Night's King
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 The Night's King, by Oriana Wiesner © | |
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| Race | First Men |
| Born | In the Age of Heroes |
| Spouse | Corpse queen |
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Night's King,[1] also called the Night's King,[2] is a legendary Lord Commander of the Night's Watch who lived during the Age of Heroes. His given name is unknown.
Contents
Character
Night's King is said to have been a fearless warrior who used sorcery.[1]
History
According to legend, Night's King lived during the Age of Heroes, not long after the Wall was complete. While serving as the thirteenth Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, he fell in love with a white-skinned woman, and when he gave his seed to her he gave his soul as well. Night's King brought her back to the Nightfort and after the unholy union, he declared himself king and her his queen. He ruled the Nightfort as his own castle for thirteen years with his corpse queen by his side.[1]
During the dark years of his reign, horrific atrocities were committed, of which tales are still told in the north. It was not until Brandon the Breaker, the King of Winter, and Joramun, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, joined forces that Night's King was brought down and the Night's Watch freed.[2] After his fall, when it was discovered that Night's King had been making sacrifices to the Others, all records of him were destroyed and his very name was forbidden and forgotten.[1] It is likely this led the lords of the north to forbid the Night's Watch to construct walls at their keeps, ensuring the keeps would always be accessible from the south.
Recent History
A Storm of Swords
While on his way north, Bran Stark recalls stories told to the Stark children of Night's King and the Nightfort by Old Nan, servant in Winterfell. She said some people believe Night's King was a Bolton, a Magnar of Skagos, an Umber, a Flint, a Norrey, or a Woodfoot. However, she identifies Night's King as a Stark of Winterfell and brother to the King of Winter and suggests his name was Brandon.[1]
A Feast for Crows
While talking with Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly uses Night's King as an example of legendary figures questioned by archmaesters of the Citadel.[3]
Quotes
He had been the thirteenth man to lead the Night's Watch, she said; a warrior who knew no fear. 'And that was the fault in him,' she would add, 'for all men must know fear.'[1]
—Bran Stark recalling Old Nan's stories
Night's King was only a man by light of day, Old Nan would always say, but the night was his to rule.[1]
—thoughts of Bran Stark
... in the books he is a legendary figure, akin to Lann the Clever and Brandon the Builder, and no more likely to have survived to the present day than they have.[4]
Theories
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 56, Bran IV.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: On Maegor III and the Night's King, June 09, 2015
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