“The north remembers”: is there a Grand Northern Conspiracy?

Summary

The video script delves into the intricate political landscape of George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, focusing on the 'Grand Northern Conspiracy' theory. It explores the Stark family's historical rule, their fall from power, and the speculated secret plots among various northern houses to restore a Stark to Winterfell. Key players like House Manderly, Glover, and Umber are highlighted, along with the potential roles of characters like Jon Snow, Rickon Stark, and the mysterious Lady Stoneheart. The script suggests multiple, overlapping conspiracies rather than one grand plan, reflecting the complex loyalties and motivations driving the story's narrative.

Takeaways

• 👑 The Stark family has a long history of ruling the North, but their rule was disrupted when Ned Stark was executed, leading to a period of instability and division.
• ⚔️ After Ned's execution, Robb Stark declared himself King in the North, but his reign was short-lived due to the infamous Red Wedding orchestrated by the Boltons and Freys.
• 🏰 Winterfell, the Stark stronghold, suffered a series of betrayals and attacks, culminating in its capture and burning by Theon Greyjoy and later by Ramsay Snow.
• 🌨️ In the TV adaptation, the Starks make a dramatic comeback with Jon and Sansa reclaiming Winterfell, but in the books, the fate of the Starks and the North remains uncertain.
• 🧐 The 'Grand Northern Conspiracy' theory suggests that various northern houses are secretly plotting to overthrow the Boltons and restore a Stark to Winterfell.
• 🔍 Lord Wyman Manderly of House Manderly is a key figure in the conspiracy, having discovered the truth about the Boltons' crimes and harboring a deep loyalty to the Starks.
• 🤝 There are indications that other northern houses, such as the Glovers, Flints, and Umbers, may be involved in the conspiracy against the Boltons.
• 🗣️ The Boltons are deeply unpopular due to their残忍 methods and numerous atrocities, which have created widespread resentment and a desire for vengeance among the northern lords.
• 🏰 The crypts of Winterfell and the missing swords within them provide clues to the conspiracy, suggesting that some lords are aware of the Starks' survival and are plotting to restore them.
• 🔮 The possibility of a unified Grand Northern Conspiracy is debated, with evidence pointing to multiple smaller conspiracies and plots that may or may not be connected.

Q & A

Who are the Stark family and why are they significant in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series?

The Stark family are the traditional rulers of the North in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, known historically as the Kings of Winter and later as the Wardens of the North. They are significant due to their long-standing rule and the strong loyalty they command from the people of the North.

What event led to the Stark family losing control of the North in the series?

The Stark family lost control of the North when Ned Stark was executed by King Joffrey, leading to a series of events including the secession of the North under Robb Stark, and subsequent betrayals and conflicts that resulted in the Boltons taking control.

How does House Manderly play a role in the potential restoration of Stark rule in the North?

House Manderly, led by Lord Wyman Manderly, is secretly plotting against the Boltons and Freys. They are aware of the Boltons' atrocities and are motivated to restore a Stark to Winterfell, potentially rallying around Rickon Stark.

What is the 'Grand Northern Conspiracy' and what does it involve?

The 'Grand Northern Conspiracy' is a fan theory suggesting that various northern houses are secretly plotting to overthrow the Boltons and restore a Stark to Winterfell. It involves complex political maneuvering and alliances among several northern houses.

What is the significance of the snowmen shaped like northern lords in the Winterfell chapters?

The snowmen shaped like northern lords, specifically Wyman Manderly, Whoresbane Umber, Harwood Stout, and Barbrey Dustin, are strong evidence of a conspiracy among these houses against the Boltons, indicating their secret collaboration and intentions.

How does the character of Lady Stoneheart, the resurrected Catelyn Stark, tie into the potential conspiracy?

As Lady Stoneheart, Catelyn Stark leads the Brotherhood Without Banners and holds a personal vendetta against those involved in the Red Wedding. She possesses Robb's crown, which could be used to crown a new King in the North, potentially Jon Snow, if certain conditions are met.

What role does the mysterious Howland Reed play in the potential restoration of Stark rule?

Howland Reed, being the only living witness to Jon Snow's true parentage, holds crucial information that could legitimize Jon's claim to the North and possibly the Iron Throne. His involvement is suspected in plots to restore Stark rule.

What is the significance of the missing swords in the Winterfell crypts?

The missing swords in the crypts are significant because they were taken by Osha, Meera, and Bran when they escaped Winterfell, indicating that the Boltons' claims about the Starks' deaths were false, and that Bran and Rickon are alive.

How might the mountain clansmen be involved in the conspiracies to restore Stark rule?

The mountain clansmen, part of Stannis' army, are passionately loyal to House Stark and may be involved in separate plots to install either Rickon or Jon Snow as the King in the North. Their exact involvement is hinted at but not explicitly confirmed.

What challenges might the various northern houses face in coordinating a large-scale conspiracy?

The challenges include the difficulty of secret communication in Westeros, the risk of betrayal, and the complexity of coordinating multiple separate plots with different goals and loyalties, which makes a unified 'Grand Northern Conspiracy' less likely.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Stark Family's Turmoil and the Grand Northern Conspiracy

The paragraph delves into the historical significance of the Stark family as rulers of the North in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, transitioning into their dramatic fall from power. Key events such as Ned Stark's execution, Robb Stark's claim to kingship, and the subsequent betrayals and tragedies that befall the family are highlighted. The narrative then pivots to the 'Game of Thrones' TV adaptation, contrasting the show's portrayal with the unresolved complexities of the book series, setting the stage for the speculated Grand Northern Conspiracy.

05:04

🔍 Unraveling the Grand Northern Conspiracy

This section explores the intricate political landscape of the North, with a focus on Lord Wyman Manderly's clandestine efforts to undermine House Bolton and restore the Starks. It discusses the motivations of various northern houses, the potential for a collective uprising against the Boltons, and the significant roles played by characters like Robett Glover and the Umbers. The paragraph also introduces the concept of the 'Grand Northern Conspiracy,' suggesting a coordinated effort to overthrow the Bolton regime.

10:08

🗡️ The Complex Web of Northern Alliances and Betrayals

The paragraph expands on the potential alliances and betrayals within the northern factions, particularly focusing on the covert actions of characters like Lord Wyman Manderly, Robett Glover, and Whoresbane Umber. It discusses the strategic moves being made, such as the construction of a secret fleet and the subtle signs of conspiracy within Winterfell. The paragraph also touches on the significance of the Stark family's legacy and the widespread desire to see them restored to power.

15:09

🏹 The Stark Legacy and Northern Loyalty

This section delves deeper into the loyalty of the northern houses to the Stark family, contrasting the Starks' honorable rule with the Boltons' cruel tactics. It explores the various plots and schemes that may be underway to reinstate a Stark as the ruler of the North, including the potential for Jon Snow to be crowned King in the North based on Robb Stark's will. The paragraph also speculates on the roles of characters like Edmure Tully and the mountain clansmen in these conspiracies.

20:10

❄️ The Stark Resurgence and Northern Politics

The final paragraph wraps up the discussion by acknowledging the complexity and uncertainty of the northern political landscape. It suggests that while there may not be a single, unified Grand Northern Conspiracy, there are indeed multiple overlapping plots and schemes aimed at restoring a Stark to power. The paragraph emphasizes the enduring loyalty of the North to the Stark family and the likelihood that their rule will be reinstated through various ongoing conspiracies.

Keywords

💡A Song of Ice and Fire

A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, which serve as the primary inspiration for the TV series Game of Thrones. The series is renowned for its complex characters, intricate plotlines, and the struggle for power in the fictional world. In the video, the script refers to the Stark family's long history of ruling the North within this literary universe, emphasizing the depth and detail of the source material.

💡Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is a television adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, which aired from 2011 to 2019. The show is known for its dramatic storytelling, visual effects, and the unexpected twists that often occur in its plot. The video script discusses the divergence of the show's narrative from the books, particularly in the fate of the Stark family and their claim to the North.

💡Stark family

The Stark family is one of the central noble families in A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones, known for their honorable reputation and their historical role as rulers of the North. The video script delves into the family's fall from power and the various conspiracies that aim to restore them to their former status.

💡Kings of Winter

The title 'Kings of Winter' refers to the ancient rulers of the North in the world of Westeros, a position historically held by the Stark family. The video script mentions the Starks' reign as Kings of Winter, highlighting their long-standing rule and the cultural significance of their leadership in the North.

💡Wardens of the North

After the conquest of Westeros by Aegon the Conqueror, the Starks were given the title 'Warden of the North', a position that recognized their authority over the North while acknowledging the Targaryen rule over the Seven Kingdoms. The video script discusses this transition and its implications for the Stark family's power.

💡Red Wedding

The Red Wedding is a pivotal and tragic event in both the books and the TV series, where key members of the Stark family are betrayed and murdered during what was supposed to be a wedding celebration. The video script references this event as a catalyst for the Starks' downfall and a rallying point for those who seek to avenge them.

💡Boltons

House Bolton is a family in the North that betrays the Starks and seizes power in Winterfell. The Boltons are depicted as cruel and ruthless, and their actions are a driving force behind the various conspiracies to restore the Starks. The video script details their rise to power and the subsequent efforts to overthrow them.

💡Grand Northern Conspiracy

The Grand Northern Conspiracy is a fan theory and a central topic of the video script, which posits that various northern houses and characters are secretly plotting to overthrow the Boltons and restore the Starks to power. The script explores the evidence for this theory and its implications for the political landscape of the North.

💡Rickon Stark

Rickon Stark is a young member of the Stark family whose fate is uncertain following the events of the Red Wedding. The video script discusses the role of Rickon as a potential figurehead for the restoration of Stark rule in the North, particularly in the context of the Grand Northern Conspiracy.

💡Jon Snow

Jon Snow, originally believed to be the illegitimate son of Eddard Stark, plays a significant role in the story as a leader of the Night's Watch and a key player in the wars to come. The video script alludes to Jon Snow's importance, especially in relation to the conspiracies to restore the Starks and his own hidden Targaryen heritage.

💡White Walkers

White Walkers are supernatural beings from the North of Westeros, introduced as a major threat to the world. While not the primary focus of the video script, the mention of the White Walkers serves as a reminder of the larger conflicts and challenges that the characters in the series must face, beyond the struggle for power.

Highlights

The Stark family has a long history as rulers in the North, known as Kings of Winter and later as Wardens of the North.

Ned Stark's execution marks a turning point, leading to Robb Stark's rebellion and the North's secession.

Robb Stark's campaign ends in tragedy at the Red Wedding, where he is betrayed and killed.

The North falls under Bolton control, breaking a millennia-long rule by the Stark family.

In the TV adaptation, Jon and Sansa reclaim Winterfell, but the books have yet to reach this point.

The political situation in the North is complex, with many players and motivations.

The Grand Northern Conspiracy theory suggests that Northern houses are plotting to overthrow the Boltons.

The Starks are historically well-regarded for their defense of the North and sense of honor.

The Boltons are infamous for their cruelty, including flaying enemies and wearing their skins.

Lord Wyman Manderly is confirmed to be plotting against the Boltons, seeking to restore a Stark to Winterfell.

Evidence suggests Houses Locke, Flint, and Glover may be part of Manderly's conspiracy.

House Umber may also be involved, with some members secretly working against the Boltons.

Theon Greyjoy's actions at Winterfell are revealed to be a Bolton conspiracy.

Barbrey Dustin's interest in the Winterfell crypts hints at a deeper plot involving the Starks' return.

The possibility of a conspiracy to crown Jon Snow as King in the North is explored.

The North's loyalty to the Starks and resentment towards the Boltons suggest a desire for a Stark restoration.

The video concludes that while a unified Grand Northern Conspiracy may not exist, multiple smaller plots are likely underway.

Transcripts

In A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones, the Stark family've ruled the north for thousands

of years – as Kings of Winter , then as Wardens of the North after Aegon came.

Things change in the first book and season of Thrones, when the Lord of Winterfell Ned

Stark is imprisoned and executed by King Joffrey.

Ned’s son Robb marches south with an army, and the north secedes from the Seven Kingdoms,

declaring Robb King in the North and the riverlands – the first Stark King in three hundred

years.

But this doesn't last long.

Winterfell is captured by Theon Greyjoy , then burned by Ramsay Snow , and the Stark kids

scatter.

Robb's campaign falters, and he's killed at the Red Wedding by the Boltons and the Freys

– Roose Bolton is made Warden of the North . So for the first time in thousands of years,

the north is no longer ruled by a Stark.

Is this the end for the Kings of Winter?

Or does the north remember?

In Season 6 of the Game of Thrones show, the Starks make a quick comeback.

Jon and Sansa take Winterfell from the Boltons, Jon is named King, and the north is again

ruled by a Stark – or a Snow.

Or a Targaryen – or a Sand, depending on who’s keeping score – but the point is,

in the books, none of this has happened.

By Dance’s end, Jon’s still dead, Sansa's still in the Vale, Arya’s still in Braavos,

Bran’s still a tree, Rickon’s apparently on the island of Skagos, and Stannis Baratheon

is still alive, with his army, marching against the Boltons in Winterfell.

While Stannis has some of the north on his side, most houses officially support the Boltons

and their allies the Freys . But unlike the straightforward story of the show, the books

lay out a massively complex political situation in the north, with dozens of important players,

each with their own motivations, ambitions, loyalties, secrets, loves and hates and hopes.

Fans have written hundreds of thousands of words of analysis and theories and predictions

on this, many claiming that that most of the northern houses are secretly plotting to usurp

the Boltons and restore a Stark to Winterfell – this idea’s called the Grand Northern

Conspiracy.

The lords of the north have a lot of good reasons to support the Starks over the Boltons.

The Starks have ruled the north for thousands of years, and people seem to think that they’ve

done a good job . Historically they’ve defended the north from raiders, slavers, Andals, wargs

and wildlings, and it supposedly was a Stark who built the Wall to protect the north from

white walkers.

More recently, Ned Stark in particular was renowned for his sense of honour and justice,

winning great respect and loyalty from many people in the north . Barbrey Dustin says

“the northmen … love the Starks”.

But the Boltons – not so much . The Boltons are infamous for flaying their enemies and

wearing their skins as cloaks . Their Lord Roose is cruel, cold and creepy, known for

his habit of leeching , and his son Ramsay is a straight-up psycho, a murderous “beast

in human skin” who hunts and rapes women for sport . The Boltons commit terrible crimes

against the north in order to take control – Ramsay betrays and kills northmen at Winterfell

, and kills the Lady of Hornwood.

Roose sends northern armies to a suicide mission at Duskendale.

And at the Red Wedding, the Boltons betray King Robb, participating in the breaking of

guest right, and the slaughter of hundreds of northmen.

“Every lord at Winterfell lost” family at the Red Wedding – and “the north remembers”.

So the northern lords have plenty of motivation to oppose the Boltons and restore the Starks

to power.

What evidence is there of a conspiracy?

We know for a fact that Lord Wyman of House Manderly is plotting against the Boltons and

Freys.

He pretends to be on their side, but in Dance, he secretly meets with Davos Seaworth and

gives an awesome speech about “the debt” the Manderlys owe to the Starks , and about

the “murder” of Wyman’s son Wendel at the Red Wedding . He says “The north remembers,

and the mummer’s farce is almost done”.

Wyman reveals that with the help of an ironborn boy called Wex, Wyman’s learned the truth

of the sack of Winterfell – that it wasn’t Theon Greyjoy, but Ramsay Bolton who burned

the castle and killed its people, and that Bran and Rickon Stark weren’t killed by

Theon, but are still alive.

Apparently Rickon is on Skagos, an island up near the Wall.

Wyman tells Davos to go there and fetch Rickon, so that the north can rally around the young

Stark and oppose the Boltons.

If Davos does this, Wyman says, he’ll accept Stannis as his King – with Rickon Stark

as Lord of Winterfell – that seems to be the plan.

So Manderly is plotting against the Boltons, and other houses are in on it too.

Robett Glover is at the meeting with Davos, and he may be in touch with his brother Lord

Galbart – there are even hints Robett may raise an army . Wyman says Houses Locke and

Flint of Widow’s Watch follow his lead , and we do see someone from House Locke speak up

against Ramsay . So it seems Houses Locke, Flint and Glover are – at least to some

extent – a part of Manderly’s conspiracy.

It’s also possible that House Umber is involved.

The Umbers appear to be split down the middle – half of them, under “Crowfood” Umber,

side with Stannis, while the other half, under “Whoresbane” Umber, side with the Boltons

. But it’s made clear that Whoresbane isn’t really loyal to Roose – he only joins the

Boltons cause the Freys hold his nephew the Greatjon captive . Roose says the Umbers are

“cunning” and that he fears them and he probably should – cause back in Clash, the

Umbers are ordered to work with the Manderlys to build a fleet of warships and in Dance,

we see the fleet complete – “hidden” up the White Knife river.

So given that we know the Umbers have been working on a secret fleet with the Manderlys,

and that they’re not really loyal to the Boltons, it seems very plausible that the

Umbers are in on Wyman’s conspiracy.

There’s further evidence for this in the Dance chapters in Winterfell, where all the

Boltons and Freys and their supposed northern allies are cooped up together in the castle,

with snowstorms and Stannis coming outside, while tensions slowly rise.

There’s this one bit where it’s mentioned that someone makes snowmen shaped like four

particular northern lords – Wyman Manderly, Whoresbane Umber, Harwood Stout, and Barbrey

Dustin . There’s pretty strong evidence that these four snowmen represent a conspiracy

in Winterfell.

At one point we see Harwood Stout, who’s the sworn man of Barbrey Dustin, talking quietly

with Whoresbane Umber, who we know has been working with Wyman.

After this conversation, Barbrey becomes strangely interested in the Winterfell crypts, and gets

Theon to take her down there . The crypts are the ancient resting place of dead Starks,

each represented by a statue holding a sword.

Barbrey notices that three of these swords are missing . The significance of this is

that these three missing swords are the swords taken by Osha, Meera and Bran when they escape

Winterfell . These three missing swords prove Wex’s story that Bran and Rickon are alive,

and that the Boltons lie about the sack of Winterfell.

The fact that Barbrey searches the crypts in the first place suggests that she heard

Wex’s story from Wyman – possibly through the conversation that Harwood has with Whoresbane.

Further, we know from White Harbor that Wyman uses long visits to the privy to disguise

secret meetings, and it’s hinted he continues to do this at Winterfell.

So the evidence is strong that Wyman, Harwood, Barbrey and Whoresbane are conspiring in Winterfell

– discussing Wex’s story about Bran and Rickon, and Manderly’s plans to restore

House Stark.

After Barbrey visits the crypts, she speaks out boldly to the Freys about the people killed

at the Red Wedding.

She parts her lips “in a thin, feral smile” and says “The north remembers”.

So that’s one part of the Grand Northern Conspiracy – Wyman Manderly, Robett Glover,

Whoresbane Umber, and Barbrey Dustin, along with the Lockes and Flints, appear to be plotting

to betray the Boltons and make Rickon Stark Lord of Winterfell.

But there’s whole other part to the conspiracy, which takes place to the south, with its roots

in events of the past.

In the second book, Robb Stark says that if he dies, he wants Jon Snow to follow him as

King in the North . At this point, Sansa is married to Tyrion Lannister, and Robb believes

Arya, Bran and Rickon to be dead . So he decides that the best course of action is to legitimise

Jon as a Stark , and have him follow Robb as King if he dies.

Later that chapter, Robb meets with some of his lords and gets them to sign a document

to declare Jon his heir . Now that Robb is dead, the question is – who knows about

this will, and what plans might be underway to carry it out and make Jon King?

The people who were present at the signing of the will include Catelyn Stark, Edmure

Tully, Greatjon Umber, Jason Mallister, Maege Mormont, and Galbart Glover.

The Greatjon and Jason are both prisoners , so they probably can’t do much, but Maege

and Galbart are sent on a mission to Howland Reed in the Neck – and it seems as though

they do arrive, cause the crannogmen follow up on some orders Robb gives about Moat Cailin

. So Maege and Galbart seem to be with Howland in the Neck, and this offers a lot of opportunities

for scheming, cause not only are Maege and Galbart some of the only people in Westeros

who know that Jon Snow is the rightful King in the North, but Howland Reed is the only

living survivor of the fight at the Tower of Joy years ago, where it was discovered

that Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen – potentially giving Jon a claim

on the Iron Throne of all Westeros.

That is a lot of super-important information in one place, and there’re some hints that

this information is being put into action.

This involves another witness to Robb’s will – Catelyn Stark.

Catelyn dies at the Red Wedding, but in the books, she’s resurrected by Beric Dondarrion

and becomes Lady Stoneheart , a terrible vengeful spirit who leads the brotherhood without banners

down a dark and murderous path , killing everyone even remotely connected to the Red Wedding.

But Stoneheart’s not just a brutal killer, there’s definite method to her murder.

During the siege of Riverrun, a singer called Tom of Sevenstreams spies for the brotherhood

in the Lannister-Frey camp – he lets the brotherhood know when certain Freys are travelling

the riverlands, so that Lady Stoneheart can capture and kill them.

Tom may also hear about the transport of Lannister prisoners, and an upcoming Lannister wedding

– some fans speculate that the brotherhood and some riverlords will free the prisoners,

and crash the wedding, to massacre Freys and Lannisters in a Red Wedding 2.0.

But Stoneheart’s activities also connect back to Robb’s will.

Cause in Feast, Stoneheart travels in or near Hag’s Mire, the place where Robb’s will

is signed, then heads up into the Neck – the same place Howland, Maege and Galbart seem

to be.

It seems likely that Stoneheart is involved in a plot with these guys over Robb’s will,

cause she’s not only a witness to the will, like Maege and Galbart, but Stoneheart also

has Robb’s old crown . So the power to crown the next King in the North is in her hands.

Which does raise an issue – Stoneheart might not want to crown Jon King, because at least

in life, Catelyn really doesn’t like Jon – as a bastard son of Ned, Jon represents

Ned’s infidelity to Cat . But it just so happens that Howland Reed is the one person

in the world who can tell Catelyn that Jon isn’t really Ned’s bastard – that he’s

Lyanna’s son, by Rhaegar Targaryen.

Ned claimed Jon was his in order to protect him . So Stoneheart is a bit of an angry murder

zombie at the moment, and might not listen.

But if Howland can change Stoneheart’s mind about Jon, she may be happy to join in on

a conspiracy to crown Jon King in the North.

Lem says that Stoneheart doesn’t speak, because her throat is cut too deep – but,

he says, “she remembers” . Another witness to Robb’s will is Edmure

Tully.

He’s a prisoner of the Freys at Riverrun, but he meets with some important people.

In one chapter, Jaime leaves him alone with Tom o’ Sevens , the brotherhood spy – so

it’s possible Ed shares information with the brotherhood and Stoneheart.

Later, Jaime lets Edmure enter Riverrun to end the siege, which presents a golden opportunity

to conspire with the Tully men, including his uncle Brynden Blackfish.

Brynden is loyal to House Stark , and Jaime says he doesn’t doubt he’ll continue the

fight . In the show, Brynden dies in Riverrun, but in the books, Edmure helps him escape

– so now, Brynden’s out there, somewhere, determined to fight for House Stark – and

since he speaks with his nephew Ed, he may know about Robb’s will, and the possible

plot to crown Jon Snow.

Another couple of men who leave Riverrun include Desmond Grell and Robin Ryger, the Tully master-at-arms

and captain of guard . These guys choose to join the Night’s Watch at the Wall – where

Jon happens to be.

Fans speculate that these trusted Tully men may have been sent by Edmure in order to contact

Jon – maybe to tell him about the conspiracy to crown him as the heir to Robb.

So this riverlands stuff is less certain than the Manderly conspiracy.

There’s no direct evidence that any of these guys are plotting over Robb Stark’s will.

But it is at least very suspicious that Maege and Galbart – witnesses to Robb’s will

– and Stoneheart – who has Robb’s crown – go to the Neck, where Howland lives, the

one guy who knows the truth of Jon’s birth.

The stuff with Edmure, Brynden, Desmond and Robin might not be related – but it is plausible

that these guys are also somehow involved in a conspiracy to crown Jon Snow.

Okay, so we got the Manderly conspiracy around Winterfell to betray the Boltons and support

Rickon Stark, and a possible conspiracy in the Neck to crown Jon Snow as Robb’s heir

to the north.

There’s also possibly some plotting going on within the army that Stannis is marching

on Winterfell.

Part of Stannis’ army is made up of the men he brought up from the south, but most

of them are northmen – including the mountain clansmen, some Mormonts, Glovers , and others

. And the northmen don’t like Stannis – he’s a stranger to the north, and worships a foreign

god . The real reason they march in his army is to kill Boltons and rescue Arya Stark – in

the books, Ramsay marries a girl who the Boltons say is Arya Stark, but is actually a girl

called Jeyne Poole.

The real Arya is still over in Braavos, but the north doesn’t know that.

Far as they’re concerned, Ned Stark’s little girl is the clutches of Bolton’s

bastard, and they’re willing to die to rescue her.

These guys are passionately loyal to House Stark.

So is it possible that they’re involved in these conspiracies to install Rickon, or

crown Jon?

The best hint we’ve got is that two leaders of the mountain clansmen, the Norrey and the

Flint, come and visit Jon at the Wall, and Jon himself thinks they must have some special

reason to be there . Fans suggest that these clansmen know about Robb’s will, and come

to the Wall to judge if Jon could be a worthy King in the North.

Jon discusses his plans for the wildlings with the clansmen, and tells them he may seem

a green boy in their eyes, but he is still a son of Eddard Stark – which may be exactly

what the clansmen wanna hear.

But if the clansmen are in on the plot to crown Jon, how are they in contact with the

folks in the Neck who know about the will?

One possibility is that they’re in touch with Maege Mormont through her daughter Alysane,

who’s on the march with Stannis.

Maege’s other daughter Lyanna is the kid who writes that that awesome letter , and

that speech in the show.

Alternatively, the clansmen might be in touch with Galbart Glover, maybe through his sister-in-law

Sybelle, who’s been spending a suspiciously large amount of time praying in the godswood

– which is something Sansa does in Clash to receive secret messages . So the clansmen

might possibly know about Robb’s will.

But there is another complication in that the clansmen know Bran Stark is alive – they

see him travelling north to the Wall , and a clansman from House Liddle even meets Bran

. This is important information because Bran is King Robb’s oldest living brother – his

heir if it weren’t for the will, which only skips Bran for Jon cause Robb thought Bran

is dead.

It’s very telling that the clansmen don’t tell Stannis about Bran – whatever their

intentions, they’re clearly keeping secrets.

So while there’s no clear evidence of any conspiracy among the northmen in Stannis’

army, there are some possible connections, and at the least, the northmen are clearly

more loyal to Stark than they are to Stannis.

There are a few other northern houses to talk about – House Karstark is an interesting

one.

Arnolf Karstark joins with Stannis, but secretly plans to betray him for the Boltons.

Part of his scheme is to forcibly marry the heir to Karhold, Alys Karstark, to his son

Cregan, so he can be Lord of Karhold.

But Alys escapes, and the person she turns to for protection and justice is none other

than Jon Snow – she comes all the way north to the Wall, and begs him for help, Leias

him as her “only hope” as “the last son of Eddard Stark”.

There’s no evidence Alys knows about any conspiracy, but her attitude to Jon does support

the idea that the people of the north see Jon as the inheritor of Ned Stark’s legacy,

and a legitimate leader in the north.

Anyway, in a sample chapter of Winds, Stannis finds out about Arnolf’s deception, and

locks up his men – so the Karstarks are out of action for now.

There’s also House Hornwood.

After the deaths of Lord Halys and Daryn, Donella becomes Lady of the Hornwood, but

Ramsay forcibly marries and kills her, starving her in a dungeon til she chews her own fingers

off . Ramsay now calls himself Lord of the Hornwood , and some Hornwood men have submitted

to him, joining the Bolton army . But as Barbrey Dustin points out, the Hornwoods haven’t

forgotten what Ramsay did to Donella . There’s no evidence of Hornwoods involved in any conspiracy,

but it’s fair to say they’re not real loyal to the Boltons.

The Cerwyns and Tallharts are similar.

We don’t know all that much about them, but we do know that Roose sends Cerwyn and

Tallhart men into a suicide mission to Duskendale, and that at the sack of Winterfell, Ramsay

betrays and kills Lord Cley Cerwyn and Leobald Tallhart . Some survivors of this battle end

up joining Stannis’ army , which could be a really big deal – these men could spread

the word of Ramsay’s crimes and betrayal at Winterfell, which most of the north still

believes were committed by Theon.

So while we don’t know of any Cerwyn or Tallhart involvement in any conspiracy, but

the houses are, in Roose Bolton’s words, “not to be relied on” . Really the only

big northern house that probably is loyal to House Bolton is House Ryswell.

The Ryswells are tied to the Boltons by marriage, and we see Ryswell leaders working closely

with Boltons and Freys . The Ryswells did lose men at the Red Wedding – but there

are no particular hints that they’re disloyal to the Boltons.

So in the words of Roose Bolton, northern politics in Dance is a “world of treachery

and deceit” . People siding with the Boltons aren’t really loyal to the Boltons, people

siding with Stannis aren’t really loyal to Stannis – most folks seem to want a Stark

in Winterfell.

But is there a Grand Northern Conspiracy?

We do know Wyman Manderly is plotting to install Rickon Stark – Robett Glover, the Flints

and Lockes are in on it, and probably so are the snow-men in Winterfell, Whoresbane and

Barbrey.

To the south, there’s a probable plot over Robb’s will to crown Jon, involving Maege

and Galbart and Howland, who’re connected to Stoneheart, and Tom, and Edmure, and Brynden

and the Riverrun guys.

It’s also kinda possible that the mountain clans, Alysane Mormont or Sybelle Glover are

involved, themselves connected to Jon.

Are all these people working together in unison, secretly scheming to play Stannis and Roose

against each other, to get vengeance on the Boltons and Freys, and finally, to return

a Stark to Winterfell, in a truly Grand Northern Conspiracy?

Are all these people connected?

…Maybe.

But probably not.

Few reasons why – firstly, they don’t have phones in Westeros.

So it’s really hard to communicate secretly.

There are messenger ravens, but we’re told a bunch of times that it’s a bad idea to

trust a secret to a bird – they can be intercepted, or lost, and besides, letters are generally

read and written by maesters, who themselves aren’t trusted – Barbrey and Wyman specifically

both question maesters.

So communication’s hard.

And secondly, the bigger a conspiracy is, the less likely it is to stay secret – that’s

true in the real world and in Westeros, and we got a Westerosi example in the Karstark

treachery.

As far as we know, only a few Karstark men know about Arnolf’s plan to betray Stannis,

and yet, thanks to Alys, the truth gets out.

Stannis himself makes a point that you can’t keep secrets among lots and lots of people

. Big grand conspiracies just aren’t that plausible.

It really looks like there are multiple different separate plans at work here.

Manderly wants to make Rickon Lord of Winterfell, recognising Stannis as King, while Maege and

Galbart presumably want to make Jon Snow King.

People like Stoneheart and the mountain clansmen have their own priorities – these seem like

separate plots.

So the evidence doesn’t support the idea of one big cohesive Grand Northern Conspiracy.

What it does support are several medium-sized loosely overlapping plots in the north and

riverlands.

Which doesn’t have as much of a ring to it – but still, ultimately, conclusively,

yes – there are conspiracies at work in the north.

The north remembers millennia of just Stark rule.

The north remembers Bolton crimes at the Red Wedding, and Winterfell and Hornwood.

The Manderlys remember.

The riverlands remember.

The Neck remembers.

Winterfell remembers.

The clansmen remember.

And by one plot or another, the Starks will rule the north again.

Thanks for watching.

There are lots more complications that we didn’t cover here – like the role of Sansa

and Littlefinger , the Skagosi , Mance Rayder and the wildlings, the pink letter and the

hooded man, the location of the document signed as Robb’s will, and of course, the white

walkers and the army of the dead – will there even be a north left to rule?

We’ll talk about some of this stuff in future videos.

Thank you to the Game of Thrones fan experts who helped with this video script, including

Lady Gwyn and yolkboy of Radio Westeros, and Nina Friel of the Good Queen Alysanne Tumblr

– links are below.

The Grand Northern Conspiracy is an idea that hundreds of fans have contributed to over

the years – in particular you might like to check out the essays by Yeade and Bran

Vras and cantuse.

Thanks also to artists Amok and Zippo514 and Ertaç Altınöz for permission to use their

work – lots of links in the description.

Finally, thank you to the Patrons supporting Alt Shift X.

This video truly would not exist without your support, thank you for your patience on this

one, it was a long time coming.

We’ll be holding a vote soon on the topic of the next big video, so make sure to make

your voice heard.

Again, thank you all – and cya next time.