House Bolton

House Bolton of the Dreadfort is an extinct Great House of Westeros. After the Red Wedding, they became the rulers of the North, having usurped their position from their former liege lords, House Stark. Their original lands were in the northeast of the North. The head of the house was the Lord of the Dreadfort.HBO viewers guide, season 2 guide to houses, House Stark, Roose Bolton entry
House Bolton was infamous for its centuries-old practice of flaying their enemies alive, to the point that they used a flayed man as their sigil. The Boltons supposedly gave up this practice after bending the knee to House Stark,"House Bolton" and centuries later, Lord Eddard Stark outlawed flaying in the North altogether, but the Boltons continued the practice."Garden of Bones" This led to them being despised and feared by many of the Northern houses, especially after their betrayal of House Stark.
House Bolton's heraldry consisted of a red flayed man upside-down, his flayed skin forming a white, X-shaped cross behind him, over a field of black. Their house words were "Our Blades Are Sharp," though a common saying of members of the house was "A naked man has few secrets; a flayed man, none."
==History==
===Background===
The origins of House Bolton date back to at least the Age of Heroes, a savage age in which the houses of First Men waged war one upon the other. For centuries, the Red Kings of House Bolton resisted the efforts of the Stark Kings of Winter to unify the North under their rule, killing several Starks in the process, and, according to rumors, keeping their skins as trophies and even wearing them as cloaks. 
During these centuries when the North was divided into a dozen or so smaller petty kingdoms, the Boltons and Starks were chief rivals for domination over all the others. House Bolton's kingdom covered a large portion of the lands east of Winterfell, centered around the Dreadfort itself.HBO viewers guide, the Dreadfort entry
Eventually, the Boltons were defeated and bent the knee to House Stark, giving up their practice of flaying their prisoners as sign of their submission. Nevertheless, they remained the second most powerful house of the North. However, the practice of flaying was not officially outlawed until the lordship of Eddard Stark.
===House of the Dragon: Season 1===
A member of House Bolton travels to King's Landing to participate in the Heir's Tournament; a joust to celebrate the birth of Prince Baelon Targaryen. They dress in dark armor adorned with the flayed man of the Dreadfort, and wear a helmet with a plume of crimson feathers."The Heirs of the Dragon"
===Game of Thrones: Season 1===
House Bolton answers the summon of Robb Stark, acting Lord of Winterfell, when he calls the bannermen of House Stark to march south to demand the liberation of Ned Stark and answer the aggression of House Lannister against the Riverlands."The Pointy End"
House Bolton swears its allegiance to Robb when Greatjon Umber proposes Northern independence under Robb as King in the North."Fire and Blood"
===Game of Thrones: Season 2===
The forces of House Bolton remain with the main Northern host as it invades the Westerlands.Season 2 Blu-ray: War of the Five Kings feature Bolton forces participate in the Battle of Oxcross.
After news of the capture of Winterfell reaches Robb's host, Roose sends word to his bastard son, Ramsay Snow, to raise a force to retake Winterfell."The Old Gods and the New"
The Bolton force lays siege to Winterfell. The Ironborn turn on Theon and deliver him to Ramsay in exchange for safe passage out of the North."Valar Morghulis" However, Ramsay and his men turn on the Ironborn and flay them alive, whilst putting Winterfell to the torch."Mhysa"
===Game of Thrones: Season 3===
The Bolton forces march along with the rest of the Northern army all the way to the castle of Harrenhal in the Riverlands, only to find it empty, except for the bodies of Northern and Riverlands prisoners put to the sword. In the meantime Lord Bolton dispatches his "best hunters" to hunt down the fugitive Jaime Lannister."Valar Dohaeris"
The Bolton host is left to hold Harrenhal after news of the death of Hoster Tully reach the ruined castle."Dark Wings, Dark Words"
The Boltons are revealed as turncoats when they assist House Frey in the massacre known as the Red Wedding. As a reward for their betrayal, Tywin appoints Roose as the new Warden of the North as well as the new Lord of Winterfell.
===Game of Thrones: Season 4===
The Boltons launch a campaign to retake the North from the invading Ironborn, but their army is stuck south of Moat Cailin, cutting them off from entering the North."The Lion and the Rose" Ramsay uses Theon to persuade the Ironborn to surrender, then Bolton soldiers kiil them. The main Bolton army now enters the North, along with Roose Bolton, who legitimizes Ramsay as a Bolton for capturing the Moat. With their army now in the North, Roose and Ramsay March to Winterfell and begin repairs on the ruined castle."The Mountain and the Viper"
===Game of Thrones: Season 5===
Though the Boltons, in Roose's words, have become a Great House and are now situated at Winterfell, the death of Tywin has left House Bolton's protection in a dire situation, since they no longer have enough men to hold the North should the bannermen of House Stark rise up against them, especially in response to Ramsay's atrocities. The Boltons also face a new threat in the form of Stannis Baratheon, who is garrisoned at the Wall and is planning to retake the North from the Boltons and rally the North to his army for another chance to take the Iron Throne. In order to strengthen their position, Roose conspires with Petyr Baelish to have Ramsay marry Sansa, unaware that Baelish is apparently plotting the Boltons' downfall in revenge for the part they played in Catelyn's death."High Sparrow"
The Boltons defeat Stannis's host, but Sansa and Theon escape."Mother's Mercy"
===Game of Thrones: Season 6===
Despite the Boltons' victory, Sansa's escape severely jeopardizes their claim to the North. The birth of Roose's trueborn son visibly disturbs Ramsay, who knows that he no longer has the strongest claim to his father's titles and lands; he kills his father, his stepmother Walda, and his half-brother, thus becomes the Lord of the Dreadfort, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North."Home"
Ramsay forges an alliance with House Umber."Oathbreaker" The Bolton army supports the Glovers in liberating Deepwood Motte from the Ironborn, successfully ending their campaign to retake the North. "Book of the Stranger"
The battle between the Boltons and Starks, reinforced by their respective allies, ends with the victory of the Starks. Ramsay's death and the annihilation of his army mark the end of the Boltons' reign over the North and the extinction of House Bolton as a whole."Battle of the Bastards"
==Military strength==
House Bolton commanded a formidable military prior to the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings, capable of fielding over 5,000 men. As the second most powerful house within the North, the Boltons forces are formidable, rivaled only by House Stark and House Manderly in terms of power and influence. Unlike most Northern Houses, House Bolton is considered by far to be the cruelest and most gruesome vassals within the North, thus earning them the aptly-befitting title of the “Bane of the North”. Being formidable rivals of their Stark overlords for centuries, before ultimately swearing fealty to the Kings of Winter. 
Bolton soldiers seem to be well-equipped. This is particularly evidenced by the degree of standardization of weapons and armor purchased due to high taxation of the probably intimidated and extorted populace.
The Bolton soldiers are outfitted with dark-colored leather tunics with chainmail and gorgets carved with the Bolton sigil. The most distinct characteristic of the Bolton army is the conical point-shaped helmets with a distinct groove at the edges which distinguishes them from other northern soldiers. The simplicity of the armor is more on its aesthetic and symbolic measure rather than practicality or effectiveness. Being likely attributed to the Bolton’s faculty of extreme cruelty, therefore, creating a sense of intimidation in the battlefield. 
The Bolton army appears to be well-trained and well-organized in battle, fighting several battles during the War of the Five Kings. Such battles include the battle in the ice, where Bolton cavalry performed a perfect pincer movement around Stannis Baratheon's army and completely surrounded it. In the Battle of the Bastards, Bolton soldiers surrounded the Stark army in a shield phalanx, and began cutting down the Stark forces with spears from behind the shields. The Bolton army was also responsible for ending the Ironborn occupation of the North, by recapturing the castles and lands claimed by the invaders. Ultimately, it took the intervention of House Arryn, another Great House, to bring about the Boltons' downfall.
==Relationships==
===Past members===
*Lord {Roose Bolton}, the head of the family. Lord of the Dreadfort, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North. Murdered by his legitimized bastard son Ramsay Bolton shortly after the birth of his trueborn son by his wife Walda.
**Lady {Walda}, his current wife of House Frey. Murdered by her stepson Ramsay after giving birth to a trueborn son by Roose.
***Lord {Ramsay Bolton}, originally Ramsay Snow, Roose's legitimized bastard son by a miller's wife. Executed by House Stark for committing countless atrocities by being fed to his own starving hounds. His death marks the extinction of House Bolton as Ramsay had previously killed his father and half-brother.
****Lady Sansa Stark, Ramsay's wife of House Stark. Wed Ramsay at the behest of Petyr Baelish to avenge her family but later fled after being physically and sexually abused by her husband. She and Baelish later bring the Knights of the Vale, turning the tide against Ramsay at the Battle of the Bastards and ultimately defeating him. She visits him one last time to witness his impending execution and reminds him that his house will die with him.
***{Domeric Bolton}, Roose's first trueborn son and heir. Died supposedly from illness.
***{Roose Bolton's son}, Roose and Walda’s trueborn son. Murdered by his half-brother Ramsay along with his mother shortly after his birth.
===Ancestors===
*King Royce IV Bolton, called "the Redarm" due to his fondness for pulling out entrails.
*King Rogar Bolton, the last Red King of the Dreadfort.
==Family tree==
==In the books==
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Bolton is noted as one of the most powerful families of the North. They are noted for flaying their enemies alive and even wearing their skins as cloaks. They have even captured and flayed Starks in the distant past. House Bolton were unruly vassals of the Starks until approximately a thousand years ago, when they finally bent the knee. Three hundred years later they rebelled but were defeated. The armies of House Stark besieged the Dreadfort for two years before finally forcing the Boltons to surrender and submit.
The Boltons are considered a sinister and ill-omened house, but Lord Roose Bolton is noted as a capable battle commander. Roose Bolton fought alongside Eddard Stark during Robert's Rebellion. After the Battle of the Trident, Roose suggested executing the defeated Barristan Selmy, but Eddard and Robert Baratheon refused.
===Known members===
*Lord Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North, called "the Leech Lord".
**His first wife, deceased.
**Lady {Bethany Bolton}, his second wife, deceased.
***{Domeric Bolton}, his trueborn son, deceased.
***Unnamed sons, died still in the cradle.
**Lady Walda Frey, Lord Roose's third wife, called "Fat Walda", currently pregnant.
**Ramsay Bolton, born Ramsay Snow and called "the Bastard of the Dreadfort", his bastard son and heir. Self-styled Lord of the Hornwood and Lord of Winterfell.
***Lady {Donella Manderly}, Ramsay's first wife, Lady of the Hornwood as the widow of Lord Halys Hornwood. Imprisoned by Ramsay and starved to death.
***Lady "Arya Stark", actually Jeyne Poole, Ramsay's second wife. Currently in custody of King Stannis Baratheon.
Domeric Bolton died shortly before the beginning of the series, having sought out his bastard half-brother Ramsay (Domeric having always wanted a brother of his own). With no other trueborn heirs, Roose brought Ramsay to the Dreadfort and began to treat him as his heir.
The sigil of House Bolton in the books is a red flayed man on a field of pink with red blood drops. The TV series design has specified that the flayed man is displayed hanging upside down, his flayed skin forming an X-shaped cross. The color scheme in the TV series is slightly different: it is a red flayed man, but hanging upside-down, his flayed skin forming a white, X-shaped cross with a black background.
==Gallery==
House Bolton tourney.jpg|The banner of House Bolton at the Tourney of the Hand in "The Wolf and the Lion".
Bolton_banner.jpg|House Bolton banner from a promotional image released by HBO.
House Bolton.png|HBO viewers guide icon for House Bolton.
Bolton men3x02.jpg|Bolton horsemen carrying the Bolton sigil in "Dark Wings, Dark Words"
Bolton-map-marker.jpg|A map-marker used to represent House Bolton forces.
Robb Wind MHYSA new lightened.jpg|Bolton men also take part in the final mockery of the King in the North (see to the right).
Bolton.jpg|The flayed man of House Bolton.
House-Bolton-wax-seal.jpg|A letter, sealed with wax, and bearing the sigil of House Bolton.
Bolton-shields.png|Shields emblazoned with the Flayed Man of the Dreadfort.
House Bolton Season 5 promo pic.jpg|House Bolton in Season 5: Lord Roose, his bastard son Ramsay, and Roose's new wife Walda Frey.
game-of-thrones-house-bolton-2932.jpg|Bolton infantry at the Battle of the Bastards
19.jpg|Bolton shield wall
pFMBvQO.png|House Bolton army on the march
a9e90f00b122b91866ab50e34a253681.png|House Bolton archers at the Battle of the Bastards
==References==
===Notes===
==External links==
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Category:Extinct houses
Category:Great Houses
 
Category:Houses from the North
Category:Houses of First Men origin
Category:Royal houses
Category:Vassal houses
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