Stannis Baratheon is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. He is the second son of Steffon Baratheon and Cassana Estermont, as well as the brother of Robert—lord of the Seven Kingdoms—and Renly, lord of Storm's End. He 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's goals are frequently impeded by his lack of manpower and resources, owing to his unpopularity with other noble houses. He must therefore rely on the counsel of the foreign priestess Melisandre and his right-hand man, lowborn smuggler Davos Seaworth, whom he later promotes to Hand of the King. Stannis often struggles to escape the shadow of his two more overtly charismatic brothers, particularly Robert.
Though first mentioned in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Stannis formally appeared in A Clash of Kings (1998), A Storm of Swords (2000) and A Dance with Dragons (2011). In December 2011, Martin posted a sample chapter from the yet-unfinished The Winds of Winter, told from Theon Greyjoy's viewpoint, which confirmed Stannis' return in the sixth book.
Stannis 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 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. He has earned particular attention for the differences in his characterization between the novels and show, particularly during season five.
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Character description
Stannis Baratheon is the younger brother of King Robert and older brother of Renly. He 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. He is renowned as a skilled and prescient military commander. Although he is initially said to be extremely stubborn and inflexible, in later books he has shown some ability to use diplomacy and deception to achieve his goals.
Background
Stannis was born the second of Steffon Baratheon and Cassana Estermont's three sons, and in his youth was constantly overshadowed by Robert. 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.
During Robert's Rebellion, a teenage Stannis holds Storm's End in Robert's absence, successfully defending the besieged castle from the Reach forces of Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne for the best part of the year. Stannis' garrison avoids starvation thanks only to the smuggler Davos Seaworth, who evades the blockade by the Redwyne fleet to bring the Baratheon soldiers a cargo of onions and fish. When Eddard Stark arrives to lift the siege, Stannis knights Davos as a reward for his aid, but also insists that Davos have four fingers removed as punishment for his years of illegal smuggling; Davos agrees, on the condition that Stannis removes the fingers himself. Stannis 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. Robert names Stannis Lord of Dragonstone, giving him control over the islands of Blackwater Bay and the nearby peninsula of Massey's Hook - but Stannis feels slighted, as their younger brother Renly is named Lord of Storm's End, giving him control over the entirety of the Stormlands.
Several years later, Stannis is married to Lady Selyse Florent, but Robert soiled their wedding bed by deflowering Selyse's cousin Delena, further insulting Stannis. Stannis and Selyse have a single daughter together, Shireen, who nearly dies in infancy after contracting greyscale and is left disfigured. Stannis, 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 comes to suspect that Robert's children with Cersei Lannister are not actually his. He suspects that Robert will not believe his word alone, so he reveals his suspicions to Robert's Hand of the King and trusted friend, Lord Jon Arryn. The two discover several of Robert's bastard children in King's Landing and begin to gather proof of the bastardy of Cersei's children. Jon Arryn agrees to foster his young son and heir, Robert Arryn, at Dragonstone. However, Jon Arryn dies unexpectedly. Stannis suspects that the Lannisters assassinated Jon Arryn, so he immediately leaves the capital for Dragonstone.
Appearance and personality
Stannis is frequently described as a large and sinewy man who towers over others, such as Davos Seaworth and Jon Snow, a Baratheon trait. He lacks the long black hair of his brothers and is instead balding, although he keeps a close-cropped beard of the signature Baratheon black. His face is described as 'tight like cured leather' with hollow, gaunt cheeks. His eyes are described by Asha Greyjoy as 'deep, sunken pits', with a powerful stare that suggests an 'iron ferocity'.
Stannis' most prominent characteristics are his flinty and austere demeanor, unrelenting stubbornness, and powerful sense of duty and justice, the latter of which he is notorious for throughout Westeros. He rarely forgives a slight; Jon Snow once comments that "Stannis Baratheon with a grievance was like a mastiff with a bone; he gnawed it down to splinters." His signature tic is grinding his teeth, often in the face of unpleasant or unforeseen circumstances. He is a renowned commander, sailor, and warrior, although he is a better tactician than fighter. Stannis is known for his brusqueness and lack of tact in social situations and finds himself uncomfortable around women, including his own wife. He abhors brothels and once tried to have them banned from King's Landing, which made him unpopular with the smallfolk there. He dresses plainly in dark clothing and is rarely seen without his sword and dagger. Stannis is plagued with bitterness at the lack of respect and affection he has been shown by his older brother King Robert, and even in childhood was described by the Baratheon family maester as "the most unloved of the three"; a "solemn and joyless" child "mature beyond his years". Stannis is an atheist, despite claims that he is being manipulated by the red priestess Melisandre.
Although Stannis suffers from a lack of support and resources during the War of Five Kings, he is frequently described by his adversaries, including Tywin Lannister, as the most dangerous rival claimant. Above all, he is characterized by his fearless and uncompromising pursuit of justice and duty—he is described by Varys in this way: "His claim is the true one; he is known for his prowess as a battle commander, and he is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man."
Storylines
Novels
Stannis 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 King Robert Baratheon travels to Winterfell to name Eddard "Ned" Stark as his new Hand, Stannis flees to Dragonstone with his forces, including most of the royal navy. Stannis suspects the involvement of Cersei Lannister, the wife of the king, in Jon Arryn's death. It is later revealed that the true culprit was Jon's wife, Lysa Tully, who was persuaded to poison her husband by her lover, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. Eddard continues Stannis's and Jon's investigations and discovers that Cersei's children are the products of her incestuous affair with her twin brother, Jaime Lannister. After Robert's death, Eddard tries to replace Robert's presumed heir, Joffrey Baratheon, with Stannis, but he loses the political struggle against the Lannisters and is executed.
Stannis comes under the influence of the red priestess of R'hllor Melisandre, who believes that Stannis is the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, a messianic figure in her faith. Stannis declares himself the one true king; however, most of the Baratheon bannermen support the claim of his younger and more charismatic surviving brother, Renly, as does the powerful House Tyrell (due to Renly's marriage to Margaery Tyrell). Stannis tries to negotiate with Renly, offering him the chance to become his heir, but Renly rejects him and plans to use his superior numbers to destroy Stannis's army the next day. However, Renly is unexpectedly assassinated by a shadow demon conjured by Melisandre using Stannis's life force. After his death, many of Renly's bannermen immediately swear allegiance to Stannis, though the Tyrells side with the Lannisters due to their offer to have Margaery marry Joffrey. One of Renly's protectors, Brienne of Tarth, swears to avenge his death by killing Stannis but is talked out of it by Catelyn Stark.
Now equipped with the strongest army and navy in Westeros, Stannis attempts to capture the capital city of King's Landing by sea, but many of his men are killed when Tyrion Lannister detonates jars of wildfire (akin to Greek fire) in the Blackwater River and burns most of his fleet. Stannis's forces still nearly claim victory, but Lannister and Tyrell reinforcements arrive in time to drive Stannis's men away from King's Landing. However, with the help of Rolland Storm, the Bastard of Nightsong, Stannis flees to Dragonstone to fight another day.
TV adaptation
Stephen Dillane plays Stannis Baratheon in the television adaptation of the book series.
Stannis falls under the influence of Melisandre, a priestess of R'hllor who believes Stannis is the reincarnation of a legendary hero from her religion, Azor Ahai. After Robert's death, Stannis asserts that he is the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne since Cersei's children are illegitimate, conceived through incest. Nonetheless, most of the Baratheon bannermen back the claim of the more charming but younger Renly. When Stannis confronts Renly, he offers to make him his heir if he supports his claim. However, Renly declines, using the negotiation as an opportunity to mock Stannis and plans to kill him in battle the next day. Melisandre, who had seduced Stannis, gives birth to a shadow demon bearing Stannis's face that kills Renly, and many of Renly's bannermen immediately swear allegiance to Stannis. He then attacks King's Landing by sailing up Blackwater Bay. Stannis's force breaches the walls, but due to Tyrion Lannister's use of wildfire and the arrival of last-minute Lannister and Tyrell reinforcements, he is defeated. Nonetheless, he is convinced to continue fighting by Melisandre and is further convinced by her magic as she shows him a vision of a battle in the flames.
Stannis 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. After Davos Seaworth questions his course of action, Stannis has three leeches' worth of blood drawn from Gendry and throws them into a fire, calling for the deaths of Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, and Joffrey Baratheon. Upon the news of Robb's death, Davos releases Gendry to prevent him from being sacrificed. Stannis subsequently sentences Davos to death but is swayed by Melisandre, who encourages him to travel North to aid the Night's Watch against the White Walkers emerging from beyond the Wall.
Stannis 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's name to help pay for an army. The Iron Bank nearly refuses Stannis's request, but Davos manages to convince them that Stannis is the only one they can turn to since Tywin Lannister is nearing old age. Stannis and his army arrive at the Wall shortly after the Battle of Castle Black, interrupting a parley between Jon Snow and Mance Rayder and crushing the wildling force. Stannis learns that Jon is Ned Stark's son, and on Jon's advice, he places Mance and his men under arrest. He is later present at the funeral of the Night's Watch brothers who died during the Battle for Castle Black.
Critical reception
The English actor Stephen Dillane has received positive reviews for his performance as Stannis Baratheon, especially in the fifth season. In her review of "Sons of the Harpy", Sarah Hughes of The Guardian wrote, "Stephen Dillane has always been wonderful at showing us the core of this rigid, complex man." His performance on the same episode also received positive reviews from Vulture. Harri Sargeant of Hypable wrote, "Stephen Dillane has always been one of the classiest actors on the show, and his last moments as the King Who Almost Was saw as commanding a performance as ever." In her review for "Mother's Mercy", Meghan O'Keefe of Decider wrote, "Whether you like Stannis or not, you have to admit that Stephen Dillane delivered a monumental performance this season." Cindy Davis of Pajiba wrote: "After Shireen's seemingly pointless death, it's a testament to Stephen Dillane's phenomenal skills that we could feel anything at all for a man who watched his daughter burned alive." Nick Steinberg of Goliath wrote, "Credit has to go to Stephen Dillane for his performance, especially in these last few episodes where he's had to convey a form of grim tragedy that's effectively conveyed the character's downfall." For his part, Dillane expressed misgivings about his performance, telling The Times newspaper, "I didn't know what I was doing until we'd finished filming and it was too late. The damage had been done. I thought no one would believe in me and I was rather disheartened by the end. I felt I'd built the castle on non-existent foundations.”
