Captain of the guards[1][2] or captain of the guard[1][3] is a position charged with the command of a castle's household guards.[4] When the captain is away for a long period of time, a new captain can be appointed at his place.[1] The commander of the garrison is a similar position.[5][6][7]
History
Ser Merrell Bullock was the commander of the castle garrison at Dragonstone during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[7] In 54 AC, after Elissa Farman stole three dragon eggs from the Dragonstone hatcheries, he was relieved of his position by Princess Rhaena Targaryen. When Androw Farman asked if he could be made commander of the garrison in Ser Merrell's place, Rhaena and her ladies burst out laughing.[8]
During the Dance of the Dragons, King Aegon II Targaryen retook Dragonstone from his half-sister, Rhaenyra Targaryen. His men hanged the captain of the guard from the battlements, alongside Ser Robert Quince, Grand Maester Gerardys, the master-at-arms, and the steward of the castle.[9]
Ser Tommard Heddle commanded the garrison at Whitewalls during the Second Blackfyre Rebellion.[6]
Ser Ilyn Payne, Lord Tywin Lannister's captain of the guards during his time as Hand of the King at King Aerys II Targaryen's court, had his tongue torn out with hot pincers for saying that it was Tywin who truly ruled the Seven Kingdoms.[10] Ilyn later became Robert I Baratheon's King's Justice.[11]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
At the start of the series, Jory Cassel has been serving as Winterfell's captain of the guard for more than eight years.[12] Jory goes south with Lord Eddard Stark when he is appointed Robert's Hand, and Robb Stark selects Hallis Mollen as his replacement.[1] Jory is eventually slain in the streets of King's Landing by House Lannister guards, whose captain is Tregar,[13] who is severely injured by Ned in the ensuing fight, dying five days later.[14] Jory is replaced as Ned's captain of the guards by Alyn.[15] However, Alyn leaves the capital with the force led by Lord Beric Dondarrion to bring Ser Gregor Clegane to justice, and is replaced by Tomard.[16] When Eddard is arrested in the throne room of the Red Keep, Tomard is slain by gold cloaks.[17]
Ser Vardis Egen, the captain of the guards at the Eyrie, is killed by Bronn in Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat.[18]
Hallis Mollen goes south with Robb Stark when he leaves Winterfell to fight the War of the Five Kings, carrying the banner of House Stark.[19] During the battle in the Whispering Wood, Hallis personally commands the guards protecting Catelyn Stark, after asking for the honor.[20]
Igon Vyrwel serves as the captain of the guards for House Tyrell at Highgarden, Ser Robin Ryger serves House Tully at Riverrun, and Areo Hotah serves House Martell at Sunspear.[21]
A Clash of Kings
Ser Marwyn Belmore replaces the late Vardis Egen as the captain of the guards of the Eyrie, while Vylarr replaces the late Tregar as the captain of the red cloaks in the capital, which now numbers one hundred men.[22][23] Queen Cersei Lannister is escorted by Vylarr and twenty red cloaks when she tours the gates of the city, but Tyrion Lannister soon names Bronn as the captain of his personal guards.[24]
Hallis Mollen guards Catelyn when she goes south to meet Renly Baratheon and negotiate a possible alliance.[25]
When Tyrion informs Ser Cleos Frey of his terms for peace, he commands Vylarr to escort Cleos back to Riverrun, taking all of the Lannister guardsmen with him and thereby depriving Cersei of her own red cloaks.[26] Unbeknownst to Vylarr, the escort includes a thief, a poisoner, a mummer, and a murderer as part of Tyrion's plan to free his brother, Ser Jaime Lannister.[26] After their arrival, the conspirators temporarily free Jaime, but the Kingslayer and the guards aiding him are soon subdued. Ser Edmure Tully hangs the four conspirators and any red cloaks who attempted to aid them, but those who did not (including Vylarr) are imprisoned.[27]
After Catelyn and her escorts return to Riverrun, she orders Hallis to lead the escort transporting the remains of Lord Eddard Stark to Winterfell, and to bury them in the crypt of Winterfell.[27]
Cersei replaces Vylarr with Osfryd Kettleblack, who now commands her household guard in King's Landing, but these new red cloaks are little more than undisciplined sellswords.[28]
Steelshanks Walton is the captain of the guards for House Bolton. He is among Roose Bolton's army who captures Harrenhal.[29]
A Storm of Swords
After Catelyn sets Jaime free, Edmure Tully sends Robin Ryger to recapture him. Robin and his men chase after the Kingslayer in a river galley. After Robin refuses Jaime's offer of single combat, Brienne of Tarth, Jaime's protector, sinks Robin's ship with a rock in the Red Fork.[30] Robin and his men return to Riverrun footweary and drenched.[31]
Hallis Mollen continues to transport Eddard's bones to the north.[32] Catelyn does not know how far Hallis and his men were able to travel before the ironmen took Moat Cailin and Winterfell.[33]
Steelshanks Walton commands Ser Jaime Lannister's escort of two hundred men from Harrenhal to King's Landing.[34] He later departs from the capital with "Arya Stark".[35]
Bryen is the captain of the guards for House Baelish at their tower.[36]
Upon his arrival at the Eyrie, Lord Petyr Baelish dismisses Marwyn Belmore, and names Ser Lothor Brune as his replacement.[37]
Vylarr is described as the captain-of-guards and a member of the household of Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King.[32]
A Feast for Crows
Areo Hotah accompanies Prince Doran Martell when he returns to Sunspear after the death of Prince Oberyn Martell. Areo is ordered by Doran to arrest Oberyn's bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes.[38]
The captain of the guardsmen at the Duskendale gatehouse spots Brienne of Tarth's oaken shield, stating it bears the black bat of House Lothston, an arms of ill repute, so he recommends his sister to Brienne, as she is a painter.[39]
Ser Harwyn Plumm clears the broken men from Darry, before Lord Lancel Lannister takes his seat there.[40] Harwyn is later named commander of the garrison.[5] Jaime suspects that Amerei Frey, Lancel's new wife, has an amorous interest in Harwyn, and warns Lancel, who expresses his indifference, announcing that he can have both if he wants.[41]
Ser Willam Wythers serves as captain of the guard for Queen Margaery Tyrell in King's Landing.[5] During Queen Regent Cersei Lannister's plot to remove Margaery, she has Ser Willam occupied with various tasks around the Red Keep.[42]
Areo is sent by Doran to put an end to Arianne Martell's plot to steal Princess Myrcella Baratheon away to then crown her Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. During the confrontation, Ser Arys Oakheart, Myrcella's sworn shield, charges Areo and his guards, and is slain by Areo.[43] He then escorts Arianne back to Sunspear to await an audience with Doran, spending several weeks in confinement before Areo retrieves her to Doran.[44]
After the surrender of Riverrun, Robin Ryger and Ser Desmond Grell ask to join the Night's Watch. They are escorted to Maidenpool by Raff the Sweetling.[45]
Hallis Mollen continues to transport Eddard's bones to the north, Ser Marwyn Belmore is appointed the captain of the guard at the Gates of the Moon by its new lord Nestor Royce, and Vylarr now serves as the captain of guards at Casterly Rock,[5] albeit it is unknown if Vylarr was actually freed, before or after the siege of Riverrun.
A Dance with Dragons
Ser Marlon Manderly serves as commander of the White Harbor garrison for his cousin, Lord Wyman Manderly.[46]
Areo Hotah joins Balon Swann and Obara Sand on their mission to hunt and kill the rogue knight Gerold Dayne.[47][48]
Walton commands Roose Bolton's guards on his return to the North.[49] Walton travels with Lord Bolton to Winterfell for the wedding of Ramsay to "Arya" (actually Jeyne Poole).[50] After several men-at-arms are found dead, Walton escorts Theon Greyjoy to a meeting with Roose, Lady Barbrey Dustin, Roger Ryswell, and Ser Aenys Frey.[51] Steelshanks and his men break up the fight between Manderlys and Freys when Ser Hosteen Frey attacks Lord Wyman Manderly.[52]
Known captains of the guards
- Alyn, captain of Ned's guards in King's Landing[15]
- Marwyn Belmore, captain of the guards in the Eyrie[22]
- Lothor Brune, captain of the guards in the Eyrie[37]
- Bryen, captain of the guards for House Baelish at their tower[36]
- Bronn, captain of Tyrion's guards in King's Landing[24]
- Jory Cassel, captain of the guards at Winterfell[12]
- Vardis Egen, captain of the guards in the Eyrie[18]
- Areo Hotah, captain of the guards at Sunspear[21]
- Osfryd Kettleblack, captain of Cersei's guards in King's Landing[28]
- Hallis Mollen, captain of the guards at Winterfell[1]
- Steelshanks Walton, captain of the guards for House Bolton[29]
- Tregar, captain of the Lannister guards in King's Landing[13]
- Tomard, captain of Ned's guards in King's Landing[16]
- Willam Wythers, captain of Margaery's guards in King's Landing[5]
- Robin Ryger, captain of the guards at Riverrun[21]
- Igon Vyrwel, captain of the guards at Highgarden[21]
- Vylarr, captain of the Lannister guards in King's Landing[22]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 14, Catelyn III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 37, Bran V.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 35, Eddard IX.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 45, Eddard XII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 40, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 63, Catelyn X.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
- ↑ The Winds of Winter, Arianne I
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 32, Reek III.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Walton.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 46, A Ghost in Winterfell.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.