Editing Knight (section)

===Conditions preventing knighthood===
Men with physical disabilities that prevent them from taking on the expected duties of a knight cannot gain knighthood. For example, [[Bran Stark]], [[Willas Tyrell]], and [[Mollander]] cannot be knights because of their disabilities.{{Ref|AGOT|53}}{{Ref|ASOS|38}}{{Ref|AFFC|0}} It can be assumed that other cripples of noble birth, such as [[Albin Massey]], [[Larys Strong]] and [[Lothar Frey]], were denied knighthood for the same reason. As a squire, [[Merrett Frey]] was denied knighthood by Lord [[Sumner Crakehall]] due to the head injuries he received in the campaign against the [[Kingswood Brotherhood]], which caused blinding headaches from even the lightest blow to his head.{{Ref|ASOS|81}} [[Tyrion Lannister]] knew from an early age his [[Dwarf|dwarfism]] would prevent him from becoming a knight.{{Ref|ADWD|5}} Other physical conditions that hinder a knight's duties, such as obesity and disinclination to martial training (for example, [[Samwell Tarly]]), would be another reason men do not become knights.<ref name=info/> [[Lackwit|Mental disabilities]] also preclude knighthood.{{Ref|ACOK|16}}

Some men do not become knights for lack of interest, although they are physically qualified. Followers of the [[old gods]] do not tend to be knighted, as knighthood is an [[Andal]] tradition usually requiring standing a vigil in a [[sept]] and vows to [[the Seven]].{{Ref|AGOT|53}}<ref name=info/> (However, there are exceptions, such as the knighthood process performed by the [[R'hllor]]-worshipping [[Beric Dondarrion]] and his [[brotherhood without banners]].{{Ref|ASOS|39}}) Some men reject knighthood for personal reasons, such as [[Sandor Clegane]].{{Ref|AGOT|29}} Some warriors cannot be knighted on grounds of their sex, such as [[Brienne of Tarth]]{{Ref|ACOK|22}} and [[Jonquil Darke]].{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}}

Some squires choose to never become a knight, and live the rest of their lives as squires. This may be because the individual does not have the inclination to live a knight's martial lifestyle, or does not have the funds to properly equip himself.<ref name=info/> According to [[George R. R. Martin]]: {{Quote|We tend to think of squires as teenaged boys, knights in training, but that is only part of the truth. Historically, there were many men who spent their entire lives as squires, and never became knights. It was quite common to have thirty- and forty-year-old squires, even some in their fifties. Such men perhaps did not have the wealth to become knights (knights had to pay for their own equipment), or perhaps did not have the inclination. They were the medieval counterparts of the career army sergeant who has no desire to be promoted to lieutenant, let alone general.<ref name=info/>}}