Karstark claim to the North

[Ser Tristan Flowers]

Pretty simple, assuming there are not trueborn Starks left, the Karstarks should be considered the closest thing left. They´re a cadet branch and could take on the Stark name, that´s what a cadet branch is for after all. Wheter of not anyone would support their claim is something completely different, but they should be at least regarded as strong claimants.

Now I don´t think this will be at all relevant as most of Ned´s children are actually still alive, but this isn´t common knowledge. 

Why is this not a thing?  Why is no one in the North talking about it? Are the Karstarks just as unpopular as douchebag Bolton, so much so that no one would even consider them?

[Free Northman Reborn]

4 minutes ago, Ser Tristan Flowers said:

Pretty simple, assuming there are not trueborn Starks left, the Karstarks should be considered the closest thing left. They´re a cadet branch and could take on the Stark name, that´s what a cadet branch is for after all. Wheter of not anyone would support their claim is something completely different, but they should be at least regarded as strong claimants.

Now I don´t think this will be at all relevant as most of Ned´s children are actually still alive, but this isn´t common knowledge. 

Why is this not a thing?  Why is no one in the North talking about it? Are the Karstarks just as unpopular as douchebag Bolton, so much so that no one would even consider them?

There are Starks of far more recent generations married to pretty much every noble family in the North. The original Karstark link is about 1000 years old. Even the Karstarks themselves have far more recent intermarriages with the Starks.

 

[Michael Mertyns]

GRRM has said there are probably Stark cousins running around somewhere...

Either way, the succession has far more recent candidates to choose from

[Buried Treasure]

No figurehead for the Stark cause has arisen because of all the hostages taken at the RW and Duskendale. Most houses have had to kneel to the Lannisters/Boltons so even if they are secretly plotting few will be openly proclaiming anybody as a Stark successor just yet.

The Karstarks seemed well enough liked and respected before the war, and their cadet house origins would mean they are the only major northern house that could give up their own history to become Starks. The Karstarks as of AFFC/ADWD are in a worse position: their Lord is a captive for whom openly being  Stark successor would be a death sentence and the last lord was killed for treason by Robb Stark. However I have always argued that Robb himself named Harrion  Karstark in his will: at the time Robb did know Harrion had been captured at Duskendale and by naming Harrion as successor he could reunite the Karstarks with the rest of his kingdom.

[Jon's Queen Consort]

They were a cadet branch centuries ago, that doesn't make them their closest relatives. House Cerwyn, the Umbers, the descendants of Jocelyn's three daughters (Waynwood, Corbay and maybe Templeton) come before them and Jon comes before all of them.