The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking and memorable moments in both the “A Song of Ice and Fire” books and the television series “Game of Thrones”. The Starks, who are portrayed as the protagonists, were ambushed by their supposed allies–the Freys and the Boltons. The resulting massacre left many fans heartbroken and angry, demanding answers as to who was behind the treacherous attack. In this blog post, we will explore the question: Who killed the Starks in the Red Wedding?
The Key Players
To understand who orchestrated the Red Wedding, we must first examine the key players involved in the massacre. These include Lord Walder Frey, Lord Roose Bolton, and Tywin Lannister. Each of these characters had their own motivations for participating in the attack, and it was their collaboration that allowed the attack to succeed.
Lord Walder Frey
Lord Walder Frey was the host of the festivities that took place during the Red Wedding. He was infamous for his grudges and his willingness to betray those who had wronged him. In the case of the Starks, his motives were personal–Robb Stark had broken a marriage pact with one of his daughters. Lord Frey believed that by betraying the Starks, he would prove himself to be a formidable force to be reckoned with and would earn himself greater respect in Westeros.
Lord Roose Bolton
Lord Roose Bolton was a cold and calculating character who had long desired to increase his power and influence. He saw an opportunity in the Red Wedding to remove his enemies and to solidify his hold over the North. He had carefully cultivated a relationship with Tywin Lannister, and it was this alliance that allowed him to betray the Starks without fear of reprisal.
Tywin Lannister
Tywin Lannister was the true mastermind behind the Red Wedding. While Lord Frey and Lord Bolton had their own motivations for participating in the attack, it was Tywin who provided the funding, support, and protection necessary to ensure its success. He had long viewed Robb Stark as a threat to his own power, and the Red Wedding was the ultimate solution to that problem. By eliminating the Starks, Tywin could secure his hold over the Iron Throne, while also punishing the North for its rebellion.
The Actual Killing
While all three men played a role in the betrayal of the Starks, it was Lord Bolton who personally carried out the killing. He stabbed Robb Stark with a dagger thrust to the heart, ending his life and ensuring that the Stark family line would not continue. “Lame” Lothar Frey, one of Lord Walder’s many sons, was responsible for the murder of Robb’s pregnant wife, Queen Talisa Stark, plunging a knife into her belly. Meanwhile, other Freys and Boltons began slaughtering the rest of the wedding guests, including many of Robb’s allies and bannermen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Red Wedding was a tragic event that left many fans shocked and devastated. The betrayal of the Starks was orchestrated by Lord Walder Frey, Lord Roose Bolton, and Tywin Lannister, each of whom had their own reasons for wanting the Starks gone. While Lord Bolton was the one to personally carry out the killing, it was Tywin Lannister who provided the means and motivation for the attack. In the end, the Red Wedding was a brutal reminder that in Westeros, power and wealth often come at the cost of loyalty and honor.
FAQ
Why did Frey betray Robb?
The Frey betrayal of Robb Stark was one of the most significant turning points in the War of the Five Kings in the Game of Thrones series. The betrayal took place during Robb Stark’s wedding, which was held at the Twins, home of the Freys. The Freys had an ancient agreement with the Starks that gave them great status and security, and Robb violated many of those guarantees, leading to the betrayal.
There were many reasons why the Freys decided to betray Robb Stark. Firstly, Robb Stark had broken his promise to marry a Frey daughter, instead marrying another woman, Talisa Maegyr. The Freys had already given up one of their daughters to marry Robb, but he had taken a new wife without seeking their permission or approval, thereby breaking the promise. This was a great insult to the Freys and an affront to their honor.
Secondly, Robb Stark had executed Rickard Karstark, another key supporter of the Northern cause. Rickard had two sons who were killed in the service of the Northmen, and he had become a vengeful and bitter enemy of the Lannisters. However, he took his anger out on two Lannister cousins, killing them in secret and in defiance of Robb Stark’s orders. When Robb learned of this, he was forced to execute Rickard, which meant that he lost the support of House Karstark. This caused the Northern army to be significantly weakened and made it easier for the Lannisters to push back against the Northern forces.
Finally, the Lannisters had won a significant victory at the Battle of Blackwater Bay, which had sealed their control of King’s Landing. This victory meant that the North could no longer count on the support of Renly Baratheon’s followers, and many Lords who had previously supported the Northern cause began to abandon it. The Freys saw this trend and concluded that Robb Stark had lost the war already. They also knew that the Lannisters were looking for allies who could help them crush the Northern rebellion.
The betrayal of the Freys was a combination of several factors, including the broken promise to marry a Frey daughter, the execution of Rickard Karstark, and the Lannister victory at the Battle of Blackwater Bay. All these events weakened Robb Stark’s position and convinced the Freys that they could make better deals with the Lannisters. Hence, they betrayed him, leading to one of the most significant turning points in the War of the Five Kings.
Why did the Boltons betray Stark?
The Boltons’ betrayal of the Starks can be traced back to their long-standing animosity towards this northern house. For centuries, the Boltons and the Starks have been sworn enemies, engaging in numerous feuds and battles over the years. The Boltons resent the Starks for their long-standing dominance over the North, and they have always dreamed of supplanting them as the rulers of this ancient kingdom.
The betrayal itself was orchestrated by Roose Bolton, the head of House Bolton. Roose had pretended to be an ally of the Starks for a time, but in reality, he was secretly plotting their downfall. He saw an opportunity to seize power after the Red Wedding, where Robb Stark was betrayed and murdered by Walder Frey, who had promised to assist him in retaking the North.
Roose was aware that the remaining Stark forces were disorganized and vulnerable after the Red Wedding, and he decided to take advantage of this situation. He made a deal with Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, offering to help them defeat the remaining Stark loyalists in exchange for being named Warden of the North.
Roose’s hatred of the Starks was so great that he was willing to go to any lengths to eliminate them from power. He even orchestrated the brutal murder of Robb’s pregnant wife, Talisa, at the Red Wedding. This act ensured that there would be no surviving heirs to the Stark family, leaving the Boltons free to seize power in the North.
The Boltons’ betrayal of the Starks was driven by a combination of deep-seated hatred and a desire for power and domination. It was a ruthless and calculated move that left the Starks shattered and powerless, fueling the fires of revenge that would burn for many seasons to come.
How evil was Ramsay Bolton?
Ramsay Bolton, also known as Ramsay Snow, was a prominent character in the Game of Thrones series and is widely regarded as one of the most evil and repulsive characters in the show. Throughout the series, Ramsay commits some of the most heinous acts, earning himself a reputation as a sadistic psychopath.
Ramsay was the bastard son of Roose Bolton and was brought up in the household of his father until he was legitimized by decree of King Tommen Baratheon. Ramsay’s father, Roose Bolton, is also a renowned villain in the series who played a key role in the infamous Red Wedding. However, even Roose Bolton, with all his cunning and military prowess, feared his own son because of the extreme sadism that he displayed.
Ramsay’s vile behavior manifests on numerous occasions throughout the show. He is known for his brutal treatment of Theon Greyjoy, who he mutilates and psychologically torments to the point of complete submission. He also rapes Sansa Stark, who he later marries, and treats her like a prisoner in her own home. Ramsay also kills countless innocent people, often in the most gruesome ways imaginable, such as releasing his own starving hounds on his victims.
Furthermore, Ramsay’s cruelty is not limited to his enemies and those he considers traitors. He once killed his father’s wife and his own baby brother so that he could be next in line for the Bolton seat of power, as well as flaying alive many of his own soldiers who failed to live up to his standards.
Ramsay Bolton is undoubtedly one of the most evil and profoundly unpleasant characters in the entire Game of Thrones series. With his sadistic tendencies, murderous ways, and complete lack of empathy, he is a character that viewers love to hate and one that has left a lasting impression on the show’s legacy.