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The '''King's Justice''' is the royal executioner of the [[Iron Throne]]. The duties of the King's Justice is to kill anyone sentenced to death by order of the [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]] or [[small council]]. The executions are usually done publicly via beheading. Other responsibilities of the King's Justice are managing the dungeons at the [[Red Keep]] and supervising the [[chief gaoler]], [[chief undergaoler]], [[undergaoler]]s, and turnkeys. The King's Justice answers to the [[master of laws]] in matters relating to the managing of the dungeons.
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The '''King's Justice''' is the royal executioner of the [[Iron Throne]], tasked with executing any person sentenced to death by the order of the king on the [[Iron Throne]] or the [[Hand of the King]],{{Ref|agot|43}} who speaks with the king's voice.{{Ref|agot|4}} Other responsibilities of the King's Justice are managing the dungeons at the [[Red Keep]] and supervising the [[chief gaoler]], [[chief undergaoler]], [[undergaoler]]s, and turnkeys.{{Ref|affc|8}}
  
 
The King's Justice's chambers are located between the ground floor of the Traitor's Walk and the entrance to the dungeons.{{ref|Affc|27}}
 
The King's Justice's chambers are located between the ground floor of the Traitor's Walk and the entrance to the dungeons.{{ref|Affc|27}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
In the wake of King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]'s death and the arrival of Prince [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] to the [[Red Keep]], the King's Justice was arrested and put in the [[black cells]].{{ref|fab| Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}
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In the wake of King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]'s death and the arrival of Prince [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] to the [[Red Keep]], the King's Justice was arrested and put in the [[black cells]].{{ref|fab|Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}
  
After reaching majority and beginning to rule in his own right, King Jaehaerys replaced the King's Justice, among other lesser offices.{{ref|fab|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}
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After reaching the [[age of majority]] and claiming his rule for himself, King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] replaced the King's Justice, among other lesser offices.{{ref|fab|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}
  
During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], after Ser [[Otto Hightower]] was dismissed as [[Hand of the King]] and replaced with Ser [[Criston Cole]], all the captive [[blacks]] - who had once sworn to defend the rights of Princess [[Rhaenyra]] and refused to bend the knee of [[Aegon II]] - were dragged one by one before the King's Justice at the [[Red Keep]]'s yard. Each man was given one final chance to swear fealty to King Aegon II. The King's Justice beheaded Lords Hayford, Merryweather, Harte, Buckler and Caswell as well as Lady Fell and eight [[landed knight]]s and twoscore servants and retainers.{{ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
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During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], after Ser [[Otto Hightower]] was dismissed as [[Hand of the King]] and replaced with Ser [[Criston Cole]], all the captive [[blacks]] - who had once sworn to defend the rights of Princess [[Rhaenyra]] and refused to bend the knee of [[Aegon II]] - were dragged one by one before the King's Justice at the [[Red Keep]]'s yard. Each man was given one final chance to swear fealty to King Aegon II. The King's Justice beheaded Lords Hayford, Merryweather, Harte, Buckler and Caswell as well as Lady Fell, eight [[landed knight]]s, and twoscore servants and retainers.{{ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens}}
  
Ser [[Tyland Lannister]] , the [[Hand of the King]] early in the reign of [[Aegon III Targaryen]], postponed the execution of the recently captured [[Orwyle]], who had fled the [[North Star|ship]] that would take him to the [[Wall]], pointing out that the office of King's Justice remained empty.{{ref|fab|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
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When the former [[Grand Master]] [[Orwyle]] was captured in early {{Date|132}}, the [[Hand of the King]], Ser [[Tyland Lannister]] repeatedly postponed Orwyle's execution, pointing out that the office of King's Justice remained empty since the end of the war.{{ref|fab|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Ser Tyland's successor, Lord [[Unwin Peake]], appointed Ser [[Victor Risley]], the Knight of [[Risley Glade]], as the King's Justice in {{Date|133}}.{{Ref|fab|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}
  
Ser [[Ilyn Payne]] was named to the King's Justice when [[Robert I Baratheon]] wed [[Cersei Lannister]]. His appointment was a gift from Robert to Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], the father of his new bride, a sinecure to compensate Ilyn for the tongue he lost while in service to [[House Lannister]].{{ref|AFFC|27}} The previous king, [[Aerys II Targaryen]], had ordered Ilyn's tongue removed for having boasted that Tywin truly ruled the [[Seven Kingdoms]] while serving as the Mad King's [[Hand of the King|Hand]].{{ref|ASOS|11}}
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On the [[Feast Day of Our Father Above]] in {{Date|133}}, the gaols and dungeons of King's Landing were emptied, and each prisoner was publicly executed by the King's Justice, with the aid of [[Tessario]] and his [[Fingers (guards)|Fingers]]. Among those executed by the King's Justice were a "[[False Shepherd|Shepherd Reborn]]", a [[Pentos]]hi merchantman accused and found guilty of bringing the [[Winter Fever]] from [[Sisterton]] to King's Landing, and the former Grand Maester, Orwyle.{{Ref|fab|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}}
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Ser Victor Risley was arrested in {{Date|135}}, following the confession of Lord [[George Graceford]], which implicated him in the attempt to overthrow power in the [[Red Keep]]. In {{Date|136}}, Victor was condemned to die, but demanded a [[trial by battle]], in which he was killed by Ser [[Gareth Long]].{{Ref|fab|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
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Ser [[Ilyn Payne]] was appointed as the King's Justice when King [[Robert I Baratheon]] married [[Cersei Lannister]]. His appointment was a gift from Robert to Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], the father of his new bride, a sinecure to compensate Ilyn for the tongue he lost while in service to [[House Lannister]] during the reign of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]].{{ref|AFFC|27}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
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===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
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During the [[Battle of the Blackwater]], Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] has Ser [[Ilyn Payne]] remain with her in the Queen's Ballroom of [[Maegor's Holdfast]] in the Red Keep,{{Ref|aCoK|57}} in order to kill Cersei and her captive, [[Sansa Stark]], should the Red Keep fall to [[Stannis Baratheon]].{{Ref|acok|60}} When [[Osfryd Kettleblack]] informs Cersei that a groom and two maidservants where caught trying to flee the Red Keep with three of the king's horses, she has the King's Justice execute them and place their heads on pike outside the stables.{{ref|acok|60}}
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Following the [[Battle of the Blackwater]], Joffrey orders Ilyn to behead a defiant [[House Florent|Florent]] bastard who refuses to renounce [[Stannis Baratheon]] and the [[Lord of Light]].{{ref|ACOK|65}}  
 
Following the [[Battle of the Blackwater]], Joffrey orders Ilyn to behead a defiant [[House Florent|Florent]] bastard who refuses to renounce [[Stannis Baratheon]] and the [[Lord of Light]].{{ref|ACOK|65}}  
  
==List of known King's Justices==
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===''A Feast for Crows''===
* Ser [[Ilyn Payne]]
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Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] demands the services of Ser [[Ilyn Payne]], the King's Justice, from Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] as his condition for leading the expedition to [[Riverrun]].{{ref|AFFC|27}}
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In [[King's Landing]], Cersei Lannister suggests that she will have to appoint a new King's Justice due to Ser Ilyn's absence, in order to execute [[Margaery Tyrell]], who Cersei hopes to charge with treason.{{Ref|affc|39}}
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==Known King's Justices==
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* Ser [[Victor Risley]], during the reign of King [[Aegon III Targaryen]], from {{Date|133}}{{Ref|fab|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} until {{Date|135}}.{{Ref|fab|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
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* Ser [[Ilyn Payne]], during the reign of King [[Robert I Baratheon]], King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], and King [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]].
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{quote|The King's Justice must be fearsome ...{{ref|AGOT|58}}|[[Varys]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}
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{{Quote|If the wicked do not fear the King's Justice, you have put the wrong man in the office.{{Ref|AGOT|16}}|[[Cersei Lannister]] to [[Sansa Stark]]}}
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{{Quote|The King's Justice must be fearsome.{{Ref|AGOT|58}}|[[Varys]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{references}}
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{{References}}
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{{King's Justice}}
  
 
[[Category:Occupations]]
 
[[Category:Occupations]]
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[[es:Justicia del Rey]]
 
[[es:Justicia del Rey]]
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[[fr:Justice du Roi]]
 
[[zh:御前执法官]]
 
[[zh:御前执法官]]

Revision as of 21:03, 11 February 2020

The King's Justice is the royal executioner of the Iron Throne, tasked with executing any person sentenced to death by the order of the king on the Iron Throne or the Hand of the King,[1] who speaks with the king's voice.[2] Other responsibilities of the King's Justice are managing the dungeons at the Red Keep and supervising the chief gaoler, chief undergaoler, undergaolers, and turnkeys.[3]

The King's Justice's chambers are located between the ground floor of the Traitor's Walk and the entrance to the dungeons.[4]

History

In the wake of King Maegor I Targaryen's death and the arrival of Prince Jaehaerys to the Red Keep, the King's Justice was arrested and put in the black cells.[5]

After reaching the age of majority and claiming his rule for himself, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen replaced the King's Justice, among other lesser offices.[6]

During the Dance of the Dragons, after Ser Otto Hightower was dismissed as Hand of the King and replaced with Ser Criston Cole, all the captive blacks - who had once sworn to defend the rights of Princess Rhaenyra and refused to bend the knee of Aegon II - were dragged one by one before the King's Justice at the Red Keep's yard. Each man was given one final chance to swear fealty to King Aegon II. The King's Justice beheaded Lords Hayford, Merryweather, Harte, Buckler and Caswell as well as Lady Fell, eight landed knights, and twoscore servants and retainers.[7]

When the former Grand Master Orwyle was captured in early 132 AC, the Hand of the King, Ser Tyland Lannister repeatedly postponed Orwyle's execution, pointing out that the office of King's Justice remained empty since the end of the war.[8] Ser Tyland's successor, Lord Unwin Peake, appointed Ser Victor Risley, the Knight of Risley Glade, as the King's Justice in 133 AC.[9]

On the Feast Day of Our Father Above in 133 AC, the gaols and dungeons of King's Landing were emptied, and each prisoner was publicly executed by the King's Justice, with the aid of Tessario and his Fingers. Among those executed by the King's Justice were a "Shepherd Reborn", a Pentoshi merchantman accused and found guilty of bringing the Winter Fever from Sisterton to King's Landing, and the former Grand Maester, Orwyle.[9]

Ser Victor Risley was arrested in 135 AC, following the confession of Lord George Graceford, which implicated him in the attempt to overthrow power in the Red Keep. In 136 AC, Victor was condemned to die, but demanded a trial by battle, in which he was killed by Ser Gareth Long.[10]

Ser Ilyn Payne was appointed as the King's Justice when King Robert I Baratheon married Cersei Lannister. His appointment was a gift from Robert to Lord Tywin Lannister, the father of his new bride, a sinecure to compensate Ilyn for the tongue he lost while in service to House Lannister during the reign of King Aerys II Targaryen.[4]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

King Joffrey I Baratheon orders Ser Ilyn Payne to execute Lord Eddard Stark at the Great Sept of Baelor.[11]

A Clash of Kings

During the Battle of the Blackwater, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister has Ser Ilyn Payne remain with her in the Queen's Ballroom of Maegor's Holdfast in the Red Keep,[12] in order to kill Cersei and her captive, Sansa Stark, should the Red Keep fall to Stannis Baratheon.[13] When Osfryd Kettleblack informs Cersei that a groom and two maidservants where caught trying to flee the Red Keep with three of the king's horses, she has the King's Justice execute them and place their heads on pike outside the stables.[13]

Following the Battle of the Blackwater, Joffrey orders Ilyn to behead a defiant Florent bastard who refuses to renounce Stannis Baratheon and the Lord of Light.[14]

A Feast for Crows

Ser Jaime Lannister demands the services of Ser Ilyn Payne, the King's Justice, from Queen Regent Cersei Lannister as his condition for leading the expedition to Riverrun.[4]

In King's Landing, Cersei Lannister suggests that she will have to appoint a new King's Justice due to Ser Ilyn's absence, in order to execute Margaery Tyrell, who Cersei hopes to charge with treason.[15]

Known King's Justices

Quotes

If the wicked do not fear the King's Justice, you have put the wrong man in the office.[16]

The King's Justice must be fearsome.[17]

References

  1. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
  2. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  3. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 8, Jaime I.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
  5. Fire & Blood, Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
  6. Fire & Blood, A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade.
  7. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  8. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  11. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
  12. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 60, Sansa VI.
  14. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
  16. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 16, Eddard III.
  17. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.