Robert Arryn is House Arryn’s current head, Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, and Warden of the West. Also called Sweetrobin, he is Lord Jon Arryn and Lady Lysa Tully’s only child. After his father’s death, Robert travels to the Vale with his mother, who ruled as the regent in his stead. He remained in the region as his mother hid him from Lord Tywin Lannister, who wanted to take him in as a ward.
After Lord Jon Arryn’s death, King Robert gave Ser Jaime Lannister the title of the Warden of the East against the advice of Lord Eddard Stark. Trying to prevent her son from being taken away from her, Lysa Arryn, Robert Arryn’s mother, fled to the Vale and ruled as regent of the Eyrie in her son’s place.
Robert Arryn Personal Details
- Name: Robert Arryn.
- Year of Birth: 292 AC.
- Aliases: True Warden of East, Sweetrobin.
- Titles: Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, Warden of the East.
- Parents: Lord Jon Arryn and Lady Lysa Tully.
- Culture: Valemen.
- Religion: Faith of the Seven.
- Hair Color: Brown.
Appearance and Personality
Robert is a frail boy with big, runny eyes and brown hair. He has a caved-in chest, a pronounced belly, blobby skin, and spindly arms and legs. As an only child, young Robert is spoiled and cries when things do not go his way. He is prone to tantrums when his toys are mishandled or taken away. Because of his frailness, he cannot get disciplined. Instead, his mother uses a whipping boy to force him to correct him.
Robert wears a blue and cream doublet for formal occasions and a sky-blue velvet in cold weather. He also has a white bearskin cloak and wears a chain of sapphires and gold.
Robert loves puppetry, stories, and songs about animals and the Winged Knight, and he enjoys playing many games, including spin-the-sword, come-into-my-castle, and hopfrog. He is also physically and mentally disabled and has a disease that makes him have frequent seizures. Maester Colemon bleeds him with leeches and gives him milk of the poppy and dreamwine to help with the spasms. The maester also gives Robert sweetsleep but limits the amount he takes as the drug is toxic in large quantities.
History
Robert has always been a weak child due to his illness. Prince Joffrey Baratheon tormented him while he was at King’s Landing, calling cruel names and once slapping him with a wooden sword.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
After Lord Jon Arryn’s sudden death, King Robert Baratheon travels to Winterfell and asks Lord Eddard Stark to become the new Hand of the King. King Baratheon makes Ser Jaime Lannister the Warden of the East against Ned’s advice. When the court at the Eyrie learns of King Robert’s decision, they refer to young Robert as the True Warden of the East. Lord Tywin Lannister offers to take young Robert in as a ward. However, before it happens, Lysa Arryn flees King’s Landing with her son, fearing he will become a hostage.
Young Robert arrives at the Vale of Arryn, and his mother becomes regent. She refuses to school him on the governance of the region. After the attempted murder of Bran Stark, Lady Catelyn Stark arrives at the Eyrie with a captive, Tyrion Lannister. Robert presides over his trial and is upset when Bronn defeats Ser Vardis Egen in trial by combat as he wants Tyrion to fly through the Moon Door. When Catelyn offers to foster Robert, his mother refuses.
A Storm of Swords
Tywin Lannister agrees to restore the title of Warden of the East to Robert Arryn in return for Lord Petyr Baelish marrying Lysa Arryn and bringing the Vale to the King’s peace. Marillion gets employed to sing Robert to sleep. After King Joffrey Baratheon’s death, littlefinger smuggles Sansa Stark to the Vale under the guise of Alayne Stone. Lysa tells Sansa she plans on arranging a wedding between her and Robert.
While in the godswood of the Eyrie, Robert destroys Alayne’s snow castle replica of Winterfell, and she rips his doll off, making him have a tantrum. Later, Lysa confronts Alayne and tells her about how she had poisoned her husband. Petyr Baelish, who arrives on the scene, pushes Lysa to her death.
A Feast for Crows
Petyr Baelish becomes Lord Protector of the Vale and Robert Arryn’s guardian after his mother’s death. With Lysa’s demise, young Robert drifts into instability and becomes overly attached to Alayne Stone. Petyr suggests that Maester Colemon gives him sweetsleep for his seizures while knowing of its dangerous toxicity. Meanwhile, Robert starts fearing blades, and Lord Baelish allows him to have long hair.
Lord Nestor Royce arrives at the Vale, and Robert hosts him while seated on the weirwood throne. When Alayne tells Lord Nestor that Marillion killed Lysa, Robert’s spasms occur, and he kicks Ser Lothor Brune in the face.
Some Lords of the Vale and nobles sign an accord to kick Petyr from the Eyrie. Calling themselves the Lords Declarant, they plan on allowing Lord Yohn Royce at Runestone to foster Robert, stating he will be able to befriend his cousin Harold Hardyng and learn from Ser Samwell Stone and Septon Lucos. When they arrive at the Vale, Robert flings Ser Lyn Corbray’s porridge away. Petyr eventually convinces the lords to give him a year.
Robert hosts nobles, including Anya Waynwood, Symond Templeton, Gilwood Hunter, Benedar Belmore, and Horton Redfort. Petyr then invites Terrance Lynderly and Gyles Grafton to be Robert’s squires. With the arrival of winter, the court of the Eyrie descends to the Gates of the Moon. Robert refuses to leave, but Alayne and Mya Stone help him out. Petyr then reveals to Sansa that he plans on marrying her to Harry the Heir.
Relevance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, Robert Arryn’s character changed to Robin Arryn. Lino Facioli portrayed the role of Robin, appearing in seasons 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8 and starring in 9 episodes. Robin was the only son of Jon Arryn and reigned as the Lord of the Vale after his father’s death. He sat on the council that decided that Bran Stark should become the next King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Robert Arryn: The Spoiled Heir
Though frail and spoiled, Robert Arryn was a child dealt the wrong hands. He was born with mental and physical deficiencies and had to be raised by a mother who had suffered severe physical trauma.
