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.jpg) Steffon Darklyn by Francisco Vegas for the The Rise of the Dragon | ||||
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| Titles | ||||
| Allegiances | ||||
| Culture | Crownlands | |||
| Died |
129 AC Dragonstone[1] | |||
| Books |
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| Played by | Anthony Flanagan | |||
| TV series | House of the Dragon: Season 1 | 2 | |||
Steffon Darklyn was a knight from House Darklyn and a member of the Kingsguard,[2] one of the seven Darklyns to serve the order.[3] He was the uncle of Gunthor Darklyn, the Lord of Duskendale.[4]
In the television adaptation House of the Dragon, Steffon is portrayed by Anthony Flanagan.[5]
History
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Ser Steffon was a knight of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen.[2] Ser Harrold Darke, a distant kinsman of the Darklyns of Duskendale, was once his squire.[4]
When the king died in his sleep, Steffon was one of the five knights of the Kingsguard in King's Landing, the other two with Viserys' chosen heir and daughter Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen on Dragonstone. Upon learning of the king's death, Ser Criston Cole dispatched Steffon and the other Kingsguard knights to rouse the members of the small council, intent on crowning Princess Rhaenyra's half-brother as King Aegon II Targaryen, usurping the Iron Throne.[2] However, House Darklyn were among Rhaenyra's greatest supporters;[4] under the cover of darkness during the night, Steffon slipped away from the capital to attend Rhaenyra at Dragonstone with his squire, two stewards, four guardsmen, and Viserys' crown, fleeing out a postern gate to a fisherman's skiff to cross the Blackwater Bay.[2]
The arrival of Steffon at Dragonstone was an occasion of much joy among Rhaenyra's supporters, especially when it was learned that he had brought her father's crown with him, allowing for a hasty coronation among her supporters.[2] He served as the first Lord Commander of Rhaenyra's Queensguard. When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon called for dragonriders, Steffon made an attempt to mount Seasmoke during the Sowing, but he was burned to death by the dragon.[1] He was succeeded as Lord Commander by Ser Lorent Marbrand.[6]
Recent Events
A Feast for Crows
When Brienne of Tarth sees the seven white swords displayed on the sign above the Seven Swords inn at Duskendale, she recognizes they represent the seven Darklyns who served in the Kingsguard,[3] including Steffon Darklyn.[1]
Family
Steffon was the uncle of Gunthor Darklyn, Lord of Duskendale.[4] His relation to the contemporary Ser Robert Darklyn, the one-time Kingsguard knight for King Aegon III Targaryen, is unknown.
House of the Dragon
The television series House of the Dragon depicts Ser Steffon as a son of Lord Gunthor Darklyn and notes that his grandmother's grandmother was Aeriana Targaryen, justifying his attempt to mount Seasmoke during the Sowing on account of his distant Valyrian ancestry.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
- ↑ WarnerMedia Pressroom: House of the Dragon | Character Descriptions
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ House of the Dragon, Season 2, Episode 6: "Smallfolk".