Petyr Baelish
| House / Order | House Baelish |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Westerosi (of Braavosi descent) |
| Status | Alive (as of A Dance with Dragons) |
| Origin | The Vale of Arryn; King's Landing |
| Born | c. 268 AC, the Fingers |
| Died | |
| Weapon | |
| Fate | Ruling the Vale as Lord Protector, scheming to install Sansa Stark in the North |
| Portrayed by | Aidan Gillen |
Petyr Baelish, called Littlefinger, is a lord of small origins who rises through cunning, finance, and manipulation to become one of the most dangerous players in the game of thrones. Beginning as Master of Coin and ending as Lord Protector of the Vale, he is among the principal architects of the chaos that engulfs Westeros.
Mocked in youth for the modest size of his family's holdings, Littlefinger turns his ambition and his mastery of secrets, debts, and lies into a quiet engine of ruin that topples houses far greater than his own.
Background
Petyr was born to a minor house holding only a few stony acres on the smallest of the Fingers. Fostered at Riverrun by Hoster Tully, he grew up alongside Catelyn and Lysa Tully, falling hopelessly in love with Catelyn. When he challenged the far larger Brandon Stark to a duel for her hand, he was easily defeated and spared. Lysa, who loved Petyr, later proved his devoted, dangerous instrument. His talent for money won him appointments that brought him at last to King's Landing as Master of Coin, where he enriched the crown and, more quietly, himself.
Biography
A Game of Thrones
As Master of Coin, Littlefinger insinuates himself into every faction. He misleads Eddard Stark, offering false friendship and then betraying him at the crucial moment, putting a knife to the throat of Ned's man and delivering the Hand into Lannister hands. It is later revealed he set Ned on a false trail regarding the dagger used against Bran Stark.
A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords
Littlefinger negotiates the crucial alliance between the Lannisters and Tyrells and is rewarded with the lordship of Harrenhal. He proves the secret hand behind the Purple Wedding: he conspires with Olenna Tyrell to poison King Joffrey, hiding the poison in Sansa Stark's hairnet, and smuggles Sansa out of the capital amid the confusion. He travels to the Vale and marries the widowed Lysa Arryn, then reveals he had her poison her husband Jon Arryn and send the letter that helped spark the war. When Lysa threatens Sansa in jealousy, Littlefinger pushes her through the Moon Door to her death, framing a singer.
A Feast for Crows
As Lord Protector of the Vale and guardian of the sickly Robert Arryn, Littlefinger consolidates power, neutralizing the rival Lords Declarant. He keeps Sansa close as his disguised "daughter" Alayne, schools her in intrigue, and lays plans to wed her advantageously and reclaim the North in her name, all while his designs on the realm grow ever wider.
Character
Littlefinger is the consummate manipulator: patient, charming, and utterly amoral. He thrives on disorder, viewing the collapse of the established order as the only ladder by which a man of his birth can climb. His weaknesses are his lingering obsession with Catelyn, transferred unsettlingly onto her daughter Sansa, and the overconfidence of a man who believes he can outwit everyone.
Relationships
Littlefinger's lifelong, unrequited love for Catelyn drives much of his cruelty, redirected toward Sansa, whom he tutors and covets. He used and ultimately killed Lysa Arryn, who loved him absolutely. He treats allies such as the Tyrells as tools and rivals as obstacles to be quietly removed.
Quotes
Distrusting me was the wisest thing you've done since you climbed down off your horse. (to Eddard Stark)
Always keep your foes confused. If they are never certain who you are or what you want, they cannot know what you are like to do next.
In the television series
In HBO's Game of Thrones, Littlefinger was portrayed by Aidan Gillen, who delivered the show-original line "Chaos is a ladder." His television arc continues past the novels: he marries Sansa to Ramsay Bolton, schemes at Winterfell, and is ultimately executed by Arya on Sansa's sentence. None of these events have occurred in the books, where Littlefinger still rules the Vale.