Rickard Stark was Lord of Winterfell and head of House Stark during the reign of Aerys II. He was the father of Lord Eddard Stark and his siblings. Like most Starks he was a friend of the Nights Watch. The son of Edwyle Stark, Rickard and his wife had four children: Brandon, Eddard, Lyanna and Benjen Stark. He negotiated the betrothals of Brandon and Lyanna to Catelyn Tully and Robert Baratheon, respectively. According to Barbrey Dustin the southern marriages were the idea of Rickards maester at the time, Walys. Before any of the marriages could take place Lyanna disappeared. Brandon held Rhaegar Targaryen, the heir to the throne, responsible and went with a small company of young nobles to Kings Landing to challenge Rhaegar. Aerys II had them all imprisoned on charges of conspiring to kill the crown prince and summoned their fathers to answer for the crimes of their sons. The nobles went and were immediately executed with their sons by Aerys. As was his right, Rickard demanded a trial by combat. Jaime Lannister relates that Aerys granted Rickards request but to Aerys, the Targaryen champion was fire. He had Rickard burned, with the pyromancer Rossart lighting a fire beneath him while Rickard was dressed in his armor. Brandon was made to watch his father die with a noose around his neck and a sword just out of his reach. Trying to reach the sword to save his father, Brandon strangled himself. In the crypts of Winterfell there is a statue of Rickard at his tomb, which is flanked by those of Brandon and Lyanna. Rickards engraving is said to match his appearance in life with a long, stern face. Rickard was succeeded by his second son Eddard. Together with Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon, Eddard led the revolt against the Targaryens that overthrew their dynasty.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:18:49 +0000
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