call him "The Young Wolf." They say he rides into battle on the back of a giant direwolf. They say he can turn into a wolf himself when he wants. The say he can't be killed. Tywin Lannister: And do you believe them? Arya Stark: No, my lord. Anyone can be killed. |
„ |
| ~ Lord Tywin Lannister and Arya Stark discuss Robb. |
| “ | All men should keep their word, kings most of all. | „ |
| ~ Robb Stark in the TV series. |
King Robb Stark, also known as the Young Wolf and the King Who Lost the North, is a major character of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.
Despite his young age, Robb was proclaimed as "the King in the North" and led an army first in an attempt to get justice for the murder of his father Eddard Stark, then trying to make the North an independent kingdom, with also the Riverlands as part of this kingdom. He was 14 at the beginning of the books and 16 in the television series.
He was portrayed by Richard Madden, who also played Prince Kit Charming in Cinderella, Michael Mason in Bastille Day, Ikaris in Eternals, and voiced Alucard in the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series.
Appearance[]
At the beginning of the novels, Robb is fourteen years old. Like most of his siblings, he takes after his mother Catelyn's Tully side of the family, having auburn hair, blue eyes and fair skin. He is noted as looking strong for his age and is physically stronger than his bastard brother Jon Snow. He typically wears white and grey, the colors of House Stark. After becoming King of the North and the Trident, he wears a crown designed after those worn by previous Stark kings, a bronze circlet with ancient First Men runes written upon it, with nine black iron sword-shaped spikes for points. He also grows a short beard afterword, making him look more mature.
In the television series, Robb is sixteen at the beginning and takes up after his father's side of the family with dark hair and fair skin. His hair is curly, and he maintains the blue eyes from the books. He wears mostly leather and fur cloaks, and he does not wear a crown. Like his book counterpart he grows a beard later in the series. According to Jon, Robb was very popular with girls because of his handsome looks.
Personality[]
In the novels, Robb is not a POV character and his actions are mostly seen through the eyes of other characters, most notably Catelyn.
In both the books and television series, Robb lived by the Stark values of honor, duty, justice, fairness, courtesy and loyalty. He loved his family deeply, and was especially close with his half-brother Jon Snow, whom he loved very much and is angered by Catelyn's treatment of him. He also cares deeply for Bran, as seen when he protected him from wildlings. He also developed a close friendship with their ward, Theon Greyjoy. When his father was imprisoned, Robb called all of House Stark's bannermen and began to march on King's Landing and against the Lannisters. He was devastated when he heard of his father's execution, and was furious upon learning of Theon's betrayal.
As the firstborn son and heir to the Stark legacy, Robb takes his position very seriously. According to Bran there are two sides of Robb. When around his siblings, Robb was protective and responsible yet also kind and playful, as is typical of an older brother. In the first episode, he is seen laughing and having fun with Jon, Arya and Bran. When duty called, he became serious, stern and solemn, which Bran called "Robb the Lord." He continued this brave face when dealing with a rancorous Greatjon Umber, maintaining his cool even after he threatened to march home, successfully hiding the fact he was scared for his life. Because of his strong sense of honor and loyalty, he was widely loved by the other Northern lords.
Despite his young age, Robb was noted as a skilled warrior and a military genius. He never lost a single battle during the War of the Five Kings, even against the likes of Tywin Lannister, who himself was noted as a successful and brilliant commander. Known as the Young Wolf, he fought alongside his soldiers on the battlefield with his direwolf, Grey Wind. One of his flaws in the war was his lack of communication. During his Uncle Edmure's battle against Lord Tywin, Edmure followed Robb's plan too well and continued the fight, resulting in Tywin retreating and going to attack Stannis.
In both the novels and the series, Robb breaks his oath of marriage with Walder Frey, but the circumstances are wildly different. In the television series, he marries Talisa Maegyr because he was in love with her, completely disregarding his vow. In the novel, Robb came to marry Jeyne Westerling. After Robb was wounded in battle, Jeyne treated his wounds. Robb became distraught after hearing of the murder of his brothers Bran and Rickon by his former friend Theon, and Jeyne comforted him with sex. After seeing how poorly bastards can be treated in Westeros, Robb didn't want to sire one and therefore married Jeyne because, while his honor was sullied, Jeyne's could still be saved. This shows that the book version of Robb is more honorable than the show version, and Catelyn notes that Robb truly is his father's son.
This breaking of the oath led to the death of him and most of his family, yet Robb's legacy is different in the television series and the novels. In the television series, Robb is seen rather negatively due to his reckless breaking of his oath with House Frey. In the novels, most Northern lord remember Robb fondly for his honor, sense of justice and duty, not unlike the legacy of his father, Eddard. In the television series, Robb is blamed by the North for the Red Wedding, while in the books the atrociousness of the Red Wedding far exceeded any dishonor Robb committed during his life.
Early life[]
Robb was born in Riverrun, to Catelyn Tully and Eddard "Ned" Stark, Warden of the North to Westeros. Because Robb was born after Ned left to fight in Robert's Rebellion alongside his best friend, Robert Baratheon, he did not see his father until he returned from the war. Robb is raised in Winterfell with his five siblings: two trueborn younger brothers Bran and Rickon, two younger sisters, Sansa and Arya and a younger half-brother, Jon Snow, whom he considers a true brother as well and shares a close relationship with. Also at Winterfell was the hostage/ward Theon Greyjoy, who was raised from the age of 10 onward alongside Robb and the other the Stark children. Robb was likewise close to Theon and considered him to be a best friend.
Game of Thrones (television adaptation of book series)[]
Season 1[]
A Song of Ice and Fire (book series)[]
In the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire entitled A Game of Thrones, Robb appears at the execution of a Night's Watch deserter performed by his father Eddard Stark. Robb is accompanied by his younger brother Bran Stark, his half-brother Jon Snow, and his father's ward Theon Greyjoy. When returning back to his home Winterfell with his father and brothers, Robb has a riding race with Jon. During the race, they find a dead direwolf and her pups. Their father, Lord Eddard Stark, allows his children to adopt the six direwolf pups and Robb names his pup Grey Wind.
When the royal family visits Winterfell, Robb practices swordplay with Prince Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey insults Robb and challenges him to fight with steel weapons instead of the training weapons they used before. However, Robb is not permitted to use steel weapons in the training yard and is mocked by Joffrey. When Eddard, Jon and his sisters leave Winterfell, Robb remains in the castle with his mother and younger brothers.
Robb is present when Catelyn decides to go to King's Landing and talk to Eddard.
When Tyrion Lannister visits Winterfell, Robb meets him with hostility and has his sword in his knee when greeting him. His attitude is friendlier however when Tyrion, at the request of Robb's brother Jon, figures out a way for Robb's brother Bran to ride a horse. Robb offers Tyrion to stay in the castle but Tyrion declines.
Robb, together with Theon Greyjoy, maester Luwin, the direwolves Grey Wind and Summer and a group of guards joins Bran for a horse ride in the woods. During the ride, Robb tells Bran that their father has been wounded and three of his guards have been killed. Robb also tells Bran that Theon advised Robb to call the banners.
Later during the ride, Robb and Bran ride ahead of the others and Bran is ambushed by thugs. Robb and the two direwolves attack them and kill all assailants except for two. One of the surviving assailants takes Bran hostage and tells Robb to kill the direwolves or he will kill Bran. The thug is shot in the back by Theon Greyjoy and Robb's guard catches the remaining thug, a woman named Osha.
When his father is taken captive and his uncle Edmure Tully fails to defeat the Lannisters, Robb assembles an army to fight the Lannisters, free both his father and help his uncle. He reunites with his mother, Catelyn Stark before heading into battle. To get to his uncle he has to cross a river through and also pass through two castles owned by Walder Frey. His mother negotiations an alliance for Robb with Walder Frey and Robb agrees to conditions that he marry one of Frey's daughters. When he learns that Ser Jaime Lannister has defeated Edmures soldiers and laid a siege to his castle, Robb manages to lure Jaime and a group of his men into a forest and defeat them in battle and capture ser Jaime. He then proceeds to launch an attack against the soldiers besieging Edmures castle, Riverrun and defeats them too and freeing the captured Edmure in the process.
When Robb's bannermen learn that Renly Baratheon has crowned himself king, they crown Robb as their own king and calls him the King in the North.
Robb Stark's personal guard[]
When Robb rides to war, he surrounds himself with a particular group of trained warriors. Unlike the Kingsguard, this is not an official order with any sworn vows, but an informal group of battle companions. Just as he rides with a different lord at the head of his army every day in order to know and honor his bannermen, Robb's choice of bodyguards serves to honor the houses from which they are picked. Even if there was no enemy behind them for hundreds of leagues, Robb would take no chances.
Most of these warriors are young men, although Dacey Mormont is female, and Wendel Manderly, Robin Flint, and Perwyn Frey are all mature men. At his side during the Battle of the Whispering Wood are thirty young sons of lords, three of whom are killed by Jaime Lannister. Robb's companions continue to fight bravely during his invasion of the Westerlands and to serve him in other critical capacities. When Robb is betrayed at the Red Wedding, his personal guard is killed along with him.
Known members among the 30 guards:
- Smalljon Umber: slain by Bolton men at the Red Wedding.
- Ser Wendel Manderly: slain by a crossbowman at the Red Wedding.
- Patrek Mallister: captured at the Red Wedding. Perhaps the sole non-Frey survivor of Robb's guard other than Theon Greyjoy.
- Robin Flint: slain by Freys at the Red Wedding.
- Dacey Mormont: the only woman of the group. Slain by Ser Ryman Frey at the Red Wedding.
- Owen Norrey: He is one of the Northern mountain clan members. Slain at the Red Wedding.
- Ser Raynald Westerling: Robb's banner-bearer. Joined Robb's cause when his sister Jeyne married him. Shot with Frey arrows at the Red Wedding after he released Grey Wind, presumed dead.
- Ser Perwyn Frey: Fought along Robb's side during the Battle of the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps. Sent away from the Twins before the Red Wedding, being judged as too loyal to Robb's cause.
- Olyvar Frey: Robb's squire. Also sent away from the Twins before the Red Wedding, presumably for being judged as loyal to Robb's cause.
- Torrhen Karstark: Slain by Ser Jaime Lannister at the Battle of the Whispering Wood.
- Eddard Karstark: Slain by Ser Jaime Lannister at the Battle of the Whispering Wood.
- Daryn Hornwood: Slain by Ser Jaime Lannister at the Battle of the Whispering Wood.
- Theon Greyjoy: He betrays Robb for his father and captures Winterfell when sent to form an alliance with his father.
Changes in the TV Series[]
In the television adaptation, some changes are made to Robb's storylines and motivations from A Song of Ice and Fire, which were received with criticism from some readers of the book series. In the books, the reason for Robb's campaign to invade the Westerlands (ruled by the Lannisters) was a bait set up by Robb to buy time for the Baratheons to take King's Landing. Making everyone believe he thinks House Lannister's powers lies in their gold mines, Robb captured mines and castles and made plans to attack Lannisport and Casterly Rock. Robb knew he had no strength to defeat such places and was trying to distract Tywin Lannister in order to help Stannis and Renly Baratheon's individual forces sack King's Landing, which is currently under Lannister power.
In the TV show, there is a scene during season 3, in which Robb and his uncle, Edmure Tully argue about Robb's failed plan to capture Ser Gregor Clegane due to the Battle of the Stone Mill caused by Edmure. To avoid destroying his uncle's reputation as a ruler, Robb publicly presented Edmure's strategical failure as a victory, instead making himself look like a strategical failure who hoped to defeat the Lannisters by simply taking over the Westerlands. In the show, Robb is angry with Edmure because he allowed Clegane (in service to the Lannisters) to escape. In the books the Stone Mill is just one of the many areas in which the Battle of the Fords ensues, with Gregor and his band fighting there, as other westermen forces fight in different other fords at the same time. The Battle of the Fords is a major and large battle between the host of the Riverlands (led by Edmure) and the host of the Westerlands (led by Tywin), in which Tywin was trying to return to the Westerlands to chase Robb. In the show, Robb is angered by Gregor's escape because he was planning to surround and kill Gregor by letting him chasing his army. In the books however, Robb is angry because Edmure prevented Tywin's main army from returning home, which forced the Lannister forces to fall back and allowed them to receive urgent news about Stannis Baratheon's host and fleet besieging King's Landing. Gregor himself has absolutely no political importance to the Seven Kingdoms and Robb was devastated because Stannis was the only person capable to end the Lannister power over the Iron Throne and Edmure had a hand in causing the Lannister-Tyrell alliance and Stannis's defeat when he chased Tywin away from the Trident, thus ending all hopes for Robb to try negotiating Sansa's freedom with Stannis. As a result of this change from the TV show, by making Edmure's failure more about Gregor and reducing the Battle of the Fords (which was Tywin and his army being chased away) to a smaller battle at a mill, both Robb and Edmure look less martially strategic with less foresight, as killing Gregor would achieve nothing in weakening the Lannisters' political power.
In Season 2, Robb's motivations in regard to pursuing the Westerlands are not yet revealed and in Season 3, Robb planned to invade Casterly Rock with only his own army and the Frey army. In the show, Casterly Rock seemed to hold less power with no Lannisport city to be found around. Still, if Robb had besieged Casterly Rock, it may have ended with Robb trapping himself and his army there to be surrounded and destroyed by the forces of the Westerlands, the Reach, Dorne, and the hosts of the Iron Throne, Tywin and Randyll Tarly. In the books, Robb knew it was impossible for him to fight the Lannister-Tyrell power without Stannis and had to give up hope for Sansa's freedom, while he had given Arya for dead. So Robb changed course to defend his kingdom (the North and the Riverlands) against the enemy invaders: fight against the Ironborn invasion in the North while the River lords would protect the Riverlands from the Iron Throne's invasion.
In the TV show, Robb's motives for breaking his promise to marry a Frey daughter appear more driven by personal desire. In the show, Robb marries a woman (Talisa) for love. In the books, Robb has intercourse with a woman (Jeyne Westerling) due to his grief over the news of Bran and Rickon's deaths when Winterfell is taken. Robb marries Jeyne to protect her honor and reputation because if he did not marry Jeyne, she would suffer from the social stigma of a highborn girl having extramarital sex, which would greatly diminish her marital prospects with suitors.
Robb's selfish actions in the television version are acknowledged by his former northern bannermen, mostly by Robett Glover in the sixth season, who mentions Robb putting his own interests before his duty and the safety of his kingdom (marrying for desire instead of self-obligation and wanting to march for an unlikely victory back to the Westerlands instead of liberating the North from the Ironborn), the opposites of what he does in the novels.
Gallery[]
.png "Robb Stark's personal coat of arms (ASOIAF).png (199 KB)")
External Links[]
- Robb Stark on the Game of Thrones Wiki
- Robb Stark on the Heroic Benchmark Wiki
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