The Grand Maester is a member of the order of maesters designated as their representative to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Sworn to serve the whole Seven Kingdoms,[1] the Grand Maester sits on the king's small council and acts as one of the royal advisers.[2].
Origins and election
The office of Grand Maester was created in 5 AC by Aegon I Targaryen, who asked for an archmaester to advise him on governing the Seven Kingdoms.[3]
As the Citadel's representative to the royal court,[4] the Grand Maester is elected by the Conclave, and only the Conclave can unmake him again, although several Grand Maesters have died violently.[5] More than forty men have served the Iron Throne as Grand Maester.[6]
Although the Conclave puts effort into demonstrating their consideration of ability before birth, this is generally a pretense, as family status often affects their final choice for Grand Maester.[5]
Grand Maesters are generally older men. Kaeth was chosen as Grand Maester at the age of eighty, Ellendor at almost ninety, and Merion at the age of sixty-six. After all three died within a short time span, King Aegon V Targaryen suggested to the Conclave that a younger man might be better. As such, Pycelle, aged forty-two, was raised to the office.[7].
Chains
Grand Maester Pycelle wears two dozen heavy chains wound together, covering him from throat to breast. The links are forged of black iron, red gold, copper, lead, steel, tin, silver, brass, bronze, and platinum. Garnets, amethysts, and black pearls adorn the metal-work, as well as some emeralds and rubies.[2]
Grand Maesters
- Grand Maester Gawen
- Grand Maester Gawen, executed by Maegor[8]
- Grand Maester Myros, executed by Maegor[8]
- Grand Maester Desmond, executed by Maegor[8]
- Grand Maester Benifer, the final Grand Maester to serve Maegor and the only one to survive his reign
Jaehaerys I Targaryen (48–103 AC)
Viserys I Targaryen (103–129 AC)
Dance of the Dragons (129–131 AC)
The Dance of the Dragons was a war between Prince Aegon the Elder and his older half-sister, Princess Rhaenyra. Both had their own council, each with their own Grand Maester.
- Grand Maester Orwyle
Aegon III Targaryen (131–157 AC)
Daeron I Targaryen (157–161 AC)
- Unknown
Baelor I Targaryen (161–171 AC)
- Grand Maester Munkun
Viserys II Targaryen (171–172 AC)
- Unknown
Aegon IV Targaryen (172–184 AC)
- Unknown
Daeron II Targaryen (184–209 AC)
- Unknown
Aerys I Targaryen (209–221 AC)
- The Grand Maester during the reign of Aerys I Targaryen, said to be steeped in sorcery[9]
Maekar I Targaryen (221–233 AC)
- Unknown
Aegon V Targaryen (233–259 AC)
- Grand Maester Kaeth, wrote the book Lives of Four Kings
- Grand Maester Ellendor[7]
- Grand Maester Merion was named to the office but died before arriving in King's Landing.[7]
- Grand Maester Pycelle
Jaehaerys II Targaryen (259–262 AC)
- Grand Maester Pycelle
Aerys II Targaryen (262–283 AC)
- Grand Maester Pycelle
Robert I Baratheon (283–298 AC)
- Grand Maester Pycelle
Joffrey I Baratheon (298–300 AC)
- Grand Maester Pycelle
- Grand Maester Pycelle
Unknown Reign
- Grand Maester Aethelmure, whose biography exists in the Library Tower at Winterfell and whose harsh view on poisoners is referenced by Grand Maester Pycelle[10][11]
- Grand Maester Clegg, who speculated on the content of Prince Nymor Martell's letter to King Aegon I Targaryen
- Grand Maester Greydon, who wrote about the Triarchy
- Grand Maester Hareth, who was executed for treason[12]
- Grand Maester Lucan, who wrote about the reasoning behind why King Aegon I Targaryen couldn't make peace with the Dornishmen at the end of the First Dornish War
- Grand Maester Malleon, who wrote the book The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms
Recent events
A Clash of Kings
Acting as Hand of the King, Tyrion Lannister has Grand Maester Pycelle thrown into the dungeons of the Red Keep as punishment for betraying his confidential information to Queen Regent Cersei Lannister.[13]
A Storm of Swords
Accepting Pycelle's dismissal, the Conclave gathers to discuss who his successor should be. After pretending to consider two lowborn maesters, the Conclave comes close to electing Maester Gormon, who had been born a Tyrell of Highgarden. Thanks to the presence of his little birds at the Citadel, Lord Varys learns of this, and warns Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King. To prevent the Tyrells from gaining more influence at court, Tywin immediately restores Pycelle to his office.[5]
A Dance with Dragons
Following the imprisonment of Queen Cersei by the Faith of the Seven, Grand Maester Pycelle successfully seizes control of King Tommen I Baratheon and the small council. He offers Ser Kevan Lannister the regency. Together, they attempt to restore the damage done by Cersei and to mend the Lannister-Tyrell alliance that supports Tommen's hold on the Iron Throne. When he sees they are going to succeed, Varys, the former master of whisperers, assassinates both Pycelle and Kevan.[14]
Quotes
Near forty years I have been Grand Maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Under our good King Robert, and Aerys Targaryen before him, and his father Jaehaerys the Second before him, and even for a few short months under Jaehaerys's father, Aegon the Fortunate, the Fifth of His Name.[11]
—Pycelle to Eddard Stark
After giving due consideration to Maester Turquin the cordwainer's son and Maester Erreck the hedge knight's bastard, and thereby demonstrating to their own satisfaction that ability counts for more than birth in their order, the Conclave was on the verge of sending us Maester Gormon, a Tyrell of Highgarden. When I told your lord father, he acted at once.[5]Varys to Tyrion Lannister
Roose: I am sending Qyburn with you, to look after you on the way to King's Landing. He has a fond hope that your father will force the Citadel to give him back his chain, in gratitude.
Jaime: We all have fond hopes. If he grows me back a hand, my father will make him Grand Maester.[15]
—thoughts of Cersei Lannister
Notes
References
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Maesters.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 12, Tyrion II.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 9, Tyrion I.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Epilogue.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.