Greatjon Umber

Greatjon Umber, the massive, roaring lord of the northern house of Umber, is one of the most formidable and fiercely loyal bannermen of House Stark. He stands as tall as Hodor and twice as wide, with a voice like stone breaking, and he carries the biggest, ugliest greatsword Bran Stark has ever seen. His sigil is a roaring giant in shattered chains, and his temper matches it. He initially tests Robb Stark’s authority with a drunken challenge, only to become his staunchest champion after Robb’s direwolf, Grey Wind, bites off two of his fingers. He fights at the Whispering Wood, and it is he who first proclaims Robb the King in the North, a declaration that reshapes the war.

Identity and Introduction

Greatjon Umber is the lord of the northern house of Umber, a bannerman to Winterfell. He is a man of immense size and strength, described as standing as tall as Hodor and twice as wide. His sigil is a roaring giant in shattered chains, and he carries the biggest, ugliest greatsword Bran Stark has ever seen. When he first appears at Winterfell after Robb Stark has called the banners, he is accompanied by his sons and brothers, all of whom leap to their feet and grab for their steel when he does. He is introduced as a man who is fearless, loud, and quick to anger, but also capable of a grudging respect that transforms into fierce loyalty.

Arc Through the Plot: From Challenger to Champion

The Greatjon’s first encounter with Robb Stark is a test of the young lord’s authority. When Robb places him behind the Hornwoods and the Cerwyns in the order of march, the Greatjon threatens to take his forces home. Robb responds by telling him he is welcome to do so, but promises to march north afterward, root him out of his keep, and hang him for an oathbreaker. Cursing, the Greatjon flings a flagon of ale into the fire and bellows that Robb is so green he must piss grass. When Hallis Mollen moves to restrain him, he knocks him to the floor, kicks over a table, and unsheathes his greatsword. Yet Robb only says a quiet word, and in a snarl and the blink of an eye, the Greatjon is on his back, his sword spinning on the floor three feet away, and his hand dripping blood where Grey Wind has bitten off two fingers. Robb tells him that his lord father taught him it was death to bare steel against your liege lord, but that he doubtless only meant to cut his meat. The Greatjon struggles to rise, sucking at the red stumps of his fingers, but then he laughs and roars, “Your meat is bloody tough.” From that moment, he becomes Robb’s right hand, his staunchest champion, loudly telling all and sundry that the boy lord is a Stark after all, and they’d damn well better bend their knees if they don’t fancy having them chewed off.

Key Actions and Objectives

The Greatjon fights in the Battle of the Whispering Wood, where he leads a charge from the far ridge, his warhorn sounding as the trap closes on Jaime Lannister’s army. He is also present at the war council at Riverrun, where he argues against any peace with the Lannisters, insisting that the only peace he wants is with his sword. He is the one who first proclaims Robb Stark the King in the North, a declaration that reshapes the war. He kneels and lays his sword at Robb’s feet, and the other northern lords follow his lead, shouting the old words that had not been heard in the realm for more than three hundred years.

Relationships and Conflict

The Greatjon’s relationship with Robb Stark is the central one of his arc. It begins with conflict and a test of strength, but after Robb’s display of authority and Grey Wind’s intervention, it becomes one of absolute loyalty. He also has a notable relationship with his own temper, which he struggles to control. He is a man who is quick to anger but also quick to laugh, and his loyalty, once given, is unshakeable. He is also a figure of immense physical presence, and his actions often serve to intimidate or challenge those around him.

Change and Ending

The Greatjon undergoes a significant change from a challenger to a champion. He begins as a lord who tests the new young leader, but after being bested, he becomes Robb’s most vocal and loyal supporter. His declaration of Robb as the King in the North is the culmination of this change, as he moves from a bannerman who might have left to one who redefines the political landscape of the war. He remains a key figure in Robb’s army, fighting in the Whispering Wood and participating in the war councils.

Narrative Role and Evaluation

The Greatjon serves as a narrative device to demonstrate Robb Stark’s growing authority and the loyalty he inspires. His initial challenge and subsequent conversion are a microcosm of the larger theme of the north uniting behind its young leader. He is a flat character in the sense that he is built around a single idea—fierce, unyielding loyalty—but he is also a memorable and effective one, providing both comic relief and a sense of the raw power and passion of the northern lords. His proclamation of the King in the North is a pivotal moment in the story, marking a decisive break from the Iron Throne and the beginning of a new political entity.