Difference between revisions of "Alliser Thorne"

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{{Infobox character
 
{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[file:Thorne.png|50px|left]] '''Alliser Thorne''' [[file:Minigdn.png|50px|right]]
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| arms          = Thorne
 +
| arms2          = Night's Watch
 +
| title          = Ser
 +
| firstname      = Alliser
 +
| lastname      = Thorne
 
| image          = [[File:Alliser Thorne.jpg|300px]]
 
| image          = [[File:Alliser Thorne.jpg|300px]]
 
| image_caption  =  
 
| image_caption  =  
 
| Alias          =
 
| Alias          =
| Title          = Ser
+
| Title          = [[Knight|Ser]]<br>[[Master-at-arms]] at [[Castle Black]]
| Allegiance    = [[Night's Watch]]
+
| Allegiance    = [[House Thorne]]<br>[[Night's Watch]]
 
| Race          =
 
| Race          =
| Culture        =
+
| Culture        = [[Crownlands]]
 
| Spouse        =
 
| Spouse        =
 
| Place_of_Birth =
 
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth  = either {{Date|247}} or {{Date|248}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Alliser Thorne|Alliser Thorne]] calculation.''</ref>
+
| Date_of_Birth  = {{Date|247}} or {{Date|248}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Alliser Thorne|Alliser Thorne]] calculation.''</ref>
 
| Place_of_Death =
 
| Place_of_Death =
 
| Date_of_Death  =
 
| Date_of_Death  =
| Books          = ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (Appears)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (Appears)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (Appears)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (Mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (Appears)
+
| Books          = ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (appears)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (appears)
 
| coat-of-arms  =
 
| coat-of-arms  =
 
| Played_by      = [[List of actors of the televised series#Owen Teale,Alliser Thorne|Owen Teale]]
 
| Played_by      = [[List of actors of the televised series#Owen Teale,Alliser Thorne|Owen Teale]]
| TV_series      = [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 4|Season 4]]
+
| TV_series      = [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 4|4]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 5|5]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|6]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''Alliser Thorne''' is a knight and the master-at-arms of the [[Night's Watch]] at [[Castle Black]]. Whilst capable, he is an ill-liked for being bitter and humorless, particularly hated by the recruits of the Night's Watch who have been trained by him.
+
'''Alliser Thorne''' is a [[knight]] from [[House Thorne]] who now serves as the [[master-at-arms]] of the [[Night's Watch]] at [[Castle Black]]. While capable, he is bitter and humorless, and is particularly hated by many recruits of the Night's Watch who have been trained by him.{{Ref|ASOS|75}} In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' he is portrayed by [[w:Owen Teale|Owen Teale]].
  
 
==Appearance and Character==
 
==Appearance and Character==
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Alliser Thorne|Images of Alliser Thorne]]''
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Alliser Thorne|Images of Alliser Thorne]]''
Alliser is a slim and sinewy fifty-year-old, dry and hard, with black eyes and black hair streaked with grey.{{Ref|aGoT|19}}{{Ref|aCoK|17}}{{Ref|aSoS|69}} He has a thin smile, and a sharp, cold voice.{{Ref|aDwD|7}}{{Ref|aGoT|26}} He is humorless, bitter, and meanspirited.{{Ref|aGoT|21}}{{Ref|aCoK|17}}
+
 
 +
Alliser is a slim man of fifty years with sharp features.{{Ref|AGOT|19}}{{Ref|ACOK|25}} [[Jon Snow]] considers him spare and hard,{{Ref|AGOT|19}} as well as compact and sinewy.{{Ref|ASOS|69}} Alliser's black eyes{{Ref|ADWD|7}} resemble [[onyx]],{{Ref|AGOT|19}} [[obsidian]],{{Ref|AGOT|48}} and [[flint]],{{Ref|ASOS|69}} and his black hair is streaked with grey.{{Ref|AGOT|19}}{{Ref|ACOK|25}} He can have a thin smile{{Ref|ADWD|7}} and a sharp{{Ref|AGOT|19}} voice, cold{{Ref|AGOT|26}} and flinty.{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
 +
 
 +
The knight is humorless, bitter, and mean spirited,{{Ref|AGOT|21}}{{Ref|AGOT|26}}{{Ref|ACOK|17}} but more clever and dangerous than [[Janos Slynt]].{{Ref|ASOS|69}}{{Ref|ASOS|10}} Jon and [[Tyrion Lannister]] both consider Alliser to be a poor instructor.{{Ref|AGOT|21}}
 +
 
 +
Alliser wears crisp black leathers{{Ref|AGOT|19}} with his fur-trimmed cloak and polished boots.{{Ref|ASOS|69}} He carries a [[longsword]].{{Ref|ADWD|28}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Prior to joining the Night's Watch, Alliser was a knight of [[House Thorne]] of the [[Crownlands]] and fought on the side of [[House Targaryen]] during [[Robert's Rebellion]]. A defender of [[King's Landing]], after its [[Sack of King's Landing|sack]] he was given the choice by Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] between death or taking the black.{{Ref|aGoT|21}}
+
Prior to joining the [[Night's Watch]], Alliser was a [[knight]] who fought on the side of [[House Targaryen]] during [[Robert's Rebellion]]. Following the [[Sack of King's Landing]] and the defeat of the Targaryens, surviving knights{{Ref|AWOIAF|Alliser Thorne}} like Alliser and Ser [[Jaremy Rykker]] were given the choice by Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] between death or taking the black.{{Ref|AGOT|21}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Brittmartin Alliser Thorne.jpg|250px|thumb|Alliser Thorne - by Brittmartin ©]]
+
[[File:Brittmartin Alliser Thorne.jpg|250px|thumb|Alliser Thorne, by Brittmartin ©]]
 +
 
 +
As [[master-at-arms]] responsible for training new recruits, Ser Alliser gives [[Jon Snow]] the mocking nickname "Lord Snow". His disdain turns into hatred when Jon replies to one of his mockeries, provoking the hilarity of the whole common room of [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|AGOT|19}} The humorless Alliser takes the mockeries of [[Tyrion Lannister]] poorly when Tyrion is invited to the table of the [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], [[Jeor Mormont]], during his visit to the [[Wall]].{{Ref|AGOT|21}}
 +
 
 +
At [[Winterfell]], [[Yoren]] refers to Jon as "Ser Alliser's bane".{{Ref|AGOT|24}}
 +
 
 +
Alliser has disdain for the cowardly [[Samwell Tarly]], a new recruit who refuses to defend himself during sparring sessions. Jon Snow befriends Sam, however, and convinces other recruits not to beat Sam despite Alliser's orders.{{Ref|AGOT|26}}
 +
 
 +
When Jon is appointed to the [[stewards]] instead of the [[rangers]], Alliser appears so delighted that Jon thinks he is behind it. Sam, however, explains to Jon that the appointment indicates Jon will be trained by Jeor in command.{{Ref|AGOT|48}}
  
As master-at-arms responsible for training new recruits, Alliser gives [[Jon Snow]] the mocking nickname "Lord Snow". His disdain turns into hatred when Jon replies to one of his mockeries, provoking the hilarity of the whole common room of [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|aGoT|19}} Having absolutely no humor, Alliser takes the mockeries of [[Tyrion Lannister]] poorly when Tyrion is invited to the table of the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, [[Jeor Mormont]], during his visit at the [[Wall]]. Alliser is, however, so delighted at Jon Snow's appointment to the stewards that Jon thinks he is behind it.  
+
Alliser never misses an occasion to provoke the young bastard. The evening Jon learns of the imprisonment of his father, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], in [[King's Landing]] for treason, Alliser's jeers anger Jon, who tries to attack him with a knife, before being stopped and put under arrest.{{Ref|AGOT|52}}
  
Alliser never misses an occasion to provoke the young bastard. The evening Jon learns of the imprisonment of Lord [[Eddard Stark]] in [[King's Landing]] for treason, Alliser's jeers anger Jon, who tries to attack him with a knife, before being stopped and put under arrest. This mutual hostility, and the master-at-arms' old friends who are well-placed at court, lead the Lord Commander to send Alliser to the new king, [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I]], with the mission to acquire reinforcements for the Night's Watch.  
+
This hostility between Alliser and Jon, and the master-at-arms' old friends who are well-placed at court, lead Lord Commander Mormont to send Alliser to the new king, [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]]. Alliser is to show the severed hand of [[Jafer Flowers]], who turned into a [[wight]], to the court.{{Ref|AGOT|60}}
  
Ser [[Endrew Tarth]] takes Alliser's place as the master-at-arms of [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|aGoT|60}}
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Ser [[Endrew Tarth]] takes Alliser's place as the master-at-arms of [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|AGOT|60}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
After a long travel, Alliser arrives in [[King's Landing]]. In the [[Red Keep]], he asks for an audience with Tyrion Lannister, the acting [[Hand of the King]]. Tyrion though, remembering Alliser as the man he liked least when he visited the [[Wall]] and considering him a bitter, mean-spirited person with too much sense of his own worth, has [[Bronn]] answer that he will see Alliser later while making sure he will get a room where nobody has changed the rushes for a year.{{Ref|aCoK|17}} Alliser appears before the throne, only to be mocked by Tyrion. However, Tyrion allows for word to be put out in King's Landing that the Night's Watch is in need of men.
+
[[Thoren Smallwood]], considered one of Alliser's henchmen by Jon Snow, wants to succeed the missing [[Benjen Stark]] as [[First Ranger]].{{Ref|ACOK|6}}
 +
 
 +
Alliser sails from [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]]{{Ref|AGOT|60}} to [[King's Landing]], where he asks for an audience. Tyrion Lannister, now the acting [[Hand of the King]], remembering his dislike for Alliser, delays a meeting, however, and has [[Bronn]] find poor quarters in the [[Red Keep]] for the visitor.{{Ref|ACOK|17}}
 +
 
 +
When Alliser eventually appears before the [[small council]] in the throne room, Jafer's hand has rotted away to bones and Alliser's story of wights is mocked by Tyrion. The Hand allows for word to be put out in King's Landing that the Night's Watch is in need of men. When Tyrion dismisses Alliser from court, he asks the knight to give his regards to Lord Commander Mormont and Jon Snow.{{Ref|ACOK|25}}
  
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
At some point, presumably after returning from King's Landing, Alliser is stationed by Lord Commander Mormont as the new master-at-arms of [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]]. He returns to [[Castle Black]] during the resistance to [[Mance Rayder]]'s [[Battle of Castle Black|wildlings siege]] and becomes one of [[Janos Slynt]]'s followers.{{Ref|aSoS|69}} During the choosing for a new Lord Commander, Alliser comes in sixth in voting on the first day and loses votes on the second day. He withdraws his name and places his support with Janos Slynt.{{Ref|aSoS|75}}
+
Alliser serves as the new master-at-arms of Eastwatch.{{Ref|ASOS|Appendix}} He falls in with [[Janos Slynt]],{{Ref|AWOIAF|Alliser Thorne}} who has been exiled to the Watch by Tyrion.{{Ref|ACOK|8}}
  
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
+
Alliser, Janos, Ser [[Glendon Hewett]], and other men from Eastwatch travel to Castle Black during the [[battle beneath the Wall]]. They accuse Jon, who has been leading the defense against the [[wildlings]] of [[Mance Rayder]], of being a turncloak and an oathbreaker, and the captive [[Rattleshirt]] verifies that Jon had killed [[Qhorin Halfhand]].{{Ref|ASOS|69}} To prove he is not a traitor, Jon is sent by Alliser to assassinate Mance in a meeting north of the Wall. The meeting is interrupted by the arrival of [[Stannis Baratheon]]'s host, however.{{Ref|ASOS|73}}
When Janos refuses to obey orders, Jon personally executes him. Alliser is present when the sentence is given but does not interfere, much to Jon's disappointment.{{ref|ADWD|7}} Jon later orders Alliser to accompany [[Dywen]] and another seasoned ranger beyond the Wall. Alliser is angry, but accepts the mission, not wanting to give Jon cause to execute him as well. Alliser then states that he will return from the ranging, one way or the other.{{ref|ADWD|28}}
 
  
==Quotes by Alliser==
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During the [[choosing]] for a new Lord Commander after [[mutiny at Craster's Keep|Jeor's death]], Alliser comes in sixth in voting on the first day and loses votes on the second day, as many black brothers resent having been trained by him. He withdraws his name and decides to support Janos.{{Ref|ASOS|75}} Alliser expects [[Othell Yarwyck]], the [[First Builder]], to support Janos as well, but a reluctant Othell shocks Alliser by instead mentioning Jon Snow, who is soon after elected as the new Lord Commander.{{Ref|ASOS|79}}
{{Quote|They will call you men of Night’s Watch now, but you are bigger fools than the [[Pypar|Mummer’s Monkey]] here if you believe that. You are boys still, green and stinking of summer, and when the winter comes you will die like flies.{{ref|agot|41}}}}
 
  
 +
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 +
Alliser complains that Jon's election was overseen by the blind Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] with Jon's friend, Sam Tarly, by his side.{{Ref|ADWD|3}}
  
{{Quote|'''Alliser:''' Lord Snow wants to take my place now. I’d have an easier time teaching a wolf to juggle than you will training this [[Grenn|aurochs]].<br>'''Jon:''' I’ll take that wager, Ser Alliser. I’d love to see [[Ghost]] juggle.{{Ref|aGoT|19}}}} – Alliser and [[Jon Snow]]
+
To separate Janos Slynt and Alliser, Jon appoints Janos to command the garrison at [[Greyguard]]. When Janos refuses to obey orders, Jon personally beheads him with [[Longclaw]]. Alliser is present when the sentence is given but does not interfere, much to Jon's disappointment.{{Ref|ADWD|7}}
  
 +
Alliser opposes Jon's decision to let [[wildlings]] pass south of the Wall, although Jon thinks the master-at-arms has become more circumspect after Janos's execution.{{Ref|ADWD|10}}
  
{{Quote|'''Alliser:''' Come and make your japes with steel in your hand.<br>'''Tyrion:''' Why, I have steel in my hand, Ser Alliser, although it appears to be a crab fork. Shall we duel?{{Ref|aGoT|21}}}} – Alliser and [[Tyrion Lannister]]
+
Jon later orders Alliser to accompany [[Dywen]] and another seasoned [[ranger]] in scouting [[beyond the Wall]]. Alliser is angry, but accepts the mission, not wanting to give Jon cause to execute him as well. He then states that he will return from the ranging, one way or the other.{{Ref|ADWD|28}}
  
 +
Jon is troubled that Alliser's friend, Glendon Hewett, commands at Eastwatch while [[Cotter Pyke]] is away.{{Ref|ADWD|49}}
  
{{Quote|It would seem they have run short of poachers and thieves down south. Now they send up pigs to man the Wall. Is fur and velvet your notion of armor, my Lord of Ham?{{Ref|aGoT|21}}}} – Alliser, to [[Samwell Tarly]]
+
==Quotes by Alliser==
 
+
[[File:Alliser Thorne HBO.jpg|thumb|Owen Teale as Alliser in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 +
{{Quote|'''Alliser''': Lord Snow wants to take my place now. I’d have an easier time teaching a [[wolf]] to juggle than you will training [[Grenn|this aurochs]].<br>
 +
'''Jon''': I'll take that wager, Ser Alliser. I'd love to see [[Ghost]] juggle.{{Ref|AGOT|19}}|Alliser and [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
{{Quote|Not only a bastard, but a '''traitor’s''' bastard.{{Ref|aGoT|52}}}} – Alliser, on [[Jon Snow]]
+
{{Quote|'''Alliser''': Come and make your japes with [[steel]] in your hand.<br>
 +
'''Tyrion''': Why, I have steel in my hand, Ser Alliser, although it appears to be a crab fork. Shall we duel?{{Ref|AGOT|21}}|Alliser and [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|They will call you men of [[Night's Watch]] now, but you are bigger fools than the [[Pypar|Mummer's Monkey]] here if you believe that. You are boys still, green and stinking of summer, and when the winter comes you will die like flies.{{Ref|AGOT|41}}|Alliser to his recruits}}
  
{{Quote|'''Alliser:''' Do you think I sailed all the way from [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]] to be mocked by the likes of you? This is no jape. I saw it with my own eyes. I tell you, the dead walk.<br>'''Tyrion:''' You should try to kill them more thoroughly.{{Ref|aCoK|25}}}} – Alliser and [[Tyrion Lannister]]
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{{Quote|'''Alliser''': Do you think I sailed all the way from [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]] to be mocked by the likes of you? This is no jape. I saw it with my own eyes. I tell you, [[wights|the dead]] walk.<br>
 +
'''Tyrion''': You should try to kill them more thoroughly.{{Ref|ACOK|25}}|Alliser and [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|'''Jon''': You are skilled with a blade. You were [[master-at-arms]], [[Castle Black|here]] and at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea|Eastwatch]].<br>
 +
'''Alliser''': Aye. I have squandered a third of my life trying to teach the rudiments of swordplay to churls, muttonheads, and knaves. Small good that will do me in [[haunted forest|those woods]].{{Ref|ADWD|28}}|[[Jon Snow]] and Alliser}}
  
{{Quote|I suppose it was also the [[Qhorin Halfhand|Halfhand]] who commanded you to fuck this unwashed whore?{{Ref|aSoS|69}}}} – Alliser, to [[Jon Snow]], on [[Ygritte]]
+
{{quote|You would like me to refuse. Then you could hack off my head, same as you did for [[Janos Slynt|Slynt]]. I'll not give you that pleasure, bastard. You'd best pray that it's a [[wildling]] blade that kills me, though. The ones the [[Others]] kill [[wights|don't stay dead]] ... and they remember. I'm coming back, Lord Snow.{{Ref|ADWD|28}}|Alliser to [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
 
==Quotes about Alliser==
 
==Quotes about Alliser==
{{Quote|I don’t believe I care to see Ser Alliser just now. Find him a snug cell where no one has changed the rushes in a year.{{Ref|aCoK|17}}}} – [[Tyrion Lannister]]
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{{Quote|Ser Alliser Thorne had a voice with an edge like [[Valyrian steel]].{{Ref|AGOT|19}}|thoughts of [[Jon Snow]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote|'''Jeor''': You are a wicked man, to provoke our Ser Alliser so.<br>
 +
'''Tyrion''': If a man paints a target on his chest, he should expect that sooner or later someone will loose an arrow at him. I have seen dead men with more humor than your Ser Alliser.<br>
 +
'''Bowen''': Not so. You ought to hear the droll names he gives the lads he trains.<br>
 +
'''Tyrion''': I'll wager the lads have a few names for him as well. Chip the ice off your eyes, my good lords. Ser Alliser Thorne should be mucking out your stables, not drilling your young warriors.{{Ref|AGOT|21}}|[[Jeor Mormont]], [[Tyrion Lannister]], and [[Bowen Marsh]]}}
  
{{Quote|'''Jeor:''' You are a wicked man, to provoke our Ser Alliser so.<br>'''Tyrion:''' If a man paints a target on his chest, he should expect that sooner or later someone will loose an arrow at him. I have seen dead men with more humor than your Ser Alliser.{{Ref|aGoT|21}}}} – [[Jeor Mormont]] and [[Tyrion Lannister]]
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{{Quote|'''Jeor''': Ser Alliser is an anointed [[knight]], one of the few to [[take the black]] since I have been [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]]. He fought bravely at [[King's Landing]].<br>
 +
'''Jaremy''': On the wrong side. I ought to know, I was there on the battlements beside him. [[Tywin Lannister]] gave us a splendid choice. Take the black, or see our heads on spikes before evenfall.{{Ref|AGOT|21}}|[[Jeor Mormont]] and [[Jaremy Rykker]]}}
  
 +
{{Quote| Of all the [[Night's Watch|black brothers]] he'd met on the [[Wall]], Tyrion Lannister had liked Ser Alliser Thorne the least. A bitter, mean-spirited man with too great a sense of his own worth.{{Ref|ACOK|17}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
  
{{Quote|'''Jeor:''' Ser Alliser is an anointed knight, one of the few to take the black since I have been Lord Commander. He fought bravely at King’s Landing.<br>'''Jaremy:''' On the wrong side. I ought to know, I was there on the battlements beside him. Tywin Lannister gave us a splendid choice. Take the black, or see our heads on spikes before evenfall.{{Ref|aGoT|21}}}} – [[Jeor Mormont]] and [[Jaremy Rykker]]
+
{{Quote|We'll learn you what you need t' know, ser. Teach you how t' wipe your highborn arse with leaves, just like a proper [[ranger]].{{Ref|ADWD|28}}|[[Dywen]] to Alliser}}
  
==References and Notes==
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==References==
{{References|3}}
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{{References}}
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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[[Category:Knights|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Knights|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Masters-at-arms|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Masters-at-arms|Thorne, Alliser]]
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[[Category:Rangers of the Night's Watch|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Members of the Night's Watch|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Members of the Night's Watch|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Nobles|Thorne, Alliser]]
 
[[Category:Nobles|Thorne, Alliser]]
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[[Category:Royalists of Robert's Rebellion|Thorne, Alliser]]
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[[Category:Veterans of Robert's Rebellion|Thorne, Alliser]]
  
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[[es:Alliser Thorne]]
 
[[fr:Alliser Thorne]]
 
[[fr:Alliser Thorne]]
[[ru:Аллисер Торн]]
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[[ru:Аллисер_Торн]]
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[[zh:艾里沙·索恩]]

Revision as of 16:07, 28 May 2023

House Thorne.svg Ser
Alliser Thorne
Night's Watch.svg
Alliser Thorne.jpg

Titles
Allegiances
Culture Crownlands
Born 247 AC or 248 AC[1]
Books

Played by Owen Teale
TV series Season 1 | 4 | 5 | 6

Alliser Thorne is a knight from House Thorne who now serves as the master-at-arms of the Night's Watch at Castle Black. While capable, he is bitter and humorless, and is particularly hated by many recruits of the Night's Watch who have been trained by him.[2] In the television adaptation Game of Thrones he is portrayed by Owen Teale.

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Alliser Thorne

Alliser is a slim man of fifty years with sharp features.[3][4] Jon Snow considers him spare and hard,[3] as well as compact and sinewy.[5] Alliser's black eyes[6] resemble onyx,[3] obsidian,[7] and flint,[5] and his black hair is streaked with grey.[3][4] He can have a thin smile[6] and a sharp[3] voice, cold[8] and flinty.[9]

The knight is humorless, bitter, and mean spirited,[10][8][11] but more clever and dangerous than Janos Slynt.[5][12] Jon and Tyrion Lannister both consider Alliser to be a poor instructor.[10]

Alliser wears crisp black leathers[3] with his fur-trimmed cloak and polished boots.[5] He carries a longsword.[13]

History

Prior to joining the Night's Watch, Alliser was a knight who fought on the side of House Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion. Following the Sack of King's Landing and the defeat of the Targaryens, surviving knights[14] like Alliser and Ser Jaremy Rykker were given the choice by Lord Tywin Lannister between death or taking the black.[10]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Alliser Thorne, by Brittmartin ©

As master-at-arms responsible for training new recruits, Ser Alliser gives Jon Snow the mocking nickname "Lord Snow". His disdain turns into hatred when Jon replies to one of his mockeries, provoking the hilarity of the whole common room of Castle Black.[3] The humorless Alliser takes the mockeries of Tyrion Lannister poorly when Tyrion is invited to the table of the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, Jeor Mormont, during his visit to the Wall.[10]

At Winterfell, Yoren refers to Jon as "Ser Alliser's bane".[15]

Alliser has disdain for the cowardly Samwell Tarly, a new recruit who refuses to defend himself during sparring sessions. Jon Snow befriends Sam, however, and convinces other recruits not to beat Sam despite Alliser's orders.[8]

When Jon is appointed to the stewards instead of the rangers, Alliser appears so delighted that Jon thinks he is behind it. Sam, however, explains to Jon that the appointment indicates Jon will be trained by Jeor in command.[7]

Alliser never misses an occasion to provoke the young bastard. The evening Jon learns of the imprisonment of his father, Lord Eddard Stark, in King's Landing for treason, Alliser's jeers anger Jon, who tries to attack him with a knife, before being stopped and put under arrest.[16]

This hostility between Alliser and Jon, and the master-at-arms' old friends who are well-placed at court, lead Lord Commander Mormont to send Alliser to the new king, Joffrey I Baratheon. Alliser is to show the severed hand of Jafer Flowers, who turned into a wight, to the court.[17]

Ser Endrew Tarth takes Alliser's place as the master-at-arms of Castle Black.[17]

A Clash of Kings

Thoren Smallwood, considered one of Alliser's henchmen by Jon Snow, wants to succeed the missing Benjen Stark as First Ranger.[18]

Alliser sails from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea[17] to King's Landing, where he asks for an audience. Tyrion Lannister, now the acting Hand of the King, remembering his dislike for Alliser, delays a meeting, however, and has Bronn find poor quarters in the Red Keep for the visitor.[11]

When Alliser eventually appears before the small council in the throne room, Jafer's hand has rotted away to bones and Alliser's story of wights is mocked by Tyrion. The Hand allows for word to be put out in King's Landing that the Night's Watch is in need of men. When Tyrion dismisses Alliser from court, he asks the knight to give his regards to Lord Commander Mormont and Jon Snow.[4]

A Storm of Swords

Alliser serves as the new master-at-arms of Eastwatch.[19] He falls in with Janos Slynt,[14] who has been exiled to the Watch by Tyrion.[20]

Alliser, Janos, Ser Glendon Hewett, and other men from Eastwatch travel to Castle Black during the battle beneath the Wall. They accuse Jon, who has been leading the defense against the wildlings of Mance Rayder, of being a turncloak and an oathbreaker, and the captive Rattleshirt verifies that Jon had killed Qhorin Halfhand.[5] To prove he is not a traitor, Jon is sent by Alliser to assassinate Mance in a meeting north of the Wall. The meeting is interrupted by the arrival of Stannis Baratheon's host, however.[21]

During the choosing for a new Lord Commander after Jeor's death, Alliser comes in sixth in voting on the first day and loses votes on the second day, as many black brothers resent having been trained by him. He withdraws his name and decides to support Janos.[2] Alliser expects Othell Yarwyck, the First Builder, to support Janos as well, but a reluctant Othell shocks Alliser by instead mentioning Jon Snow, who is soon after elected as the new Lord Commander.[9]

A Dance with Dragons

Alliser complains that Jon's election was overseen by the blind Maester Aemon with Jon's friend, Sam Tarly, by his side.[22]

To separate Janos Slynt and Alliser, Jon appoints Janos to command the garrison at Greyguard. When Janos refuses to obey orders, Jon personally beheads him with Longclaw. Alliser is present when the sentence is given but does not interfere, much to Jon's disappointment.[6]

Alliser opposes Jon's decision to let wildlings pass south of the Wall, although Jon thinks the master-at-arms has become more circumspect after Janos's execution.[23]

Jon later orders Alliser to accompany Dywen and another seasoned ranger in scouting beyond the Wall. Alliser is angry, but accepts the mission, not wanting to give Jon cause to execute him as well. He then states that he will return from the ranging, one way or the other.[13]

Jon is troubled that Alliser's friend, Glendon Hewett, commands at Eastwatch while Cotter Pyke is away.[24]

Quotes by Alliser

Owen Teale as Alliser in Game of Thrones

Alliser: Lord Snow wants to take my place now. I’d have an easier time teaching a wolf to juggle than you will training this aurochs.
Jon: I'll take that wager, Ser Alliser. I'd love to see Ghost juggle.[3]

—Alliser and Jon Snow

Alliser: Come and make your japes with steel in your hand.
Tyrion: Why, I have steel in my hand, Ser Alliser, although it appears to be a crab fork. Shall we duel?[10]

—Alliser and Tyrion Lannister

They will call you men of Night's Watch now, but you are bigger fools than the Mummer's Monkey here if you believe that. You are boys still, green and stinking of summer, and when the winter comes you will die like flies.[25]

—Alliser to his recruits

Alliser: Do you think I sailed all the way from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to be mocked by the likes of you? This is no jape. I saw it with my own eyes. I tell you, the dead walk.
Tyrion: You should try to kill them more thoroughly.[4]

—Alliser and Tyrion Lannister

Jon: You are skilled with a blade. You were master-at-arms, here and at Eastwatch.
Alliser: Aye. I have squandered a third of my life trying to teach the rudiments of swordplay to churls, muttonheads, and knaves. Small good that will do me in those woods.[13]

Jon Snow and Alliser

You would like me to refuse. Then you could hack off my head, same as you did for Slynt. I'll not give you that pleasure, bastard. You'd best pray that it's a wildling blade that kills me, though. The ones the Others kill don't stay dead ... and they remember. I'm coming back, Lord Snow.[13]

—Alliser to Jon Snow

Quotes about Alliser

Ser Alliser Thorne had a voice with an edge like Valyrian steel.[3]

—thoughts of Jon Snow

Jeor: You are a wicked man, to provoke our Ser Alliser so.

Tyrion: If a man paints a target on his chest, he should expect that sooner or later someone will loose an arrow at him. I have seen dead men with more humor than your Ser Alliser.
Bowen: Not so. You ought to hear the droll names he gives the lads he trains.

Tyrion: I'll wager the lads have a few names for him as well. Chip the ice off your eyes, my good lords. Ser Alliser Thorne should be mucking out your stables, not drilling your young warriors.[10]

Jeor: Ser Alliser is an anointed knight, one of the few to take the black since I have been Lord Commander. He fought bravely at King's Landing.
Jaremy: On the wrong side. I ought to know, I was there on the battlements beside him. Tywin Lannister gave us a splendid choice. Take the black, or see our heads on spikes before evenfall.[10]

Of all the black brothers he'd met on the Wall, Tyrion Lannister had liked Ser Alliser Thorne the least. A bitter, mean-spirited man with too great a sense of his own worth.[11]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

We'll learn you what you need t' know, ser. Teach you how t' wipe your highborn arse with leaves, just like a proper ranger.[13]

Dywen to Alliser

References

External Links