The House Bolton of the Dreadford is one of the noble houses of the North and main antagonists of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels and it's adaptation, Game of Thrones. It's banner is a flayed man on a pink sang and their words are "Our Blades Are Sharp."
According to the Bolton servant "Reek", Lord Roose Bolton believes "a naked man has few secrets, but a flayed man has none".
It's cadet branch, the House Bolton of Winterfell currently hold position as Lord of Winterfell by Ramsay Bolton allegedly marrying Arya Stark (really, Sansa's best friend Jeanne Poole in disguise).
History[]
A Song of Ice and Fire[]
House Bolton was founded during the Age of Heroes. In the past, the family held the historical title of "Red King" and Lord of the Dreadford.
Game of Thrones[]
In the TV series, Sansa was forced to marry Ramsay Bolton, who does nothing but rape and beat Sansa after they married. However, she and Theon Greyjoy escape.
In the sixth season of the TV adaptation, with Ramsay Bolton's death, House Bolton is extinct.
Locations[]
Seats of Power[]
- Dreadfort
- Winterfell
Other estates[]
- Moat Cailin
Traits[]
House Bolton was infamous for its centuries-old practice of flaying their enemies alive, to the point that they used a flayed man as their sigil. This led to them being despised and feared by many of the Northern houses, especially after their betrayal of House Stark.
House Bolton's heraldry consisted of a red flayed man upside-down, his flayed skin forming a white, X-shaped cross behind him, over a field of black. Their house words were "Our Blades Are Sharp," though a common saying of members of the house was "A naked man has few secrets; a flayed man, none."
Vassals[]
- House Cerwyn
- House Glover
- House Karstark
- House Umber
Members[]
Books[]
Historical Members[]
- King Royce II Bolton, a Red King.
- King Royce IV Bolton, a Red King known as "Royce Redarm".
- King Rogar Bolton, known as "Rogar the Huntsman", the last Red King.
- Sons.
- Belthasar Bolton, a participant of the Rape of the Three Sisters.
- Barba Bolton, a maiden at the Maiden's Day Ball.
Present Members[]
Lord Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North, called "the Leech Lord".
- His first wife, deceased.
- Lady {Bethany Bolton}, his second wife, deceased.
- {Domeric Bolton}, his trueborn son, deceased.
- Sons, died still in the cradle.
- Lady Walda Frey, Lord Roose's third wife, called "Fat Walda", currently with child.
- Ramsay Bolton, born Ramsay Snow and called "the Bastard of the Dreadfort", his natural son and heir. Self-styled Lord of the Hornwood and Lord of Winterfell.
- Lady {Donella Manderly}, Ramsay's first wife, Lady of the Hornwood as the widow of Lord Halys Hornwood. Perishes after being imprisoned without food.
- Lady "Arya Stark", actually Jeyne Poole, Ramsay's second wife. Currently in custody of King Stannis Baratheon.
Sworn Houses[]
After Roose Bolton is raised to Warden of the North several houses swear fealty to their new overlord, not all willingly.
- House Cerwyn of Cerwyn.
- House Dustin of Barrowton.
- House Hornwood of Hornwood. Ramsay Snow becomes the Lord of Hornwood after forcibly marrying the now-deceased Lady Donella Hornwood.
- House Karstark of Karhold. Castellan Arnolf Karstark is secretly aligned with the Boltons even though he has declared for King Stannis Baratheon.
- House Locke of Oldcastle. Ondrew Locke is likely working with Wyman Manderly.
- House Manderly of White Harbor. Wyman Manderly has his own agenda.
- House Ryswell of the Rills.
- House Stout of Goldgrass.
- House Umber of the Last Hearth. Hother Whoresbane has joined the Boltons because Greatjon Umber is a hostage at the Twins but Mors Crowfood has joined Stannis in his march on Winterfell.
TV Series[]
Past members[]
- Lord {Roose Bolton}, the head of the family. Lord of the Dreadfort, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North. Murdered by his legitimized bastard son Ramsay Bolton.
- Lady {Walda}, his current wife of House Frey. Murdered by her stepson Ramsay.
- Lord {Ramsay Bolton}, originally Ramsay Snow, Roose's legitimized bastard son by a miller's wife. Executed by House Stark.
- Lady Sansa Stark, Ramsay's wife of House Stark.
- {Domeric Bolton}, Roose's first trueborn son and heir. Died supposedly from illness.
- {Roose Bolton's son}, Roose and Walda's trueborn son. Murdered by his half-brother Ramsay along with his mother.
- Lord {Ramsay Bolton}, originally Ramsay Snow, Roose's legitimized bastard son by a miller's wife. Executed by House Stark.
- Lady {Walda}, his current wife of House Frey. Murdered by her stepson Ramsay.
Ancestors[]
- King Royce IV Bolton, called "the Redarm" due to his fondness for pulling out entrails.
- King Rogar Bolton, the last Red King of the Dreadfort.
