Winterfell, the seat of the Lord of Winterfell.
The Lord of Winterfell is the ruler of the stronghold Winterfell, the capital of the North. The capital of the North has always been Winterfell so the ruler of the North, be it the Kings in the North during the North's time as an independent kingdom or the Lords Paramount of the North on behalf of the Iron Throne, has always also been the Lord of Winterfell. The title is more of a formality than a position of power like King in the North, Lord Paramount of the North, Warden of the North. The title can be shared among multiple people inside the Stark family (trueborn and not).
All Lords of Winterfell have been Starks until Theon Greyjoy briefly conquered Winterfell during the War of Five Kings. Soon after, Roose Bolton became the Lord Paramount of the North, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell as reward for his betrayal of House Stark at the Red Wedding. Roose was soon succeeded as Lord of Winterfell by his son, Ramsay Bolton, who personally murdered him. Not long after that, House Stark reclaimed Winterfell and this title after the Battle of the Bastards. With Jon Snow being named as the new King in the North by his bannermen after the Battle of the Bastards, The Lord of Winterfell (De Facto) is now Jon, despite still considered a bastard, rules over Winterfell and the North as King. Although the title is also shared among his siblings as sort of formality: which means that Sansa, Bran and Arya are also Lords of Winterfell and can administrate the castle as "Castillans" while its current owner King Jon is at war.
To better clarify:
- Jon Snow: King in the North and Lord of Winterfell.
- Sansa Stark: Princess of the North and Lady of Winterfell.
- Bran Stark: Prince of the North and Lord of Winterfell.
- Arya Stark: Princess of the North and Lady of Winterfell.
However is known that Jon Snow is not Ned's son at all, but the son of his younger sister Lyanna Stark. According to the male-preference primogeniture law of inheritance followed in Westeros, Bran Stark is the rightful heir to Winterfell, ahead of Jon and even his older sister Sansa. But being the Three Eyed Raven he decided to trust the administration of the castle to his siblings Jon and Sansa.
Recent events
Season 1
Rickard Stark held the title until he was murdered by the Mad King during Robert's Rebellion.[1] When the series begins, Rickard's second son Eddard Stark is the holder until his death when the title passed to his eldest son, Robb.[2] Following Eddard's execution under false acts of treason by King Joffrey Baratheon, Robb Stark goes to war and leaves his eldest brother Bran to be Lord of Winterfell in his absence. Robb stylizes himself King in the North like the Starks of old. Robb promises to avenge his father and separate the North from the rule of the Seven Kingdoms.[3]
Season 2
During the War of the Five Kings, Balon Greyjoy rises in rebellion against the Iron Throne and stylizes himself as King of the Iron Islands. King Balon sends his daughter Yara to seize Deepwood Motte and his son Theon to raid the Stony Shore.[4]
However, Theon decides to use an attack on Torrhen's Square as a distraction. With Winterfell undefended, Theon seized the chance and took Winterfell as his own, making him the new Lord of Winterfell.[5]
Season 3
In exchange for his part in the Red Wedding, Roose Bolton is named Warden of the North, becoming the new Lord of Winterfell, although he does not immediately move there.
Season 4
After the Surrender of Moat Cailin, the Bolton army occupies the ruined fortress of Winterfell and begins restoring it as House Bolton settles in as the new rulers of the North.
Season 5
Stannis Baratheon offers to legitimize Jon Snow. He admits that his goal is to legitimize Jon as a full member of House Stark and install him as the Lord of Winterfell, surmising that the Northern lords will rally to Stannis's cause to take the Iron Throne if Stannis has the backing of a Stark lord. Jon ultimately declines the offer, leaving Winterfell's heir as Ramsay Bolton.
Season 6
Ramsay becomes the new Lord of Winterfell after he murders his father Roose Bolton. After the Battle of the Bastards and the death of Ramsay Bolton, Lady Sansa Stark is now Lady of Winterfell.
References
- ↑ "Winter is Coming"
- ↑ "Baelor"
- ↑ "Fire and Blood"
- ↑ "What is Dead May Never Die"
- ↑ "The Old Gods and the New"
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