10 Best Game of Thrones Characters Who Don't Belong to Great Houses
Some of the best GoT characters didn’t have that nauseatingly noble blue blood — and still survived until the end and thrived in their cruel world.
10. Podrick Payne
Good old Podrick hailed from the lesser House of Payne, being a distant relative of the infamous King’s Justice, sadistic Ser Ilyn. Podrick didn’t have power or riches but quickly became a fan favorite through his iconic duos with Tyrion Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. Podrick eventually even became a Knight and a Kingsguard!
9. Davos Seaworth
Jokingly called the Onion Knight, Davos was but a smuggler from Flea Bottom when Lord Stannis Baratheon took a liking to him. Proving that merit is more important than birthright, Davos first became Stannis’s Hand of the King and a landed knight, and later, was raised to a proper lord and named Bran Stark’s Master of Ships.
8. Melisandre
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The Red Woman couldn’t even boast Davos’s humble beginnings: while the latter was at least free, Melisandre was born into a family of slaves in Essos. She became the Lord of Light’s priestess and discovered unique powers in herself which allowed her to become Stannis’s right hand and play a crucial role in the Long Night events.
7. Brienne of Tarth
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A daughter of a lesser noble, Brienne of Tarth has an aspiration seemingly impossible for a woman in Westeros. She was both a fighter and a noble person. Her unmatched skills and dedication were rewarded when she was first knighted by Jaime Lannister and then became the Lady Commander of the Kingsguard.
6. Jorah Mormont
The lesser House of Mormont played a substantial role in Game of Thrones despite its size, and out of the three major Mormonts, Jorah was the most important. A disgraced northern lord, he was stripped of his titles for slave trading but then dedicated his life to Queen Daenerys Targaryen and died in battle protecting her.
5. Sandor Clegane
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Like his notorious brother Gregor, Sandor hailed from the lesser House Clegane. Without many lands and riches to his name, he became a bitter and cynical bodyguard who cared little for his tasks, but through meeting the Stark daughters, he became a better man. The Hound died fighting his brother to protect Arya Stark.
4. Bronn
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Bronn’s life is the ultimate rags-to-riches story. Born into a family of commoners, Bronn made his living as a talented sellsword — but after committing to the Lannisters’ service, he eventually became the Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Reach, Master of Coin, and the founder of his own House. Not bad, huh?
3. Samwell Tarly
Life was never kind to Sam: born into a lesser House, he was hated by his lord father and forced to join the Night’s Watch. There, he befriended Jon Snow, and his adventures began. Sam killed a Walker himself, played a pivotal role in the fight against the undead army, and was finally rewarded by becoming the Grand Maester.
2. Varys
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Just like Melisandre, Varys was born a slave in Essos and made his way up from the very bottom. In Westeros, he became known as the Spider, the Master of Whisperers and an advisor to many kings, with people referring to him as Lord Varys. The Spider later joined Queen Daenerys but was wrongly executed by her.
1. Petyr Baelish
Lord Baelish hailed from a lesser House but had disproportionately large ambitions. Littlefinger was a master of intrigues and schemes, reaching his goals one after another: he became the Master of Coin, the Lord of Harrenhaal, and the Lord Protector of the Vale. Petyr Baelish’s manipulations allowed him to climb to the very top, but he underestimated the Stark sisters and was executed for his crimes.