Brandon Stark (son of Rickard)


 * This article is about Eddard Stark's older brother, for Eddard's son, also called Brandon, see Bran Stark.

Brandon Stark is an unseen character in Game of Thrones. He is deceased when the events of the series begin. He was scheduled to appear in the first season in flashback in a scene that was filmed, but later dropped for time reasons. Brandon Stark was the heir of Rickard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell. He was killed by the Mad King when he protested the kidnapping of his sister Lyanna Stark by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

Background
Brandon Stark was the eldest son and heir of Lord Rickard Stark of Winterfell, and also the older brother of Eddard, Lyanna and Benjen Stark. He was betrothed to marry Catelyn Tully, and defended her honor in a duel with Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish, during which he left Baelish with a scar that ran from neck to stomach.

Brandon was killed by the Mad King, along with his father, after they protested the kidnapping of Lyanna by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. This brutal act triggered Robert's Rebellion, the civil war that led to the removal of House Targaryen from the Iron Throne.

Eddard named his son Bran in his elder brother's memory.

Season 1
Reaching King's Landing, Lord Eddard Stark is greeted by Ser Jaime Lannister in the throne room, who recalls listening to Eddard's father and brother scream as hundreds watched them die at the whim of the Mad King. He suggests his assassination of the Mad King was an act of justice, but Eddard dismisses that as a paltry self-justification for breaking his solemn vows. Shortly afterwards, Littlefinger recounts how Brandon wounded him in a duel. Eddard is unsympathetic to Littlefinger's distress.

In the books
Shortly after the confrontation between Brandon and Littlefinger mentioned above, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna Stark. Brandon rode to King's Landing to seek redress from King Aerys II Targaryen. The Mad King, furious that anyone would question his son's actions, took Brandon prisoner and summoned Lord Rickard to answer for his impertinence. He had both Starks killed, Rickard by being burned alive and Brandon by strangulation.

Brandon's brother Eddard became Lord of Winterfell, married Catelyn Tully in his stead, and raised the banners of rebellion, beginning a bloody civil war that ended with deaths of both Prince Rhaegar and the Mad King.