Lore
Who is Bran Stark in Game of Thrones?
Bran Stark’s journey from Winterfell to the Three-Eyed Raven.

House of the Dragon reintroduced audiences to key characters tied to Westeros’s rich history. The Three-Eyed Raven, a mystical figure, made an appearance in Season 2 of the series. He will play a larger role in the upcoming series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This enigmatic character was central to Bran Stark’s transformation in Game of Thrones.
Bran Stark’s story is one of discovery and change. He begins as a young, adventurous boy in Winterfell. Over time, he becomes the keeper of ancient knowledge. His journey from climbing Winterfell’s towers to learning the mysteries of the Three-Eyed Raven captivated fans. Bran’s story serves as a bridge between the past and the present in Westeros.
The books written by George R. R. Martin depict Bran differently than the show. He is younger, and his journey remains unfinished. Readers eagerly await A Winds of Winter to learn more about his fate. Meanwhile, the show has provided its own interpretation of Bran’s transformation.
Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones will find Bran’s story full of intrigue. Whether revisiting the series or exploring the books, Bran remains a central figure in Westeros’s lore. This article covers everything we know about Bran Stark.
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Who was Bran Stark?

Credits: HBO
Brandon Stark, known as Bran, was the fourth child of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. He was their second son. Bran was born in Winterfell and grew up alongside his siblings Robb, Jon, Sansa, Arya, and Rickon. His direwolf, Summer, stayed with him constantly, sharing a warg connection.
Bran was a warg and a greenseer, roles that gave him the ability to enter the minds of animals and see events across time. He trained to become the Three-Eyed Raven, a mystical figure holding immense knowledge. This role required him to set aside personal desires and emotions.
Bran was eventually crowned the first elected ruler of the Six Kingdoms after the War of the Five Kings. The kingdoms chose him for his neutrality and wisdom. He was given the title “Bran the Broken” because of his physical disability and extraordinary journey.
At the beginning of the books, Bran was seven years old. He was one of the major POV characters. His early chapters focused on his childhood in Winterfell and his fall, which left him paralyzed. This fall marked a turning point in his life and the story.
In the television series Game of Thrones, Isaac Hempstead-Wright portrayed Bran. His character arc covered his transformation from a boy in Winterfell to the ruler of the Six Kingdoms.
Quick Facts
Show
- Bran is portrayed by Isaac Hempstead-Wright.
- He becomes the Three-Eyed Raven in the show.
- Bran is crowned King of the Six Kingdoms in the series finale.
- He is paralyzed after Jaime Lannister pushes him from a tower.
- Bran uses his greenseer powers to reveal Jon Snow’s true parentage.
- His direwolf is named Summer.
- The character’s journey ends with him ruling as a neutral and wise leader.
Books
- Bran is a point-of-view character in multiple books.
- He is paralyzed after falling from a tower pushed by Jaime Lannister.
- He is seven years old at the start of A Game of Thrones.
- Bran begins having visions of a Three-Eyed Crow guiding him north.
- He wargs into his direwolf, Summer, and occasionally into Hodor.
- His journey north leads him to the cave of the Three-Eyed Crow.
- Bran learns to use his greenseer abilities under Brynden, the last greenseer.
In the show

Credits: HBO
Background
Bran Stark was the fourth child and second son of Catelyn and Ned Stark. He was born in Winterfell. Bran grew up with his siblings Robb, Sansa, Arya, Rickon, and his cousin Jon Snow, who he believed was his half-brother. His mother called him “Brandon” only when he misbehaved.
Bran was named after his uncle Brandon Stark, who was executed by the Mad King alongside their grandfather Rickard Stark. He enjoyed climbing Winterfell’s walls and dreamed of becoming a knight of the Kingsguard. His direwolf, Summer, was always with him. Bran had a strong warg connection with Summer.
At the start of A Game of Thrones, Bran was seven years old. His chapters focused on his family, his love for adventure, and his fall, which paralyzed him. This accident shaped his path to becoming a greenseer and the Three-Eyed Raven.
Game of Thrones: Season 1
Bran trained in leadership and combat under his family’s guidance. His father, Ned, showed him harsh realities by taking him to witness a Night’s Watch deserter’s execution. On the same journey, they found direwolf pups. Bran named his wolf Summer.
When King Robert Baratheon visited Winterfell, Bran prepared to travel south with Ned, Sansa, and Arya. While climbing, Bran discovered Queen Cersei and Jaime Lannister in an intimate act. To silence him, Jaime pushed Bran from a tower. Bran survived but fell into a coma.
During his coma, an assassin tried to kill him, but Summer killed the attacker. Bran awakened with no memory of his fall. He struggled with his condition and the loss of his ability to walk. His brother Robb comforted him during this difficult time.
Bran began having strange dreams about a three-eyed raven. Tyrion Lannister later visited Winterfell and designed a saddle for Bran, allowing him to ride despite his injuries. Bran tested the saddle and was attacked by wildlings during the ride but was rescued by Robb and Theon.
Bran remained in Winterfell when Robb led the Stark forces to war. He prayed for his family’s safety and discussed his visions with Osha, who believed the real danger lay beyond the Wall. Bran’s dreams hinted at his future as a greenseer.
Game of Thrones: Season 2
Bran continued having dreams about the Three-Eyed Raven and took over leadership at Winterfell. He dreamed of the sea flooding Winterfell, which he later connected to the Ironborn invasion. Theon Greyjoy captured Winterfell and forced Bran to surrender the castle.
Theon killed Ser Rodrik Cassel and claimed Bran and Rickon were dead after displaying the bodies of two orphans. In reality, Bran and Rickon hid in Winterfell’s crypts. They later escaped with Hodor, Osha, and their direwolves.
The group fled Winterfell as it was sacked and abandoned. They discovered Maester Luwin mortally wounded in the godswood. Before dying, Luwin urged them to seek Jon Snow at Castle Black. Bran said goodbye to Luwin and set off with Osha, Hodor, and Rickon.
Bran dreamed of the raven leading him north. His group continued their journey, with Bran showing determination to understand the meaning behind his visions. These dreams guided his path toward becoming the Three-Eyed Raven.
Game of Thrones: Season 3
Bran, Rickon, Osha, and Hodor journeyed to Castle Black. Bran continued dreaming of the Three-Eyed Raven. In one dream, he met Jojen Reed, who later appeared with his sister Meera. Jojen shared Bran’s gift and explained that he was a warg and greenseer.
Jojen guided Bran to embrace his abilities. Bran struggled with fear and self-doubt, especially memories of his fall. Despite this, Jojen convinced Bran to follow the raven’s path north. Osha opposed going beyond the Wall, but Bran insisted it was necessary.
Bran displayed his warg abilities by controlling Hodor during a wildling attack. He also entered Summer and Shaggydog to protect the group. Bran decided to split from Rickon, sending him with Osha to safety while he continued north with Jojen and Meera.
The group stayed at the Nightfort on the Wall and met Samwell Tarly. Sam helped them cross the Wall, providing dragonglass weapons. Bran thanked Sam but continued his journey, determined to reach the Three-Eyed Raven.
They passed beyond the Wall, braving harsh conditions. Bran relied on Jojen’s guidance and his own visions to find their destination. This marked the start of Bran’s transformation into the Three-Eyed Raven.
Game of Thrones: Season 4
Bran, Hodor, Jojen, and Meera traveled beyond the Wall. Bran used Summer’s eyes to scout but was warned not to stay in his wolf too long. They discovered a Heart tree, where Bran had visions of the Three-Eyed Raven, White Walkers, and his father’s execution.
The group was captured by mutineers at Craster’s Keep while trying to free Summer from a trap. Bran revealed his identity to protect Meera from harm. During a rescue by Jon Snow’s Night’s Watch group, Bran warged into Hodor to kill Locke, who planned to kidnap him.
Jojen persuaded Bran not to join Jon at Castle Black, reminding him of his mission to find the Three-Eyed Raven. They escaped Craster’s Keep and continued north. Jojen’s failing health became evident, but he remained committed to guiding Bran.
The group reached the giant weirwood tree from Bran’s visions. They were attacked by wights, and Jojen was fatally wounded. Meera killed him to prevent his suffering. Leaf, a Child of the Forest, saved the others and led them to safety in a cave.
Inside the cave, Bran met the Three-Eyed Raven, who was an ancient man fused with the weirwood roots. The raven told Bran he would never walk again but would learn to fly. This marked the beginning of Bran’s training as a greenseer.
Game of Thrones: Season 5
Bran remained in the cave, training with the Three-Eyed Raven. He learned to use the Sight to view past and future events. He saw moments from Winterfell’s history, including his family’s past. He struggled with longing for his old life but remained focused on his purpose.
The Three-Eyed Raven warned Bran not to interfere with the past. Bran learned that Hodor, originally named Wylis, had once been a stable boy. He saw a vision of the Tower of Joy and realized that his father’s honorable tales differed from the truth.
Bran’s training revealed the origins of the White Walkers. He witnessed the Children of the Forest creating the first White Walker to protect themselves from men. This discovery shocked Bran, as it revealed the long history of conflict in Westeros.
Bran defied the raven’s warnings and connected to the Night King during a vision. The Night King marked Bran, enabling him to locate the cave. The Three-Eyed Raven urged Bran to prepare to take his place as the new greenseer.
The Night King attacked the cave with his army. Bran warged into Hodor to help Meera and himself escape. Leaf sacrificed herself to slow the wights, and Hodor held the door as they fled. Bran’s connection to the past caused young Wylis’s mind to break, leaving him only able to say “Hodor.”
Game of Thrones: Season 6
Meera dragged Bran through the snow while he remained trapped in visions. Wights pursued them, but Benjen Stark saved them. Benjen explained how he was saved by the Children of the Forest after being stabbed by a White Walker.
Benjen revealed he could not pass the Wall due to its magic and left Bran and Meera near a weirwood. Bran touched the tree and returned to his vision of the Tower of Joy. He saw his father find Lyanna Stark, who revealed Jon Snow’s true parentage.
Bran became the Three-Eyed Raven, taking on the responsibility of preserving the memories of mankind. He prepared to return south and warn others about the White Walkers. This marked the end of his training and the start of his role in the larger conflict.
At the Wall, Bran reunited with Meera. He understood his role in the fight against the Night King.
Game of Thrones: Season 7
Bran returned to Winterfell and reunited with Sansa and Arya. He explained that he was no longer truly Bran Stark, as his transformation into the Three-Eyed Raven had changed him. He used his abilities to confirm Petyr Baelish’s crimes, leading to Baelish’s execution.
Bran sent ravens to warn others about the Night King’s army. Through his visions, he saw the Night King destroy part of the Wall with the undead Viserion. This allowed the army of the dead to march south.
Bran worked with Samwell Tarly to uncover Jon Snow’s true identity as Aegon Targaryen, the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne. He viewed Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark’s secret marriage and Jon’s birth in the Tower of Joy.
Game of Thrones: Season 8
Bran greeted Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen when they arrived in Winterfell. He warned them about the Night King breaching the Wall and raising the dead. He revealed to the council that the Night King intended to destroy him as the Three-Eyed Raven.
During the Battle of Winterfell, Bran sat in the godswood as bait for the Night King. Theon Greyjoy and the Ironborn defended him until they were overwhelmed. Theon died protecting Bran, who thanked him for his bravery.
As the Night King approached, Bran warged into a raven to observe the battlefield. Arya Stark intervened and killed the Night King with the dagger Bran had given her. This act ended the threat of the White Walkers and saved Bran and Winterfell.
After Daenerys’s death, Bran was chosen as the ruler of the Six Kingdoms during the Great Council meeting. Tyrion suggested Bran as king due to his knowledge and neutrality. Bran accepted, acknowledging his role in rebuilding the realm.
Bran named Tyrion as his Hand of the King, despite Tyrion’s protests. He exiled Jon Snow to the Night’s Watch to prevent further conflict. Bran also tasked himself with finding Drogon, who had flown away with Daenerys’s body.
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In the Books

Credits: aprilis420
Appearance and Character
Bran Stark resembled his mother, Catelyn, with auburn hair and deep blue eyes like the Tullys. He was thoughtful and well-loved in Winterfell. Bran enjoyed climbing and exploring the castle walls. Catelyn often worried about his climbing but could not stop him. Bran loved adventure and dreamed of becoming a knight.
Bran showed stubbornness and curiosity from a young age. He often joined his older siblings in their activities, believing himself older than his years. Jon Snow thought of him fondly for his determination. Bran wore practical clothing, including fur-lined boots and cloaks. He especially liked a wolf-head brooch that made him look lordly.
Bran loved hearing Old Nan’s stories, preferring tales of the Long Night and the Others. He also admired stories of mystery knights and the Kingsguard. However, he was disappointed to learn from his father that the modern Kingsguard lacked the honor of the past.
History and Early Life
Bran was born at Winterfell in 290 AC during the height of summer. He was the second son and fourth child of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Eddard named him after his late brother Brandon, whose death contributed to Robert’s Rebellion. Bran grew up alongside his siblings Robb, Sansa, Arya, Rickon, and his cousin Jon Snow.
From a young age, Bran climbed the walls of Winterfell, despite his mother’s pleas to stop. He believed exploring helped him learn the castle’s secrets. Catelyn tried various methods to discourage him, including using Old Nan’s frightening stories, but Bran continued climbing. Eddard eventually accepted Bran’s habit, though he asked him to avoid upsetting his mother.
Bran enjoyed swinging from the gargoyles of the First Keep and feeding crows at the broken tower. He received an education from Maester Luwin and trained with Ser Rodrik Cassel. Bran’s adventurous spirit made him eager to explore the world and become a knight.
A Game of Thrones
Bran first accompanied his father to witness the execution of a Night’s Watch deserter. On their return to Winterfell, they found a dead direwolf and her pups. Bran insisted on sparing the pups, and each Stark sibling received one. Bran named his wolf Summer. He grew attached to the wolf, who became his constant companion.
When King Robert Baratheon visited Winterfell, Bran looked forward to traveling to King’s Landing. However, he discovered Queen Cersei and Jaime Lannister together in the First Keep. To keep their secret, Jaime pushed Bran from the tower. Bran survived but fell into a coma.
While unconscious, Bran dreamed of a three-eyed crow that promised to teach him to fly. He awoke weeks later, paralyzed from the waist down, and named his direwolf Summer. Tyrion Lannister later visited Winterfell and designed a saddle for Bran, allowing him to ride despite his injuries.
Bran tested the saddle during a ride in the wolfswood but was attacked by wildlings and deserters. Robb and Theon rescued him. Bran began to bond with Osha, a captured wildling, due to their shared belief in the old gods. He also started having vivid dreams of the Three-Eyed Crow.
After Eddard’s arrest in King’s Landing, Bran acted as Lord of Winterfell in Robb’s absence. He dreamed of his father in the crypts and later learned of Eddard’s execution. This news deeply affected Bran, but he continued to focus on his duties as Winterfell’s prince.
A Clash of Kings
Bran ruled Winterfell while Robb marched south. He befriended Jojen and Meera Reed, who taught him about his skinchanging abilities. Jojen believed Bran needed to go beyond the Wall to find the Three-Eyed Crow. Maester Luwin, however, doubted Jojen’s greensight.
Theon Greyjoy captured Winterfell and held Bran and Rickon hostage. Bran and his group escaped to the crypts while Theon faked their deaths using the bodies of miller’s boys. The group later emerged to find Winterfell sacked and Maester Luwin dying. Luwin advised splitting up, so Osha took Rickon south while Bran, Hodor, and the Reeds traveled north.
During their journey, Bran frequently entered Summer’s mind, becoming more attuned to his abilities. He dreamed of the Three-Eyed Crow and relied on Jojen’s guidance to interpret these visions. The group avoided main roads and stayed hidden to evade pursuers.
They passed through the Gift and decided to cross the Wall at the Nightfort, as suggested by one of Jojen’s dreams. While there, they met Samwell Tarly, who led them through a secret passage. Sam promised to keep Bran’s survival a secret, even from Jon Snow.
Bran and his group continued their journey with the enigmatic Coldhands as their guide. They endured harsh conditions and constant danger, driven by Bran’s determination to find the Three-Eyed Crow.
A Storm of Swords and Beyond
Bran’s journey north continued as they faced starvation and attacks from wights. He began to develop feelings for Meera, though she remained focused on their mission. Coldhands protected the group but could not enter the cave of the Three-Eyed Crow due to magical barriers.
Inside the cave, Bran met the Three-Eyed Crow, a pale man fused with the weirwood roots. The crow, named Brynden, began teaching Bran about greensight and skinchanging. Bran consumed weirwood paste to unlock his greenseer abilities and began seeing visions of the past through Winterfell’s heart tree.
Bran’s visions included moments from his family’s history and the ancient Kings of Winter. Brynden explained that Bran could observe the past but not change it. Bran also used Hodor’s body to explore the cave and defend against wights.
The group remained in the cave, preparing Bran for his future role. His connection to the weirwoods and his growing powers set him on the path to becoming the next Three-Eyed Raven.
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Quotes
“I can see things that happened in the past. I can see things happening now, all over the world.”
―Bran explaining the Three-Eyed Raven to Samwell in Game of Thrones
“I’m here, only I’m broken. Will you … will you fix me … my legs, I mean?”
“No. That is beyond my powers. You will never walk again, Bran, but you will fly.”
―Bran and the Three-Eyed Crow in A Song of Ice and Fire
Quick Answers
Who is Bran Stark?
Bran Stark is the fourth child and second son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark of Winterfell. He appears in both the books and the show. In the books, he is seven years old at the start of A Game of Thrones. In the show, he is portrayed by Isaac Hempstead-Wright.
What is Bran’s role in the story?
In the books and the show, Bran begins as a curious and adventurous boy. He becomes paralyzed after Jaime Lannister pushes him from a tower. Later, he discovers his abilities as a warg and greenseer, eventually becoming the Three-Eyed Raven. In the show, he is crowned King of the Six Kingdoms.
What are Bran’s abilities?
Bran is a warg and greenseer in both the books and the show. He can enter the minds of animals, including his direwolf Summer, and control them. As a greenseer, he uses the weirwoods to see past and present events. These abilities are central to his journey.
How does Bran become paralyzed?
In both the books and the show, Bran climbs a tower in Winterfell and witnesses Jaime and Cersei Lannister in an intimate act. Jaime pushes him from the tower to keep their relationship secret. Bran survives but loses the ability to walk.
What is the significance of the Three-Eyed Raven?
The Three-Eyed Raven is a mystical figure who holds the collective memory of the world. In both the books and the show, Bran trains under the Three-Eyed Raven to learn about his powers. In the show, Bran succeeds the Raven and becomes the new Three-Eyed Raven.
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