Catelyn

Catelyn Stark, née Tully, is a central character in George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. She is the eldest daughter of Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun and Lady Lysa Arryn. As a member of the Tully lineage, Catelyn is expected to uphold the family’s martial tradition while maintaining diplomatic alliances through marriage.

In 294 AC, Catelyn marries Sir Eddard Stark, heir of Winterfell, becoming Lady of the North. The marriage solidifies a strategic alliance between the House Tully and House Stark. Catelyn is portrayed as loyal, protective, and determined, often intervening to safeguard her family. Her settlement in Winterfell involves co‑managing the estate and raising children, notably Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon. A consistent thread in her storyline is a strong attachment to her brother Lysa Arryn, whose mental instability and political rivalry bring the Tully family into conflict with the Lannisters.

Throughout the series, Catelyn’s actions are driven by the political turmoil in the Seven Kingdoms. She returns to the capital, King's Landing, to support her husband’s political maneuvers and later to defend the family against perceived conspiracies. In the final book, she is killed at the Battle of the Bastards, a pivotal moment that underscores the fallibility of the North’s leadership.

Catelyn Stark’s portrayal by Michelle Fairley in the television adaptation was widely praised for its emotional depth and fidelity to the source material. Her character is considered a key figure in the thematic exploration of loyalty, duty, and the consequences of political ambition within the narrative.