Editing Gerold Hightower

{{Infobox character 
| arms = Hightower
| arms2 = Kingsguard
| title = Ser
| firstname = Gerold
| lastname = Hightower
|| epithet = the White Bull
| image = [[File:Gerold hightower lord commander of the kingsguard by gutter1333-d6futic.jpg|300px]]
| image_caption = Gerold Hightower, art by Gutter1333 ©
| Alias = The White Bull{{Ref|AGOT|8}}
| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]<br>[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]
| Allegiance = [[House Hightower]]<br>[[Kingsguard]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Reach]]
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|243}} or before<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued)#Gerold Hightower|Gerold Hightower]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death = the [[tower of joy]], [[Dorne]]
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|283}}
| Place_of_Burial = the tower of joy, Dorne
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[w:Eddie Eyre|Eddie Eyre]]
| TV_series = ''[[Game of Thrones]]'': [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]]
}}

'''Gerold Hightower''', known as '''the White Bull''', was a [[knight]] from [[House Hightower]] and the [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]] of the [[Kingsguard]] during the reigns of kings [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]] and [[Aerys II Targaryen]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}} He was the uncle of Lord [[Leyton Hightower]] of [[Oldtown]].{{Ref|ACOK|12}}

In the television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Gerold Hightower is merged with [[Oswell Whent]], keeping the former's name, and portrayed by [[w:Eddie Eyre|Eddie Eyre]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/EddieEyre/status/729796204733837313 Tweet] by @EddieEyre: "'Gerold Hightower', but the character was an amalgamation of both really", 9 May 2016</ref>

==Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Gerold Hightower|l1=Images of Gerold Hightower}}

Gerold was considered to be fierce, despite his old age,{{Ref|AGOT|39}} and in his heyday, he would have been stronger than [[Jaime Lannister]] at his prime.{{Ref|ASOS|21}} Gerold's writing in the [[White Book]] is big and forceful.{{ref|ASOS|67}}

==History==
===In the  Kingsguard===
It is unknown when Gerold joined the order of the [[Kingsguard]]. The young Gerold<ref group="N">Gerold is described as "the new young Lord Commander of the Kingsguard" in 260 AC (''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]'', ''The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II''). It is unknown if the adjective "young" is used here to mark the difference of age between Gerold and his predecessor (Ser Duncan the Tall was in his late sixties when he presumably died), or that Gerold was indeed young at the time. The fact that Gerold took command of the Westerosi army during the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]] and is described as "old" by the time of [[Robert's Rebellion]] (''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[A Game of Thrones-Chapter 39|Eddard X]]''), gives more credit to the former possibility.</ref> became [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]] around {{Date|260}}, following the presumed death of his predecessor, Ser [[Duncan the Tall]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Duncan}} During the [[War of the Ninepenny Kings]], Gerold took command of the royal forces after the death of the [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Ormund Baratheon]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}} After the war, he accepted Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] into the order.{{Ref|AGOT|57}}{{Ref|ASOS|67}}

Around {{Date|280}}/{{Date|281}}, Gerold was shot through the hand by [[Ulmer]], an [[outlaw]] of the [[Kingswood Brotherhood]], who went on to steal a kiss and some jewels from Princess [[Elia Martell]] of [[Dorne]].{{Ref|ASOS|33}} In {{Date|281}}, at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]], Gerold fastened the white cloak of the Kingsguard about the shoulders of the newest member, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]].{{Ref|AGOT|58}} That evening, when King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] ordered Jaime to return to [[King's Landing]] to guard Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen|Rhaella]] and Prince [[Viserys Targaryen|Viserys]], Gerold offered to go in Jaime's stead, so Jaime could remain at Harrenhal and take part in the tourney, but Aerys refused.{{Ref|aSoS|44}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}}

===Robert's Rebellion===
:{{main|Robert's Rebellion}}
[[File:Thaldir Ser Gerold Hightower.jpg|thumb|Gerold Hightower, by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Gerold was present when King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] burned Lord [[Rickard Stark]] alive in the [[Red Keep]]'s throne room, and while [[Brandon Stark]] strangled himself to death. After the two Starks died, Gerold took Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] aside and reminded him they were sworn to defend the king, not to judge him.{{Ref|ACOK|55}}

During the [[Robert's Rebellion|ensuing rebellion]], after the [[Battle of the Bells]], Gerold was sent to find Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen|Rhaegar]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Rhaegar Targaryen}} While Rhaegar eventually returned to [[King's Landing]], Gerold did not. He was next seen at the [[tower of joy]] in the [[Red Mountains]] of [[Dorne]], with two of his sworn brothers, Ser [[Arthur Dayne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]],{{ref|AGOT|39}} both of whom had been with Rhaegar when he disappeared originally.{{Ref|AWOIAF|Rhaegar Targaryen}} Here, they were guarding [[Lyanna Stark]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Rhaegar Targaryen}}{{Ref|AGOT|39}}

The three Kingsguard were eventually found at the tower by Lyanna's brother, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] of [[Winterfell]], and six of Eddard's companions. After a short conversation with Eddard, during which the three knights refused several opportunities to leave unharmed, [[Combat at the tower of joy|combat ensued]] in which Gerold died.{{Ref|AGOT|39}} Stones from the tower were used to build his cairn upon a nearby ridge.{{Ref|AGOT|39}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[Bran Stark]], who wishes to become a knight of the Kingsguard someday, lists the members of the order he knows from songs and [[Old Nan]]'s stories, among them is Ser Gerold.{{Ref|AGOT|8}}

Lord [[Eddard Stark]] has a fever dream of Gerold, Ser [[Arthur Dayne]], and Ser [[Oswell Whent]] at the [[tower of joy]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
Resting on a [[weirwood]] stump, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] dreams of he and [[Brienne of Tarth]] being visited by the shades of Gerold, Oswell, Arthur, Ser [[Jonothor Darry|Jon Darry]], Prince [[Lewyn Martell]], and Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] in the depths of [[Casterly Rock]].{{Ref|ASOS|44}}

==Quotes by Gerold==
{{Quote|The [[Kingsguard]] does not flee.{{Ref|AGOT|39}}|Gerold to [[Eddard Stark]] in Eddard's dream}}

{{Quote|You swore a vow to guard the king, not to judge him.{{Ref|ACOK|55}}|Gerold to [[Jaime Lannister]], after [[Aerys II Targaryen]] murdered [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]] and [[Rickard Stark]]}}

==Quotes about Gerold==
{{Quote|That was the White Bull, loyal to the end and a better man than me, all agree.{{Ref|ACOK|55}}|[[Jaime Lannister]] to [[Catelyn Stark]]}}

{{Quote|I learned from the White Bull and [[Barristan Selmy|Barristan the Bold]]. I learned from Ser [[Arthur Dayne]], the [[Sword of the Morning]], who could have slain all five of you with his left hand while he was taking a piss with the right. I learned from Prince [[Lewyn Martell|Lewyn of Dorne]] and Ser [[Oswell Whent]] and Ser [[Jonothor Darry]], good men every one.{{Ref|ASOS|67}}|[[Jaime Lannister]] to [[Loras Tyrell]], [[Osmund Kettleblack]], [[Balon Swann]], [[Meryn Trant]], and [[Boros Blount]]}}

==Family==
Gerold was a member of [[House Hightower]]. He had at least one brother, who went on to continue the Hightower line. Gerold was the uncle of Lord [[Leyton Hightower]], and thereby the great-uncle of Leyton's ten children.{{Ref|ACOK|12}}

{{Hightower tree}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|2}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Duncan the Tall]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]|years={{Date|259|283}}|under=[[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]]<br>[[Aerys II Targaryen]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Barristan Selmy]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Kingsguard of Jaehaerys II}}
{{Kingsguard of Aerys II}}
{{Lords Commander of the Kingsguard}}
{{Jaehaerys II small council}}
{{Aerys II small council}}

[[Category:House Hightower]]
[[Category:3rd century AC births|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:283 AC deaths|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Casualties of Robert's Rebellion|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Characters from the Reach|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Lords Commander of the Kingsguard|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Members of the Kingsguard|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Members of Jaehaerys II Targaryen's court|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Members of Aerys II Targaryen's court|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Nobles|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Royalists of Robert's Rebellion|Hightower, Gerold]]
[[Category:Veterans of the War of the Ninepenny Kings|Hightower, Gerold]]

[[es:Gerold Hightower]]
[[fa:جرالد های تاور]]
[[fr:Gerold Hightower]]
[[ru:Герольд Хайтауэр]]
[[zh:&#26480;&#27931;&#183;&#28023;&#22612;&#23572;]]