Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing

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Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing
Prince Daemon Targaryen and his men on patrol, by Marc Simonetti ©
Region King's Landing
Current Holder Ser Humfrey Waters
First Holder unknown
Created 10 AC

The Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing,[1] often simply called Commander of the City Watch,[2][3][4] and occasionally as Lord Commander of the City Watch,[5] is the commanding officer of the City Watch of King's Landing.

Duties

He commands and presumably selects the captains of the seven gates of King's Landing. In times of War, they help prepare the city's defenses.[6] He might sometimes be a member of the small council.[1]

The Watch presumably falls under the bailiwick of the master of laws,<ref group="N">Lord Renly Baratheon, the master of laws, threatens to replace Janos Slynt as commander,[7] but the commanders Jacelyn Bywater and Addam Marbrand have both been chosen by the ruling Hand of the King, Tyrion and Tywin Lannister, respectively,[3][4] while Osfryd Kettleblack was chosen by the Dowager Queen Cersei Lannister.[8] The Commander is generally chosen from the existing pool of captains of the city's seven gates.[N 1]

Lowborn such as Ser Luthor Largent[9] and Ser Janos Slynt,[14] hedge knights such as Perkin the Flea[15] and Osfryd Kettleblack,[8] and bastards such as Humfrey Waters,[13] have risen to become Commanders of the Gold Cloaks.

History

Luthor Largent as depicted by Douglas Wheatley in Fire & Blood.

Following the death of King Maegor I Targaryen, Prince Jaehaerys arrested the Commander of the City Watch,[16] a position that was given to Lord Qarl Corbray when King Jaehaerys took the Iron Throne.[17] When Corbray succumbed to the Shivers in 59 AC, he was replace by Ser Robert Redwyne.[18]

In 104–105 AC, the City Watch was commanded by Prince Daemon Targaryen, who instituted their uniform use of equipment, including the golden cloaks from which they earned their nickname, and several weapons, such as dirk, short sword, and cudgel.[19]

During the Dance of the Dragons, the officers of the City Watch were loyal to Queen Alicent Hightower and the greens, but the rank-and-file gold cloaks supported their former commander, Daemon, a leader of the blacks. Ser Luthor Largent was appointed commander at the start of the war, but Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, named his son Ser Gwayne as Luthor's second.[9] During the fall of King's Landing, Luthor led a coup in support of the blacks and personally killed Gwayne Hightower.[20]

After Luthor was killed during the riots in King's Landing, Ser Balon Byrch became the new commander.[10] The "Mudfoot" garrison, stationed at the Mud Gate, joined the hedge knight and would-be kingmaker Perkin the Flea in declaring their allegiance to Trystane Truefyre, playing a crucial role in overthrowing Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.[10] Perkin became commander of the City Watch after a pardon from King Aegon II.[15]

Two commanders died during the Winter Fever in 133 AC.[21] During the Lysene Spring, George Graceford admitted that the commander Ser Lucas Leygood and six of the seven gate captains had conspired against King Aegon III Targaryen and Prince Viserys Targaryen. The only captain who was not involved, Ser Adrian Thorne, was chosen as the new Commander.[11]

When the Targaryens were overthrown during Robert's Rebellion, the new king, Robert I Baratheon, continued the institution of the gold cloaks, naming Janos Slynt as commander after the death of Manly Stokeworth.[12] During his rule as commander of the gold cloaks, Janos was known for taking bribes and selling positions and promotions. By the end of his tenure, over half the officers were paying him part of their salaries, but allowed him to remain in his position, arguing his successor might be worse. The king's brother, Lord Stannis, felt Lord Petyr Baelish had convinced Robert to retain Janos.[22]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Lord Renly Baratheon, the master of laws, threatens to replace Janos Slynt as commander when he struggles to keep the king's peace during the heavy influx of people arriving for the upcoming Hand's tourney.[7]

Following the death of King Robert, Lord Petyr Baelish, the master of coin, tells Lord Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, that he will make certain the gold cloaks are loyal to him in the power struggle against Queen Cersei Lannister, with a bribe of six thousand gold dragons, including a third for the Commander.[23] In truth, Petyr bribes the commander Janos Slynt to support the queen, so Eddard is betrayed in the throne room by Janos and his one hundred gold cloaks, who kill the Winterfell men.[24] Janos is rewarded by being named Lord of Harrenhal as well as a member of the Small Council.[1]

King Joffrey Baratheon considers leading the City Watch into the field against his uncle, King Renly Baratheon.[25]

A Clash of Kings

Now Lord of Harrenhal, Janos places his right-hand man Allar Deem first on the list of six potential successors as Commander of the City Watch that he submits to Tyrion Lannister, the acting Hand of the King, not knowing that Tyrion has already chosen Ser Jacelyn Bywater, an honorable veteran of Greyjoy's Rebellion.[3] Ser Jacelyn helps Tyrion prepare the city's defenses in the face of impending invasion by Stannis Baratheon.[6]

When King Joffrey withdraws from the walls during the Battle of the Blackwater, the men break. Ser Jacelyn attempts to rally them, but the Commander is killed by his own men on the cusp of success.[4]

A Storm of Swords

The new Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister, appoints Ser Addam Marbrand, a daring cavalry captain, as the new commander of the City Watch.[4]

A Feast for Crows

Ser Addam is relieved to leave his troubling duties to join Ser Jaime Lannister in a mopping-up campaign in the riverlands.[26] In his place Cersei appoints the illiterate hedge knight Osfryd Kettleblack,[8] who is later removed by the small council after Cersei's arrest by the Faith of the Seven. In Osfryd's place, they promote Humfrey Waters to lead the gold cloaks.[13]

Known Commanders of the City Watch

Historical Commanders

Commander Daemon Targaryen. Self-styled "Prince of the City". Known to the people as "Lord Flee Bottom". Art by Jota Saraivas

During A Song of Ice and Fire

Quotes

Daemon gave us these cloaks, and they're gold no matter how you turn them.[20]

—Luthor Largent to Gwayne Hightower

If you cannot keep the king's peace, Janos, perhaps the City Watch should be commanded by someone who can.[7]

—Renly Baratheon to Janos

For the sake of the love I bear for Catelyn, I will go to Janos Slynt this very hour and make certain that the City Watch is yours. Six thousand gold pieces should do it. A third for the Commander, a third for the officers, a third for the men. We might be able to buy them for half that much, but I prefer not to take chances.[23]

—Petyr Baelish to Eddard Stark

Janos: We have sore need of you, my lord. Rebellion everywhere, this grim omen in the sky, rioting in the city streets ...
Cesei: And whose fault is that, Lord Janos? Your gold cloaks are charged with keeping order.[29]

—Janos Slynt and Cersei Lannister

A man does not rise to command of the gold cloaks without ability.[12]

—Jon Snow to Bedwyck

Notes

  1. ↑ The following characters have been elevated to the position of Commander after already being a gate captain: Ser Luthor Largent,[9] Ser Balon Byrch,[10] Ser Adrian Thorne,[11] Ser Janos Slynt,[12] Ser Jacelyn Bywater,[3] and Humfrey Waters.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  2. ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 8, Tyrion II.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 4, Tyrion I.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
  14. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  16. ↑ Fire & Blood, Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC.
  18. ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  22. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 78, Samwell V.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
  24. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
  25. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
  26. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
  27. ↑ Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  28. ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
  29. ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
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