50 Facts About Stannis Baratheon

Stannis Baratheon is the Lord of Dragonstone, and after his elder brother's death, becomes a claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros and a key player in the subsequent civil war.

Stannis Baratheon 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 Hand of the King.

Stannis Baratheon is portrayed by English actor Stephen Dillane in the HBO television adaptation of the series, who has received significant critical praise for his performance.

Stannis Baratheon 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.

Stannis Baratheon has earned particular attention for the differences in his characterization between the novels and show, particularly during season five.

Stannis Baratheon is the younger brother of King Robert and older brother of Renly.

Stannis Baratheon is portrayed as a brooding and humorless man with a harsh but fair sense of duty and justice whose dour demeanor is often off-putting in comparison to his two more charismatic brothers.

Stannis Baratheon is renowned as a skilled and prescient military commander.

When Stannis was 14, he witnessed his parents' death in a shipwreck off the coast of House Baratheon's castle, Storm's End, and subsequently lost his faith in the Seven Gods.

Stannis Baratheon 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 and the newborn Daenerys had fled.

Several years later, Stannis Baratheon is married to Lady Selyse Florent, but Robert soiled their wedding bed by deflowering Selyse's cousin Delena, further insulting Stannis Baratheon.

Stannis Baratheon, 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.

At the beginning of the first novel A Game of Thrones, Stannis Baratheon comes to suspect that Robert's children with Cersei Lannister are not actually his.

Stannis Baratheon lacks the long black hair of his brothers, and is instead balding, although he keeps a close-cropped beard of the signature Baratheon black.

Stannis Baratheon's face is described as 'tight like cured leather' with hollow, gaunt cheeks.

Stannis Baratheon is a renowned commander, sailor, and warrior, although he is a better tactician than fighter.

Stannis Baratheon is known for his brusqueness and lack of tact in social situations and finds himself uncomfortable around women, including his own wife.

Stannis Baratheon is an atheist, despite claims that he is being manipulated by the red priestess Melisandre.

Stannis Baratheon is not a point of view character in the novels, so his actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of other people, predominantly Davos Seaworth and Jon Snow, and later Asha and Theon Greyjoy.

When Robert travels to Winterfell to name Eddard as his new Hand, Stannis Baratheon flees to Dragonstone with his forces, including most of the royal navy.

Stannis Baratheon comes under the influence of the red priestess Melisandre, who believes that Stannis Baratheon is the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, a messianic figure in her faith.

Stannis Baratheon tries to negotiate with Renly, offering him the chance to become his heir, which Renly rejects, planning to use his superior numbers to destroy Stannis Baratheon' army the next day.

Renly's protector Brienne of Tarth swears to avenge his death by killing Stannis Baratheon, but is talked out of it by Catelyn Stark.

However, with the help of Rolland Storm, the Bastard of Nightsong, Stannis Baratheon flees to Dragonstone to fight another day.

Stannis Baratheon 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.

Melisandre tells Stannis Baratheon to burn Edric Storm, one of Robert's bastards, as a sacrifice to raise dragons from Dragonstone.

Stannis Baratheon sends ravens to the Northern houses asking for their support in the name of the legitimate king, but only House Karstark and a small faction of House Umber swear allegiance.

In reality, Arnolf is working with the Boltons, hoping to entrap Stannis Baratheon and have his great-nephew Harrion Karstark executed, so his branch of the family can take control of Karhold.

Stannis Baratheon accepts Jon's counsel and defeats the Ironborn holding Deepwood Motte and taking Asha Greyjoy captive.

Stannis Baratheon restores the castle to House Glover, thus winning their support and that of the nearby House Mormont.

Some time later, Jon Snow receives a letter allegedly written by Ramsay Bolton, claiming that Stannis Baratheon has been defeated and killed, though it is unknown how much of the letter is true or whether it was even written by Ramsay.

Martin confirmed to a fan in 2015 that Stannis Baratheon is still alive in the books.

In December 2011, Martin posted a sample chapter from the yet-unfinished sixth book The Winds of Winter, told from Theon Greyjoy's viewpoint, where Stannis Baratheon is actively and efficiently preparing for the looming battle against the Bolton-Frey alliance.

Stannis Baratheon secures a loan by signing a blood contract with the Braavosi banker Tycho Nestoris, whose convoy managed to find Stannis' army, and plans to immediately send Tycho back to the Wall for safety.

Stannis Baratheon then sends Ser Justin Massey to escort Tycho and the escaped "Arya Stark" back to Castle Black to reunite her with Jon Snow, in gratitude for Jon's counsel of gathering the northern mountain clans.

Stannis Baratheon tells Massey that in case of his reported death, even if that news is true, Massey is to follow the orders as to seat his daughter Shireen on the Iron Throne.

Stannis Baratheon then interrogates Theon for information regarding the Boltons' military strength.

Stannis Baratheon next receives Asha Greyjoy, and informs her that her brother Theon must be executed, as showing him mercy would mean losing all of the northmen.

Stannis Baratheon is played by Stephen Dillane in the television adaption of the series of books.

Stannis Baratheon falls under the influence of Melisandre, a priestess of R'hllor who believes Stannis Baratheon is the reincarnation of a legendary hero from her religion.

Stannis Baratheon confronts Renly and offers to make him his heir if he supports him, but Renly refuses, only using the negotiations as an opportunity to mock his brother, and intending to kill Stannis Baratheon in battle the next day.

Stannis Baratheon acquires one of Robert's bastards, Gendry, from the Brotherhood Without Banners and plans to sacrifice him to further his quest for the Iron Throne.

Stannis Baratheon hears of Joffrey's death and chastises Davos again for releasing Gendry and not finding him a suitable army, prompting Davos to write to the Iron Bank of Braavos in Stannis Baratheon' name to help pay for an army.

Stannis Baratheon learns that Jon is Ned Stark's son, and on Jon's advice, he places Mance and his men under arrest.

Stannis Baratheon is later present at the funeral of the Night's Watch brothers who died during the Battle for Castle Black.

Stannis Baratheon 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 Baratheon has him burnt at the stake.

Stannis Baratheon offers to legitimise Jon as a Stark to win the loyalty of the Northerners who refuse to recognise Stannis Baratheon as their king, but Jon decides to remain loyal to his vows to the Night's Watch.

Stannis Baratheon survives the battle, but is confronted by Brienne of Tarth, a former member of Renly's Kingsguard.

Stannis Baratheon confesses to killing Renly with blood magic, and Brienne executes him, telling Stannis Baratheon she is killing him in the name of the 'rightful' King Renly.