Stannis Baratheon: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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| name = Stannis Baratheon

| series = [[A Song of Ice and Fire]] ''character'' <br> [[Game of Thrones]]

| colour = #D09916

| portrayer = [[Stephen Dillane]]

| creator = [[George R. R. Martin]]

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| aliases = {{Unbulleted list|The King in the Narrow Sea|The King of the Painted Table|The King of Dragonstone|The King at the Wall|The dark lord|Azor Ahai|The prince that was promised}}

| gender = Male

| occupation=King, military and political commander

| title = {{Unbulleted list|Lord of [[Dragonstone (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Dragonstone]]|Lord Paramount of the Stormlands|Master of Ships (former)|Lord of Storm's End|King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men (claimant)|King of Westeros (claimant)|Lord of the Seven Kingdoms (claimant)|Protector of the Realm (claimant)|Ser|Commander of the Nightfort}}

| family = [[House Baratheon]]

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}}

'''Stannis Baratheon''' is a fictional character in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' series of [[epic fantasy]] novels by American author [[George R. R. Martin]], and its television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/guide/houses/sbaratheon/stannis-baratheon|title=Game of Thrones Viewer's Guide|publisher=HBO}}</ref> He is the second son of Steffon Baratheon and CassandraCassana Estermont, as well as the brother of [[Robert Baratheon|Robert]] – lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and [[Renly Baratheon|Renly]] – lord of [[Storm's End]]. He is the Lord of [[Dragonstone (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Dragonstone]], and after his elder brother's death, becomes a claimant to the [[Iron Throne (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Iron Throne of Westeros]] and a key player in the subsequent civil war. Stannis's goals are frequently impeded by his lack of manpower and resources, owing to his unpopularity with other noble houses. He must therefore rely on the counsel of the foreign priestess [[Melisandre]] and his right-hand man, lowborn smuggler [[Davos Seaworth]], who he later promotes to [[head of government|Hand of the King]]. Stannis often struggles to escape the shadow of his two more overtly charismatic brothers, particularly Robert.

Though first mentioned in 1996's ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', Stannis formally appeared in ''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (1998), ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (2000) and ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (2011). In December 2011, Martin posted a sample chapter from the yet-unfinished ''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', told from [[Theon Greyjoy]]'s viewpoint, which confirmed Stannis' return in the sixth book.

Stannis is portrayed by English actor [[Stephen Dillane]] in the [[HBO]] television adaptation of the series,<ref name=HBOCast>{{cite web | url=http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/index.html#/game-of-thrones/cast-and-crew/stannis-baratheon/bio/stannis-baratheon.html |title=''Game of Thrones'' Cast and Crew: Stannis Baratheon played by Stephen Dillane |publisher=[[HBO]] | access-date=December 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/index.html#/game-of-thrones/cast-and-crew/index.html|title=The Official Website for the HBO Series Game of Thrones - Season 4|work=HBO}}</ref> who has received significant critical praise for his performance. Stannis is a divisive character among fans of the books and television show alike, enjoying both great popularity for his dedication to justice and [[dark horse]] status, as well as opposition for his unrelenting attitude towards the Iron Throne.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.salon.com/2015/04/26/stannis_the_mannis_baratheon_why_hes_the_best_game_of_thrones_character_and_rightful_king_of_westeros/|title= Stannis "The Mannis" Baratheon: Why he's the best "Game of Thrones" character -- and rightful king of Westeros|first=Anna|last=Silman|website=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |date= 27 April 2015| access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/game-of-thrones-stannis-shireen-scene|title= How Game of Thrones Finally Fixed Its Three Weakest Characters|first=Joanna|last=Robinson|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date= 4 May 2015| access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/game-of-thrones/246795/game-of-thrones-the-dance-of-dragons-review-daenerys-stannis-shireen-baratheon|title= Game of Thrones: The Dance of Dragons Review|first=David|last=Crow|website=[[Dennis Publishing#Publications|Den of Geek!]] |date= 8 June 2015| access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/stannis-baratheon-game-thrones/|title= Stannis Baratheon, the Internet's King of Westeros|first=Michelle|last=Jaworski|work=[[The Daily Dot]] | access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref> He has earned particular attention for the differences in his characterization between the novels and show, particularly during [[Game of Thrones (season 5)|season five]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/stannis-burns-shireen-game-of-thrones-dance-of-dragons|title= How Tonight's Game of Thrones Signaled a Brutal Departure from the Books|first=Joanna|last=Robinson|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date= 8 June 2015| access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/game-of-thrones-recap-dance-of-dragons-book-stannis/|title= How ''Game of Thrones'' Ruined Stannis the Mannis|first=Hanh|last=Nguyen|magazine=[[TV Guide]] | access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref>

== Character description ==

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===Background===

Stannis was born as the second of Steffon Baratheon and Cassana Estermont's three sons, and in his youth he was constantly overshadowed by his older brother [[Robert Baratheon|Robert]]. When Stannis was fourteen14, he witnessed his parents' death in a shipwreck off the coast of House Baratheon's castle of, Storm's End, and subsequently lost his faith in the Seven Gods.

During Robert's Rebellion, a teenage Stannis holds Storm's End in Robert's absence, butsuccessfully isdefending the besieged bycastle from the Reach forces of Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne for the best part of the year. Stannis' garrison only avoids starvation thanks only to the smuggler [[Davos Seaworth]], who evades the blockade by the Redwyne fleet to bring the Baratheon soldiers a cargo of onions and fish. When [[Eddard Stark]] arrives to lift the siege, Stannis knights Davos as reward for his aid, but also insists that Davos have four fingers removed as punishment for his years of illegal smuggling; Davos agrees, on the condition that Stannis removes the fingers himself. Stannis is subsequently tasked with building a new royal fleet to assault Dragonstone and capture the island, but arrives to find that Aerys II Targaryen's children [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]] and the newborn [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]] had fled. Robert names Stannis Lord of Dragonstone, giving him control over the islands of Blackwater Bay and the nearby peninsula of Massey's Hook - but Stannis feels slighted, as their younger brother [[Renly Baratheon|Renly]] is named Lord of [[Storm's End]], giving him control over the entirety of the Stormlands.

Several years later, Stannis is married to Lady Selyse Florent, but Robert soiled their wedding bed by [[deflowering]] Selyse's cousin Delena, further insulting Stannis. Stannis and Selyse have a single daughter together, Shireen, who nearly dies in infancy after contracting greyscale and is left disfigured.{{Sfn|''A Game of Thrones''|loc=Appendix}} Stannis, who is named Robert's Master of Ships, destroys the Iron Fleet under the command of [[Victarion Greyjoy]] at Fair Isle during the Greyjoy Rebellion and leads the conquest of Great Wyk, the largest of the Iron Islands, adding to his significant military resume.

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Stannis is frequently described as a large and sinewy man that towers over others, such as [[Davos Seaworth]] and [[Jon Snow (character)|Jon Snow]], a Baratheon trait. He lacks the long black hair of his brothers, and is instead balding, although he keeps a close-cropped beard of the signature Baratheon black. His face is described as 'tight like cured leather' with hollow, gaunt cheeks. His eyes are described by [[Asha Greyjoy]] as 'deep, sunken pits', with a powerful stare that suggests an 'iron ferocity'.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last= Martin|first=George R.R. |author-link=George R.R. Martin |date=2011 |title=A Dance with Dragons|url= https://archive.org/details/dancewithdragons00mart|url-access= registration}}</ref>

Stannis' most prominent characteristics are his flinty and austere demeanor, unrelenting stubbornness, and powerful sense of duty and justice, the latter of which he is notorious for throughout [[Westeros]]. He rarely forgives a slight; Jon Snow once comments that "Stannis Baratheon with a grievance was like a mastiff with a bone; he gnawed it down to splinters."<ref name=":0"/> His signature tic is grinding his teeth, often in the face of unpleasant or unforeseen circumstances. He is a renowned commander, sailor, and warrior, although he is a better tactician than fighter. Stannis is known for his brusqueness and lack of tact in social situations and finds himself uncomfortable around women, including his own wife. He abhors [[brothels]] and once tried to have them banned from [[King's Landing (A Song of Ice and Fire)|King's Landing]], which made him unpopular with the smallfolk there. He dresses plainly in dark clothing and is rarely seen without his sword and dagger. Stannis is plagued with bitterness at the lack of respect and affection he has been shown by his older brother King Robert, and even in childhood was described by the Baratheon family maester as "the most unloved of the three"; a "solemn and joyless" child "mature beyond his years".<ref>{{cite book |last= Martin|first=George R.R. |author-link=George R.R. Martin |date=1998 |title=A Clash of Kings|publisher=Voyager |isbn=9780006479895 |url= https://archive.org/details/clashofkingsason00geor_0|url-access= registration}}</ref> Stannis is an [[atheist]], despite claims that he is being manipulated by the red priestess [[Melisandre]].

Although Stannis suffers from a lack of support and resources during the War of Five Kings, he is frequently described by his adversaries, including [[Tywin Lannister]], as the most dangerous rival claimant. Above all he is characterized by his fearless and uncompromising pursuit of justice and duty - he is described by [[Varys]] in this way: "His claim is the true one, he is known for his prowess as a battle commander, and he is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man."<ref>{{cite book |last= Martin|first=George R.R. |author-link=George R.R. Martin |date=1996 |title=A Game of Thrones|url= https://archive.org/details/agameofthrones_201908}}</ref>

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==== ''A Storm of Swords'' ====

{{see also|A Storm of Swords}}

Stannis retreats to Dragonstone with what is left of his army (around 1,500 men-at-arms). He imprisons his Hand Lord Alester Florent, one of his wife's uncles, for trying to offer terms of surrender to the Lannisters. Another of Selyses' uncles, Ser Axell Florent, castellan of Dragonstone, aims to become Stannis' Hand of the King. He suggests a plan to attack Claw Isle in retaliation for Lord Celtigar's bending the knee to Joffrey, but Davos derides an attack on this defenseless island as evil. For this honest counsel Stannis names Davos as his new Hand. Melisandre tells Stannis to burn Edric Storm, one of Robert's bastards, as a sacrifice to raise dragons from Dragonstone. Stannis is conflicted about burning his nephew but uses Edric's blood collected by three leeches to curse the rival kings: [[Balon Greyjoy]], [[Joffrey Baratheon]], and [[Robb Stark]]. After Joffrey's, Balon's and Robb's deaths seem to prove the power of king's blood, Stannis considers sacrificing Edric. Davos smuggles Edric off Dragonstone to the Free Cities, and then persuades Stannis to sail to the North and save the [[Night's Watch]] from the wildling army.

After Melisandre burns Alester Florent as a sacrifice to R'hllor to ensure favorable winds, Stannis takes most of his remaining army and sails north to the Wall to relieve the Wildlings' threat on Castle Black. Stannis' sudden arrival at the Wall catches [[Mance Rayder]], the King-Beyond-the-Wall, by surprise, and his cavalry routs the whole Wildling host with few casualties. Afterwards, he remains at Castle Black to negotiate settlement over the Wildling prisoners, and offers to legitimise [[Eddard Stark]]'s bastard son [[Jon Snow (character)|Jon Snow]] as the new lord of Winterfell if Jon swears loyalty to him and joins the fight against House Bolton. Despite being tempted, Jon declines the offer as he has made an oath binding him to serve the Night's Watch, and does not want Winterfell's godswood to be burned by Melisandre. Later, Stannis pressures the Night's Watch to finish electing a new Lord Commander, and Jon is eventually elected through secret [[lobbying]] by [[Samwell Tarly]].

==== ''A Feast for Crows'' and ''A Dance with Dragons'' ====

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=== TV adaptation ===

[[File:Stephen Dillane at Dinard 2012.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Stephen Dillane]] plays the role of Stannis Baratheon in the [[Game of Thrones|television series]].]]

Stannis Baratheon is played by [[Stephen Dillane]] in the television adaption of the series of books.<ref>{{cite newsmagazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/19/stannis-melisandre/ |title='Game of Thrones' casts sorceress Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon—EXCLUSIVE |workmagazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=September 4, 2011 |first=James |last=Hibberd}}</ref>

==== Season 2 ====

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==== Season 5 ====

Stannis begins plans to retake the North from Roose Bolton, hoping to recruit Mance's wildling army, if Mance will bend the knee to him. Mance refuses, and Stannis has him [[Death by burning|burnt at the stake]]. Stannis offers to legitimise Jon as a Stark to win the loyalty of the Northerners who refuse to recognise Stannis as their king, but Jon decides to remain loyal to his vows to the Night's Watch. Stannis marches on Winterfell, but his army is delayed by a large snowstorm. In the chaos Ramsay Bolton and his men infiltrate Stannis's camp, and destroy all supplies and horses. Melisandre persuades a reluctant Stannis to sacrifice Shireen to ensure victory. Although the snowstorm lifts, half of Stannis's army deserts him, Selyse commits suicide out of guilt, and Melisandre flees to Castle Black. Stannis decides to complete the march on foot. As his army arrives at Winterfell, it is swiftly defeated by a cavalry charge led by Ramsay Bolton. Stannis survives the battle, but is confronted by [[Brienne of Tarth]], a former member of Renly's Kingsguard. Stannis confesses to killing Renly with blood magic, and Brienne executes him, telling Stannis she is killing him in the name of the 'rightful' King Renly.

=== Critical reception ===

The English actor [[Stephen Dillane]] has received positive reviews for his performance as Stannis Baratheon, especially in the [[Game of Thrones (season 5)|fifth season]]. On her review for "[[Sons of the Harpy]]", Sarah Hughes of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote, "Stephen Dillane has always been wonderful at showing us the core of this rigid, complex man."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2015/may/04/game-of-thrones-recap-season-five-episode-four-sons-of-the-harpy|title=Game of Thrones recap: season five, episode four – Sons of the Harpy|author=Sarah Hughes|work=the Guardian}}</ref> His performance on the same episode also received positive reviews from ''Vulture''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/05/game-of-thrones-recap-season-5-episode-4.html|title=GOT Recap: Get Back to Where You Once Belonged |author=Nina Shen Rastogi|work=Vulture}}</ref> Harri Sargeant of ''Hypable'' wrote, "Stephen Dillane has always been one of the classiest actors on the show, and his last moments as the King Who Almost Was saw as commanding a performance as ever."<ref>{{cite web|website=Hypable|url=http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hypable.com%2Fgame-of-thrones-season-5-our-favorite-moments-from-mothers-mercy%2F&t=M2M5MTk0MDA1OTZlNjI5YTE2M2FlZjc3NTA4MjJiMGM4NTVjZDUzYyxBU3FFbXZLaw%3D%3D|title='Game of Thrones' season 5: Our favorite moments from 'Mother's Mercy'|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305091203/http://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hypable.com%2Fgame-of-thrones-season-5-our-favorite-moments-from-mothers-mercy%2F&t=M2M5MTk0MDA1OTZlNjI5YTE2M2FlZjc3NTA4MjJiMGM4NTVjZDUzYyxBU3FFbXZLaw%3D%3D|archive-date=2017-03-05}}</ref> In her review for "[[Mother's Mercy]]", Meghan O'Keefe of ''Decider'' wrote, "Whether you like Stannis or not, you have to admit that Stephen Dillane delivered a monumental performance this season."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://decider.com/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-s5-finale-recap/|title=Death! Despair! Dragons! How The 'Game of Thrones' Finale Changed The Game For Everyone|date=15 June 2015|website=Decider }}</ref> Cindy Davis of ''Pajiba'' wrote "After Shireen's seemingly pointless death, it's a testament to Stephen Dillane's phenomenal skills that we could feel anything at all for a man who watched his daughter burned alive."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/the-game-of-thrones-finale-offered-cliffhangers-in-spades-but-nothing-to-cheer-about.php|title=The 'Game of Thrones' Finale Offered Cliffhangers in Spades, But Nothing to Cheer About|website=Pajiba|date=15 June 2015 }}</ref> Nick Steinberg of ''Goliath'' wrote, "Credit has to go to Stephen Dillane for his performance, especially in these last few episodes where he's had to convey a form of grim tragedy that's effectively conveyed the character's downfall."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goliath.com/tv/game-of-thrones-review-mothers-mercy-season-5-episode-10/|title=''Game of Thrones'' Review: 'Mother's Mercy' (Season 5, Episode 10)|website=Goliath|date=15 June 2015 }}</ref> For his part, Dillane expressed misgivings about his performance, telling ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper, "I didn't know what I was doing until we'd finished filming and it was too late. The damage had been done. I thought no one would believe in me and I was rather disheartened by the end. I felt I'd built the castle on non-existent foundations.”<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stephen-dillane-its-better-not-working-in-westeros-nkb9qj3tr|title=Stephen Dillane: It's better not working in Westeros|last=Tate|first=Gabriel|date=2017-12-05|work=The Times|access-date=2017-12-07|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

== Family tree of House Baratheon ==

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[[Category:Fictional knights]]

[[Category:Fictional lords and ladies]]

[[Category:Fictional peopleexecuted sentenced to deathcharacters]]

[[Category:Fictional revolutionaries]]

[[Category:Fictional military strategists]]

[[Category:Fictional swordfighters in literature]]

[[Category:Fictional war veterans]]

[[Category:Male characters in literature]]

[[Category:Television characters introduced in 2012]]

[[Category:Male characters in television]]