Capture of Winterfell

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Battle of Winterfell
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Date 299 AC
Place Winterfell
Result Greyjoy victory
Combatants
House Stark House Greyjoy
Commanders
Bran Stark Theon Greyjoy
Strength
20
Casualties
Alebelly+

The Battle of Winterfell is a daring raid that ends in Winterfell being captured, swinging the momentum of the War of the Five Kings.

Prelude

As Theon Greyjoy planned, after Dagmer Cleftjaw laid siege to Torrhen's Square as a diversion, Ser Rodrik Cassel raised Winterfell's levies and marched with six hundred men, leaving Winterfell defenseless.[1] Meanwhile Theon traveled inland with twenty ironborn to Winterfell, planning to take it by surprise.

Battle

The ironborn descend on the few remaining Winterfell guards. Theon has his best swimmers cross the moat and go over the walls with grappling hooks. From there they sneak up on Alebelly who they slay at the gate, and open the gate to let the rest of the ironborn in. With speed and surprise they take the remaining garrison unawares.[1]

Aftermath

Theon declares himself the Prince of Winterfell and takes Osha and Ramsay Bolton, (disguised as "Reek"), as retainers. Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Little Walder Frey, Big Walder Frey, Meera Reed, Jojen Reed and Beth Cassel are all kept as hostages.[1] However, the Stark and Reed children escape. To avoid embarrassment, Theon has Ramsay kill two boys in place of the Starks and announce to the world that they are dead.[2][3] The grief over this news causes Robb Stark to seek solace in Jeyne Westerling's arms and to then marry her. The changed military situation means Robb has to return north to protect his lands. Thus Winterfell's capture leads indirectly to the Red Wedding.

References and Notes