Lord Steffon's tourney[1] was held at Storm's End,[1][2] possibly between 278 AC and 281 AC, after the Defiance of Duskendale and before Robert's Rebellion.[1]
History
Ser Barristan Selmy recounts to Daenerys Targaryen that her brother, Prince Rhaegar once rode brilliantly in a tourney at Storm's End, defeating Lord Steffon Baratheon, Lord Jason Mallister, Prince Oberyn Martell, a mystery knight who turned out to be Simon Toyne, and, after breaking twelve lances, Ser Arthur Dayne. However, Rhaegar was defeated by a knight of the Kingsguard in the champion's tilt.[2]
Gerold Hightower, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, wrote in Barristan's White Book entry that Lord Steffon's tourney took place at Storm's End, in which Barristan was named champion after unhorsing Lord Robert Baratheon, Prince Oberyn, Lord Leyton Hightower, Lord Jon Connington, Lord Jason, and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.[1]
Contradictions
Based on semi-canon sources, the tourney at Storm's End mentioned by Barristan and Lord Steffon's tourney are the same event, with the unnamed knight who defeated Rhaegar in Barristan's account actually being Barristan, who didn't want to bring attention to himself.[3][4] However, there are discrepancies between Barristan's recollection and Gerold Hightower's report. While Barristan tells Daenerys that Oberyn Martell and Jason Mallister were defeated by Rhaegar, the White Book states that they were defeated by Barristan himself.[1][2]
According to George R. R. Martin, the White Book is correct, while Barristan Selmy misremembered several details of the hastilude, conflating circumstances that happened at two or three different tourneys.[3] The White Book entry calls the event "Lord Steffon's tourney" and at the same time names Robert Baratheon "lord", which means that his father Steffon had already died (278 AC or early 279 AC[5]), with the new lord Robert naming it after his late father as a homage. That would be consistent with Robert taking part in the joust, since in 278 AC he came of age, the time after which most knights receive their knighthoods.[5][6] However, Barristan recalls Rhaegar defeating Lord Steffon, meaning that one of the tourneys he is conflating took place when Lord Steffon was still alive.[2]
Furthermore, Barristan says that Rhaegar defeated Simon Toyne,[2] while the White Book entry lists Lord Steffon's tourney after the vanquishing of the Kingswood Brotherhood, during which Barristan killed Simon.[1] However, Hightower may simply not have listed Barristan's deeds in chronological order, which means that Simon Toyne may have actually competed against Rhaegar at Storm's End.
The Joust
As reported by Gerold Hightower in the White Book:[1]
Ser Barristan Selmy defeated Lord Robert Baratheon-
Ser Barristan Selmy defeated Prince Oberyn Martell -
Ser Barristan Selmy defeated Lord Leyton Hightower -
Ser Barristan Selmy defeated Lord Jon Connington -
Ser Barristan Selmy defeated Lord Jason Mallister -
Ser Barristan Selmy defeated Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
According to Barristan Selmy, Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Lord Steffon Baratheon, Lord Jason Mallister, Prince Oberyn Martell, Simon Toyne, disguised as a mystery knight, and Ser Arthur Dayne.[2] However, Barristan's account is unreliable, since he confused events that happened at different tourneys.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 So Spake Martin: Some Continuity Oddities, February 12, 2001
- ↑ asoiaf.westeros.org: The ASOIAF wiki thread, Comment #1 by Ran (February 3, 2025)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
- ↑ asoiaf.westeros.org: The ASOIAF wiki thread, Comment #2 by Ran (February 3, 2025)