Petyr Baelish

Lore & Background

Littlefinger is not a point-of-view character in the novels; his actions are witnessed through others like Ned Stark, Catelyn, Sansa, and Cersei. His background begins with a Braavosi sellsword father who served House Corbray before befriending Lord Hoster Tully during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Taken as a ward to Riverrun, he was nicknamed 'Littlefinger' by Edmure Tully due to his short stature and family lands on the smallest peninsula called the Fingers. He lost his virginity to Lysa while delirious after losing a duel for Catelyn's hand against Brandon Stark. Following Lysa's forced abortion and his banishment, he rose as customs officer at Gulltown before Jon Arryn brought him to King's Landing as Master of Coin. In the books, his unnamed father died around this time, passing the 'Baelish Tower' to Petyr, making him a lord.

In Their Own Story

In A Game of Thrones, Littlefinger hides Catelyn at his brothel and lies that Tyrion Lannister won the dagger used in the attempt on Bran Stark's life. He helps Ned expose royal parentage but betrays him by aiding his arrest after Ned insists Stannis must be king. By A Clash of Kings, he arranges an alliance between the Lannisters and House Tyrell, leading to Renly Baratheon's death and Stannis's defeat. In A Storm of Swords, he marries Lysa Arryn to control the Vale, reveals Olenna Tyrell's plot regarding Sansa Stark, and conspires with her to poison King Joffrey. He whisks Sansa away disguised as his illegitimate daughter, then kills Lysa by pushing her through the Moon Door after she tries to kill Sansa, framing the minstrel Marillion. By A Feast for Crows, he names himself Lord Protector, claiming Robin Arryn as a ward while bribing Lyn Corbray to keep leverage.

Reader's Guide

Petyr Baelish is an amoral opportunist whose methods include lies, treachery, and murder. He wears a silver mockingbird to fasten his cloak and has sharp features with laughing green eyes and threads of silver in his hair. His motivations are often interpreted as lingering love for Catelyn Stark (and Sansa in the show), though many, including Sansa, believe he serves only himself. In A Feast for Crows, he plans to marry Sansa to Harrold Hardyng so she can eventually reveal herself and use the Knights of the Vale to retake the North. For The Winds of Winter, he is set to hold a tournament where winners join the Brotherhood of Winged Nights to protect Robert Arryn, while planning for Sansa to wed his heir upon the sickly child's death.

Did You Know?

• Littlefinger was nicknamed 'Littlefinger' by Edmure Tully because of his family's lands on the smallest of the peninsulas called the Fingers.
• He lost his virginity to Lysa Tully while delirious, mistaking her for Catelyn Stark after being wounded in a duel against Brandon Stark.
• In the books, Petyr inherited the 'Baelish Tower' and became a lord only after his unnamed father died, whereas the show implies both parents died when he was much younger.
• He conspired with Olenna Tyrell to poison King Joffrey Baratheon at his wedding feast, framing Tyrion Lannister for the murder.
• Littlefinger is not a point-of-view character in the novels; all information about him comes through the perspectives of other characters.