Tourney knight
A tourney knight is a knight renowned for his feats in tournaments, as opposed to those on the battlefield.
Contents
Culture
It is possible to be a professional tourney knight; for instance, Uthor Underleaf made his living wagering on jousts and the ransoms he gained for his wins. He preferred not to become a tourney champion, as he did not want to become famous, but was satisfied with the prize granted to the knight who came second. Uthor would bribe the master of the games so that he would face the opponents he preferred, such as big men and older champions past their prime, so as to appear the odds were against him.[1]
History
House Wydman is a noble house from the Vale of Arryn who was founded by a tourney knight.[2]
During the first century of Targaryen rule, the most renowned tourney knight was Ryam Redwyne, who won several tourneys throughout his career, including the Tourney at King's Landing on the anniversary of the king's coronation in 58 AC,[3] a tourney at Oldtown in 89 AC,[4] and the tourney to celebrate the fiftieth year of King Jaehaerys's reign in 98 AC, also at King's Landing, where he was named co-champion after breaking thirty lances against Ser Clement Crabb.[5]
Pearse Caron was a renowned singer and harper, and a skilled tourney knight, being as skilled with the high harp as he was with a lance.[6] Ser Humfrey Hardyng was a tourney knight of renown, winning a great melee at Maidenpool in 208 AC, and overthrowing Ser Donnel of Duskendale and Lords Arryn and Royce in the lists.[6]
Recent history
In his youth, Ser Bonifer Hasty was a promising tourney knight,[7] once wearing the favor of Princess Rhaella Targaryen in a tourney in which he defeated all challengers to name Rhaella his queen of love and beauty.[8]
Barristan Selmy was an eminently successful tourney knight throughout his career, twice entering a tourney as a mystery knight in his teens, the latter at the age of sixteen, where he unhorsed Ser Duncan the Tall, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in 253 AC.[9] Prince Rhaegar Targaryen was also a great tourney knight, reaching the final of the tournament in honor of Viserys's birth in 276 AC, which he lost to Arthur Dayne.[10] Prince Rhaegar and Selmy faced each other in the champion's tilt on at least two occasions, with Selmy, now of the Kingsguard, winning the Lord Steffon's tourney at Storm's End,[9] while the Prince claimed the tourney at Harrenhal in 281 AC.[11]
Despite never having been a tourney knight, Jorah Mormont unexpectedly won the tourney at Lannisport in 289 AC.[12] The Lords Jason Mallister and Yohn Royce are renowned tourney knights, participating in several tourneys over the years, with Jason losing in Storm's End to the eventual champion Barristan Selmy, while Yohn lost in Harrenhal to the eventual champion Prince Rhaegar, and then both of them lost in Lannisport to the eventual champion Jorah Mormont.[9][11][12]
Following Robert's Rebellion, Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard quickly stood out as the best tourney knight on the land, winning King Robert's wedding tourney in 284 AC,[9] and reaching the champion's tilt at both the tourney at Lannisport in 289 AC, which he lost to Jorah Mormont,[12] and the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day in 298 AC, which he lost to the 15-year-old Loras Tyrell.[13]
Barristan Selmy remained a formidable fighter even in his advanced years, winning the championship of a tourney at King's Landing at the age of 57, and unhorsing Sandor Clegane in a tilt in the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day in 297 AC.[14]
Despite being said to have had the makings of a tourney knight, Domeric Bolton is not mentioned to have received his knighthood prior to leaving the Vale.[15]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
During the Hand's tourney at King's Landing, Ser Barristan is defeated by his fellow sworn sword Ser Jaime after three tilts, having defeated men thirty and forty years younger in his first two contests. Many other renowned tourney knights participated in the Hand's tourney, such as Jason Mallister, Yohn Royce, and Loras Tyrell,[16] but the tourney was ultimately won by Sandor Clegane, who was never knighted.[17]
Known tourney champions
- Simon Dondarrion, champion of the tourney for the completion of the Dragonpit
- Ryam Redwyne and Clement Crabb, co-champions of the tourney to celebrate the fiftieth year of King Jaehaerys's reign
- Bonifer Hasty
- Arthur Dayne, champion of the tournament in honor of Viserys's birth in 276 AC[10]
- Barristan Selmy, champion of Lord Steffon's tourney at Storm's End[9]
- Rhaegar Targaryen, champion of the tourney at Harrenhal in 281 AC[11]
- Jaime Lannister, champion of the King Robert's wedding tourney in 284 AC[9]
- Jorah Mormont, champion of the tourney at Lannisport in 289 AC[12]
- Loras Tyrell, champion of the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day in 298 AC[13]
- Sandor Clegane, champion of the Hand's tourney in 298 AC
Quotes
I fight as well as any man, Khaleesi, but I have never been a tourney knight. Yet with Lynesse's favor knotted round my arm, I was a different man. I won joust after joust. Lord Jason Mallister fell before me, and Bronze Yohn Royce. Ser Ryman Frey, his brother Ser Hosteen, Lord Whent, Strongboar, even Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard, I unhorsed them all. In the last match, I broke nine lances against Jaime Lannister to no result, and King Robert gave me the champion's laurel.[12]
Jaime: Ser Osmund. I do not know you. I find that curious. I've fought in tourneys, mêlées, and battles throughout the Seven Kingdoms. I know of every hedge knight, freerider, and upjumped squire of any skill who has ever presumed to break a lance in the lists. So how is it that I have never heard of you, Ser Osmund?
Osmund: That I couldn't say, my lord. I'm a soldier, though, not no tourney knight.[9]
Tis true, I am no tourney knight. I save my valor for the battlefield, woman.[18]
References
- ↑ The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: House Wydman
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 43, Daenerys VII.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.