The Starks of Winterfell are one of the most beloved families in the world of Game of Thrones. Their honor, loyalty, and bravery make fans root for them, even in the most tough times. But the story of the Starks is not all about sunshine and rainbows, it’s filled with heartbreak, bravery, and a mix of tragic and victorious endings.
From the very beginning, they were the central point of the show. They suffered a lot, but improved throughout the show, and even made it to the end of the show where most of the powerful kings were long gone and forgotten. This post is simply to explain each Stark’s character and what was their fate in the end.
Let’s have a look at the fascinating stories of the Starks of Winterfell.
The Starks and their Fates
Ned Stark
- The Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the Northern Kingdom
- Died in the first season
- The head of the Stark Family
- Played by: Sean Bean
Ned is one of the most honorable characters in the series. He was the head of the family and had a whole Kingdom of North to look after. In the first episode, we can clearly see how happy the family was when they were together in their home. But, when Jon Arryn (John Standing) died, Robert came to Ned so he could ask him to serve as the next hand of the King, and that one decision was a huge mistake that led to the downfall of House Stark.
Lord Eddard was a man of peace and justice, and he never let his children know about the politics and games of the world that exist outside the walls of Winterfell, and in my opinion that was a mistake as well, that’s why all Stark children were innocent and seemed dumb in the beginning of the season.
But one thing is certain, all the horrors and miseries we had seen in eight seasons of Game of Thrones would never have happened if Ned Stark ruled the seven Kingdoms. But, unfortunately, he lost his head in the first season which turned into a war between two ancient and powerful houses.
Catelyn Stark
- Wife of Ned
- One of the most courageous women in the series
- Died in fourth season
- Played by: Michelle Fairley
If you declare Lady Catelyn as one of the most courageous women in the Thrones world. The risks she took and the challenges she faced were never able to stop her from protecting her children. She wasn’t a dramatic or political person but she was wise and kind just like her husband, and you already know that these two qualities are not enough for a Lord or King if he wishes to rule the seven kingdoms.
Cately also became too much emotional and judgemental at various points and that’s why she made mistakes that led her family to a more challenging phase, just like, when she imprisoned Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) without any proof of attacking her boy, this one mistake led Jamie Lannister to attack her husband in Kings Landing.
Still, when it comes to your loved ones, you may become too emotional. As a kind woman, she delivered as much as she could, but, unfortunately, she also lost her life in the famous Red Wedding.
Robb Stark
- Eldest son of Ned
- Known the King of the North after his father died
- Died in fourth season
- Played by: Richard Madden
You can judge Lord Eddard’s character by how he raised his eldest son, Robb. He was also nice and kind just like his father and, when he rebelled against the Lannisters for killing his father, he truly revealed his character. Just like his father, the whole kingdom is like children to him, and he cared for each and every person in his protection and, even every soldier under his command, that’s why the remaining loyal houses of the North called him “The King in the North” as their fealty to his revenge and courage.
But still, the fact is undeniable that Eddard never tried to reveal the real image of the world to his children, that’s why, being wise wasn’t enough for Robb as well, and fell in love during the rebellion and broke his oath to Walder Frey (David Bradley) which later on becomes a serious blunder and death of Stark members and forces.
Walder Frey felt insulted when Robb married a foreigner instead of one of his daughters, and that’s why he betrayed his own King, which resulted in the ending of Stark’s rule from the North. Since, all the Northern houses followed Robb as a King, when he died at the Red Wedding they all felt House Stark was gone for good.
Sansa Stark
- Eldest daughter of Ned
- Became the first Queen of the North
- Suffered a lot to get back to her home
- Alive till the end of the series
- Played by: Sophie Turner
Sansa is the second name of royal sufferings in the show. Yes, that could be said without a second thought, as from the moment she left Winterfell with her father and sister and till the end of the show, when she becomes a Queen, she suffers a lot of challenges and brutality.
However, one fact about Sansa is impressive, despite being the most innocent among all the Stark characters, she learned and beat the oddest characters in her whole journey. As living in Kings Landing is the same as living in a burning hell, where everyone is a liar, she smartly outmaneuvers all the clever people around her and runs safely, still, she suffers a lot even after returning to Winterfell, but, that also made her smart and cunning in a long run.
After all, it required a lot of impressive skills and a brave personality to become an acting ruler of the Northern Kingdom (which is also considered one of the most stubborn and superstitious kingdoms), and she was the first one to claim that honor. She luckily and skillfully made it alive till the end of the show with a great legacy to her name.
Brandon Stark
- Younger son of Ned (2nd in line of succession)
- Becomes the main reason for conflict between Starks and Lannisters
- Becomes the King of Six Kingdoms by the end of the series
- Also becomes The Three-Eyed Raven
- Alive till the end of the series
- Played by: Isaac Hempstead Wright
Bran was the main reason that started a war between Starks and Lannisters, well, he was just an adventurous child and never hurt anyone, but, he saw Jamie and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) making love in the broken tower, and under forced circumstances, Jamie had to push him out of that tower. He thought the fall would kill the boy but he was wrong, the boy survived and even after he lost his legs he became much more.
After the fall, Bran’s journey is also full of suffering. He becomes the acting Lord of Winterfell, but as he has no power and ruling experience, he loses his own home to Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) during the rebellion. He was never up to the challenges and still, he traveled through the most dangerous and darkest path during the series and became a warg (that can enter someone’s mind and control them) and the Three-eyed Raven (that can see through history).
Despite having no skill in battle and military experience, he was highly possessed by the remarkable abilities that no other man had in world of Game of Thrones. That’s why, by the end of the series, he becomes the King of Six Kingdoms.
Arya Stark
- 2nd younger daughter of Ned
- Most fierce among the Stark family
- Becomes a faceless assassin
- Killed the White Walker King
- Alive till the end of the series
- Played by: Maisie Williams
Arya was the most challenging and fierce Stark in the whole series. She was never afraid of anyone at all. Always up for a challenge and to confront someone, and never afraid of telling the truth. Lord Eddard always tried to teach her how to become a lady but she never wanted to become one and that’s why he brought her one of the finest sword trainers Syrio Forel (Miltos Yerolemou).
Throughout the season, she always traveled from one place to another. At first, she was doing it to get back to her family, but, after the Red Wedding, she was doing it for survival. She faced, lived, and fought with some of the finest and most dangerous clans and fighters in the Seven Kingdoms. The most impressive fact about her is the list of names she was going to kill and the way she repeated those names until all of them were gone.
Her journey takes in the fifth season when she travels through the narrow sea all the way to the free city of Bravos to become a faceless men. After her training with Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha), she returned to Westeros and continued to track all the people she hated and betrayed her family. Luckily, due to some good support and her fighting skills, she also made it to the end of the show.
Rickon Stark
- Youngest son of Ned (3rd in line of succession)
- most innocent Stark lived
- no major achievements in the series
- Died in the seventh season
- Played by: Art Parkinson
Rickon is certainly the most innocent Stark ever lived. Well, there’s a reason, half a family is on the run, and the other half is fighting a rebellion, with no sign of mother and father and no blood relative to guide and support. He could be considered, the most innocent royal kid who suffered a lot in the show.
However, as mentioned above, he never achieved anything great as a Lord but his journey is pitiful. He was accompanied by Osha (Natalia Tena) after he had to leave Brandon so he could go beyond the wall to become a Three-Eyed Raven, but later on, he was killed by Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon). So, unluckily, he never made it to the end of the show and died in the seventh season.
Benjen Stark
- The younger brother of Ned
- A Ranger in the Nights Watch
- Killed by White Walkers
- Died in the seventh season
- Played by: Joseph Mawle
Benjen Stark served as a ranger in the Night’s Watch. Mysterious and brave, Benjen sacrificed much to protect his family and the realm. His life was all about serving the realms of men and the Seven Kingdoms. He made a great contribution in saving the Kingdoms as a ranger, even though he made less screen appearances.
Benjen was mortally wounded by White Walkers but saved from full transformation by the Children of the Forest. He became a half-dead figure, unable to cross south of the Wall. He ultimately sacrificed himself to save Jon Snow, ensuring his nephew’s survival, and died in the seventh season.
Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen)
- Claimed illegitimate son of Ned Stark later revealed as a Targaryen (Half Stark and half Targaryen)
- Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch
- Becomes King of the North for a short time
- Savior of the Seven Kingdoms
- Most humble and kind character
- Alive till the end of the series
- Played by: Kit Harington
Jon Snow’s journey is one of the most inspiring stories of the show. Though he was raised as Eddard Stark’s illegitimate son, he lived by Stark values. His bravery and sense of duty defined him, but he also carried the secret of his Targaryen heritage. He played a crucial role in the battles for the survival of the realm.
As of personal opinion, at the beginning of the show, he seemed like an ordinary character with no great name and legacy, but later on, his character continued to grow and by the end of the fourth season, he became the most charming and brave character of the show.
The whole story takes a massive turn when we realize that he was never illegitimate, his claimed father kept the secret from the whole world to save him and raised him as his son, and that’s why he becomes one of the most fierce characters in the show. In the end, he was supposed to become a King but unfortunately ended up as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch for the second as payment for killing Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).
