Capture of Winterfell
Battle of Winterfell | |||||||||||||||||
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Conflict | War of the Five Kings | ||||||||||||||||
Date | 299 AC | ||||||||||||||||
Place | Winterfell | ||||||||||||||||
Result | Greyjoy victory | ||||||||||||||||
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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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 46, Bran VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 50, Theon IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
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