Would Robb Stark Have Gained by Arranging Catelyn and Roose Bolton’s Marriage?

Robb Stark's strategic decisions are often scrutinized, particularly in the context of his assault on Winterfell and his Northern strategies. One intriguing question that comes up is whether Robb should have attempted to arrange a marriage between Catelyn and Roose Bolton.

Reasons Against the Marriage

There are several compelling reasons why such an alliance would not have been beneficial for Robb Stark. Firstly, Catelyn had been recently widowed. Marriages within a short window of mourning were traditionally discouraged, and any such union would have been seen as disrespectful to Ned Stark's memory. This would have weakened Robb's position as the rightful King in the North, tarnishing his reputation and authority.

Secondly, there were no strategic or political benefits for Robb in forging this alliance. He had already inherited Winterfell and the Lordship of the North, which meant he essentially held dominion over the Boltons. Attempting to solidify this through marriage would not have been a practical or necessary move. Furthermore, if Robb suspected Bolton's loyalty to be questionable, this union would not have addressed that issue.

Further Analysis

My initial answer is 'no', but I want to clarify that in hindsight, it is likely that such a marriage could have either supported Robb's cause or at least not hindered him. The reasons I believe this would not be advantageous are:

Roose Bolton's Allegiance: At the time, Roose Bolton was already on Robb's side. It is more plausible that Robb would offer a marriage alliance to a growing ally rather than an existing one. His primary goal was to strengthen his resources and troops, not to gain tighter control over the North. Roose Bolton's Interest: Roose Bolton had no particular fondness for Catelyn and her contributions to the war effort. He was also in urgent need of a true-born heir. While Catelyn could potentially bear his children, it would be to his advantage to take a younger wife with more fertile years, as seen in the main timeline. The Stark Family’s Dilemma: By this point in the story, the Stark family was in one of its most desperate and precarious situations. Sansa and Arya were believed to be hostages, Bran was crippled or believed dead, Ned and Benjen were dead, Jon was at the Wall, and Robb was isolated, being just 14 years old. Historically, he had not sent his mother back to Winterfell to avoid being the sole Stark, highlighting his strategic reasoning.

Considering these factors, it is clear that the timing and the political landscape of the time would have made such a marriage very challenging, if not unadvisable. While hindsight may show that this could have been a beneficial move, the practical reality and the emerging complexity of the situation make it difficult to justify.

Nevertheless, the strategic implications of such a decision are complex, and it highlights the intricate nature of alliances and marriages in the world of Game of Thrones. The outcome would have depended on numerous variables, including the evolving power dynamics and the personal relationships that played out throughout the story.