The Red Wedding is one of the most memorable events in the Game of Thrones series. It is a wedding between Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey, during which Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred. The event is a betrayal and assassination of the Stark forces during a marriage ceremony, which was orchestrated by Lord Walder Frey as revenge against Robb Stark for breaking a marriage pact between House Stark and House Frey. The Red Wedding marks the Lannisters' victory in the War of the Five Kings and is considered one of the most shocking and traumatic episodes in TV history.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Episode | "The Rains of Castamere" |
Episode Number | 9 |
Season | 3 |
Episode Air Date | 2nd June 2013 |
Plot Point | Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred |
Based On | A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin |
Wedding | Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey |
Attendees | Robb Stark, Talisa Stark, Catelyn Stark, Edmure Tully, Brynden Tully |
Orchestrator | Lord Walder Frey |
Perpetrators | Roose Bolton, Lame Lothar Frey, Black Walder Rivers |
Victims | Robb Stark, Talisa Stark, Catelyn Stark, Ser Wendel Manderly, Lady Joyeuse Frey, Robb and Talisa's unborn child, Grey Wind (Robb's direwolf) |
Outcome | Decisive Lannister-Frey-Bolton victory, annihilation of the Northern army, end of the Northern rebellion, elevation of House Bolton and House Frey |
What You'll Learn
Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred
Robb Stark, also known as The Young Wolf, was the eldest son of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell and Lady Catelyn Stark. He was raised as the heir to the ancient House Stark of Winterfell, which held dominion over the North, one of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Robb was a talented rider, swordsman, and lancer, trained by Winterfell's master-at-arms Ser Rodrik Cassel. He had five siblings: younger sisters Sansa and Arya, younger brothers Bran and Rickon, and a bastard half-brother Jon Snow. Robb was also a close friend to Eddard's ward Theon Greyjoy.
Robb was declared King in the North by his bannermen after his father was executed on the order of King Joffrey Baratheon. Robb waged a war against the Iron Throne, winning a succession of battles against Lord Tywin Lannister's forces, earning him the nickname The Young Wolf for his ferocity in battle.
Robb's subsequent betrayal and murder at an event known as the Red Wedding shocked both book readers and television audiences alike. At the Red Wedding, Robb, his mother, and his forces were slain. Robb's entire army (save for the Boltons and Freys, a few soldiers who managed to escape) were murdered. Robb was shot by crossbow bolts multiple times, and then personally murdered by his chief vassal Lord Roose Bolton, who had secretly defected in exchange for House Bolton gaining dominion over the North from House Stark. After his death, the Freys mutilated Robb's body by sewing the head of his dead direwolf Grey Wind onto his decapitated corpse.
Naruto's Post-Wedding Adventure
You may want to see also
Edmure Tully marries Roslin Frey
Edmure Tully is the new Lord Paramount of the Trident, and Roslin Frey is the only daughter of Lord Walder Frey by his sixth wife, Lady Bethany Rosby. Edmure initially refuses to marry Roslin, as he is not allowed to choose between Lord Frey's daughters. However, he eventually consents after bowing to family pressure and his desire to make amends for his blunder at the Battle of the Fords.
Roslin is described as small, with very white skin, a pretty face, a small chin, a delicate nose, and big brown eyes. Her hair is brown and reaches her waist. She has a gentle nature and a talent for music. Edmure thinks Roslin is sweet and pretty when she is brought forth by her brother, Ser Benfrey Frey. Edmure's sister, Catelyn Stark, attributes Roslin's tears during their introduction to nervousness about the wedding.
After Edmure and Roslin are married, they are taken away for the bedding ceremony. Edmure impregnates Roslin on their wedding night, and she later gives birth to a son. Edmure is kept as a captive at the Twins and does not see Roslin or meet his son.
Frank's Wedding Meltdown
You may want to see also
Talisa Stark is stabbed to death
Talisa Stark, Queen to Robb Stark, King in the North, was stabbed to death at the Red Wedding. The Red Wedding was a massacre that took place during the War of the Five Kings, arranged by Lord Walder Frey as revenge against Robb Stark for breaking a marriage pact between House Stark and House Frey.
Talisa was the first to die at the Red Wedding. She was stabbed in the abdomen by Lame Lothar Frey, killing her unborn child instantly and causing her to quickly succumb to her wounds. Robb, wounded with several crossbow bolts, crawled towards Talisa and embraced her, devastated over the loss of his beloved wife and unborn child.
The death of Talisa and their child sent Robb into a state of shock. Moments later, Robb and his mother, Catelyn, were also killed by Roose Bolton and Black Walder Rivers, respectively.
Talisa's sister-in-law, Arya, later avenged her death by murdering Lothar Frey and Black Walder and baking them into pies that she served to their father, Walder Frey, before slitting his throat.
Bear Wedding: What Went Wrong?
You may want to see also
Catelyn Stark's throat is cut
Catelyn is the wife of Eddard Stark and the mother of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon. She is a prominent character in the first three novels of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones. She is portrayed by Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairley in the show.
The Red Wedding is a massacre that takes place during the War of the Five Kings. Robb Stark, ruling King in the North, reneges on his promise to marry one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters. As compensation for violating the agreement, Lord Frey demands that Edmure Tully, Catelyn's brother, wed one of his daughters. Edmure agrees, and the wedding is held at the Twins, the castle of House Frey.
During the wedding feast, Catelyn notices that Roose Bolton is wearing chain mail under his clothing. She realises that they have been led into a trap and slaps Bolton across the face. She then shouts to warn Robb, but it is too late. Lothar Frey approaches Robb's wife, Talisa, from behind and stabs her repeatedly in the abdomen, killing her and their unborn child. The musicians hired for the wedding reveal themselves to be assassins and fire crossbows at Robb and the Northern guests. Outside, Frey and Bolton men turn on the Northern soldiers, taking them by surprise.
Catelyn, who had taken refuge under a table, notices that Walder Frey's eighth wife, Joyeuse Frey, is hiding under Walder's table. Catelyn drags her out and puts a knife to her throat. She beseeches Walder to end the slaughter and allow Robb to leave, offering herself as a hostage in exchange for Robb's life. Robb, however, is too shocked by Talisa's death to respond. Catelyn turns back to Walder and promises that they will not retaliate if he is allowed to live, swearing an oath. Walder dismisses her, stating that she already swore an oath to him that Robb would marry his daughter. In a final plea, Catelyn swears on her honour as a Tully and a Stark that if Robb is not allowed to leave, she will slit Joyeuse's throat. Walder weighs his options and glibly responds, "I'll find another."
Robb then finds the strength to stand and weakly calls out to his mother. As Catelyn looks into Robb's eyes, Roose Bolton steps in front of him and tells him, "The Lannisters send their regards", before stabbing him through the heart. Robb dies instantly and shares a final, lifeless look with his mother.
True to her word, Catelyn slits Joyeuse's throat and lets out a wail of grief, believing all of her sons to be dead. Walder shows little concern for his wife's death and nonchalantly sips his wine. Catelyn then becomes catatonic, silently staring at Robb's corpse in shock and despair. It is at this moment that her throat is cut nearly to the bone from behind by Black Walder Frey.
The Red Wedding marks the end of the conflict between House Stark and House Lannister, resulting in a decisive victory for the Lannisters. Not only is Robb killed, but the entire Northern army is also destroyed. The event is widely regarded as one of the most harrowing episodes of television in history.
Gujarati Wedding Traditions: Rituals and Celebrations
You may want to see also
Roose Bolton kills Robb Stark
Roose Bolton's murder of Robb Stark was the culmination of a carefully orchestrated plot to betray House Stark and bring about its downfall.
During the War of the Five Kings, Roose Bolton served as one of Robb Stark's top generals. However, they often disagreed due to tactical and political differences. Roose Bolton was a cunning strategist, and his betrayal of Robb Stark was sudden and unexpected, resulting in the decimation of the rebellious Northern lords and their armies.
The seeds of this betrayal were sown when Robb Stark reneged on his promise to marry one of Lord Frey's daughters, leading to a marriage pact between House Stark and House Frey. To compensate for violating the agreement, Robb's uncle, Edmure Tully, wed one of Lord Frey's daughters. The wedding was held at the Twins, and several Northern lords and their bannermen attended.
Roose Bolton was secretly in league with House Frey and House Lannister, and they plotted to turn on the Starks during the wedding. Before the massacre, Roose Bolton sat beside Lady Catelyn Stark and subtly revealed to her that he was wearing chain mail under his sleeve, indicating that they had been betrayed. Catelyn Stark slapped him and yelled at Robb to run, but it was too late.
As the Freys turned on the Starks, Roose Bolton approached Robb and stabbed him in the heart, uttering the now-infamous words, "The Lannisters send their regards." With this act, Roose Bolton not only killed Robb Stark but also ensured the end of the Northern rebellion and the annihilation of the Northern army.
Roose Bolton's betrayal and murder of Robb Stark elevated his own house, as he was appointed the new Warden of the North by King Joffrey Baratheon, rewarded for his role in the Red Wedding. However, this act also alienated him from almost the entire North, as the Northern lords now hated him for his treachery against their king.
Wedding Singer: Parents' Tragic End
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Red Wedding is the name given to the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey, during which Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred.
The Red Wedding was orchestrated by Lord Walder Frey, as revenge against Robb Stark for breaking a marriage pact between House Stark and House Frey.
After the bedding ceremony, the musicians began to play "The Rains of Castamere", a Lannister song, signalling the start of the slaughter. Robb Stark, his wife Talisa, and his mother Catelyn were all killed.
The Red Wedding effectively ended the conflict between House Stark and House Lannister, resulting in a decisive victory for the Lannisters. It also marked the defection of the Boltons from their liege lords to the Lannisters.
The Red Wedding was a major turning point in the plot of Game of Thrones, as it marked the demise of several beloved characters who had been part of the show since Season 1, including Robb and Catelyn Stark. It also served as a reminder that no character was safe in the treacherous world of Westeros.