Editing Pycelle (section)

==History==
Pycelle forged his [[maester]]'s chain in [[Oldtown]] as a young man during the hot summer in the reign of King [[Maekar I Targaryen]].{{Ref|AGOT|25}}

After Grand Maester [[Merion]] died on his way to serve [[Aegon V Targaryen]], following the deaths of the elderly Grand Maesters [[Kaeth]] and [[Ellendor]] in quick succession, the king asked the [[Citadel]] to send a younger man. Pycelle was granted the position.{{Ref|AFFC|36}} He has been the Grand Maester of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] for forty years, serving Aegon V and [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen|Jaehaerys II]] before [[Aerys II Targaryen]].{{Ref|AFFC|36}} Pycelle wrote ''[[Observations Upon the Recent Blood-Letting on the Stepstones]]'' about the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]].<ref name=West/>

During the reign of [[Aerys II Targaryen]], Pycelle came to greatly admire and respect Aerys's [[Hand of the King|Hand]], [[Tywin Lannister]]. Out of all the members of the [[small council]], Pycelle assisted Tywin the most in the governance of the realm. Pycelle wrote the [[Citadel]] often, praising Tywin's leadership, stating that the man was born to rule. While Aerys grew increasingly jealous and resentful of Tywin's capability, Pycelle became a staunch ally to the Hand, until Tywn resigned his office in {{Date|281}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|17}}

Aerys also mistrusted his own son and heir, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]], who had become wary of his father's behavior.{{Ref|ADWD|24}} At court tensions were growing between the factions loyal to the king and those loyal to Rhaegar. It fell to Pycelle and the new Hand, Lord [[Owen Merryweather]], to try and keep the peace between the factions. Pycelle even dispatched a letter to the [[Citadel]] writing that tensions and division at court strongly resembled those before the [[Dance of the Dragons]]. Pycelle was fearful that a civil war between those loyal to the king and Rhaegar's supporters would break out unless some accord could be reached that would satisfy both factions.{{Ref|TWOIAF|5|1}}

Near the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]], Pycelle convinced King Aerys to open his gates to his former Hand, Tywin, in the hope that Tywin would take the throne. This led to the [[Sack of King's Landing]].{{Ref|ACOK|25}}{{Ref|ASOS|37}} During the [[coronation of Robert I Baratheon]], Pycelle was pardoned for his service under Aerys II and allowed to continue on the [[small council]].{{Ref|AGOT|45}}{{Ref|ACOK|55}} Despite his oath to serve the realm, Pycelle has generally promoted the interests of [[House Lannister]] on the council for years.{{Ref|ACOK|25}}{{Ref|AFFC|39}}