Robb Stark, the Young Wolf, the golden son of Ned and Cately and heir to Winterfell on Game of Thrones seems to do no wrong most of the time. He's polite, talented, good looking, and doesn't lose a battle as he wars his way south the avenge the death of his father. But Robb makes his fair share of mistakes, terrible things that lead to the suffering not only of his family and his men but to all of the Seven Kingdoms.
Tywin Lannister calls him a "boy" and, while he may be the eldest son in his family, in many ways he is. He may know what he's doing on the battlefield, but choosing his men and the fields on which he chooses to fight led to major problems. In short, Robb was not the perfect King that so many make him out to be.
10 Not Standing Up For Jon
Robb and Jon (in the little time we see them together on-screen) seem to be close. Their similar ages certainly help. Jon's attempt to abandon The Night's Watch to go to Robb's aid highlight how the brothers felt about one another.
However, it is no secret that Robb's mother, Catelyn, has no love for her husband's bastard child. Catelyn even wishes that Jon was dead, praying for it when he was younger. Yet, Robb never stands up for Jon or calls out his mother's behavior, though. As heir apparent and eventually King in the North, he probably should have done.
9 Going After Casterly Rock
Sure, threatening the Lannister's home turf certainly played mind games with the mighty Tywin Lannister, but really, what was the point? It certainly didn't get Robb any closer to rescuing his sisters, nor did he ever actually get to Casterly Rock.
His forces push west, but not west enough. So Robb ends up making Tywin furious without actually making him suffer. Tywin, on the other hand, makes sure that Robb suffers.
8 Going After Harrenhal
Why doesn't Robb actually get to Casterly Rock? Because after getting to the Crag he turns east again to head for Harrenhal and face to The Mountain.
He doesn't actually reach Harrenhal in time to face this enemy but, by moving away from Tywin's home court, he leaves the Lannister army free to head for King's Landing to assist with the Battle of the Blackwater, rather than wasting any of their troops in defense of their home base. This leads to Stannis's defeat at that siege and thus to the Lannisters hanging onto power, as well as Robb's sister Sansa.
7 Being Friendly With Roose Bolton
All the horrors that would not have come to pass if only Robb Stark had not shown any interest in Roose Bolton. It is this relationship, and this trust, that allows Roose to send his son Ramsay to retake Winterfell from the betrayer, Theon Greyjoy.
This, eventually, leads to the Boltons becoming Wardens of the North and the rape and torture of Robb's sister Sansa. Robb grew up in a family where he could always trust those closest to him. One of the worst things he ever did was believe that trust of that kind existed anywhere else in the North.
6 Ignoring Roose Bolton
Once there's a fox in the hen house, the worst thing a person can do is take their eyes off him. Robb believed that Roose was loyal to him, rather than merely loyal to the power the boy king offered.
When he began ignoring Roose's advice (as Bolton explains to Walder Frey), the Boltons go looking for friends elsewhere. It isn't Robb who makes Bolton Warden of the North, but the Lannisters. It is Roose working with the Freys that leads to the decimation of the Stark army and the end of Robb Stark himself.
5 Going To His Grandfather's Funeral
It makes sense that a grandson would want to honor his grandfather and that a royal grandson would want to do so with fanfare and honor. However, one of Robb's worst choices during his fight against the Lannisters was to take so much of his army east to Riverrun to pay their respects.
This not only left all the territory the Stark army had gained in the west unguarded, but it also left Casterly Rock out of harm's way. There were four kings fighting for the heart of Westeros, his sisters were still in dire need, and his father's head on a spike, but Robb Stark takes a break.
4 Having Alton Lannister Share a Cell With Jamie
Putting Alton Lannister into a cell with his cousin Jamie Lannister was not the worst thing Robb could do because it led to Alton's death.
It was the worst thing he did because it led to the death of Torrhen Karstark, son of Rickard Karstark, whose family was the greatest ally of Robb Stark. It was a small act that led to two deaths and, eventually, the freeing of Jamie Lannister himself.
3 Sending Theon to Pyke
Trusting Theon while he was within arms reach was one thing, but sending Theon (who was his father's hostage) back to the family he was taken from was one of the worst decisions Robb could have made.
It proved how little he really understood Theon, even having grown up with him. It set up Theon's taking of Winterfell, the division of Robb's focus, the "murder" of his brothers, and, eventually, the betrayal of the Boltons.
2 Executing Rickard Karstark
It is never a good idea to kill hostages or prisoners, particularly those who are still children. Still, Rickard Karstark murdered two Lannister cousins after Jamie kills two of his sons when the King Slayer tries to escape from captivity.
Karstark believes its justice and revenge for the loss of his sons. Rather than being understanding, or at least strategic, Robb sticks to the very sense of honor that got his father beheaded and beheads the man whose family was the greatest of Stark allies. The loss of the Stark/Karstark alliance meant Robb's armies would never recover.
1 Marrying Talisa
Sure, Robb's getting together with Lady Talisa made for fun television (who doesn't want to believe in true love?), but it ultimately led to the death and destruction of the entire Northern Army that had banded together behind Robb Stark.
By breaking his promise to marry one of Walder Frey's daughters, Robb gave both the Lannisters and the Boltons someone to work with and allow for the mass murder that was the Red Wedding.
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