Balon Greyjoy

Balon Greyjoy is a character in Game of Thrones. He is expected to debut in the second season and has not been cast yet.

Lord Balon Greyjoy is the father of Theon Greyjoy, the head of House Greyjoy (one of the Great Houses of Westeros) and the ruler of the Iron Islands. He is a hard, ambitious and ruthless man. Nine years before the start of the series he rose in rebellion against the Iron Throne and was defeated in a bloody war. His elder two sons were killed and his third son, Theon, was taken by Lord Eddard Stark as a hostage for Balon's good behavior and obedience.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Balon Greyjoy had four children: Rodrik, Maron, Theon and Asha. His two eldest sons were killed during the Greyjoy Rebellion and Theon taken as hostage, leaving him only with his daughter Asha. In defiance of ironborn custom, Balon has allowed Asha to captain her own ship and train for battle, leading some to suspect he is grooming her as his heir should Theon be killed, despite the commandment of the Drowned God that no woman should sit the Seastone Chair (the old throne of the kings of the isles).

Balon also has three younger brothers: Euron Crow's Eye, a pirate and reaver known for his long voyages into the east on missions of plunder; Victarion, a mighty warrior and commander of the Iron Fleet; and Aeron Damphair, a priest of the Drowned God who came to the faith late after spending many years as a drunkard and fool.