"He inspires no love or loyalty. He's not a king. I am."
―Renly Baratheon declares he would be a better king than his brother, Stannis.[src]

King Renly Baratheon was the youngest of three brothers and thus fourth in line to inherit the throne after Joffrey, Tommen, and Stannis. He was granted the title of Lord Paramount of the Stormlands by his brother Robert, whose small council he also served on as Master of Laws, but abandoned the latter position when laying claim to the Iron Throne, styling himself as Renly of the House Baratheon, First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. Margaery Tyrell became Renly's queen when she married him in an alliance; however, it was her brother Loras whom he truly loved. During talks of an alliance with the Starks, his reign abruptly ended when a Shadow with the face of Stannis Baratheon killed Renly inside his tent. This led most of his bannermen from the Stormlands and some of the Reach to submit to his older brother Stannis as their new king.



Renly is the third and youngest son of Steffon and Cassana Baratheon. Steffon was the head of House Baratheon and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. The Stormlands are one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms and House Baratheon is one of the Great Houses of the realm. Renly has two older brothers Robert and Stannis. Their parents died when the boys were young and Robert inherited his father's titles. Robert led a rebellion against King Aerys II Targaryen, deposing and replacing him as the King on the Iron Throne. He made Renly the Lord of Storm's End following his victory. Renly was only a child during the civil war, so he did not fight.[1][2]

At some point, Selwyn Tarth held a ball on Tarth in hopes of arranging a match for his daughter, Brienne. However, many of the suitors feigned attraction to Brienne. She was alerted of this when she spotted some of them laughing. In hopes of saving her reputation, Renly took Brienne in his arms and danced with her, leaving the suitors speechless, due to Renly's high status. From this point on, Brienne would be forever loyal to Renly.


Renly has been involved in a homosexual romance with Ser Loras Tyrell for many years. They must keep their love a secret because the dominant religion of the realm, the Faith of the Seven, considers homosexuality to be a sin, although many people are nonetheless aware of their relationship as something of an open secret.[4]

Season 1

Small Council

Renly welcomes Ned to the small council.

Renly greets Eddard Stark, whom he knew when younger, upon his arrival at King's Landing. Renly is the only member of the small council whom Eddard greets warmly. Renly agrees with Eddard's assessment that his brother Robert's profligate spending is damaging the realm.[5] Renly irritates Commander Janos Slynt by questioning his competence to command the City Watch if he cannot keep the peace. Nonetheless, Ned gives Slynt the resources he requires.[6]

Renly and Loras 105

Renly meets Loras's gaze.

Renly bets on his (notoriously known) secret lover, Ser Loras Tyrell, to win a joust against Ser Gregor Clegane. He wins a significant sum of money from Littlefinger, then they mock each other. Renly asks Littlefinger if he has a friend; Littlefinger retorts by asking when Renly will be having his friend, pointing at Loras. Later, in the small council, Renly supports Robert's proposed assassination of Daenerys Targaryen following news of her pregnancy by Khal Drogo.

Loras and Renly 105-3

Loras inspires confidence in Renly.



Renly is riled by Robert's assessment of the past.

Renly goes hunting with Robert and his retinue. He quarrels with Robert over his glorification of warfare and Robert's needling him about how many girls he has slept with; in Robert's words "simpler times" which were in fact more bloody than he is willing to admit. Renly calls him a fool and remarks that the past had its share of violence that Robert is conveniently ignoring. Renly storms off, leaving Ser Barristan to look on concerned, as Lancel keeps up King Robert's wine supply on Cersei's orders. This causes Robert to reel from his excessive consumption of wine, and subsequently, he is later fatally gored by a wild boar.[1]


Season 2

Before the Battle of Oxcross, two Lannister sentries argue who is the greatest swordsman in Westeros. Rennick jokes that Ser Loras Tyrell can't be a great swordsman as he has been "stabbing" Renly Baratheon for years and Renly's not dead.[9]




King Renly and Queen Margaery 1

Renly celebrates the tournament with Margaery.

Renly camps his growing army near Storm's End in the Stormlands, and throws a tournament for his men. Renly and his new Queen watch from a wooden dais. Margaery stands and cheers on her brother Loras as he disarms his opponent. His rival manages to step under a swing of his great axe and knock him off his feet. Loras yields when his opponent lifts his visor and holds a knife close to his face.

King Renly and Queen Margaery 2

Renly feigns a happy marriage to Margaery.


Margaery Renly S2

Renly and Margaery greet Catelyn Stark.

A Baratheon Guard announces the arrival Catelyn Stark. Catelyn modifies his mention of Robb, asserting his position as King in the North. Renly introduces Margaery, who offers her condolences on the death of Eddard. Catelyn says that she is kind and Renly promises to avenge the death, drawing cheers from his men. Catelyn accepts the pledge and calls Renly "My Lord". Brienne corrects her, saying that she should call Renly "Your Grace" and kneel when speaking to him.



Renly dismisses Catelyn and Brienne.


203 Renly Loras in bed

Renly attempts to mollify Loras.


Loras and Renly 203

Loras reminds Renly of his marriage to Margaery.



Margaery attempts to satisfy Renly.




Renly promo

Renly attends a parley with Stannis.

Stannis meets Renly on the coast of the Stormlands to parley. Stannis is accompanied by Melisandre, an Asshai'i priestess, Ser Davos Seaworth and several guards. Renly brings Catelyn, Brienne and Loras along with his own guards. Stannis remarks on Catelyn’s presence and she says that she had not expected to be there. Renly wonders if it is really Stannis and feigns confusion over his banner. Renly jokes that the battle would be confusing if they both used the same one. Renly wonders why Stannis’s version of the stag is aflame.

Renly Stannis Parley

Renly mocks Stannis's belief in the Lord of Light.


Stannis again warns his brother. Catelyn admonishes them to stop bickering and remember that they are brothers. Stannis counters that he would expect her to support his claim as Eddard did. He says that Eddard died for his integrity yet she sits beside a pretender. She says that they share a common enemy and Stannis retorts that the Iron Throne is his by right and that all who deny it are his enemies, to which Renly quips that every living Westerosi, from the Wall to Dorne denies his kingship.

204 GOB

Renly tells Stannis of his unloved nature throughout Westeros.

Renly says that no-one wants Stannis for their king. Renly says that Stannis never wanted friends but that a man without friends is a man without power. Stannis says that he will give Renly the night to reconsider for the sake of their mother. He offers to restore Renly to his seat on the council and to name him as his heir until he has a son if he strikes his banners; otherwise he will destroy Renly. Renly reminds Stannis of his numerous supporters and says that they will make him king. Stannis rides away as Melisandre warns Renly to look to his sins because "the night is dark and full of terrors." Renly asks if his companions can believe that he loved Stannis once as he leads them away.[14]


Renly compromises with Catelyn.

Catelyn meets with Renly in his command tent. Two of his kingsguard are outside while Brienne stands watch inside the tent. Renly has Catelyn swear that her son Robb has no interest in challenging him for the Iron Throne. Renly drinks from a goblet thoughtfully and announces that he sees no reason for hostility between them. He offers his terms; Robb can retain the title of King in the North, and control of all lands north of Moat Cailin, but must swear fealty to Renly as Eddard did to Robert eighteen years earlier.

Catelyn is hesitant and Renly reminds her that Robert and Eddard’s friendship held the Seven Kingdoms together. Catelyn asks what he offers in return for Robb’s loyalty. Renly says that he will destroy Stannis’s army and then Baratheon and Stark will fight their common enemy together as they have done many times in the past. Renly stands before a mirror and Brienne helps him out of his cloak. Catelyn beseeches him to reconsider negotiating with Stannis. Renly reminds Catelyn of his brother’s rigidity, refusing to attempt further debate with him. He asks her to take his terms to Robb and says that he sees them as natural allies and hopes that Robb feels the same. He suggests that acting together they could end the war in a fortnight.


Renly is assassinated.


Loras vengeance Renly

Renly lies dead.

Brienne is still blamed by many for Renly's murder, so she flees the camp with Catelyn. Renly's body is laid on a slab while Loras grieves and vows to kill Stannis for this, as he doesn't believe Brienne is responsible. Littlefinger and Margaery persuade him to leave for Highgarden, as he cannot take revenge if he is dead. Renly's forces largely swear fealty to Stannis when he arrives the next day. House Tyrell lead their troops back to Highgarden.[15]

Season 3

As Brienne escorts Jaime Lannister back to King's Landing at the behest of Catelyn Stark in an attempt to exchange him for her daughters, he inquires as to how she came to be in Lady Catelyn's service. With minimal probing, he quickly realizes she had originally pledged for Renly. Jaime then proceeds to make cruel japes at Brienne for loving Renly whose "proclivities were the worst kept secret at court." This prompts Brienne to nearly erupt with fury but Jaime defuses the situation by saying he doesn't blame Renly for his preferences nor Brienne for loving him, saying, "We don't get to choose who we love."[16]

Later, when the two of them are sharing a communal bath (against Brienne's wishes), Jaime, who has since lost his sword hand, reminds her of the vow she made to deliver him to King's Landing in one piece. He agitates her for failing to protect Renly but quickly apologizes upon gauging her reaction. Jaime then regales Brienne with what really happened when he slew the Mad King, and asks her if she would have kept her oath if Renly had commanded her to do the same things as Aerys did, but Brienne is too stunned by Jaime's story to answer.[17]

Meanwhile, over in Dragonstone, Stannis makes preparations to have Robert's bastard son Gendry sacrificed as part of his plan to win the Iron Throne. His Hand Davos Seaworth tries to dissuade him from doing so by reminding him that Gendry shares his blood, to which Stannis replies, "So did Renly." Although Davos doesn't justify his king's fratricide, he shows his loyalty to Stannis stating that Renly wronged him when he declared himself king ahead of Stannis.[18]

Season 4

Several weeks after their arrival in King's Landing, Brienne visits Margaery Tyrell. Brienne explains what she saw and how the shadow had Stannis' face, and assures Margaery that she will find a way to avenge their king.[19] Later, at the wedding feast of Margaery and Joffrey, the latter mistakes Brienne for the one who assassinated Renly Baratheon, which Margaery quickly corrects.[20]

During the wedding feast, a play also takes place in which the War of the Five Kings is acted out by dwarves, including a dwarf playing the role of Renly. Loras witnesses the play and is visibly upset by the way Renly is represented in it. Following a sequence in which the Renly dwarf is repeatedly stabbed by the Stannis dwarf, echoing the events of the real murder, Loras is so angry and distraught that he storms away from the event, knocking his chair over as he goes.[20]

Season 5

While traveling north to rescue Sansa Stark, Brienne tells Podrick Payne about her past with Renly. She reveals that as a young girl, her father held a ball and invited dozens of young lords in order to find a good match for her. Brienne was captivated by all the attention she was getting, but her happiness turned to embarrassment when Brienne realized they were all just toying with her. Before she could run away, Renly took Brienne into his arms and told her that those "nasty little shits aren't worth crying over" and danced with her. As Podrick starts to bring up Renly's homosexuality, Brienne somewhat irritably acknowledges that she knew Renly was only interested in men and that he was only being kind to her, but that still didn't stop her from loving him. She says that there is nothing more hateful than failing to protect the ones you love, and intends to avenge Renly by killing Stannis, whom she correctly believes played a role in Renly's murder after witnessing his death by a Shadow resembling Stannis.[21]

Meanwhile, back in King's Landing, Renly's lover Loras is arrested by the Faith Militant on charges of buggery after being informed upon by Cersei. During his holy inquest by the Faith, the High Sparrow grills him about his relationship with Renly. Loras of course denies that he was ever Renly's lover, that they were merely friends and he was wrong to support his claim to the Iron Throne, adding that he fought for Joffrey at the Battle of the Blackwater. The High Sparrow points out that Loras was wearing Renly's armor at that battle, making his testimony sound less believable but Loras stands his ground, saying he never lay with Renly or any other men. His sister Margaery, who of course was also Renly's widow for a time, defends her brother when she is called upon to testify but this leads to her own arrest for perjury when the Faith bring forth the prostitute Olyvar, who truthfully tells them that about his own relationship with Loras.[22]

Renly is finally avenged by Brienne following the Battle of Winterfell where Stannis's army is smashed by the forces of Roose Bolton. Brienne finds a wounded Stannis, sentences him to die and personally kills him after he acknowledges his role in Renly's murder.[23]

Season 6

After Brienne and Sansa Stark reach Winterfell, Brienne later confronts Davos Seaworth and Melisandre, and tells them that she was the one who killed Stannis after his confession about Renly's death, leaving the two of Stannis's former allies stunned.

During his trial held on the first day of the Festival of the Mother, Loras Tyrell confesses his sins to the High Sparrow and the other six judging septons, including sleeping with Renly, shocking the gathered crowd in the Great Sept of Baelor. This takes place just before the Sept of Baelor is destroyed with wildfire in a plot orchestrated by Cersei Lannister and Qyburn, killing all of those inside and nearby the Great Sept, including Renly's lover himself, Loras. The aftermath of this plot sees the death of King Tommen, thus rendering House Baratheon extinct as Renly, nor Stannis, left no heirs.[24]

Season 8

During a drinking game, Jaime correctly guesses that Brienne danced with Renly.[25]


Renly was established to have an extremely strained relationship with his two brothers, Robert and Stannis. The long-ridiculed youngest brother, originally Renly saw no hope of ever becoming king as there were too many heirs with claims better than his for the Iron Throne. With inspiration from his lover Loras Tyrell, however, Renly arrogantly flouted the line of succession and declared himself king ahead of Stannis after Robert died. However, his strained relationship with his brothers didn't prevent him from complimenting Robert behind his back that he used to be good at killing and showing concern when he was mortally wounded by the boar. Renly also claimed to have once loved Stannis after their final encounter, making him the only brother to say as much about one of the others whereas Robert openly stated he never loved either of them. Stannis pretty much says the same about Robert but claims to grieve for Renly in a way after he murders him. However, Stannis does not show genuine remorse for the act until after he is defeated at the Battle of the Blackwater.

Unlike his other brothers, who undoubtedly would make bad kings but were skilled in battle; Robert, a fierce warrior but incompetent king, and Stannis a proven battle commander but unmerciful lord, Renly never raised a sword in combat. Adding to this, he used to become uneasy around violence and blood, throwing up when a knight was maimed after jousting and even after Loras cut him to prove a point, Renly was still squeamish and treated it as if it was a mortal wound. According to him, all he heard about from Robert was how he was never "tough" enough, and came to resent the idea that good soldiers automatically make good kings, which was seen when Ned Stark attempted to reinforce Stannis as the rightful heir. He disregarded the fact that a king, while having to be charismatic and peaceful, also had to be legitimately strong, which his brothers were on account of being respectively skilled warriors and commanders.

Despite his lackluster on the battlefield, Renly was skilled in politics. He became a member of Robert's small council while he was alive and forged a marriage alliance with House Tyrell to support his claim for the Throne, gaining more bannermen and strengthening his army by marrying Margaery Tyrell. At the same time however, the prospect of a marriage alliance was to create a line of children, which he was was unable to do on account of his homosexuality until Margaery reformed that their marriage was only on paper. Renly was patient; for all of his zeal to obtain the title of king he was capable of waiting until Robb Stark had weakened the forces in King's Landing and take control later on. He also had some understanding of warfare tactics and planned to take Joffrey hostage after learning of his true parentage to weaken House Lannister so there would be no opposition for his titles. He was also very receptive to an alliance with the Starks and the Tullys (as he sympathized with them over the execution of Ned Stark) although he made such an alliance conditional to them swearing fealty to him as King; unlike Stannis, however, he wisely did not threaten them with retribution for not submitting, recognizing that it was Joffrey's threats and killing of Ned that had made them rebel in the first place.

For all of his ambitions, Renly only attempted to assist his own claim and never neutralized those against him. He relied on Joffrey's illegitimacy, made aware by Stannis who also fought for the Iron Throne to support his right and never attempted to demoralize Stannis to his army even though, in the eyes of the Seven Kingdoms, Stannis possessed the most solid claim in comparison to Renly. He relied on his charisma and popularity for the support of his troops rather than propaganda, and disregarded the royal line of succession in favor of the rightful ruler being the best suited, which was automatically him in his opinion. Renly was also a tolerant man, as he allowed Brienne of Tarth to join his Kingsguard, whereas many scorned her for her gender and lack of virtue. In addition, Renly was legitimately kind to Brienne, saving her from scorn when they first met and comforting her, and voicing to Loras that he appreciated her devotion to him.


See: Renly Baratheon and Loras Tyrell


Season One appearances
Season Two appearances

Image gallery

Main - Gallery: Renly Baratheon

There is a range of promotional images and screen captures featuring Renly in the gallery.

Family tree

Steffon Baratheon

Cassana Baratheon
née Estermont
Various women


Cersei Lannister House-Lannister-Main-Shield
Stannis Baratheon House-Baratheon-of-Dragonstone-Main-Shield
Selyse Baratheon
née Florent House-Florent-Shield
Loras Tyrell

other bastards


Unnamed son

Died in infancy
Three stillborn sons House-Baratheon-of-Dragonstone-Main-Shield
Shireen Baratheon House-Baratheon-of-Dragonstone-Main-Shield


Spoken by Renly
Ned Stark: "Renly. You’re looking well."
Renly: "And you look tired from the road. I told them this meeting could wait another day."
— Renly greets Ned Stark and expresses concern for his wellbeing.[src]
Petyr Baelish: "One hundred gold dragons on the Mountain."
Renly Baratheon: "I'll take that bet."
Petyr Baelish: "Now what will I buy with 100 gold dragons? A dozen barrels of Dornish wine? Or a girl from the pleasure houses of Lys?"
Renly Baratheon: "Or you could even buy a friend."
— Renly Baratheon jests with Littlefinger.[src]
"You have to give it to the Lannisters. They may be the most pompous, ponderous cunts the gods ever suffered to walk the world, but they do have outrageous amounts of money."
―Renly's opinion of the Lannisters.[src]
Robert Baratheon: "Those were the days!"
Renly Baratheon: "Which days exactly? The ones where half of Westeros fought the other half and millions died? Or before that, when the Mad King slaughtered women and babies because the voices in his head told him they deserved it?! Or way before that, when dragons burned whole cities to the ground?!"
Robert Baratheon: "Easy, boy. You might be my brother, but you're speaking to the King."
Renly Baratheon: "I suppose it was all rather heroic, if you were drunk enough and had some poor Riverlands whore to shove your prick inside and 'make the eight'!"
— Renly quarrels with Robert Baratheon.[src]
Renly Baratheon: "Saving the Seven Kingdoms from Cersei and delivering them to Stannis? You have odd notions about protecting the Realm!"
Eddard Stark: "Stannis is your older brother."
Renly Baratheon: "This isn't about the bloody line of succession! That didn't matter when you rebelled against the Mad King, it shouldn't matter now! What's best for the Kingdoms? What's best for the people we rule? We all know what Stannis is. He inspires no love or loyalty. He's not a king. I am."
Eddard Stark: "Stannis is a commander. He's led men into war twice, he destroyed the Greyjoy fleet."
Renly Baratheon: "Yes, he's a good soldier, everyone knows that! So was Robert! Tell me something, do you still believe good soldiers make good kings?"
— Renly beseeches Eddard Stark to support his claim to the Iron Throne.[src]
"I don't like you, Lord Baelish. I don't like your face, I don't like the words that come oozing out of your mouth, I don't want you in my tent one minute more than necessary. So, tell me. Why are you here?"
―Renly to Littlefinger[src]
―Renly to Stannis Baratheon[src]
―Renly to Melisandre[src]
"Would you believe? I loved him once."
―Renly about his brother Stannis.[src]
"Please bring my terms to your son. I believe we are natural allies, I hope he feels the same. Together, we can end this war in a fortnight."
―Renly's last words.[src]
Spoken about Renly
Loras Tyrell, telling Renly that he should be king.[src]
Petyr Baelish: "I did notice your brother entering His Grace's tent just now."
Margaery Tyrell: "The place of a Kingsguard is by the king's side."
Petyr Baelish: "And on the night of your wedding, who was by the king's side then?"
Margaery Tyrell: "You seem quite interested in our marriage."
Petyr Baelish: "Your marriage is quite interesting. Not only to me, but to the realm."
— Littlefinger alludes to Renly's romantic relationship with Loras when he talks with Margaery.[src]
"I was sorry when I heard of Lord Renly's death, Lady Margaery. He was very gallant."
Sansa Stark, offering her condolences to the Tyrells for the loss of Renly.[src]
"As a member of his Kingsguard, he trusted me with everything. He would have been a wonderful king."
―Brienne on Renly.[src]
Jaime Lannister: "Sounds like you quite fancied him."
Brienne of Tarth: "I did not fancy him."
Jaime Lannister: "Oh, gods, you did. Did you ever tell him? No, of course not. You weren't Renly's type, I'm afraid. He preferred curly-haired little girls like Loras Tyrell. You're far too much man for him."
Brienne of Tarth: "I'm not interested in foul rumors."
Jaime Lannister: "Unless they're about me. It's all true about Renly. His proclivities were the worst kept secret at court. It's a shame the throne isn't made out of cocks. They'd have never got him off it."
Jaime Lannister mocks Brienne of Tarth over her unrequited love for Renly.[src]
"I don't blame him. And I don't blame you, either. We don't get to choose who we love."
―Jaime on why he doesn’t judge Renly for loving Loras or Brienne for loving Renly.[src]
Davos Seaworth: "Because he has your blood in his veins."
Stannis Baratheon: "So did Renly."
Davos Seaworth: "Renly wronged you. Renly declared himself king when the throne belonged to you. He raised an army, stole your bannermen."
Davos Seaworth to Stannis.[src]
Podrick Payne: "You weren't a knight, but you were a Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon, weren't you?"
Brienne of Tarth: "I was."
Podrick Payne: "Lord Tyrion said he was a good man."
Brienne of Tarth: "He was."
— Brienne and Podrick talk about Renly.[src]
"I tried to run away, but Renly Baratheon took me in his arms. 'Don't let them see your tears', he told me. 'They're nasty little shits, and nasty little shits aren't worth crying over.' He danced with me, and none of the other boys could say a word. Renly was the king's brother after all...he didn't love me, he didn't want me. He danced with me because he was kind and didn't want to see me hurt. He saved me from being a joke from that day until his last day."
Brienne of Tarth, recounting the story of how she came to know Renly.[src]
Brienne of Tarth: "I am Brienne of Tarth. I was Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon. I was there when he was murdered by a shadow with your face. You murdered him with blood magic?"
Stannis Baratheon: "I did."
Brienne of Tarth: "In the name of Renly of House Baratheon, First of His Name, rightful king of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I, Brienne of Tarth, sentence you to die. Do you have any last words?"
Stannis Baratheon: "Go on. Do your duty."
Brienne of Tarth avenges Renly.[src]
Davos Seaworth: "My lady, I’m Ser Davos Seaworth."
Brienne of Tarth: "We’ve met before. I was Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon. Before Renly was assassinated with blood magic."
Davos Seaworth: "That’s in the past now."
Brienne of Tarth: " Yes, it’s in the past. It doesn’t mean I forget. Or forgive."
— Brienne reminds Davos that she has not forgotten Renly.[src]

Behind the scenes

Scottish actor Sam Heughan auditioned for the role of Renly, as well as for the role of Loras and also a number of members of the Night's Watch. Heughan went on to star as Jamie Fraser in the live-action adaptation of Outlander, opposite Tobias Menzies, who played Edmure Tully. [26]

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels Renly is "near twenty" when the events of the books begin. He is fifteen years younger than King Robert, whom he strongly resembles in appearance, charisma, and personality. He is the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and the Lord of Storm's End, a source of friction between him and his brother Stannis, who holds the far colder, poorer and more isolated castle of Dragonstone in the King's name. Renly is tremendously friendly, open and honorable, but also has a tendency towards flippancy and not taking events seriously. His closest friend - and lover - at court is his former squire, Ser Loras Tyrell, now a formidable knight.


In the novels, the relationship between Loras and Renly is more subtly depicted than in the TV series, with only guarded references to the relationship in the interactions between other characters. This is largely due to the narrative mechanics: Renly, Loras, and Margaery are not POV characters in the first two books. The scenes at King Renly's army camp are told from Catelyn's POV, and she would not be privy to the details of Renly and Loras's relationship. However, author George R.R. Martin has independently confirmed that they were involved in a relationship.[27] It isn't exactly clear how widely Renly's relationship with Loras was known about, or even to what extent his friends and family knew (Robert, etc.). In the negotiation scene with Stannis, Renly tells him that Margaery came to him a maiden, Stannis replies that in his bed, she will die one. Brienne is in love with Renly and cried at his wedding. Littlefinger and Varys seem to know (due to their spy rings), and even Jaime Lannister makes an off-hand comment about it at one point. When directly asked how widely Renly's relationship with Loras was known about (citing that even Jaime knew), George R.R. Martin's only response was "what do you think?"[28]



In the books, the way Renly regards Robb's coronation demonstrates very clearly the differences between him and Stannis: Stannis, blunt and tactless as ever, tells Catelyn "I am the rightful king, and your son no less a traitor than my brother here. His day will come as well" - thus ruining any chance of alliance with the Starks. Renly, on the other hand, acts diplomatically in that matter: he makes it clear to Catelyn that he won't let Robb secede the North from the authority of the Iron Throne, but he's willing to let him rule the North and the Riverlands, and even hold the title of King in the North - but he demands Robb to swear fealty to him, and accept him as his overlord.


Both in the novels and the TV show, Renly is the first to die of the titular leaders in the War of the Five Kings.




See also


v  d  e
Lord: Gendry Baratheon Heir: None
Seat: Storm's End Lands: The Stormlands
Title(s): Lords Paramount of the Stormlands · Lords of Storm's End
Ancestors:Durran Godsgrief · Argilac the Arrogant · Orys Baratheon · Argella Baratheon · Monica Velaryon · Mychal Baratheon · Axel Baratheon · Lyonel Baratheon · Borros Baratheon · Ormund Baratheon · Alanna Penrose · Theresa Baratheon · Ethelide Baratheon · Raymont Baratheon · Reginald Baratheon · Flynn Baratheon · Padraic Baratheon · Steffon Baratheon · Wilyam Baratheon
Current members:Gendry Baratheon
Deceased members:Robert Baratheon · Stannis Baratheon · Renly Baratheon · Steffon Baratheon · Cassana Baratheon
Household:Davos Seaworth · {Matthos Seaworth} · {Melisandre} · Imry Florent
