Small council
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
The Small council is small group of advisers, which advise the King of the Seven Kingdoms on matters of policy and their areas of expertise. It is not known when the first small council assembled, but it was in all likelihood during the reign of the Targaryen kings. The Council is headed by the king and he is the only one who can make the council's decisions into law. In his absence the role falls to the Hand of the King or the Regent if the king is too young.
The Council members are appointed and dismissed by the king as he wills, a right freely used during times of war and strife. However, it seems that traditionally the council consists of seven permanent members, after the Andal traditions and the Faith of the Seven, with reserved positions for:
- Hand of the King
- Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
- Master of Coin - Head of the Treasury and finances of the kingdom.
- Master of Laws - Oversees the Laws & Justice system for the Kingdom.
- Master of Whisperers - The spymaster, and the head of intelligence.
- Master of Ships - Oversees the navy.
- Grand Maester - head adviser on matters of lore and wisdom.
Although a council seems to always have these Seven members, it may include additional members as advisors.
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Small council members
Under Aegon I Targaryen
During the reign of king Aegon I Targaryen.
- Hand of the King - Orys Baratheon
- Grand Maester - Unknown
- Master of Coin - Crispian Celtigar
- Master of Laws - Tristan Massey
- Master of Ships - Daemon Velaryon
- Master of Whisperers - Unknown
- Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - Unknown
Under Robert Baratheon
During the reign of king Robert Baratheon. Robert often did not attend the meetings and passed the responsibility to his Hand. Toward the end of his reign, the council composition was:
- Hand of the King - Jon Arryn, succeeded by Eddard Stark
- Grand Maester - Pycelle
- Master of Coin - Petyr Baelish
- Master of Laws - Renly Baratheon
- Master of Ships - Stannis Baratheon
- Master of Whisperers - Varys
- Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - Barristan Selmy
Under Joffrey Baratheon
After Robert Baratheon's death and ascension to the Throne of Joffrey Baratheon, Queen Cersei assumed regency over her son and Tywin Lannister was named Hand of the King. He sent Tyrion Lannister to serve in his stead while he was campaigning in the Riverlands. The council composition was:
- Queen Regent - Cersei Lannister
- Hand of the King - Tyrion Lannister (acting in stead of Tywin Lannister)
- Grand Maester - Pycelle
- Master of Coin - Petyr Baelish
- Master of Whisperers - Varys
- Commander of the City Watch - Janos Slynt
After the Battle of the Blackwater, Tywin Lannister re-assumed his duties as the Hand, and dismissed his daughter Cersei from the council. The council composition was:
- Hand of the King - Tywin Lannister
- Grand Maester - Pycelle
- Master of Coin - Tyrion Lannister
- Master of Laws - Kevan Lannister
- Master of Ships - Mace Tyrell
- Master of Whisperers - Varys
- Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - Jaime Lannister
- Advisor - Mathis Rowan
- Advisor - Paxter Redwyne
- Advisor - Oberyn Martell (acting in place of Doran Martell)
Under Tommen Baratheon
After the death of Tywin, Cersei re-assumed regency over her younger son and reorganized the council with Lannister loyalists.[1] Also called the "smallest council". The council composition was:
- Queen Regent - Queen Cersei Lannister
- Hand of the King - Ser Harys Swyft, the Knight of Cornfield, though he was later demoted and replaced by Orton Merryweather.
- Grand Maester - Pycelle
- Master of Coin and Lord Treasurer - Lord Gyles Rosby, Lord of Rosby, until his death, then Harys Swyft
- Master of Laws and Justiciar - Lord Orton Merryweather, Lord of Long Table, until promoted to Hand of the King
- Master of Ships and Grand Admiral - Aurane Waters, the Bastard of Driftmark
- Master of Whisperers - Qyburn
- Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - Ser Jaime Lannister
After the arrest of Cersei, Ser Kevan Lannister assumed the regency. The council composition was:
- Lord Regent - Lord Kevan Lannister
- Hand of the King - Lord Mace Tyrell
- Grand Maester - Pycelle
- Master of Laws and Justiciar - Lord Randyll Tarly, Lord of Horn Hill
- Master of Coin and Lord Treasurer - Ser Harys Swyft
- Master of Ships and Grand Admiral - Lord Paxter Redwyne, Lord of the Arbor
- Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - Ser Jaime Lannister
- Advisor - Nymeria Sand (acting in place of Doran Martell)
References and Notes
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei.
