Stannis Baratheon

Stannis Baratheon
A Song of Ice and Fire character

Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon
First appearance Novel:
A Clash of Kings (1998)
Television:
"The North Remembers" (2012)
Last appearance Novel:
A Dance with Dragons (2011)
Television:
"Mother's Mercy" (2015)
Created by George R. R. Martin
Portrayed by Stephen Dillane
Game of Thrones
Information
Title Lord of Dragonstone
Lord Paramount of the Stormlands
Master of Ships
Lord of Storm's End
Family House Baratheon
Spouse(s) Selyse Baratheon
Children Shireen Baratheon
Relatives Steffon Baratheon (father)
Cassana Baratheon (mother)
Robert Baratheon (brother)
Renly Baratheon (brother)
Kingdom The Stormlands

Stannis Baratheon is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.[1]

First mentioned in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Stannis is the son of Steffon Baratheon from the fictional kingdom of Westeros. He subsequently appeared in Martin's A Clash of Kings (1998) and A Storm of Swords (2000) and A Dance with Dragons (2011)

Stannis is portrayed by Stephen Dillane in the HBO television adaptation.[2][3][4]

Character description

Stannis Baratheon is the younger brother of King Robert and older brother of Renly.[5] He is portrayed as a brooding and humorless man with a harsh sense of justice and an obsession with slights both real and imagined. He is regarded as a skilled but overcautious military commander.

Stannis is married to Lady Selyse of House Florent, and has a daughter named Shireen.[5] Fifteen years before the events of the series, Stannis fought alongside his brother when Robert rebelled against House Targaryen. There he endured a year long siege at Storm's End, nearly starving. Stannis survived because Davos Seaworth smuggled them enough food to last until the siege was lifted.[6] After the siege was lifted, Robert ordered him to storm Dragonstone, a task in which he succeeded. For his efforts, he was given Dragonstone, but Stannis treated that as a slight, because Renly was given the House Baratheon seat of Storm's End. Stannis also played a major part in putting down the Greyjoy Rebellion by defeating the Iron Fleet.

Overview

Stannis Baratheon is not a point of view character in the novels, so his actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of other people, such as Davos Seaworth.[7]

Though it has been confirmed Brienne murdered Stannis in the show, Martin confirmed to a fan in 2015 that he was still alive in the books.[8]

Reception

The English actor Stephen Dillane has received positive reviews for his performance as Stannis Baratheon, especially in the fifth season. On her review for "Sons of the Harpy", Sarah Hughes of The Guardian wrote "Stephen Dillane has always been wonderful at showing us the core of this rigid, complex man." [9] His performance on the same episode also received positive reviews from www.vulture.com. [10] Harri Sargeant of www.hypable.com wrote "Stephen Dillane has always been one of the classiest actors on the show, and his last moments as the King Who Almost Was saw as commanding a performance as ever." [11] On her review for Mother's Mercy, Meghan O'Keefe of decider.com wrote "Whether you like Stannis or not, you have to admit that Stephen Dillane delivered a monumental performance this season." [12]

Storylines

A coat of arms showing a crowned black stag in a red heart engulfed in orange flames on a field of yellow.
Personal coat of arms of Stannis Baratheon

Shortly before A Game of Thrones, Stannis and Jon Arryn discovered that Queen Cersei Lannister's children were not fathered by Robert. When Jon Arryn was poisoned, Stannis flees the capital, where he takes Melisandre of Asshai, priestess of the god R'hllor, as a trusted adviser. Melisandre convinces Stannis that he is Azor Ahai reborn, a messianic figure who will end the war between R'hllor and his enemy, the Great Other.

A Game of Thrones

He is briefly mentioned but not seen in A Game of Thrones (1996). Eddard Stark intends for Stannis to succeed Robert, but is betrayed and executed.

A Clash of Kings

After his brother Robert's death, Stannis declares himself King; however, most of the Baratheon bannermen support the claim of his younger and more charismatic brother, Renly. Lord Mace Tyrell supports Renly due to Renly marrying his daughter Margaery. Stannis tries to negotiate with Renly, offering them the chance to become his heir, which Renly rejects, intending to kill Stannis the next day with his larger army. When Renly is assassinated by a shadow conjured by Melisandre using Stannis' life force, many of Renly's bannermen immediately swear allegiance to Stannis. It is unclear if Stannis is aware of his role in Renly's death, though he feels responsible due to dreaming of Renly's death when it happened. Stannis then attacks King's Landing. A wildfire trap by Tyrion Lannister burns many of his ships under the command of his wife's brother Ser Imry Florent, but Stannis continues the attack, coming close to taking the city. The Lannisters and Tyrells defeat him as the Lannisters have offered to have Margaery marry Joffrey, and Stannis loses most of his ships and men.

A Storm of Swords

In A Storm of Swords, Stannis retreats to Dragonstone with what is left of his army. Melisandre tells Stannis to burn Edric Storm, a bastard of Robert and Selyse's cousin, as a sacrifice to raise a dragon. Stannis is conflicted on burning his nephew, but uses Edric's blood in three leeches to curse the rival Kings, Balon Greyjoy, Joffrey Baratheon and Robb Stark. After Balon and Robb's deaths which seem to prove the power of King's blood, Stannis begins to consider sacrificing Edric if Joffrey dies. Davos, his Hand, smuggles Edric of Dragonstone when he hears of Joffrey's death, sending them with a cousin of Robert's, Andrew Estermont, to the Free Cities. He tells Stannis what he has done and persuades him to save the Night's Watch from the wildling army. Stannis takes most of his remaining army and sails north to crush the wildling assault, managing to rout the whole host with few casualties. When the Night's Watch holds elections for a new Lord Commander, Janos Slynt tries to get Stannis' support, but Stannis tells Janos how corrupt he was and how any man would be better suited. He finally locks the voters in a room until they decide on a new Lord Commander, thus Jon Snow is elected.

A Feast for Crows

He is not seen in A Feast for Crows (2005). It is mentioned the only Northern House to declare for Stannis are the Karstarks.

A Dance with Dragons

In A Dance with Dragons, Stannis stays at the Wall to negotiate with the wildlings, giving them refuge from the Others and allowing them to settle the northern regions of Westeros in exchange for swearing loyalty to him after showing them Mance Rayder being burnt (in reality another Wildling, the Lord of Bones, was burnt while wearing a glamour conjured by Melisandre, while the real Mance appeared as the Lord of Bones). To rally the North, Stannis wins some of Robb Stark's defeated bannermen to his side. He intends to attack the Dreadfort with the help of Arnolf Karstark, Castellan of Karhold. In reality Arnolf is working with the Boltons, hoping to entrap Stannis and have his hostage great-nephew Harrion Karstark killed so his branch of the family can take Karhold. On Jon's advice Stannis rallies the Mountain Clans and attacks Deepwood Motte, the last Ironborn-held refuge in the North. He restores it to the Glovers, thus winning their support and that of the Mormonts. He marches on Winterfell to confront the Boltons, but is waylaid by heavy snows. His invasion bogs down in the blizzard, and his fate is unknown. A letter from Ramsay Bolton is later sent to Jon Snow at the Wall claiming that Stannis has been defeated and killed by the Boltons.

The Winds of Winter

A preview chapter from Theon Greyjoy's POV shows Stannis has captured Theon and "Arya" (really Jeyne Poole) after they escape Winterfell. Stannis signs an agreement with Tycho Nestoris, an envoy from the Iron Bank of Braavos, and sends them away with one of his knights, Ser Justin Massey, to use his loan to hire sellswords. Stannis is aware of the Karstark's treachery and has them arrested. He interrogates Theon and finds the Freys and Manderlys are coming to meet him, but will come separately. Stannis implies he has a plan to defeat his foes.

Family tree of House Baratheon

Family tree of House Baratheon
OrmundRhaelle
Targaryen
SteffonCassana
Estermont
Delena
Florent		Robert
283–298		Cersei
Lannister		Jaime
Lannister		StannisSelyse
Florent		Renly
Edric
Storm		GendryBellaJoffrey[lower-roman 1]
298–300		Myrcella[lower-roman 1]Tommen[lower-roman 1]
300–		ShireenMargaery
Tyrell[lower-roman 2]
Mya
Stone		Barra11 Others
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, although recognized by Robert, are the illegitimate children of Jaime Lannister.
  2. ↑ Margaery Tyrell married 1st Renly, 2nd Joffrey, 3rd Tommen.

TV adaptation

Stannis Baratheon is played by Stephen Dillane in the television adaption of the series of books.[13]

Storylines

Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone, is the elder of Robert Baratheon's younger brothers. A brooding, humorless man known for a hard and unyielding sense of justice, he is obsessed with slights real and imagined. With Robert dying, Ned sends him a letter appointing him as the legitimate heir and becomes another challenger for the Iron Throne after his nephew Joffrey becomes King. By Season 2, he has fallen under the influence of Melisandre, a priestess of R'hllor. After Robert's death, Stannis claims himself the true heir to the Iron Throne as Cersei's children are illegitimate and names himself King of the Seven Kingdoms. However, most of the Baratheon bannermen support the claim of the more charismatic Renly. Stannis confronts Renly and offers to make them his heir if they support him, at which Renly mocks Stannis, intending to destroy him with his larger army the next day. When Renly is mysteriously slain before he can kill his brother, many of Renly's bannermen immediately swear allegiance to Stannis. He then attacks King's Landing by sailing up the Blackwater Bay. However, due to Tyrion's plan using wild fire and reinforcements by the Lannisters and Tyrell Cavalry, he loses the Battle of Blackwater. Despite this setback, he is convinced to continue fighting by Melisandre, and is further convinced by her magic as she lets him see a vision of a battle in the flames. In Season 3, he acquires one of Robert's bastards, Gendry, from the Brotherhood Without Banners and plans to sacrifice him to further his quest for the Iron Throne. After Davos questions his course of action, Stannis has three leeches drawn with Gendry's blood and throws them into a fire, calling for the death of Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy and Joffrey Baratheon. Upon the news of Robb's death, Davos releases Gendry to prevent him from being burned. Stannis subsequently sentences his Hand to death but is swayed by Melisandre, who encourages him to travel North to aid the Night's Watch against the threat emerging from beyond the Wall.

In season 4, Stannis hears of Joffrey's death and chastises Davos again for releasing Gendry and not finding him a suitable army, prompting Davos to write to the Iron Bank of Braavos in Stannis's name to help pay for an army. The Iron Bank very nearly refuses Stannis' request, even subtly belittling him in the process, but Davos manages to convince them that Stannis is easily the only one they can turn to since Tywin Lannister is nearing old age. Stannis and his army arrive at the Wall shortly after the Battle for Castle Black, interrupting a supposed parley between Jon Snow and Mance Rayder. Stannis learns that Jon is Ned Stark's son, and on Jon's advice, he places Mance and his men under arrest. He is later present at the funeral of the Night's Watch brothers who died during the Battle for Castle Black.

In season 5, Stannis begins plans to retake the North from Roose Bolton, hoping to recruit Mance's wildling army, if Mance will bend the knee to him. Mance refuses, and Stannis orders him burned at the stake. Although Stannis was not pleased that Jon interfered with Mance's execution, he presents Jon an enticing offer. If Jon bends the knee and swears his loyalty to Stannis, the king will legitimize him as Jon Stark, making him the Lord of Winterfell. Stannis, after receiving a message from Lyanna Mormont, knows that having a Stark on his side is the best chance of rallying the Northerners to his cause. Stannis departs from the Wall soon afterward, on a mission to take Winterfell from the Boltons. However, his party is delayed by a large snowstorm that ravages the North, and Ramsay Bolton and his men sabotage his supplies by burning them. He eventually agrees, most reluctantly, to sacrifice his daughter to the Lord of Light, sending Davos to the Wall to find supplies as he knows he would never approve of this most drastic action. Conferring with his daughter before her sacrifice, he admits that he will hate himself forever, but goes through with the act, witnessing tearfully as his daughter succumbs. The next day, the blizzard has lifted, though half his army, including all of his mercenaries, disgusted by what they have witnessed, have mutinied en masse, taking all the horses to join the Boltons. Selyse is found hanged in a woods, having broken and relented the sacrifice of their child in the last minute and taken her own life. Stannis decides to finish the march on Winterfell by foot, where his greatly diminished army is greeted by a massive cavalry force led by Ramsay (likely reinforced by the mutineers) which defeats him. Fending off remaining Bolton soldiers in a nearby grove, Stannis succumbs by a tree, where he is greeted by Brienne of Tarth, reminding him of his fratricide and spitefully telling him Renly was the rightful King. Stannis accepts responsibility and tells Brienne to fulfil her duty, and she lifts her sword and swings.

References

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