Torrhen Stark, the last King in the North, long before Robb Stark or Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, is a fascinating figure in Westerosi history. The entire history of House Stark dates back thousands of years to the First Men, with the legendary Brandon the Builder allegedly laying down the family’s foundations and building Winterfell and the Wall. From Winterfell, the Starks have governed the North for that entire time span, with their lineage leading all the way down to Eddard Stark and his children in the Game of Thrones series.

Game of Thrones is based on the A Song of Ice & Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, who carefully establishes details about his world’s history through various means. The HBO adaptation incorporates some of these anecdotes, but much of the historical context is left out. In Game of Thrones season 1, Robb Stark is declared King in the North, with Great Jon Umber declaring that the Northerners should rule themselves again. The Northerners were once ruled by the Kings of Winter, the Stark lineage, which all changed roughly 300 years before Game of Thrones.

Torrhen Stark Bent The Knee To Aegon The Conqueror

Torrhen Stark Became Known As “The King Who Knelt”

Aegon the Conqueror flew to Westeros with his two sister wives on dragonback, bringing the divided continent to its knees. Before his arrival, each Kingdom in Westeros was ruled by its governing house. The Westerlands were ruled by Lannister Kings, the Vale was ruled by Kings from House Arryn, while the North was ruled by House Stark. At the time of Aegon’s arrival, Torrhen Stark was the ruling King in the North. Like other Kingdoms in Westeros, he called his banners and led 30,000 men south to meet Aegon.

Prior to Torrhen Stark and his forces arriving in the Riverlands, the armies of House Lannister and House Gardener were devastated in a battle known as the Field of Fire. House Gardener of the Reach was wiped out entirely, leading to the later rise of the Tyrells. Noting what had happened there, with 4,000 men burnt alive by dragon fire, Torrhen Stark decided against facing Aegon in combat, instead surrendering himself to save the lives of his men. Torrhen Stark was henceforth known as “the King Who Knelt.”

What Happened To Torrhen Stark After He Became The King Who Knelt

Torrhen Stark Was The First Lord Of Winterfell & Warden Of The North

The perk of being the King Who Knelt is that Torrhen Stark was allowed to live. Torrhen swore fealty to Aegon and was named the first Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, the titles held by Ned Stark at the start of Game of Thrones. Torrhen Stark returned to Winterfell as Aegon erected King’s Landing and the Red Keep in the south, establishing the Westerosi capital and the Iron Throne. Around the country, however, many weren’t pleased with the forceful Targaryen occupation of their lands, with many Northerners disagreeing with Torrhen’s decision.

Many Northerners spoke of rebellion, including Torrhen Stark’s own sons, but nothing impactful became of this. A sellsword group called the Company of the Rose formed in defiance of the Targaryen rule and chose to be exiled over bending the knee. Following that, Torrhen Stark helped Aegon defeat rebel groups and also aided in his conquering of the Iron Islands. Torrhen, like much of the Stark lineage, was entombed in the Crypts of Winterfell, and his decision to bend the knee is generally perceived as a noble, intelligent act, sparing the lives of thousands at the cost of his pride.

Why There Wasn’t Another King In The North Until Robb Stark

The Starks Served Loyally Under The Targaryen Dynasty Until Robert’s Rebellion

For the 300 years following Aegon’s Conquest, the Starks governed as Lords of Winterfell. To declare oneself King would be an act of rebellion, given that Westeros was ruled by the Targaryen dynasty, so the Starks remained with the title bestowed upon them, loyally serving the realm. In House of the Dragon season 2, Winterfell is ruled by the young Lord Cregan Stark, whose father, Lord Rickon Stark, was seen swearing fealty to Rhaenyra in season 1. Unlike House Greyjoy, who rebelled before the events of Game of Thrones, the Starks remain in their place for this duration of time.

The decision for Robb Stark to become King in the North is due to multiple factors. As Great Jon Umber states, “It was the dragons we bowed to, and now the dragons are dead.” The Starks governed themselves for thousands of years before Aegon and his dragon made doing so impossible. By Game of Thrones, the centralized power of King’s Landing is far less prominent, and Robb is one of the multiple lords of great houses to declare himself king in rebellion.