House Karstark

House Karstark of Karhold is an extinct vassal house that held fealty to House Stark of Winterfell, and briefly did so for House Bolton of the Dreadfort after the Red Wedding due to Robb Stark executing their lord, Rickard Karstark, for treason during the War of the Five Kings. Their lands are northeast of Winterfell, located in heavy forested lands overlooking the Shivering Sea. The head of the house is the Lord of Karhold.
The Karstark sigil is a white sunburst on black. Their house words are "The Sun of Winter."
==History==
===Background===
House Karstark is a cadet branch of House Stark and trace their descent from Karlon Stark, and through him, to the Starks and the First Men. Karlon Stark was a younger son of the King in the North who was awarded lands on the eastern region of the North after putting down a rebellion of House Bolton of the Dreadfort, about a thousand years ago. Over time, Karlon's seat, originally known as Karl's Hold, became known as Karhold, while the Karl's Hold Starks became known as Karstarks.HBO viewers guide, season 4: episode 5 map, Karhold entry"The North"
===Game of Thrones: Season 1===
When Robb Stark calls his banners to march south to rescue his father, House Karstark is among them."The Pointy End" Harrion Karstark dies in a battle.
===Game of Thrones: Season 2===
After rallying an army of nearly 20,000 soldiers, Robb begins a campaign in the Westerlands. Later, Jaime briefly escapes after killing his guard Torrhen Karstark, Harrion's brother. When Jaime is recaptured, he is accosted and nearly lynched by several Karstark soldiers, incensed by Torrhen's death. After arguing with Torrhen's father Rickard Karstark, Catelyn releases Jaime and tasks Brienne with delivering him safely to King's Landing, hoping to secure the release of her daughters, Sansa and Arya. When Catelyn explains this to Rickard, he angrily reminds her of the loss of his sons and accuses her of treason because her own children are prisoners, adding he would gladly offer his life to the gods if they would let his son live again even if that meant living as prisoners."A Man Without Honor"
===Game of Thrones: Season 3===
As an act of revenge against House Lannister, Rickard Karstark breaks into the dungeons of Riverrun and murders Martyn and Willem Lannister. Robb executes Rickard and the members of his household who assisted him under charges of treason. When Robb asks Rickard if he has any last words, he replies with "You are no king of mine" and is beheaded. Afterward, Lord Rickard's retainers abandon Robb's cause, greatly reducing the size of the Northern army."Kissed by Fire" Because of this the Karstarks, along with the Boltons, have their armies intact following the Red Wedding.
===Game of Thrones: Season 6===
Harald Karstark, the new Lord of Karhold, reports the deaths of the hunters sent by Ramsay Bolton to trap the fugitive Sansa. He nods in agreement when Ramsay suggests to his father Roose Bolton that they attack Castle Black and kill Lord Commander Jon Snow, a plan which Roose outright rejects out of fear that it would unite all northern houses against House Bolton. When Ramsay points out that they only need the support of Houses Umber, Manderly and Karstark, Lord Harald assures the Boltons that House Stark lost the Karstarks when King Robb executed his father, adding that it's time for new blood in the North. Harald keeps quiet as Roose warns his son about the dangers of having the reputation of being "a mad dog" and then congratulates Lord Bolton after Maester Wolkan announces the birth of Roose's son by Lady Walda. Harald watches impassively as Ramsay approaches his father, murders him and orders Wolkan to send ravens to the other northern houses announcing Roose has been poisoned by the enemies of House Bolton. After Wolkan acquiesces, Lord Harald chides the Maester to be respectful to his new Lord."Home"
Harald is present when Smalljon Umber, the new head of House Umber, forges an alliance with Ramsay by presenting the captives Osha and Rickon Stark. Smalljon quibs that Harald has an interest in young boys, which visibly angers him."Oathbreaker"
During a war council at Castle Black, Davos confirms what Ramsay said earlier about the Umbers, Karstarks, and Manderlys, and reminds Jon and Sansa that the Umbers and Karstarks have already declared for Ramsay. Sansa replies that the Umbers can hang for giving her brother Rickon to Ramsay, but adds the Karstarks declared without knowing they had another choice. She does not specify what she meant by this other "choice" as Davos reminds her of Robb's folly when he executed Rickard."The Door"
Harald is present at the Battle of the Bastards as a bannerman to Ramsay with at least 500 men, who is ultimately defeated due to the intervention of House Arryn and its bannermen."Battle of the Bastards"
===Game of Thrones: Season 7===
Harald is reported to have died in the battle against the Boltons, leaving his daughter, Alys Karstark, as the new head of House Karstark. Alys swears fealty to Jon, who pardons House Karstark and allows them to keep Karhold."Dragonstone"
===Game of Thrones: Season 8===
Alys Karstark returns to Winterfell with the Karstark forces from Karhold. She is greeted by Lord Yohn Royce, who welcomes and escorts her. Their arrival is witnessed by Tyrion, Davos, and Varys; Tyrion states that the Karstark sigil is "one of the better sigils," and that it "beats an onion, anyway", referring to the banner of House Seaworth."Winterfell" House Karstark became extinct when Alys was killed during the Battle of Winterfell.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw036d7BuGF/
== Past members ==
* Lord {Rickard Karstark}, Lord of Karhold. Executed by King Robb Stark under charges of treason for the murder of Martyn and Willem Lannister.
** {Harrion Karstark}, his eldest son and heir. Killed in battle fighting by the side of King Robb Stark during the War of the Five Kings.
** {Torrhen Karstark}, his second son. Murdered by Ser Jaime Lannister during an escape attempt.
** Lord {Harald Karstark}, his youngest son and successor. Becomes the Lord of Karhold following the execution of his father by Robb Stark. Participated and subsequently killed during the Battle of the Bastards on the side of House Bolton.
*** Lady {Alys Karstark}, his daughter and successor. Becomes the Lady of Karhold after her father's death. Killed by wights during the Battle of Winterfell.
==Family tree==
==In the books==
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Karstark's origins remain the same. Ironically, the rebellion that its founder, Karlon Stark, helped put down was aided by another cadet branch of the Starks, House Greystark. The Karstarks are reliable and fierce warriors. They have ties to House Hornwood through the female line. Their military power is formidable, as they are able to field some 300 cavalry and 2,000 infantry. They fought alongside the Starks during Robert's Rebellion.
Lord Rickard has three sons in the books: Harrion, Torrhen, and Eddard, as well as a daughter Alys. Harrion takes part in the battle on the Green Fork and is taken as a hostage (it is unknown if he is still alive); his brothers Torrhen and Eddard, who serve as part of Robb Stark's personal bodyguard, are killed by Jaime Lannister during the battle in the Whispering Wood. When Jaime realizes that his army is lost during the battle in the Whispering Wood, he makes a final push to single-handedly carve his way through the Northern army in an attempt to kill Robb Stark in single combat. Jaime manages to reach Robb's personal bodyguard and kill several of them, including Eddard and Torrhen, before being knocked unconscious.
===Known members===
*{Rickard Karstark}, executed by Robb Stark for treason.
** His eldest son and heir, Harrion, taken captive twice by House Lannister at the battle on the Green Fork and the Battle of Duskendale. His fate is unknown.
** His second son, {Torrhen}, killed by Jaime Lannister in the battle in the Whispering Wood.
** His third son, {Eddard}, also killed by Jaime Lannister in the battle in the Whispering Wood
** His daughter, Alys. Married to Sigorn son of Styr.
* Arnolf Karstark, Rickard's uncle, castellan of Karhold. Pretends to be Stannis's ally, but actually collaborates with the Boltons. Imprisoned at Stannis's camp.
** Cregan, Arnolf's eldest son. Imprisoned at Castle Black.
** Arthor, Arnolf's second son. Imprisoned at Stannis's camp.
*** Three grandchildren, sons of Arthor. Imprisoned at Stannis's camp.
There is no Harald Karstark in the books. His character is a condensation of several Karstark members, among them Arnolf, Harrion, and Alys.
Since the Karstarks' forces withdrew from the war after King Robb executed Lord Rickard, their military strength remained relatively intact after the Red Wedding. The Karstark cavalry had been with Robb's field army in the west at Riverrun, and immediately rode back north for Karhold. Meanwhile, the Karstark infantry was in the eastern field army under the command of Roose Bolton. By this point, Roose had decided to betray Robb and seize control of the North; he intentionally sent the Northern infantry on suicide missions, such as the disastrous Battle of Duskendale and Battle of Ruby Ford, in order to bleed the strength of the other Northern Houses still loyal to the Starks. Roose ultimately betrayed two-thirds of the infantry under his command by sending them into these ambushes - resulting in the deaths of around 5,000 men - while holding back and preserving the soldiers of House Bolton. When Roose reached the Twins for the Red Wedding, he had 3,500 men under his command; a mix of his own Bolton forces and Karstark men. Roose had spared the remaining Karstarks, as he judged that their loyalty to the Starks was wavering by this point. The remaining Karstark infantry under Roose emerged unharmed from the massacre at the Red Wedding, though none outright joined the Boltons or Freys in attacking the other Stark bannermen. The Karstarks and the Boltons are the only Northern houses to retain their military strength, besides the Northern hill tribes and the crannogmen whom Robb left behind in the North. Due to their continued anger over the execution of Lord Rickard, the Karstarks became one of the Northern Houses more ready to accept the new rule of House Bolton, even after the savagery of the Red Wedding.
It is unclear exactly how much of the Karstark armies survived after the War of the Five Kings. When Robb first marched to the south, the Karstarks had 300 cavalry and two thousand infantry. While most of the Karstark cavalry survived the campaign in the west, it is unclear if the 500 Karstark infantrymen under Roose Bolton simply hadn't had the opportunity to march back north yet or if they were the Karstark's only remaining footsoldiers.
Following the battle for the Wall, Stannis dispatched his ravens with letters to all the Northern lords for suppport. Only Arnolf Karstark - not a lord, but a castellan - answered the summoning, encouraging Stannis to fight; however, Arnolf is in league with the Boltons, and Roose reveals to Ramsay that Arnolf intends to betray Stannis's host at a critical moment during the fighting. Arnolf declares publicly that he supports Stannis, hoping that the Lannisters will execute Rickard's surviving son Harrion (whose whereabouts and status are unknown) as a payback for Arnolf's "support" of their enemy. As a result, Rickard's daughter Alys will become the heiress of Karhold, but Arnolf plans to force her to marry his son Cregan, and after she gives birth to a son, they will gain legal ownership of Karhold and dispose of Alys.
Arnolf and Hother "Whoresbane" Umber come to the Dreadfort. Ramsay introduces them his servant "Reek". Although his physical appearance has vastly changed as a result of his torturing, to the point that even his sister cannot recognize him, they recognize him easily.
Alys learns about her great-uncle's twofold treachery and escapes Karhold to Castle Black, where she informs Jon Snow of his conspiracy. Jon sends Tycho Nestoris to find Stannis and warn him of the traitor in his host. Upon learning this, Stannis summons Arnolf to the tower. Once Arnolf arrives and sees Theon, he realizes too late that his treachery has been exposed. Arnolf, his son Arthor, and three grandsons are disarmed and imprisoned, and Stannis gives them a choice: if they confess, they will be granted a quick death, the same manner that Rickard was executed; if they do not, they will be burnt alive.
In the meantime, Alys agrees to wed Sigorn, Styr's son and successor, in a marriage negotiated by Jon to protect Alys from Cregan and Arnolf, so that she is able to retake the Karhold. Alys and Sigorn's marriage forms a new house, House Thenn. Meanwhile, Cregan and four of his men hunt for Alys with a pack of hounds. They make their way to Castle Black with armed men to take Alys away against her will, but Jon meets them on the road before they can arrive, arrests them and has them imprisoned in ice cells. Jon later sees Cregan, and Cregan accuses him of violating guest-right. Jon responds Cregan is not his guest as he came to Castle Black without his leave, armed, to forcibly take Alys against her will; he clarifies Alys is his guest, not Cregan. Jon tells Cregan that Alys is now wed. Cregan is furious that his father's scheme is foiled, curses Jon, and makes idle threats. He warns Jon that killing him will make Jon a kinslayer, similarly to Rickard's statement to Robb, but Jon coldly reminds him that he is not a Stark but a Snow (Jon does not intend to kill Cregan, not because of the taboo of kinslaying, but because the Watch is forbidden of taking part in quarrels of the realm). Jon tells Cregan that Sigorn has enough manpower to take Karhold by force, and gives him a choice: if Cregan yields Karhold, Alys will pardon the women who betrayed her and allow the men to take the black, to which Cregan answers, "Never." Jon tells him that never is a long time, and he may feel differently some day. He also tells Cregan that Stannis will soon return, and when he does, he will execute Cregan unless Cregan takes the black to wipe away his crimes.
The battle between Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton has not yet taken place in the novels. Since Stannis lost the battle in the television series, the outcome of the battle in the novels has yet to be seen in The Winds of Winter.
==Gallery==
House Karstark tourney.jpg|The banner of House Karstark at the Tourney of the Hand in "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things".
House Karstark banner.jpg|The banner of House Karstark at the Stark camp in "Fire and Blood".
House Karstark.png|HBO viewer's guide icon for House Karstark.
House Karstark.jpg|A map-marker used to represent House Karstark forces.
Karstarkmen.jpg|Karstark men.
23maq2p.jpg|House Karstark infantry
karstark soldiers.jpg|Rickard Karstark and Karstark infantry
f45f95d8005ec9d5623112ff0b708197cc73c815_hq.jpg|Karstark soldiers at the Battle of the Bastards
==References==
===Notes===
==External links==
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Category:Cadet branches
Category:Extinct houses
 
Category:House Stark
Category:Houses from the North
Category:Houses of First Men origin
Category:Vassal houses
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