Robb Stark

Robb Stark was one of the most memorable characters in “Game of Thrones”, the award-winning HBO series that captured the imaginations of millions of viewers around the world. Portrayed with skill and gusto by Scottish actor Richard Madden, Robb’s journey from privileged and sheltered nobleman to fierce and respected warrior was the stuff of epic fantasy.

But who was Robb Stark in the world of author George R.R. Martin’s novels? How did he come to be known as the “Young Wolf of the North”, and what was his part in the bloody and complicated game of that unfolded over the course of the stories?

Born in Winterfell, the ancestral home of the Stark family in the northern region of Westeros, Robb was the eldest son of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and his wife Catelyn. Raised in a world of privilege and honor, he grew up with a deep sense of responsibility towards his family, his people, and the ideals of Truth, Duty, and Honor that governed his father’s rule.

At the outset of “A Song of Ice and Fire”, the series of novels on which “Game of Thrones” is based, Robb is a promising young man of fourteen years, with a keen mind and a brave heart. However, his sheltered life is shattered when his father is called south to the capital of King’s Landing, accused of treason by the conniving Queen Cersei Lannister.

Robb is left in Winterfell as acting lord, and soon learns that the world he thought he knew is a place of danger and treachery. When news comes that his father has been executed, along with most of his entourage, Robb is plunged into a grief and rage that will drive his actions for years to come.

Determined to avenge his father’s death and defend his family from the enemies gathering against them, Robb rallies the northern lords to his cause and declares war on the young King Joffrey, whom he sees as a usurper and a monster. He knows that the odds are against him, but his sense of honor and duty impel him forward, and he soon gains a reputation as a skilled and fearless commander.

Robb’s army wins several battles against the Lannister forces, and he gains allies and supporters along the way, including the fierce and mysterious Lady Talisa Maegyr, who becomes his lover and confidante. But as the war drags on and the casualties mount, Robb begins to feel the weight of his responsibilities, and the doubts and fears that had been lurking at the edges of his psyche start to take hold.

When his mother Catelyn frees the imprisoned Jaime Lannister, hoping to exchange him for her two captive daughters, Robb is outraged, feeling that his mother has betrayed the cause and the honor of their House. He marries Talisa in secret, defying his promises of alliance to the powerful House Frey, and this decision proves to be a fatal mistake.

At the infamous Red Wedding, Robb’s hopes and dreams are cruelly dashed, as his mother, his wife, and most of his loyal followers are slaughtered by the treacherous Freys and Boltons. Robb himself is murdered by his former bannerman Roose Bolton, in a brutal act of betrayal that echoes down the years.

Robb Stark may have died a tragic and violent death, but his legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of his people and his fans. A true hero and leader, his example of courage and conviction inspires us to stand up for what we believe in, even in the face of overwhelming odds and powerful enemies. The Young Wolf of the North may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.