Roose Bolton

Roose Bolton
A Song of Ice and Fire character Game of Thrones character
Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton
First appearance	Novel: A Game of Thrones (1996) Television: "Garden of Bones" (2012)
Last appearance	Television: "Home" (2016)
Created by	George R. R. Martin
Portrayed by	Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones)
Information
Gender	Male
Title	Lord of Winterfell Lord of the Dreadfort Warden of the North Lord Paramount of the North
Family	House Bolton
Spouse(s)	Unnamed first wife Bethany Ryswell "Fat" Walda Frey
Children	Domeric Bolton Ramsay Bolton Unnamed newborn with Walda Frey Numerous unnamed newborns
Kingdom	The North

Roose Bolton is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.

Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Bolton, a northern lord with his seat at the Dreadfort, is a retainer of Lord Eddard Stark. Bolton is known for being cold and calculating. Bolton's heir is his bastard son Ramsay Snow. Bolton joins Robb Stark's rebellion as (along with Greatjon Umber), one of Stark's lieutenants. He marries Fat Walda (Frey), after having been offered any Frey bride's weight in silver as a dowry by Lord Walder Frey. With the help of Arya Stark and the Brave Companions he takes and holds Harrenhal until rejoining Robb Stark ostensibly to help retake the Neck (occupied by the Greyjoys), but in truth as a conspirator orchestrating the Red Wedding, receiving the title of Warden of the North from the Lannisters.

Roose is portrayed by Michael McElhatton in the HBO television adaptation.

Lord Roose Bolton is a significant vassal of Lord Eddard Stark. His seat is the Dreadfort and his sigil is a flayed man, an homage to the ancient Bolton tradition of flaying enemies. He is nicknamed "the Leech Lord" for regular leechings meant to improve his health. He is known to be a cold, cautious and calculating man.