Brienne of Tarth

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Brienne's background is rooted in House Tarth, where she is the only surviving child of Lord Selwyn Tarth. After losing her mother as a child and her brother Galladon to drowning at age eight, Brienne faced relentless criticism from Septa Roelle, who destroyed her self-esteem by insisting no man would ever desire her. Her father attempted three unsuccessful betrothals: one ending in the fiancé's death, another broken by Ser Ronnet Connington upon first meeting her, and a final attempt with Ser Humfrey Wagstaff that ended when Brienne broke three of his bones after he demanded she cease training. She fell in unrequited love with Renly Baratheon after he danced with her during a coming-of-age tour. When the War of Five Kings began, she secured permission to declare for Renly independently, eventually winning the Melee at Bitterbridge and joining his Rainbow Guard as standard bearer.

In Their Own Story

Brienne's journey shifted dramatically when she accompanied Catelyn Stark to escort Jaime Lannister to King's Landing in exchange for Sansa and Arya. Captured by the Brave Companions at Harrenhal, Brienne convinced a maimed Jaime to survive Vargo Hoat's cruelty; in return, Jaime prevented the mercenaries from raping her. After Jaime revealed he killed the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen to save King's Landing, Roose Bolton released him but left Brienne as Hoat's prize until she bit off his ear and was thrown into a bear pit before Jaime rescued her. Upon returning to King's Landing, they found Joffrey poisoned and Catelyn murdered. After proving her innocence of Renly's murder to Ser Loras Tyrell, Jaime gifted her the Valyrian steel sword Oathkeeper, forged from Ned Stark's 'Ice,' tasking her with finding Sansa. In A Feast for Crows, she traveled with Podrick Payne and Ser Hyle Hunt, surviving an attack by the Brave Companions before being captured by Lady Stoneheart, a reanimated Catelyn Stark, who demanded she choose between killing Jaime or hanging.

Reader's Guide

Brienne of Tarth defies Westerosi norms through her physical description and unwavering code. Described as very tall, muscular, flat-chested, with straw-colored hair and broad features covered in freckles, she is considered unattractive by most, though Catelyn Tully and Jaime Lannister admire her large blue eyes. Her personality is defined by a rigid belief that knights must be chivalrous and honor their vows, earning her the mocking nickname 'Brienne the Beauty.' In the books, she describes herself as 'the only child the gods let [my father] keep' and a 'freakish one.' Gwendoline Christie notes in an interview that Brienne developed outer strength to match men while remaining internally fragile and romantic. Her critical acclaim includes Saturn Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her television portrayal, culminating in a 2019 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the final season.

Did You Know?

• Brienne was betrothed at age seven to a boy who died of illness before the wedding could take place.
• She broke three bones in Ser Humfrey Wagstaff's body when he demanded she stop training after their marriage.
• Gwendoline Christie was promoted from recurring cast to main cast starting with season four of Game of Thrones.
• Brienne bit off an ear of the mercenary leader Vargo Hoat before being thrown into a bear pit at Harrenhal.
• In A Feast for Crows, Brienne encounters Gendry, Arya's former traveling companion, who was helping shelter orphans at an inn.