Melisandre

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Melisandre was likely born with the name 'Melony' and sold as a child slave to the Red Temple. She possesses magical abilities to cast glamour, manipulate fire and shadow, and see visions in flames. In A Clash of Kings, she converts Stannis's wife Selyse and survives a poison attempt by Maester Cressen. Believing Stannis is Azor Ahai, she convinces him to impregnate her, birthing a shadow demon that assassinates Renly Baratheon at Storm's End. She later births another demon to kill Ser Cortnay Penrose. During A Storm of Swords, she leeches Stannis and burns them to curse Balon Greyjoy, Robb Stark, and Joffrey Baratheon, all of whom die soon after. In A Dance with Dragons (2011), she switches Mance Rayder's identity with Rattleshirt to save him from burning, then sends the real Mance to Winterfell.

In Their Own Story

In Season 5, Melisandre presides over Mance Rayder's burning but secretly saves him. She attempts to seduce Jon Snow, who rejects her. When a blizzard halts Stannis's march on Winterfell, she persuades the king to sacrifice his daughter Shireen; the storm lifts immediately, though half the army deserts and Selyse commits suicide. Melisandre flees to Castle Black, where she reveals her true ancient form by removing her ruby necklace, proving it is a magical glamour. Shocked when Jon Snow is stabbed by mutineers despite her vision of him fighting at Winterfell, Davos convinces her to resurrect him. She dedicates herself to Jon as the Prince That Was Promised, working no magic without his permission and avoiding conversion efforts.

Reader's Guide

Melisandre appears in A Clash of Kings (1998), A Storm of Swords (2000), and A Dance with Dragons (2011). She has a single point-of-view chapter in the fifth novel, with George R. R. Martin confirming her return as a viewpoint character in The Winds of Winter. In the HBO series, she is portrayed by Carice van Houten, who received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Her prophecies guide the narrative but are often misinterpreted; she sees 'Snow' instead of Azor Ahai and warns Jon of 'daggers in the dark.' Her actions range from saving lives via identity switches to ordering child sacrifices, driven by her militant stance against other religions.

Did You Know?

• Tywin Lannister indirectly referred to her as 'a shadowbinder from Asshai' after the Battle in the Whispering Wood.
• She rarely sleeps or eats, unlike most humans.
• Her ruby choker is a magical glamour that masks a body centuries older than her appearance.
• In A Dance with Dragons, she has exactly one point-of-view chapter.
• Carice van Houten received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.