The Entire Stark Family Tree Explained

Members of House Stark — and indeed, the Seven Kingdoms themselves — trace their roots back to Bran the Builder, a legendary First Man who lived during the Age of Heroes and founded the famous house. According to legend, it was he who built the Wall, among other things. And it's through his legacy that the Starks overcame their rivals to become the Kings of Winter, even emerging victorious from long wars with the vicious and barbaric Red Kings of House Bolton (per "The World of Ice & Fire").

After defeating the Boltons, the Starks got rid of the pirates at the White Knife under King Jon. His son, King Rickard Stark, later killed the last Marsh King and married his daughter to claim the Neck, which was then given to the Reeds. Sometime thereafter, King Rodrik Stark wrestled an Ironborn for Bear Island and won it for House Mormont. Karlon Stark, a younger son of the King in the North at the time, put down a rebellion and was given lands in the eastern region of the North. Karl's Hold eventually came to be known as "Karhold," and his descendants were called Karstarks.

The Starks continued to rule in the North for generations, defending their lands from all would-be invaders. That is, until the Targaryens arrived in Westeros.

Warning: This slide contains potential spoilers for "House of the Dragon."

Ellard Stark was Warden of the North when he took part in the Great Council to determine the heir of the elderly King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. The final vote came out in favor of Jaehaerys's second grandson Viserys Targaryen instead of Princess Rhaenys, the daughter of the King's first son. The Starks and Baratheons were the only two Great Houses that dissented, which is important because they later aligned with Rhaenys and the Velaryon family at Viserys' court. The Starks eventually sided with Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen during the so-called Dance of the Dragons — the civil war detailed in George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," which serves as the basis for HBO's "House of the Dragon."

After Ellard came Benjen Stark, then Rickon, and then Rickon's thirteen-year-old son Cregan Stark. Cregan's uncle Bennard served as regent during this time, and as he was reluctant to surrender his power when the young Stark came of age, Cregan eventually imprisoned his uncle and cousins and took over. Cregan later managed to become Hand to King Aegon III Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons, though his time in that role was incredibly brief.

When Ned Stark was a boy, his father Rickard sent him to foster at the Eyrie. There he met two of the most important people in his adult life — his best friend Robert Baratheon and his future wife Catelyn Tully. Even before Robert's Rebellion, Ned and his siblings were at the center of some pretty important events in Westeros. All four attended the great Harrenhal tourney where Prince Rhaegar Targaryen insulted the Martells by favoring Ned's sister Lyanna over his own wife. Later, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish challenged Ned's older brother Brandon, who was betrothed to Catelyn, to a duel for her hand, which he lost. After hearing about Lyanna running off with Rhaegar — or her "kidnapping," as it was made out to be — Brandon set out to bring her back, and his father Rickard followed. Neither ever returned.

In King's Landing, Brandon was promptly arrested by the Mad King Aerys II for threatening the prince. He and his father were executed together by Aerys in gruesome fashion, but the Mad King wasn't done. He demanded the heads of Ned and Robert from Jon Arryn as well. These events led directly to the start of the rebellion against the Targaryen family — a war fueled in part by the murder of the Starks, and in part by Robert's outrage at Rhaegar "stealing" his betrothed, Lyanna.

Benjen Stark is a bit of a lateral move in the Stark family tree, but he's an important member of the family. As the youngest child of Lord Rickard and Lady Lyarra Stark, he attended the crucial Harrenhal tournament that led to Robert's Rebellion with his older siblings. There, he and Lyanna rescued Howland Reed from an attack, establishing a loyal bond between their houses that would pay dividends during the war.

This was also the feast at which Benjen first got it into his head that he should join the Night's Watch. While he served alongside his older brother during Robert's Rebellion, fighting to avenge the rest of their family, he did not stay long in Winterfell afterward. Once Ned returned north, Benjen left for the Wall and Castle Black, eventually rising to the esteemed Night's Watch rank of First Ranger.

Of course, Benjen often returned to Winterfell. During one visit for a feast honoring King Robert — the gathering at the very beginning of "Game of Thrones" — he speaks with Jon Snow about joining the Night's Watch himself. Though he discourages Jon from joining at first, he later aids him in donning the black robes. During a mission north of the Wall, Benjen goes missing and is presumed dead. However, later on in "Game of Thrones," he's revealed to have survived, helping Bran and Jon several times before dying sacrificially. This is different from the books, in which Benjen has not resurfaced.

Robb Stark, known later in life as the Young Wolf, is the eldest son of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell and his wife Lady Catelyn, conceived on their wedding night. He was the Stark heir for all of his childhood, and he bonded strongly with both Jon Snow and Theon Greyjoy, who were both of similar age.

The Stark in Winterfell while his father served as Hand in King's Landing, Robb was later declared King in the North during the War of the Five Kings after his father was executed for his investigations into Joffrey's lineage and the larger Lannister conspiracy. Like his father, Robb proved to be a great warrior and tactician in many ways. He won several major battles against House Lannister during the War, even besting Jaime Lannister himself. However, he and his mother (and his direwolf Grey Wind) were eventually betrayed and murdered at what would later be called the Red Wedding. Robb's wife and unborn child were killed as well.

Arya Stark is lost to her family at the beginning of the War of the Five Kings and has to find her own way in the world, but she never stops looking for her family or seeking revenge on their enemies. After escaping King's Landing, Arya keeps a list of all the people she wants to kill, and she trains hard to become the kind of warrior capable of exacting that vengeance.

Arya travels with the Hound and eventually leaves him to die. Her travels then take her to the House of Black and White in Braavos, where she trains as a Faceless assassin. On her return to Westeros, she learns about the Red Wedding and puts her mind to ending the Frey line in return. After that, she returns to Winterfell, reunites with her sister, and kills Littlefinger for his many betrayals.

In the end, Arya fells the Night King during the Battle of Winterfell. She then heads out to murder Cersei Lannister, but Daenerys gets there first, destroying King's Landing in the process. Arya tries to help the refugees and later joins the great council to decide Westeros' future. Once the King of the Six Kingdoms and the Queen of the North are named, Arya sails west — beyond the world as it's been mapped so far in search of new adventures.

Brandon Stark, commonly called Bran and historically known as Bran the Broken, is the fourth child and second son of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn. He eventually becomes King of the Six Kingdoms, with his sister Sansa taking the northern crown. Bran is a talented skinchanger and greenseer, which gives him a strong connection to the earth and Weirwoods. It also leads him to his destiny as the time-hopping Three-Eyed Raven.

After his adventures north of the Wall, Bran returns a good deal stranger and more alien than his family remembers him. But of course, the same could be said of his siblings. Arya is a Faceless Man, the once childlike Sansa is nearly unrecognizable as a regal queen, and even Jon Snow has died at least once. From this point, Bran seems to exist in all times simultaneously, and he's responsible for using his intense powers to aid his family — and the world — against the threat from the North. Once the Night King is dispatched and the great council is summoned, they put Bran on the throne. He becomes King of the Six Kingdoms, with the seceded North turned into an ally headed by the Queen of the North, his sister Sansa.