Ser Brynden Tully, also known as the Blackfish, was the knight and member of House Tully who managed to escape the Red Wedding. He was the younger brother of Lord Hoster Tully and the uncle of Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure Tully.
During the Red Wedding, Brynden left the celebrations to relieve himself, claiming he needed to find a tree to piss on. When he returned, he found the doors locked and Frey soldiers murdering people. Brynden escaped, either by sneaking away or fighting his way through the chaos.
After the Red Wedding, Brynden reunited the remnants of the Tully army and successfully took back Riverrun from House Frey. However, he later refused to send his forces to join Sansa and Jon's army in the North, and was killed while resisting arrest.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Brynden Tully |
Nickname | The Blackfish |
Relationship with Catelyn Stark | Uncle |
Red Wedding | Escaped |
Riverrun | Regained control from House Frey |
Death | Killed while resisting arrest |
What You'll Learn
Brynden Blackfish Tully was not at the Red Wedding in the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Brynden Tully, also known as the Blackfish, is not present during the Red Wedding. This is because Robb Stark had left him holding Riverrun as "Warden of the Southern Marches", a new title that Robb created. As Warden, Brynden was overseeing the defences of the Stark-loyal territories of the Riverlands and protecting Robb's Queen, Jeyne Westerling (the book's counterpart of Talisa Maegyr).
Brynden's escape from the Red Wedding is described as follows: "The Blackfish either sneaked away or fought his way through the chaos to escape the Twins".
Following the Red Wedding, Brynden anticipates the coming siege of Riverrun. He gathers all the foodstuffs and goods he can within the castle, expels all the unnecessary mouths, and prepares for a long siege. He refuses to surrender and, knowing that Edmure is not coming of his own free will, orders the men not to let him into the castle. Edmure eventually orders his men to surrender and that his uncle be put in chains, but Brynden refuses and resolves to kill as many men as he can. He leads Brienne of Tarth and her squire Podrick Payne into a waterway to escape Riverrun by boat. He stays to die fighting for his home, though he admits he'll "probably make a fool of himself" due to a lack of recent combat experience.
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He escaped the Red Wedding by saying he needed to relieve himself
Ser Brynden Tully, also known as the Blackfish, was a knight and member of House Tully. He was the younger brother of Lord Hoster Tully and the uncle of Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure Tully. During Edmure's wedding, the Blackfish drank heavily and at one point, left to relieve himself outside, thus escaping the massacre that followed shortly after and claimed the lives of Robb, Catelyn, Talisa, and all of their Northern allies.
The Blackfish either sneaked away or fought his way through the chaos to escape the Twins. Roose Bolton and Walder Frey later discovered that the Blackfish had escaped. While Frey was undisturbed, Bolton was concerned that Brynden would reach the safety of Riverrun before being found.
The Blackfish swam to escape, pulling himself beneath the spikes of the Water Gate after Edmure raised it three feet or so. This allowed a gap to remain under the water, while the gate still appeared to be closed. A moonless night, bored guards, and a black fish in a black river floating quietly downstream all helped the Blackfish escape unnoticed.
The Blackfish later reunited the remnants of the Tully army and successfully took back Riverrun from House Frey. He refused to surrender Riverrun to the Lannisters, even for his great-niece Sansa Stark, who had sent Brienne of Tarth to meet with him. He was eventually put in chains but refused to surrender and resolved to kill as many men as he could. He led Brienne and her squire Podrick Payne into a waterway to escape Riverrun by boat. He stayed to die fighting for his home, though he admitted he would probably make a fool of himself due to his lack of recent combat experience.
A Lannister soldier later reported to Jaime that the Blackfish was killed while resisting arrest. Though Jaime appeared saddened to have helped the Freys murder another member of Catelyn's family, it is unknown if he allowed the Freys to desecrate his corpse as they did to Catelyn and Robb at the Red Wedding.
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Edmure Tully helped him escape by raising the portcullis on the Water Gate
Edmure Tully played a crucial role in helping his uncle, Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, escape after the Red Wedding. Edmure, who was a captive of House Frey following the massacre, was granted one night inside Riverrun Castle to communicate with Brynden and the rest of his men before the castle was to be surrendered. Edmure and Brynden devised a plan to help the latter escape.
Edmure raised the portcullis on the Water Gate just enough to create a gap under the water, while still appearing closed. Brynden, a strong swimmer, took advantage of the night's cover and pulled himself beneath the spikes to freedom. The subtle nature of this escape went unnoticed by the guards, who attributed any potential splashes to turtles or trout in the river.
The successful escape of Brynden Tully, a respected knight and formidable battle commander, was a significant blow to the Freys and their allies, the Lannisters. Brynden's subsequent reunion with the remnants of the Tully army and retaking of Riverrun from House Frey demonstrated his continued threat to the opposing forces.
The escape also highlighted Edmure's cunning and boldness in outmaneuvering the enemy commander, Jaime Lannister. Despite the consequences that could have befallen him, Edmure was willing to take the risk to ensure his uncle's safe departure.
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He swam to safety in a black river
Ser Brynden Tully, popularly known as the Blackfish, was a knight and member of House Tully. He was the younger brother of Lord Hoster Tully, and the uncle of Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure Tully.
The Blackfish was present at the Red Wedding, but he managed to escape the massacre that claimed the lives of Robb Stark, his wife Talisa, and many Northern and Riverlander soldiers. As the slaughter began, the Blackfish excused himself, claiming he needed to find a tree to urinate on. He never returned to the wedding, and it was later discovered that he had swum to safety in a black river.
Edmure Tully, who was aware of his uncle's escape plan, revealed that they had raised the portcullis on the Water Gate just enough to create a gap beneath the water, allowing the Blackfish, a strong swimmer, to pull himself beneath the spikes and escape unnoticed. The Blackfish likely floated downstream in the black river, evading capture and certain death.
Roose Bolton and Walder Frey later learned of the Blackfish's escape, but while Frey remained undisturbed, Bolton was concerned that the Blackfish would reach the safety of Riverrun. The Blackfish's fate after the Red Wedding is not entirely clear, but it is known that he successfully reunited the remnants of the Tully army and retook Riverrun from House Frey.
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He was last seen fighting for his home, Riverrun
Ser Brynden Tully, also known as the Blackfish, was last seen fighting for his home, Riverrun. The Blackfish was a knight and a member of House Tully, the younger brother of Lord Hoster Tully, and the uncle of Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure Tully.
The Blackfish was a respected warrior and a formidable battle commander who first distinguished himself in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. He was serving as the Warden of the Southern Marches, a title created by Robb Stark, when the Red Wedding took place. While the Starks and their bannermen were massacred, the Blackfish was not present at the wedding, having been left to hold Riverrun and protect Robb's queen, Jeyne Westerling.
Upon learning of the massacre, the Blackfish regrouped and successfully retook Riverrun from House Frey. He was later visited by Brienne of Tarth, who delivered a letter from Sansa Stark requesting his aid in retaking the North. The Blackfish refused to give up Riverrun, even for his great-niece, and resolved to stay and fight.
During the second siege of Riverrun, the Blackfish boldly informed Jaime Lannister that the castle could hold out for two years and that he would need to lose thousands of men if he wanted to take it by force. Despite his defiance, the Blackfish was ultimately forced to surrender Riverrun when Edmure Tully, under threat of his son being murdered, ordered his men to stand down. Refusing to yield, the Blackfish stayed to fight for his home, knowing he would likely make a fool of himself due to his lack of recent combat experience.
According to a report given to Jaime Lannister, the Blackfish was killed while resisting arrest. However, his body was never found, and some speculate that he may have escaped once again.
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Frequently asked questions
Ser Brynden Tully, also known as the Blackfish, escaped the Red Wedding by saying he needed to relieve himself. He then swam away from the Twins, the castle where the Red Wedding took place, under the cover of night.
The Blackfish was the uncle of Catelyn Stark, Robb Stark's mother, and was present at the Red Wedding. When the Freys and Boltons began the massacre, the Blackfish fought back and escaped.
After the Red Wedding, the Blackfish went to Riverrun, where he successfully took back the castle from House Frey. However, he later lost Riverrun to Jaime Lannister and was presumed to have been killed while resisting arrest.
While the Blackfish himself was presumed to have been killed, his great-niece, Arya Stark, avenged him and the rest of her family by poisoning all the surviving male members of House Frey.