Kingslaying
Kingslaying is the act of killing one's own king, breaking their vows of allegiance to him. In Westeros, kingslaying is condemned as an extremely vile act, especially when commited by someone sworn to protect them, as is the case with the Kingsguard.
It should not be confused with killing a king to which one has no allegiance, which is another form of regicide.
Contents
People accused, suspected or known to have committed regicide
Kingslaying
- Euron Greyjoy is suspected of organising the death of his brother and king Balon Greyjoy, which would also qualify as kinslaying.[1]
- Brienne of Tarth is suspected by some of King Renly Baratheon's murder. She is innocent, however.
- Cersei Lannister is said to have killed her husband King Robert Baratheon. Osney Kettleblack accuses her of this, high treason, incest, deicide and other crimes, after being tortured. The High Sparrow means to accuse Cersei after he learns of all this.
- Jaime Lannister killed his king, Aerys II, during the Sack of King's Landing, despite being a sworn brother of the Kingsguard at the time.[2] This earns him the name Kingslayer.
- Olenna Redwyne kills her king, Joffrey Baratheon, with the help of Petyr Baelish and some unnamed co-conspirators. Olenna and Petyr both managed to escape suspicion, which instead fell to Tyrion and Sansa.[3] Olenna uses The Strangler, which is disguised as amethysts adorning a hairnet worn by the unwitting Sansa.
- Roose Bolton stabs his king, Robb Stark, through the heart during the Red Wedding. He plans the murder with Walder Frey, who violates guest right with the same act.[4]
- Tyrion Lannister and his wife Sansa Stark are both accused of poisoning King Joffrey Baratheon, Tyrion's nephew and Sansa's one-time fiancé. Cersei Lannister says she is certain Sansa helped Tyrion to murder her son. They are both innocent, however.
Others
- Khal Drogo kills Viserys Targaryen by upending a pot of molten gold over his head. The gold is meant to signify the crown Viserys demanded of him.
- Stannis Baratheon conceives a shadow assassin with Melisandre that goes on to slay his brother King Renly Baratheon.
Historical people suspected of regicide
- Viserys II was suspected of poisoning his own nephew King Baelor the Blessed. The evidence on this is dubious and it appears most likely that Viserys was innocent of this charge.
- Lord Stark (grandson of Brandon the Daughterless) slew Bael the Bard, the King-Beyond-the-Wall.[5]
Known or suspected victims of kingslaying
Known
Suspected
Quotes about regicide
Eddard: “When King’s Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were.” Gerold: “Far away, or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells.”[6]
- Eddard Stark and Ser Gerold Hightower right before fighting to the death.
“The Kingslayer. The false knight who profaned his blade with the blood of the king he had sworn to defend.”[7]
He thrust his longsword through her son’s heart, and twisted. ... “Jaime Lannister sends his regards.”[4]
- Roose Bolton when killing his king.
- Khal Drogo
“Joffrey was cruel and stupid, but I did not kill him. Have my head of if you like, I had no hand in my nephew's death.” [9]
- Tyrion Lannister, during his trial.
References and Notes
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X, p 425.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V, p 500.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 66, Tyrion IX.