Sack of Winterfell

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Sack of Winterfell
Conflict War of the Five Kings
Date 299 AL
Place Winterfell
Result Bolton victory
Combatants
House Stark House Greyjoy
House Bolton
Commanders
Ser Rodrik Cassel+
Cley Cerwyn+
Leobald Tallhart+
Theon Greyjoy
Ramsay Snow
Strength
almost 2, 000 men approximately 617
Casualties
Ser Rodrik Cassel+
Cley Cerwyn+
Leobald Tallhart+
force dispersed
20-30 men

The Sack of Winterfell was the battle that determined the outcome of the North during the War of the Five Kings. The battle was fought between forces loyal to House Stark and those loyal to House Greyjoy. House Bolton, though sworn to the Starks, switched sides.

Background

With the majority of the northern lords and their hosts in the south fighting in the Riverlands and the Westerlands, the North was left relatively undefended. Balon Greyjoy declared himself King of the Isles and the North and ordered his longships to take the North. Theon Greyjoy was sent to harry the Stony Shore with Dagmer Cleftjaw. After completing this task, the two plotted the capture of Winterfell. Dagmer would besiege Torrhen's Square, the seat of the Tallharts, in order to draw out the garrison of Winterfell, leaving the castle lightly defended.[1] Theon captured Winterfell in one night.[2]

Ser Rodrik Cassel broke Dagmer's force outside of Torrhen's Square and, strengthened by House Tallhart men, he marched on Winterfell.[3]

Opposing Armies

Stark army

A force totaling less than 2, 000 men[4]:

Greyjoy force

Bolton force

The Battle

A parley between Ser Rodrik and Theon accomplished nothing other than terms being given. When Cassel offered his hand to Ramsay Snow, Ramsay took his arm off at the elbow. The Bolton force under Ramsay Snow attacked the Stark army in the night, leading to fighting in the streets of the winter town. Cley Cerwyn took an arrow to the eye and Leobald Tallhart died too. The Stark army was dispersed and the Bolton force lost only 20-30 men.[8]

Aftermath

The hold of House Stark on the north was shattered. Ramsay entered Winterfell, showed Theon the bodies of the three lords he had killed, and then proceeded to kill the ironmen, sack the castle and return to the Dreadfort. Fires destroyed the Maester's Tower and the Bell Tower, collapsed a side of the First Keep, and caved in the ceiling of the Great Hall. Lothar Frey and Roose Bolton, whose houses had allied to betray the Starks, later blamed the sack on the Ironborn.[9][10]


References and Notes