Balon Greyjoy

NOTE: This contains only about the TV series version of Balon, his novel incarnation was not approved.

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Pathetic Pinhead
Full Name	Balon Greyjoy the Ninth of His Name Since the Grey King
Alias	Balon the Brave Balon the Blessed King Balon IX Balon the Twice Crowned Balon the Widowmaker The Kraken King The King of the Isles and the North Invader of the North The King of the Iron Islands The King of the Iron Islands and the North Iron King King of Salt and Rock Son of the Sea Wind The Greyjoy His Grace
Origin	Game of Thrones
Allies	Euron Greyjoy (formerly) Rodrik Greyjoy Maron Greyjoy Yara Greyjoy Theon Greyjoy Alannys Harlaw Aeron Greyjoy Quellon Greyjoy House Greyjoy Ironborn houses, armies, and fleets
Goals	Make the Iron Islands an independent kingdom again (succeeded). Restore the Old Way in the Iron Islands and undo his father's reforms. Reave around the world. Convince his father to join the rebel side in Robert's Rebellion (succeeded, with minimal contribution). Attack Lannisport and destroy Tywin Lannister's fleet (all succeeded). Defeat Robert I Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, and the Iron Throne (failed). Make his daughter the heir to the Seastone Chair and the next ruler of the Ironborn (succeeded in his lifetime; posthumously failed). Conquer the North to carve out a new kingdom of his own (succeeded for a while, later failed). Keep the North under his rule (holding castles and towns, while some places have been liberated by Ramsay Bolton) (failed).
Crimes	Abuse Mass murder War instigation Conspiracy Piracy Terrorism Mass rape Slavery War crimes Larcenies Mutilation Insurrection
Type of PP	Opportunistic Monarch

King Balon IX Greyjoy is one of the secondary antagonists of Game of Thrones. Balon first rebelled against the Iron Throne approximately nine years before the story begins. His rebellion failed, and as a result, he lost his only surviving son, Theon, who was taken as ward by Eddard Stark to ensure Balon's loyalty.

He was portrayed by Patrick Malahide.

What Makes Him Pathetic?

• Started a rebellion right after Robert's Rebellion ended, which lead to hundreds of deaths including two of Balon's sons.
• When Theon returns home in Pyke, Balon treats him horribly. He also refuses to join Robb Stark, thinking of it as an insult.
• Orders Theon to betray Robb and go raid the North. His decision to attack the North indirectly leads to Robb Stark's downfall, as the latter loses his main kingdom.
• When Theon is captured, tortured, and mutilated by Ramsay Snow, who sends his mutilated genitals and a warning to Balon to stop invading the North, the latter refuses and continues his campaign nevertheless despite the casualties, letting Theon getting tortured and brainwashed.
• It seems he treats Yara no better, and even blames her for his own mistakes.

What Makes Him a Pinhead?

• He foolishly starts an attack right after Robert's rebellion ended, turning the assembled armies of the Iron Throne against him. What makes this so stupid is that Balon thought he stood a chance against Robert (despite the latter's most recent victory against the Targaryens), leading to death of his two sons, Rodrik and Maron, and Theon being taken away by the Starks.
• He's a terrible commander, as his campaign against the North was ultimately crushed by the Boltons, while he made no effort to send reinforcements and insisted to hold his seized lands with only small garrisons. It also unnecessarily causes more problems with the then- ongoing War of the Five Kings.
  • Balon's failed leadership is also witnessed when Theon arrives at Moat Caillin, where there are very few Ironborn soldiers remaining, whom are mostly exhausted and starving, as Balon didn't bother sending additional reinforcements, nor the Iron Fleet to the Neck.
• He refuses to stop the invasion despite the fact he is obviously losing, and even doesn't care when Ramsay sends him Theon's mutilated body parts.

External Links

• Balon Greyjoy at the Villains wiki.
• Balon Greyjoy at the Near Pure Evil wiki.
• Balon Greyjoy at the Hate Sink wiki.
• Balon Greyjoy at the Game of Thrones wiki.