Game Of Thrones: 10 Most Brutal Deaths

Nothing drives people to terrible things more than the pursuit of power, as was the case with Stannis Baratheon. The youngest of three brothers believed the Iron Throne was his by birth right after Robert’s death, as he thought, quite rightly, that Joffrey was a bastard born of Cersei and Jaime's incest.

This belief led Stannis into the arms of the Red Woman, and the use of some questionable methods of trying to improve his position. Though Melisandre impregnated herself, birthing a shadow to end Renly Baratheon’s life, none of the strategies employed were as distressing or brutal as the burning of Stannis' own daughter.

Shireen was strapped to a pyre and burnt alive, sacrificed to R’hllor in the name of blood magic after Ramsay’s army attacked Stannis and his provisions. Selyse, though indifferent to her daughter during her short life, was inconsolable with grief while watching, as Stannis simply stood and watched. The method of this death, and cold-hearted nature of the would-be King and the Red Woman, make this one of the most heart wrenching, and tough to watch deaths in the entire show.

Although following the sacrifice of Shireen the army to moved forward on their march to Winterfell, they had to make do with half their numbers after many deserted, and were crushed when they met Ramsay’s forces on the battlefield. Burning his only child alive did nothing to stop Stannis’ path from leading to Brienne and Oathkeeper after the battle.