Why Robb Stark Didn't See The Red Wedding Coming 😭

Did you know in the books Robb didn't see the Red Wedding coming because he was too busy? This short uses evidence from A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and The Winds of Winter.

A Game of Thrones theory explained, prepare for The Winds of Winter release date with a theory video of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series and something to think about while waiting for HBO's House of the Dragon Season 2.

[robpolaris]

Cat got Robb killed. If she hadn’t released Jaime, Tywin wouldn’t have risked killing Robb while the Northman could have killed Jaime. That hostage was keeping Robb alive.

[NicoOOo]

"My Lord!" - Catelyn had almost forgotten, "Some food would be most welcome. We've ridden many leagues in the rain." Walder's mouth moved in and out: "Food ... heh! A loaf o' bread, a bite o' cheese ... mayhaps a saussage" - "Some wine to wash it down", Rob said. "And salt." -- "Bread and salt .... heh! Of course, of course."

They drank his wine and ate his bread and butter. Catelyn tasted the wine and nibbled at some bread, and felt much the better for it. "Now we should be safe" - she thought.

[fergalosanchez]

I loved how Robb In the show had big plans even if they were doomed to fail but I got the feeling in the books Robb knew the war was over and after retaking the north wouldn’t March south again

[ChiefSpartan]

Robb was fucked either way when the Tyrells sided with the Lannisters. The Reach has the biggest army in Westeros and the Tyrells are the second richest family in Westeros after the Lannisters cause of the Tyrells crops and livestock. Robbs best chance at winning the war was a marriage pact with Margery Tyrell and begging the vale kingdom for help. But Catelyns sister was a psycho and a bitch so she most likely would’ve said no to Robb’s pleas for help from the Vale Kingdom.

[cheatham]

He broke his Oath to The Freys
Something Ned would never do

[tyranius]

God, the showrunners did such a number on Robb's character. Look at how many people in the comments think Robb would have won if he had just kept his word and not beheaded Lord Karstark.

It was tremendously stupid to wed Jeyne Westerling, but the machinations of the red wedding started since the beginning of the book. Robb was doomed no matter what happened. On Lord Karstark's beheading, a few facts:

1. in the books, Karstark's army had already gone away because Karstark had promised his daughter's hand in marriage to whoever brought him the head of Jaime. This led to every Karstark troop abandoning their post and going on the hunt. So no, Robb didn't behead Karstark and lose his troops. His troops had already been lost.

2. Lord Karstark committed high treason. If Robb had refused to give him the ultimate penalty, it would effectively be the same as saying he's not a king at all. There was basically no upside to letting him live, there were no Karstark troops anymore.

For some odd reason, D&D decided that they would portray every honorable character as a complete idiot. Robb was foolish to betray his word but you'd have to be crazy to think Robb wasn't doomed whatever he did. Roose was already sending Robb's loyalists to their death way before the wedding. Jeyne's mom slipping moon tea to her daughter. Walder Frey receiving sweet words from Tywin. There's a big chance the red wedding would have happened either way tbh

[TheBigD_]

Robb facilitated his own demise by marrying the fit foreigner. Also let down by his mother being stupid and letting Jamie go.

[johnald_smith]

The show makes it seem like the Northerners and the Rivermen are on the verge of victory in the south. Although Winterfell had been sacked, Robb's army was soon to take Casterly Rock and Lannisport, so long as they moved quickly enough and picked up the troops they needed from the Freys. Victory over the Lannisters could then be followed by retaking the North from the Ironborn.

In the books, although Robb's rebellion started off successfully, the Ironborn's invasion of the North and Stannis' failure to take King's Landing meant that Robb's army was trapped in the south, neither strong enough to advance on the West nor withstand the Lannister-Tyrell alliance enveloping him. They're basically marching home in retreat, fleeing North not so much to retake it (although they are) but to avoid getting annihilated. It was this desperation to cross the Twins that clouded the judgement of Robb and his generals; unless they crossed, they were dead men, which is why they subjected themselves to the protection of a House Robb had insulted.

[arunakoyanbron]

Robb was a genius battle commader, but had his father's knack for f-ing things up at the worst possible moment. If he was into good, gentle women, he would've loved roslyn frey as much as he had lived jeyne. Roslyn was a good person and they would've worked well had they been married right from the beginning. Walder frey wouldn't jump to the lannisters if he could have been grandfather to a future stark king. And tywin's machinations through jeyne and her mother wouldn't have worked.

[AdeptKing]

Everyone saying he deserved it sound real bloodthirsty. I'm not going to excuse him breaking his oath but I don't know if saying he deserved what happened to him and his bannerman equate to what he did.

[roffe]

The whole war was pointless after a certain point. The objective to simply win over the lannisters and then leave the throne unattended is just pointless vendetta and playing with human lives. Had they chosen to claim their independence and then be there, they would be set.

They would have been assaulted by the night king eventually tho, but they had no idea about that at the time so.

[GenuinelyOT]

Robb brought it on himself. No matter how much you love the Starks. He broke his oat. Disrespected a high lord, killed his own cousin and bannerman Lord Karstark. And expected all to be okie dokie.

[JennianaCross]

It was stupid of him to marry Jeyne. He could have kept her as a mistress. Honor? Well, he didn't force or seduce her. She threw herself at him when he was vulnerable, so SHE would have been blamed for the tryst, not him.

Besides, scheming families would rather their daughter be the king's mistress than his wife. His wife is just a political tool. His mistress has his actual desire and affection.

[Bigwes]

I believe the main reason he didn’t see it coming is because he put too much faith and power into the Boltons as his second in command without having a loyal family watch them. Cat didn’t know Roose married a Frey nor did Robb know about his troops being sent to Dustendale. By the time they caught on it was too late. After which it was marrying Jeyne instead of doing like Tyrion suggested and just left her with a bastard

[Force-Multiplier]

Everyone who betrayed Rob did what was best for them since the second the Lanisters and Tyrels joined forces there was no one actually stopping that monster level army in current Westeros

[jerrysstories]

No, he was just thinking with the wrong head. If he was so concerned with the war, he wouldn't have broken his word to the Freys.

[WestLegend]

That's why he shall be remembered as the king who lost the North.

[ubberJakerz]

Interesting. That image depicting a man from the back holding up a crown is a slightly altered cover art from the book "Emperor of thorns".

[larkvandee]

Not gonna lie the thumbnail made me think this had something to do with Mark Lorence's Emperor of Thorns.

[doublehelix]

Retaking or taking back, but certainly not retaking back