‘Game of Thrones’ 101: Who’s Left from House Baratheon?
It’s been so devastating, in fact, that some of the Great Houses, the ruling families of lords across Westeros, have suffered devastating losses and even been wiped out.
The Baratheons managed to take the Iron Throne during Robert’s Rebellion almost two decades before the events of the show.
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Because Ned had claimed Joffrey was not Robert’s trueborn heir, both Renly and Stannis claimed the Iron Throne for themselves.
[...] Renly, Robert’s youngest brother, had enough support from other houses, including House Tyrell, to make a claim of his own.
Stannis conspired with the priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) to murder him, and she used blood magic to do it, summoning a shadowy figure of Stannis that sneaked into Renly’s tent and stabbed him.
[...] when Joffrey was crowned king after Robert’s death, he ordered all those various kids killed.
Gendry (Joe Dempsie), Robert’s illegitimate son and a former blacksmith’s apprentice, escaped King’s Landing before Joffrey ordered his death, and then escaped Stannis’ attempt to sacrifice him to the Lord of Light with the help of Davos Seaworth.