The Red Wedding is a massacre at the wedding feast of Edmure Tully, Lord of Riverrun, and

Roslin Frey at the Twins in 299 AC during the War of the Five Kings. The King in the North,
Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, and most of his three thousand five hundred soldiers are
slaughtered. The event is orchestrated by its host, Lord Walder Frey, as revenge for Robb's
breaking of a marriage pact he made with House Frey, and Walder's conspirator, Lord Roose
Bolton. However, Walder would never have gone along with the massacre which violated all the
sacred laws of hospitality without the promise of protection from Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand
of the King to Joffrey I Baratheon.
Background

During the War of the Five Kings, the Freys initially rise in rebellion against the Iron Throne,
securing an invaluable strategic position for the northmen. The rebellion is contingent on Robb
Stark's betrothal to one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters.[13] However, Lady Sybell Spicer and her
brother, Ser Rolph, maneuver Sybell's daughter, Jeyne Westerling, into treating Robb's wounds
after the storming of the Crag.[14] Informed of the alleged deaths of his brothers Bran and Rickon
after the capture of Winterfell, Robb sleeps with Jeyne and then marries her, a slight that Walder is
unlikely to overlook.[15] The Freys at Harrenhal with Lord Roose Bolton are outraged[16] and
those at the Crag[15] and Riverrun[17] angrily return to the Twins. After learning of the broken
pact, Walder secretly begins corresponding with Roose, who has wed Walder's granddaughter
Walda, and Lord Tywin Lannister for terms to bring House Frey back as a supporter of the Iron
Throne.

Separately, Robb's mother, Catelyn Stark, releases Tywin's son, Ser Jaime Lannister, from
imprisonment at Riverrun, hoping Tyrion Lannister in King's Landing will exchange Jaime for
Robb's sisters, Sansa and Arya.[17] En route, however, Vargo Hoat's Brave Companions chop off
Jaime's sword hand and bring him to Roose Bolton at Harrenhal.[18] Disavowing the Brave
Companions' actions,[19] Roose, whose son Ramsay was responsible for the sack of Winterfell,
[20] does not return Jaime to Robb or Lord Edmure Tully, but instead sends Jaime back to his
family in King's Landing. Before parting, Jaime and Roose agree to give the other's regards to
Robb and Tywin.[21]

A ploy is developed in which Walder lures Robb to the Twins, under the pretense of an invite to
another marriage pact, to allegedly forgive Robb's broken vow.[22] The marriage, between Robb's
uncle Edmure and Walder's daughter Roslin, is an invitation which Robb cannot decline after
already slighting his allies once, since he needs House Frey's assistance for his planned siege of
Moat Cailin.[5] Robb leaves Jeyne at Riverrun with his great uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, while he
journeys north with thirty-five hundred, mostly northmen with some rivermen in Edmure's retinue.
[5]

After Robb and his army arrive at the western castle of the Twins, he apologizes to Walder for his
slight and Catelyn Stark asks for bread and salt to secure guest right.[3] Robb, Catelyn, and
Edmure are given chambers in the Water Tower between the two castles. Robb's men cross the
roaring Green Fork to the eastern shore, where several thousand Freys are encamped amidst three
great feast tents.[3] Freys use several wagons and carts as a perimeter wall for the eastern camp's
three tents and numerous pavilions.[11] Roose Bolton brings five hundred horse and three
thousand foot to the Twins, mostly men from the Dreadfort, as well as some Karstarks whose
loyalty is in question after Robb's execution of Lord Rickard Karstark at Riverrun.[3]

Lord Walder forbids Robb from keeping Grey Wind within his castles, since the Lord of the
Crossing considers the direwolf dangerous.[6] Separately, the outlaw Sandor Clegane brings
Robb's missing sister, Arya, toward the Twins in hopes of a reward.[11]
Wedding Night

After Edmure weds Roslin, Lord Walder hosts a feast for the highborn in one of his castles, while
a "bastard feast" for lesser ranks is held in the second castle.[6] Common soldiers celebrate in
tents outside the castle. The Freys provide wagons and casks of ale, mead, and wine to their
guests.[11][6]

Performed songs include "Alysanne", "Flowers of Spring", "Iron Lances", and "The Queen Took
Off Her Sandal, the King Took Off His Crown". A drunken Greatjon Umber bellows "The Bear
and the Maiden Fair".[6] Robb dances with Roslin, several other Freys, and Dacey Mormont.
Several poor dishes are served, the most appetizing being pink lamb. Roose toasts Walder's
grandsons, Big Walder and Little Walder, who are in the care of Roose's son, Ramsay Snow, after
the sack of Winterfell.[20] As part of the bedding custom, Edmure and Roslin depart the hall in the
company of many guests of the opposite gender.

By using sellswords and knights at the feast disguised as musicians, and getting Robb's men too
drunk to fight, Lord Walder Frey is able to coordinate a massacre with little loss to his own men.
While the unknowing Edmure beds Roslin,[23] the twin castles and the outlying camp are
signalled when the band in Walder's hall begins playing "The Rains of Castamere".[6] Few of the
northmen in the hall have a chance to react, and most are butchered on the spot by the musicians'
crossbows or Frey knives. Ser Ryman Frey leads Frey men-at-arms with longaxes.

Mailed northmen in shaggy fur cloaks—Boltons and possibly Karstarks—join the Freys, and the
betrayers kill many of Robb Stark's personal guard, including Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont,
and Ser Wendel Manderly. Roose slays Robb, who was previously shot by crossbow bolts, with a
thrust to the heart while stating that "Jaime Lannister sends his regards."[6] Catelyn uses a knife to
saw the neck of Lord Walder's grandson, the fool Jinglebell, after which Ser Raymund Frey slits
Catelyn's throat.[6]

While the Starks are being slaughtered in the hall, the unknowing Edmure impregnates Roslin in a
bedchamber.[23] Some guests who had accompanied them, such as the Greatjon, Patrek Mallister,
and Ser Marq Piper, are overwhelmed and taken captive.[24] Freys kill Grey Wind in the yard
with crossbow quarrels, despite Ser Raynald Westerling's attempt to save the direwolf.[12]

In the camp outside the eastern castle, the three specially-rigged feast tents collapse and are set
aflame with fire arrows during the slaughter, having been oiled earlier.[1] While drunken
northmen burn inside the tents, Bastard Walder Rivers leads armored Frey men-at-arms against
Robb's men outside of the tents. Sandor defends Arya against three men, including Ser Garse
Goodbrook and Ser Tytos Frey, and the Hound escapes with Arya after knocking the girl
unconscious.[1]

Though no definitive count is known, most of Robb's men are killed or captured, while House
Frey loses approximately fifty men in the camps.[2]

After the battle, the Freys hack and mutilate Robb's body and cut off his head along with that of
Grey Wind. In a mockery of Robb's relationship with his direwolf, the Freys sew Grey Wind's
head onto Robb's decapitated body and nail a crown atop the direwolf's head.[25] Robb's bronze
and iron crown is kept by Ryman Frey.[8] Catelyn is thrown naked into the river in a mockery of
House Tully funeral customs.[25] Frey soldiers ride along the Green Fork in search of stray Stark
survivors.[10]
Aftermath

Red Wedding artistic depiction by FatherStone ©

When Salladhor Saan tells Stannis Baratheon of the massacre, he reports that the smallfolk call it
"The Red Wedding".[26] It ends the northern rebellion, with Roose Bolton being named the
Warden of the North for his aid, and several great benefits to House Frey, including the lordship of
Riverrun. However, it also destroys what honor is left in the house, as they violated one of the
oldest and most sacred traditions of old, the guest right. This leads to antipathy and disgust
towards the house by most Westerosi, including their own allies. Additionally, though no other
house has dreamed to repeat the breaking of the right, it has left a more lasting stain on the ancient
guest right, with safety and security in a strange castle no longer being considered guaranteed.

The Iron Throne gains a number of valuable prisoners which help resolve hostilities around
Westeros, and most river lords bend the knee.[27][28] With Edmure Tully captive, Ser Jaime
Lannister is able to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the siege of Riverrun. Black Walder Frey
threatens to hang Patrek Mallister outside his father's castle which results in Lord Jason's
surrender at the siege of Seagard. Greatjon Umber and Ser Marq Piper are held as hostages to
ensure their houses' loyalty; Hother Umber allies with Lord Bolton, and Lord Clement Piper is
forced to help besiege Riverrun. Lord Jonos Bracken besieges Lord Tytos Blackwood at
Raventree.[7] To the displeasure of the Freys, they are informed by Jaime that King Tommen I
Baratheon requires that all prisoners taken during the Red Wedding be turned over to the Iron
Throne.[12]

The massacre ruins House Frey's reputation. When Edwyn Frey calls those of House Piper who
died at the Twins "traitors and rebels", Jaime Lannister tells his Frey allies that they are "twice as
treacherous as Piper".[8] Bronze Yohn Royce mentions the Freys as an example of guest right
violators.[29] Several of Lord Walder Frey's kin have been killed by the Brotherhood Without
Banners (under the leadership of Lady Stoneheart, the resurrected Catelyn Stark) or northmen
such as Lord Wyman Manderly in retaliation. During the siege of Riverrun Jaime sees Robb's
crown worn by Ryman's whore.[8] The crown ends up in the grasp of Lady Stoneheart[30] after
Ryman's party is ambushed.[12]

Northmen resent the presence of Freys who traveled with Lord Bolton to Winterfell for the
wedding of his son Ramsay, since many lost kin at the Red Wedding.[4] The thousands of
sparrows in the capital are especially furious about the massacre and violation of guest right. The
small council discusses how to blame the Freys, and not the Iron Throne, for the Red Wedding,
[31] as did Tywin before his death.[32]
Frey Version

Ser Jared Frey tells Lord Wyman Manderly that, contrary to the true story, the Red Wedding was
actually Robb Stark's work. According to the Frey fictionalization, Robb changed into a wolf-man
beast before the eyes of the Freys and tore out the throat of Jinglebell, a harmless simpleton.
Furthermore, he allegedly would have slain Lord Walder Frey if Ser Wendel Manderly had not put
himself in the way. According to this version of the event, the other northmen also turned into
wolves to join Robb's attack.[33]
Participants
Architects

Lord Tywin Lannister.

Lord Walder Frey.
Lord Roose Bolton.
Lame Lothar Frey, organizes the massacre with Lord Bolton and assigns a task for each Frey.[2]
Ser Rolph Spicer and his sister, Lady Spicer, plot with Tywin but do not realize Sybell's son, Ser
Raynald Westerling, would be in danger.

Perpetrators
In the Main Hall

Merrett Frey and Petyr Frey are tasked with getting Greatjon Umber too drunk to fight back;
they fail and pass out.
Ser Danwell Frey, plays a drinking game with Marq Piper.
Ser Ryman Frey slays Dacey Mormont.
Black Walder Frey slays a Vance.
Ser Hosteen Frey slays Lucas Blackwood.
Ser Leslyn Haigh tries to subdue the drunk Greatjon Umber and loses an ear in the process.
Ser Whalen Frey also drinks with the Greatjon but is sent to the yard to deal with Grey Wind.
Lord Roose Bolton kills the injured Robb Stark with a sword thrust to the heart.
Ser Raymund Frey slits Catelyn Stark's throat.
Northmen wearing mail and fur cloaks (Boltons and possibly Karstarks).[6]

In the Camps

Ser Walder Rivers leads the attack against the northern host's camp.
Ser Garse Goodbrook participates in the attack against the northern host's camp.
 Ser Tytos Frey participates in the attack against the northern host's camp.

Perpetrator Casualties

Jinglebell, throat cut by Catelyn.

Ser Benfrey Frey, dies of a wound received during the massacre.
Ser Tytos Frey, slain by Sandor Clegane.
Ser Garse Goodbrook, slain by Sandor.
Half a hundred men in the camps.

Known Victims

King Robb Stark, hit by arrows and stabbed through the heart by Roose Bolton.
Lady Catelyn Stark, throat slit by Raymund Frey.
Ser Wendel Manderly, takes a crossbow bolt to the mouth.
Smalljon Umber, Robb's guard, decapitated by Bolton or Karstark men.
Dacey Mormont, Robb's guard, axed in the stomach by Ryman Frey.
Donnel Locke, felled by crossbow bolts.
Owen Norrey, felled by crossbow bolts.
Robin Flint, Robb's guard, surrounded by Freys and stabbed to death.
Lucas Blackwood, killed by Hosteen Frey.
Unknown Vance, killed by Black Walder Frey.
Ser Raynald Westerling, wounded by a crossbow bolt before jumping into the river in his
attempt to free Grey Wind.
Grey Wind, hit by several crossbow bolts.
Brackens[7]
Cerwyns[4]
Dustins[4]
Flints[4]
Pipers[10]
Ryswells[4]
Slates[4]
Smallwoods[11]
Tallharts[4]

Known Captives

Lord Edmure Tully, taken to Riverrun, now en route to Casterly Rock.

Lord Greatjon Umber
Patrek Mallister, Robb's guard, now hostage at Seagard with his father.
Ser Marq Piper

Absent
 Perwyn, Olyvar, and Alesander Frey are noted as absent. It is believed they were too
sympathetic to Robb Stark and his comrades to be involved.[6]
Lord Jason Mallister is sent from Hag's Mire to Seagard. His longships are to bring Galbart
Glover and Lady Maege Mormont to Greywater Watch in the Neck to find Lord Howland Reed.
[5] Jason surrenders Seagard to spare the life of his captured son, Patrek.[8]
Ser Brynden Tully stays behind at Riverrun to defend the riverlands as Warden of the Southern
Marches, with the aid of the river lords.[5]

Rewards and Agreements

In order to secure their support for the betrayal of Robb Stark, Tywin Lannister grants not only
pardons but also titles and betrothals to the Frey, Bolton, and Spicer conspirators.
Freys

Ser Emmon Frey, second son of Lord Walder, is granted Riverrun with all its lands and
incomes, but not the title of Lord Paramount of the Trident which had been granted to Petyr
Baelish. Emmon had fought for House Lannister since the onset of the War of the Five Kings.
House Frey of Riverrun is thus founded.
Amerei Frey, who has a claim to the lands of House Darry, is married to Lord Lancel Lannister,
thus creating House Lannister of Darry
A girl of House Frey is to marry Ser Daven Lannister.
One of Lord Walder's bastard sons is to marry Joy Hill, bastard daughter of the late Gerion
Lannister.
Lord Walder offers a daughter to Lord Wyman Manderly. Rhaegar and Little Walder Frey are to
marry Wynafryd and Wylla Manderly, respectively.[33]

Bolton

Lord Roose Bolton is declared Warden of the North.

The legitimized Ramsay Bolton is to marry "Arya Stark".

Spicers/Westerlings

Ser Raynald Westerling is promised a bride of Casterly Rock.

Ser Rolph Spicer is made Lord of Castamere.

Influences

George R. R. Martin has revealed that the inspiration for the Red Wedding came from two events
from Scottish history, the Black Dinner of 1440[34][35] and the Massacre of Glencoe of 1692.[36]
Quotes

Everything would turn on this marriage. If Edmure and Roslin were happy in one another, if the
Late Lord Frey could be appeased and his power once more wedded to Robb's ...[5]
 Was there ever a wedding less joyful?[6]

Your Grace, the septon has prayed his prayers, some words have been said, and Lord Edmure's
wrapped my sweetling in a fish cloak, but they are not yet man and wife. A sword needs a sheath,
heh, and a wedding needs a bedding.[6]

In the midst of slaughter, the Lord of the Crossing sat on his carved oaken throne, watching
greedily.[6]

Catelyn: On my honor as a Tully, on my honor as a Stark, I will trade your boy's life for Robb's.
A son for a son.
Walder: A son for a son, heh. But that's a grandson ... and he never was much use.[6]

The camp had become a battlefield. No, a butcher's den.[1]

Roslin caught a fine fat trout. Her brothers gave her a pair of wolf pelts for her wedding.[32]

Tywin: Explain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at
dinner. The price was cheap by any measure. The crown shall grant Riverrun to Ser Emmon Frey
once the Blackfish yields. Lancel and Daven must marry Frey girls, Joy is to wed one of Lord
Walder's natural sons when she's old enough, and Roose Bolton becomes Warden of the North and
takes home Arya Stark.
Tyrion: Arya Stark? And Bolton? I might have known Frey would not have the stomach to act
alone.[32][32]

Merrett: He shamed us, the whole realm was laughing, we had to cleanse the stain on our honor.

Lem: Maybe so. What do a bunch o' bloody peasants know about a lord's honor? We know
some about murder, though.

Merrett: Not murder. It was vengeance, we had a right to our vengeance. It was war.[2]

The Red Wedding was my father's work, and Ryman's and Lord Bolton's. Lothar rigged the
tents to collapse and put the crossbowmen in the gallery with the musicians, Bastard Walder led
the attack on the camps ...[2]

Jared: The Red Wedding was the Young Wolf's work. He changed into a beast before our eyes
and tore out the throat of my cousin Jinglebell, a harmless simpleton. He would have slain my lord
father too, if Ser Wendel had not put himself in the way.

Davos: Is it your claim that Robb Stark killed Wendel Manderly?

Jared: And many more. Mine own son Tytos was amongst them, and my daughter's husband.
When Stark changed into a wolf, his northmen did the same. The mark of the beast was on them
all. Wargs birth other wargs with a bite, it is well-known. It was all my brothers and I could do to
put them down before they slew us all.
Davos: Ser, may I have your name?
Jared: Ser Jared, of House Frey.

Davos: Jared of House Frey, I name you liar.[33]

They speak of wargs and skinchangers and assert that it was Robb Stark who slew my Wendel.
The arrogance of it! They do not expect the north to believe their lies, not truly, but they think we
must pretend to believe or die. Roose Bolton lies about his part in the Red Wedding, and his
bastard lies about the fall of Winterfell. And yet so long as they held Wylis I had no choice but to
eat all this excrement and praise the taste.[37]

Barbrey: The north remembers, Frey.

Aenys: Stark dishonored us. That is what you northmen had best remember.[4]

Robb who had been more a brother to Theon than any son born of Balon Greyjoy's loins.
Murdered at the Red Wedding, butchered by the Freys. I should have been with him. Where was I?
I should have died with him.[38]

Some of it can be difficult to do. I mean the Red Wedding was the hardest thing I ever wrote. I
wrote the entire book, I skipped over the Red Wedding and wrote all the way to the end, and then I
came back and did the Red Wedding, because it was just emotionally difficult to do that. But you
know, hopefully, if it's hard to write, it'll be hard to read, too. It’ll affect the reader emotionally. I
mean if the reader is just reading the book and terrible things happen, and they just put it aside and
say, “What’s for dinner,” you’ve kind of failed. Your characters haven't achieved any reality
here. If sad things happen in the book, the readers should be sad about them. And that does
involve a certain amount of emotional vulnerability on the part of the writer.[39]

See also

Images of the Red Wedding

Notes

Jump up ↑ Burley men are not directly mentioned at the Red Wedding but are earlier
mentioned as being part of Roose's host that is attacked by the Mountain's men whilst crossing the
Trident, shortly before the Red Wedding.[3] Therefore it can be assumed that the remnants of
Houses Burley were present at the Red Wedding.
Jump up ↑ House Mollen is not directly mentioned at the Red Wedding. However as they were
present with Robb at the Whispering Wood it can be assumed they were present at later battles and
events in the riverlands and westerlands, including the Red Wedding.
Jump up ↑ House Slate is not directly mentioned at the Red Wedding. However it is stated by
Lady Barbrey Dustin that the Slates campaigned in the riverlands & westerlands with Robb Stark.
[4] Therefore it can be assumed that Slates were present at the Red Wedding.
Jump up ↑ The remnants of House Darry are present with Edmure Tully during the Battle of
the Fords, therefore it can be assumed they are part of the host that accompanies Edmure & Robb
to the Twins and so is present at the Red Wedding.

References

↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 52, Arya XI.
↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 A Storm of Swords, Epilogue.
↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn VI.
↑ Jump up to: 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 A
Dance with Dragons, Chapter 46, A Ghost in Winterfell.
↑ Jump up to: 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 A Storm of
Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
↑ Jump up to: 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15
6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
↑ Jump up to: 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 38, Jaime VI.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
↑ Jump up to: 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 65, Arya XII.
↑ Jump up to: 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 50, Arya X.
↑ Jump up to: 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.
Jump up ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, Catelyn IX.
Jump up ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Sybell Spicer.
↑ Jump up to: 15.0 15.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
Jump up ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
↑ Jump up to: 17.0 17.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 31, Jaime IV.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
↑ Jump up to: 20.0 20.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 66, Theon VI.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn IV.
↑ Jump up to: 23.0 23.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
Jump up ↑ A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
↑ Jump up to: 25.0 25.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 58, Tyrion VII.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 62, Jaime VII.
Jump up ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
Jump up ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
Jump up ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 42, Brienne VIII.
Jump up ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
↑ Jump up to: 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
↑ Jump up to: 33.0 33.1 33.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.
Jump up ↑ So Spake Martin: Historical Influences, June 20, 2001
 Jump up ↑ So Spake Martin: Archon Meeting (October 5-7), October 05, 2001.
Jump up ↑ The Week: The real-life events that inspired Game of Thrones' Red Wedding, June
5, 2013
Jump up ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
Jump up ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.
Jump up ↑ LoneStarCon 3: The George R. R. Martin Interview