Stannis Baratheon

"The Iron Throne is mine by right. All those that deny that are my foes."

- Stannis Baratheon

Stannis Baratheon is a major character in George R.R. Martin's novels A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as the TV adaptation, Game of Thrones. Stannis is the younger brother of King Robert Baratheon of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, as well as Renly Baratheon. When Robert was killed by a wild boar during a hunting accident, Westeros was plunged into civil war after Eddard Stark discovered that Joffrey Baratheon was not, in fact, Robert's son, but rather child of an incestuous relationship between Jaime Lannister and his sister, Queen Cersei Lannister. Eddard sent letters revealing Joffrey's true parents across the Seven Kingdoms.

In response, both Stannis and his younger brother Renly raised their own armies and claimed the Iron Throne. Shortly thereafter, the factions in support of Joffrey's false claim to the Iron Throne, including Cersei and his grandfather, Tywin Lannister, who was, in truth, the power behind Joffrey's throne, had Eddard Stark imprisoned after he attempted to lead a coup to depose Joffrey. His father's imprisonment and later execution prompted Robb Stark to fight for the independence of the North. At the same time, Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands rose against the Iron Throne, staring what would become known as the War of the Five Kings.

Early in the war, Stannis converted to the faith of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, under the guidance of the priestess Melisandre, with most of his household following suit. Melisandre soon proved herself to be a powerful sorceress when she "gave birth" to a shadow creature shortly after she started having an affair with Stannis. This shadow killed Renly Baratheon, though only Renly's guard, Brienne of Tarth, realized Stannis was behind that assassination- the shadow had the face of Stannis.

With his brother eliminated, Stannis launches a naval attack on the capital of King's Landing, but his fleet is decimated by an attack using Wildfire- a potent incendiary with a characteristic green flame- orchestrated by Tyrion Lannister. Stannis and a significant number of his men, however, survive and make it ashore, and manage to force their way into one of the city gates. Tyrion launches a surprise attack on the invading army, holding them off until Tywin Lannister returns with a force of cavalry and forces Stannis to retreat.

After his defeat at what would become known as the Battle of the Blackwater, Stannis become increasingly obsessed with using Melisandre's magic to win the war. Melisandre performs a ritual with using leeches few with the blood of Robert's bastard son, Gendry. Coincidentally, at around the same time, Robb Stark is assassinated at the Red Wedding, orchestrated by Tywin Lannister. Stannis becomes determined to sacrifice Gendry, and when his lieutenant, Davos Seaworth, interferes, he has him imprisoned. Davos only escapes execution when he informs Stannis of a letter he received, in which the Night's Watch asked for reserves to support them at at the Wall.

Stannis, on the urging of Melisandre, releases Davos and rides north for the Wall, arriving just in time to prevent the Wildling hordes from overrunning the Watch. Stannis then demands the surviving Wildlings, who invaded in order to escape the menace of the White Walkers swear loyalty to him, promising a home south of the Wall in exchange. When King-Beyond-The-Wall Mance Rayder refuses, he has Mance executed by burning at the stake, though Jon Snow intervenes, putting Mance out of his misery with an arrow to the chest. Stannis is infuriated by Jon's actions, but leaves the Wall without punishing him.

Stannis instead rides to Winterfell, the Northern capital, which first captured by the Ironborn, then retaken by Roose Bolton's pro-Lannister forces. Roose's recently legitimized bastard son, Ramsay Bolton launches a surprise attack on Stannis' forces, destroying much of their siege equipment. Stannis still believe in victory, and, on the urging of Melisandre, sacrifices his daughter, Shireen to the Lord of Light by burning her alive.

Stannis, however, pays for murdering his own daughter- his forces are routed by the Bolton army, and Stannis is left wounded and separated from his army. After fighting and killing two Bolton soldiers, Stannis encounters Brienne of Tarth, still determined to avenge the death of Renly. Stannis, wounded and no doubt remorseful about killing his own daughter, allows Brienne to kill him without resistance.