#rooseygoosey

[trogthefrog]

Waitaminnut, more on my what are the feudal politics in the north?

political connections and plotting

I just realized something about Bolton’s marriages. They all- almost all- connect him to the Stark family.

1.

Rickard Ryswell was plotting for Barbrey to marry Brandon Stark.

Roose Bolton married Bethany Ryswell, judging by Domeric Bolton’s potential age the timing of the marriage fits with Barbery’s affair with Brandon. If Rickard Ryswell had this scheme and Roose knew, a reason for the marriage could have been to marry the sister of the next Lady of the North before the politcal scandal of Brandon and Barbrey and other opportunists for Ryswell marriages.

Even after Brandon’s betrothal Lord Ryswell wanted Barbrey to marry Eddard, unpromised until Brandon’s death

It ended up connecting Roose to house Dustin, a marriage that wasn’t planned by the Ryswell marriage plotting

Other ideas

Roose is just connected to the Ryswells for poltical reasons

Bolton isn’t known for jumping the gun, if this was a real plot Roose might have waited for a something more concrete like a betrothal

Or Yknow could have been marrying Bethany anyways and maybe known about the conspiracy as a plus (pure speculation)

2.

Roose Bolton marries Walda Frey after Robb Stark and Arya are betrothed to marry Freys.

The marriage would have connected him with the future royal family. Without real knowledge of the Frey family politics Roose wouldn’t have known about all the “only full blooded sibling loyalty” and “cousin rivalry”. From the outside House Frey is a political unit.

Other Possibilities

This is more solid since Robb and Arya were firmly betrothed

If he did know about house Frey’s internal politics well maybe he was looking for a claim on house Darry or smth or maybe he really just wanted lots of silver

Or since “Fat” Walda is the older sister of Little Walder being fostered at Winterfell, she’s a good pick for influence in Roose’s mind for influence Bran Stark (then heir to Robb).

3. Ramsay-“Arya”

Roose takes Tywin’s offer to murder Robb in exchange for marrying his heir to Arya

He gets to be warden of the north & trying to have Ramsay (Bolton) produce a kid with “Arya” (“Stark”)

But

It is also the case here that Roose would be trying to do a different thing than 1 & 2 instead of trying to get connections to his overlord he’s trying to assume their position.

Counter-evidence

We never hear about Roose trying to marry Domeric Bolton to a Stark,

we do not hear about Roose himself trying to marry a Stark

We know nothing about his first marriage

There aren’t that many examples in asoiaf where the married house gets more marriage offers because the King made a marriage with them. The only one is Bolton-Frey and Velaryon-Targaryen marriages-kinda-sorta similar but really different.

You could use this evidence to speculate all kinds of stuff- like instead of politics Roose is doing ooooo Magic

Anyways hope it makes people think & get ideas and theories. Wait, If Roose were really trying to do this kind of marriage wouldn’t he want to marry Lysa, PFF Lysa-Bolton ship is a true rare pairing!

My other Bolton-North politics posts are here and here

[trogthefrog]

The Clues - What is up with Roose Bolton?

That guy's kinda weird right? Skin stealing vampire? Sinister lord? Emotionless man? Depressed man? Drinking weirwood paste? revenge blood feud? What's he up too?

Spoilers for literally all of asoaif.

To me. No one's got a good theory that works within the framework of asoiaf (vampire is fun tho). Most of all I can't get behind the ancient Stark-Bolton blood feud, conflict in asoiaf is recent and fed by recent actions.

When making a good asoiaf theory, speculation is pointless without considering the personal, the evidence and the context. It's why I like random internet guy's Littlefinger theory because it really takes into account personality, actions and context. SO to enable better Roose Bolton theories I have compiled as much evidence and context as I could about Roose Bolton (pls lemme know if I missed anything).

BEHOLD:

Roose Bolton what do?

Married to an unknown woman

Marries Barbra Ryswell (273-281)

Has numerous sons who “died in the cradle”— buried them beneath the dreadfort

Absent from the Tourney at Harrenhal (281)

While out foxhunting rapes a woman illegally under the tradition of the first night says “I wanted her”, hangs her husband, (in or before 282.) Gives annual gifts, and the mill when she comes to him with Ramsay with expectation of silence and cuts out the husband’s brother’s tongue to prevent Rickard Stark from knowing and because he says he was annoyed. Later later gifts her a servant (Reek) because he thought it would be amusing

Advises Eddard to kill Barristan Selmy after the Battle of the Trident (283)

Had the servant Reek whipped for stealing perfume

Sends his son Domeric to served four years as a page in Barrowton for his Aunt and squire for three years in the vale under Horton Redfort

The bastard’s boy Grunt has his tongue cut out for speaking carelessly in Roose Bolton’s hearing

Brings Ramsay to the Dreadfort even though he thinks he poisoned Domeric

AGOT

Asked for command of the Northern armies brusquely, seen by Bran as part of northerners “testing” Robb. Robett Glover asks for the same thing but with a “smile and a jest”

Questions Catelyn about Tyrion Lannister and vows they could make good use of him as a hostage

Agrees with Galbart Glover that Tywin is too smart to march at Robb up the Neck (counsel to Robb)

Given command of the Northern infantry a “cold” man to scare Lord Tywin (Robb and Catelyn’s analysis and decision)

Offers counsel at the Twins, 1. That it cannot be taken by assault and 2. Agrees with Galbart Glover that Walder is not to be trusted and says that if Robb goes in alone he is under Walder Frey’s power

Fights Tywin at the Green Fork. 

Robb says the plan is for the main host to march south so Tywin is lured north and a river is put between Tywin and Jaime’s armies

Roose Bolton marches south in the night to surprise Tywin (who’s marched north), proves more cautious than Tywin thought “Robb” would be

Probably fires at Lannister troops and his own soldiers from houses Cerwyn, Frey, Glover, Hornwood, Karstark, and Stark at the Green Fork. His own troops seem to have been absent.

Stark lines are described as shattering under a cavalry charge

Retreats north with his defeated army intact, of 17,200 by my count 5,350 die 31% of his original force. We have no comparison for successfully retreating armies that I could find. Lord Hornwood dies, Wylis Manderly is taken captive, Lord Cerwyn is taken captive. Medieval retreats especially routs tend to have high casualties, higher than actual battle 

Roose retreats and reforms what Kevan describes as the remnants his army at the mouth of the causeway

ACOK

Moves army to the Twins, marries Walda Frey for her weight in silver, takes Elmar Frey as squire 

Harvest Feast- Ramsay Snow gathering men at the Dreadfort, everyone hawkish over Hornwood succession, Luwin says Roose Bolton would not overlook the chance even without a claim

Ramsay kidnaps and forcefully marries Lady Hornwood. Made heir to Hornwood, Manderlys occupy Hornwood castle and fighting breaks out between Bolton and Manderly

occupies the Ruby Ford and crossroads,

Commanded by Edmure to take Harrenhal, sends a letter to Edmure promising to kill everyone within its walls if needed hoping it will weigh against his bastard’s crimes who has been presumably put to death by Roderick Cassel. “fails” to cross the Ruby ford, scheme with Brave Companions to take the castle works in weasel soup plot. “Nan” made his cupbearer.

Roose sets up stocks near the bear pit for women who slept with Lannister men (Pia & others). Women are stripped and shaved, and locked up for any man to rape

"Lord Bolton, he used to say a naked man has few secrets, but a flayed man's got none." - Reek (Ramsay)

Leeches himself, holds court with Freys post Battle of the Blackwater. Promises to think on what they’ve said, (Robb’s lost, the North has been lost to Ironborn, they can’t fight Tywin, they cannot be besieged at Harrenhal) seeming confident Lord Tywin will not march on them. Roose says he does not mean to be besieged at Harrenhal and says King Robb has not yet lost a battle. 

Coordinates with the Freys, exchanges letters with his wife

Burns castle Darry, sends troops to Duskendale (military disaster and slaughter), goes to hunt wolves, Freys learn that Robb married Jeyne Westerling that evening (unknown if Bolton had the information beforehand)

Ramsay wins the battle of Winterfell and sacks and burns the castle

At this time likely coordinating with Tywin Lannister and Walder Frey to plan the Red Wedding

ASOS

Sends Jaime to Tywin after negotiation

Presumably warned by Robb about Karstark’s execution

Gives Harrenhal and Brienne to the Brave Companions

Looses 2050 men crossing the Trident, Wylis Manderly POW, intentional loss of forces and garrisons the rest of Stark loyalists at the Ruby Ford

At the Twins- informs Catelyn and Robb about ironmen burning winter town and winterfell and of Ramsay capturing and flaying Theon. Offers Robb a piece of skin

Firmly counsels using Theon as a hostage as the presumably new King of the Iron islands. Robb relents and says to keep Theon as hostage at the Dreadfort

Blames Duskendale on Robett Glover

Given command of Robb’s rearguard marching north

Red Wedding

Sips hippocras and eats little

Kills Robb

Bolton, Frey and Karstark soldiers slaughter the feasting army.

Breaks guest right but only Walder Frey’s guest right? (may be a distinction)

Waits at the Twins for “Arya Stark”, plans to marry her to Ramsay, gains Ramsay legitimization by the crown,  named Warden of the North

AFFC

Marches north with Freys to defeat Stannis

TWOW

Ramsay retakes moat Cailin, 

Roose’s terms for Manderly:

“…Lord Tywin offered White Harbor full pardon… promised that my son would be returned to me once I paid a ransom of three thousand dragons and proved my loyalty beyond a doubt. Roose Bolton, who is named our Warden of the North, requires that I give up my claim to Lord Hornwood's lands and castles but swears my other holdings shall remain untouched. Walder Frey, his good-father, offers one of his daughters to be my wife, and husbands for my son's daughters here behind me.” 

Roose travels in a wayn up the causeway with an armored decoy, “Just caution”

Flayed ironmen corpses nailed to posts along the kingsroad (probably Ramsay), Roose Bolton summons all leal lords to Barrowton, to affirm their loyalty to the Iron Throne and celebrate his son's wedding to “Arya” 

Plots with Karstarks to get Stannis to attack the dreadfort.

Gets Ramsay to look for the missing Freys, insinuates Wyman of killed them but justifies why they would have split up from Manderly’s party, states plainly that violence against Barbrey Dustin will not make her heed Ramsay and will only lose them the Ryswells and Dustins

 “Barbrey Dustin is my second wife's younger sister, Rodrik Ryswell's daughter, sister to Roger, Rickard, and mine own namesake, Roose, cousin to the other Ryswells. She was fond of my late son and suspects you of having some part in his demise. Lady Barbrey is a woman who knows how to nurse a grievance. Be grateful for that. Barrowton is staunch for Bolton largely because she still holds Ned Stark to blame for her husband's death."

Roose knows Bran and Rickon are alive. Questions if Ramsay is his kid. Says people fearing Ramsay is a bad thing and it was good that no tales were ever told of Roose. “A peaceful land, a quiet people” personal rule. Commands that Ramsay wed at Winterfell and have a child with “Arya”, baiting Stannis to attack instead of marching at him at Deepwood. 

talking to Theon

"...Fear is what keeps a man alive in this world of treachery and deceit. Even here in Barrowton the crows are circling, waiting to feast upon our flesh. The Cerwyns and the Tallharts are not to be relied on, my fat friend Lord Wyman plots betrayal, and Whoresbane … the Umbers may seem simple, but they are not without a certain low cunning. Ramsay should fear them all, as I do…” - List of enemies, personal rule

Leeches leach away bad blood, “no man can think so full of anger”

Story of Reek, story of Domeric (possible fondness?), speaks of being left with Ramsay, “Tell me, my lord … if the kinslayer is accursed, what is a father to do when one son slays another?"”

Knows how commoners speak and corrects Theon (may have known Arya was something by her speech?)

Offers theon better treatment, introduces him to Barbrey Dustin

 Rebuild’s Winterfell and occupies the castle

Polite toasts, a joke about Stannis, Only eats what Wyman eats, Barbrey talks about him

“…he watches Manderly. No dish… until he sees Lord Wyman eat of it first. No cup of wine is sipped until he sees Manderly drink of the same cask. I think he would be pleased if the fat man attempted some betrayal. It would amuse him. Roose has no feelings, you see. Those leeches that he loves so well sucked all the passions out of him years ago. He does not love, he does not hate, he does not grieve. This is a game to him, mildly diverting. Some men hunt, some hawk, some tumble dice. Roose plays with men. You and me, these Freys, Lord Manderly, his plump new wife, even his bastard, we are but his playthings." A serving man was passing by. Lady Dustin held out her wine cup and let him fill it, then gestured for him to do the same for Theon. "Truth be told," she said, "Lord Bolton aspires to more than mere lordship. Why not King of the North? Tywin Lannister is dead, the Kingslayer is maimed, the Imp is fled. The Lannisters are a spent force, and you were kind enough to rid him of the Starks. Old Walder Frey will not object to his fat little Walda becoming a queen. White Harbor might prove troublesome should Lord Wyman survive this coming battle … but I am quite sure that he will not. No more than Stannis. Roose will remove both of them, as he removed the Young Wolf. Who else is there?" "You," said Theon. "There is you. The Lady of Barrowton, a Dustin by marriage, a Ryswell by birth."... "The widow of Barrowton … and yes, if I so choose, I could be an inconvenience. Of course, Roose sees that too, so he takes care to keep me sweet."”

Next THeon chapter, Stannis bearing down:

"The gods of the north have unleashed their wroth on Lord Stannis," Roose Bolton announced come morning as men gathered in Winterfell's Great Hall to break their fast. "He is a stranger here, and the old gods will not suffer him to live."

Next theon chapter, Stannis bearing down

Tries to prevent rumors of yellow Dick’s murder from spreading, 

“Roose Bolton would welcome such a fight, he sensed. He needs an end to this. The castle was too crowded to withstand a long siege, and too many of the lords here were of uncertain loyalty.”

Theon I

Little Walder murder discovery, Roose raises his voice, sends Manderlys and Freys out of the castle

Imma add some northern political context prior to AGOT in another post. Lemme know your theories and if I missed anything.