Bran Stark

The boy who fell, now guided by the dream of a three-eyed crow.

Brandon Stark, known affectionately as Bran, is the second son and fourth child of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark of Winterfell. Introduced in George R. R. Martin's 1996 novel A Game of Thrones, he is one of the series' youngest point-of-view characters, originally set up by the author as a potential main protagonist. Bran dreams of becoming a knight from childhood, but his life changes drastically after stumbling upon an affair between Queen Cersei and her twin brother Jaime Lannister. Pushed from a tower window to silence him, Bran survives a months-long coma only to find himself rendered paraplegic. Despite this physical tragedy, he awakens plagued by dreams of a three-eyed crow beckoning him north, setting the stage for a journey that uncovers his mysterious magical abilities.

Quick Facts

Series

A Song of Ice and Fire character; Game of Thrones

Portrayed by

Isaac Hempstead Wright

Creator

George R. R. Martin

Adapted by

D.B. Weiss & David Benioff (Game of Thrones)

First

Literature:
A Game of Thrones (1996)
Television:
"Winter Is Coming" (2011)

Last

Television:; "The Iron Throne" (2019)

Also known as

Novels:
The Winged Wolf
Television:
Little Lord
Three-Eyed Raven
Bran the Broken

Gender

Male

Lore & Background

Bran's narrative is deeply intertwined with the magic of the North. After waking from his coma, he is plagued by dreams of a figure beckoning him to travel beyond the Wall. Accompanied by Hodor, Meera Reed, and Jojen Reed, his journey leads him deeper into ancient lore where he discovers he is a warg capable of psychically inhabiting animals like his direwolf Summer and even crows. Under the mentorship of the Three-Eyed Crow (a human telepath), Bran learns to enter weirwood trees and develops 'greensight,' granting him prophetic visions. His transformation from a boy wanting to be a Kingsguard knight into a mystical figure dealing with questions of power defines his arc.

Reader's Guide

Bran Stark begins as a sweet, strong-willed seven-year-old in A Game of Thrones who loves climbing castle walls. His physical journey is defined by his transition from an able-bodied boy to a paraplegic relying on others for movement. However, his true growth lies in accepting his new limitations and embracing his magical gifts. Key milestones include his first successful warging into Summer, the discovery of his greensight, and his training under the Three-Eyed Crow to view the past and future. In A Clash of Kings (1998), he rules Winterfell as Robb's heir until Theon's betrayal forces a northward escape. By 2011's A Dance with Dragons, he has fully begun mastering his abilities alongside Coldhands and Leaf. Fans have generated significant theories regarding his relationship to the White Walkers and the Night King based on these developments.

Did You Know?

Bran was seven years old at the beginning of A Game of Thrones (1996) but aged up to ten for the television series.
The moment Jaime pushes Bran from the window was cited by Martin as the specific scene that 'hooked' many readers early in the first novel.
Bran is one of the few prominent characters who does not appear in A Feast for Crows (2005), returning instead in A Dance with Dragons (2011).
Before his fall, Bran dreamed of becoming a knight and specifically wanted to join the Kingsguard.