Editing Hand of the King

{{Infobox title
| Name 	= Hand of the King
| image = [[File:Yulia Startsev The Hand's Judgement.png|350px]]
| image_caption   = Necklace of linked hands, by Yulia Startsev © Fantasy Flight Games
| Symbol 	  = 
| Office          = Chief advisor<br>[[Regent]]<br>Leader of the [[small council]]
| Region 	  = [[Seven Kingdoms]]
| Current Holder  = Lord [[Mace Tyrell]]
| Heir            = 
| First Holder  = Lord [[Orys Baratheon]]
| Creator 	= King [[Aegon I Targaryen]]
| Created 	= {{Date|-2}}
| Defunct 	= 
| Replaced 	= 
}}

The '''Hand of the King''' is the chief advisor to the [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]] and is the executor of the king's command in the [[Seven Kingdoms]].

==Culture==
[[File:Mauro Dal Bo Seal of the Hand.jpg|thumb|350px|A [[silver]] brooch used by the Hand of the King, by Mauro Dal Bo © FFG]]
Duties of the Hand include commanding the king's armies,{{Ref|AGOT|4}} drafting laws,{{Ref|AGOT|4}} dispensing justice,{{Ref|AGOT|4}} and generally managing the day-to-day running of the kingdom. The Hand may act on the king's behalf when he is indisposed, and sit the [[Iron Throne]] while doing so. The Hand also sits on the [[small council]] and will run the council if the king is not present.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}

The office typically makes the Hand the second-most powerful man in the kingdom next to the king,{{Ref|AGOT|4}} though some Hands have had the reputation of ruling their kings.{{Ref|ASOS|38}}

It is considered by some to be a difficult and unglamorous job of great responsibility. A popular saying goes, "What the king dreams, the Hand builds," but the lowborn say, "The king eats, and the Hand takes the shit."{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Many able men have failed in the office throughout history.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}

The Hand resides in the [[Tower of the Hand]] within the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|AGOT|20}} His [[badge of office]] always includes a hand, though each Hand can design his own. [[Rogar Baratheon]] and [[Brynden Rivers]] used brooches of [[gold]] and [[iron]], respectively.{{Ref|FAB|A Surfeit of Rulers}}{{Ref|TMK}} Several Hands have used chains,{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Go9ld}}{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} such as a necklace of linked golden hands.{{Ref|ACOK|32}}{{Ref|ACOK|65}} Servants of the Hand might wear the emblem of a hand.{{Ref|AGOT|22}}

==History==
[[File:Aegon Targaryen & Orys Baratheon by Paparinka Art.jpg|thumb|350px|King [[Aegon I Targaryen]] and his Hand, [[Orys Baratheon]], by Paparinka Art ©]]
During [[Aegon's Conquest|the Conquest]] of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] by [[House Targaryen]], King [[Aegon I Targaryen]] proclaimed his half-brother, [[Orys Baratheon]], to be "my shield, my stalwart, my strong right hand."{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Because of Aegon's description, Orys is regarded to have been the first Hand of the King.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}} Orys resigned after losing a hand in the [[First Dornish War]].{{Ref|FAB|Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}}

Lord [[Osmund Strong]] oversaw construction of the walls of [[King's Landing]],{{Ref|FAB|Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}} and Lord [[Alyn Stokeworth]] and Queen [[Visenya Targaryen]] oversaw construction of the [[Red Keep]].{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}

King [[Maegor I Targaryen]] executed Lord [[Lucas Harroway]] and his kin after his daughter, Queen [[Alys Harroway]], was accused of infidelity.{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}

Lord [[Rogar Baratheon]] was seen as the true power in the realm while serving as Hand during the minority of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC}} Septon [[Barth]], considered by some as the wisest man to have served as Hand,{{Ref|FAB|A Surfeit of Rulers}} began the [[Books of Law]] in {{Date|55}}.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}

Ser [[Otto Hightower]] served as Hand to Jaehaerys in the king's final years, and Otto continued in the position for King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]. Because Otto encouraged Viserys to name as his heirs the children of the king's second wife, Otto's daughter [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]], he was replaced as Hand by Lord [[Lyonel Strong]]. Otto was reinstated after Lyonel's death at [[Harrenhal]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} First Otto and then Ser [[Criston Cole]] served King [[Aegon II Targaryen]] as Hand during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] named Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] as Hand of the Queen for [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], Aegon's rival.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}} Lord [[Cregan Stark]] was briefly Hand during the [[Hour of the Wolf]].{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}

Ser [[Tyland Lannister]],{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}} Lord [[Unwin Peake]],{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan]],{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}} Ser [[Marston Waters]],{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} and Lord [[Torrhen Manderly]]{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} all served as Hand during the contentious [[regency of Aegon III]]. [[Viserys II]] served as Hand to three different kings: his brother Aegon III,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} and his nephews [[Daeron I]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}} and [[Baelor I]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} prior to becoming king, himself.

Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] failed to prevent the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]], and his successor, [[Lord Hayford]], was killed by Lord [[Gormon Peake]] during the war.{{Ref|TSS}} Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]] was a popular Hand, but he was killed during the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]].{{Ref|THK}} Lord [[Brynden Rivers]], on the other hand, was mistrusted as Hand,{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}} and his appointment angered [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]], [[Prince of Summerhall]].{{Ref|TSS}} Brynden called a [[Great Council]] after King Maekar's death, and King [[Aegon V Targaryen]] sent him to the [[Wall]] for having orchestrated the death of [[Aenys Blackfyre]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}

At the age of twenty, Ser [[Tywin Lannister]] became the youngest man to serve as Hand.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} It was said throughout the Seven Kingdoms that it was Tywin who truly ruled, not King [[Aerys II Targaryen]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}{{Ref|AFFC|27}} and Tywin eventually resigned after his heir, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], was appointed to the [[Kingsguard]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} Aerys dismissed first Lord [[Owen Merryweather]] for failing to prevent [[Robert's Rebellion]], and then Lord [[Jon Connington]] for his failure at the [[Battle of the Bells]].{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}} Aerys burned Lord [[Qarlton Chelsted]] for his opposition to the king's [[wildfire plot]],{{Ref|ASOS|37}} but Aerys and Lord [[Rossart]] were then killed by Jaime while attempting to enact their plot during the [[Sack of King's Landing]].{{Ref|ASOS|11}}

King [[Robert I Baratheon]] named Lord [[Jon Arryn]] as his Hand.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Vale: House Arryn}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:GT01 11094 EddardStark JacobMurray2.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Eddard Stark]], by Jake Murray © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Upon the unexpected death of his Hand, Lord [[Jon Arryn]], King [[Robert I Baratheon]] asks his childhood friend, Lord [[Eddard Stark]], to serve as Jon's replacement.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}

After Robert dies, Eddard is imprisoned for treason against his son, King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]].{{Ref|AGOT|52}} Joffrey's grandfather, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], is named as the new Hand,{{Ref|AGOT|57}} and Joffrey eventually orders Eddard's execution.{{Ref|AGOT|65}} Because Tywin is campaigning in the [[riverlands]] with the outbreak of war in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], he sends his younger son, [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]], to serve as acting Hand in [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|AGOT|69}}

===''A Clash of King''===
Lord [[Mace Tyrell]] serves as Hand to [[Renly Baratheon]],{{Ref|ACOK|Appendix}} a rival claimant to the [[Iron Throne]], but Renly is killed at [[Siege of Storm's End (299)|Storm's End]].{{Ref|ACOK|33}}

Tyrion's presence at the [[Red Keep]] upsets his sister, [[Cersei Lannister]], who serves as [[Queen Regent]] for her son, King Joffrey.{{Ref|ACOK|3}}{{Ref|ACOK|20}} Many Kingslanders hate Tyrion, considering the [[dwarf]] to be an evil councillor.{{Ref|ACOK|41}}{{Ref|ACOK|44}}

Lord Tywin assumes his position as King's Hand for Joffrey after defeating [[Stannis Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of the Blackwater]].{{Ref|ACOK|65}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[File:Tyrion as Hand.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Tyrion Lannister]], by Henning Ludvigsen © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Tywin serves as Hand to Joffrey and, after [[Purple Wedding|Joffrey's death]], to King [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]],{{Ref|ASOS|66}} until he is murdered in the [[Tower of the Hand]] by Tyrion. Tyrion also murders his former [[mistress]], [[Shae]], strangling her with the golden chain of linked hands that she was wearing after sleeping with Tywin.{{Ref|ASOS|77}} 

Lord [[Alester Florent]] serves as the Hand to [[Stannis Baratheon]], a rival claimant to the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|ACOK|12}} After Alester has been arrested for [[treason]], [[Axell Florent]] tries to make Ser [[Davos Seaworth]] advise Stannis to name himself as Hand of the King. Instead of Axell, Stannis chooses Davos to be his new Hand.{{Ref|ASOS|36}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
Cersei, Queen Regent for her son Tommen, orders the burning of the Tower of the Hand by [[wildfire]].{{Ref|AFFC|12}} She fails to convince her brother, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], to become Hand,{{Ref|AFFC|3}} and she refuses to meet the terms her uncle, Ser [[Kevan Lannister]], has for the office.{{Ref|AFFC|7}} Cersei instead appoints first Ser [[Harys Swyft]]{{Ref|AFFC|17}} and later Lord [[Orton Merryweather]]{{Ref|AFFC|39}} as Tommen's Hand. After Cersei is arrested by the [[Faith of the Seven]], Orton resigns from the [[small council]] and flees King's Landing.{{Ref|AFFC|43}}

Prior to the [[kingsmoot on Old Wyk]], [[Asha Greyjoy]] offers to support her uncle [[Victarion Greyjoy|Victarion]] as [[King of the Isles and the North]] if he names her his Hand. Victarion rejects her offer due to the absence of the office in [[ironborn]] culture, Asha's gender, and their contrasting views on the ironborn war for the [[north]].{{Ref|AFFC|18}} Asha and Victarion each stand in the kingsmoot, both losing to [[Euron Greyjoy]].{{Ref|AFFC|19}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
As Lord Regent, Kevan elevates Mace to Hand for King Tommen I.{{Ref|ADWD|54}} Lord Tyrell sits upon an oaken throne carved in the shape of a hand.{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}

Davos continues as Hand of the King for Stannis,{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}}{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}} while Axell calls himself the Queen's Hand for Stannis's wife, [[Selyse Florent]].{{Ref|ADWD|39}}

After King [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]] has been removed from power in [[Meereen]], Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] serves as Queen's Hand for the absent [[Daenerys Targaryen]].{{Ref|ADWD|70}}

Lord [[Jon Connington]] serves as the Hand to Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon Targaryen]], despite the latter not having been crowned king yet.{{Ref|ADWD|61}}

===''The Winds of Winter''===
{{Warning/twow}}
Lord Connington is styled "Hand of the True King".<ref>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Arianne I (The Winds of Winter)|Arianne I]]</ref>

==List of known Hands==

{| class=wikitable width=100%
! width=200px|During the reign of King
! width=250px|Hand of the King
!Period and Notes
|-
| rowspan="5"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon I Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Baratheon|s}} Lord [[Orys Baratheon]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}
| {{Date|1|7}}. First Hand of the King.
|-
| {{coa|Tully|s}} Lord [[Edmyn Tully]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Riverlands: House Tully}}
| {{Date|7|9}}
|-
| {{coa|Celtigar|s}} Lord [[Alton Celtigar]]
| {{Date|9|17}}
|-
| {{coa|Strong|s}} Ser [[Osmund Strong]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I}}
| {{Date|17|34}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{coa|Stokeworth|s}} Lord [[Alyn Stokeworth]]
| {{Date|34|37}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aenys I Targaryen]]
| {{Date|37}}
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} Prince [[Maegor I Targaryen|Maegor Targaryen]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}
| {{Date|37|39}}
|-
| {{coa|Septon|s}} Septon [[Murmison]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}
| {{Date|39|41}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Maegor I Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Harroway|s}} Lord [[Lucas Harroway]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Riverlands: House Tully}}
| {{Date|43|44}}. By orders of the king, he was thrown from the roof of the [[Tower of the Hand]] by [[knight]]s of the [[Kingsguard]].
|-
| {{coa|Celtigar|s}} Lord [[Edwell Celtigar]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I}}
| {{Date|44|48}}
|-
| rowspan="7"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Baratheon|s}} Lord [[Rogar Baratheon]]{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Prince into King - The Ascension of Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|A Surfeit of Rulers}}
| {{Date|48|50}}
|-
| {{coa|Velaryon|s}} Lord [[Daemon Velaryon (son of Aethan)|Daemon Velaryon]]{{Ref|FAB|A Time of Testing - The Realm Remade}}
| {{Date|50|54}}
|-
| {{coa|Smallwood|s}} Lord [[Myles Smallwood]]{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death and Betrayal under Jaehaerys I}}
| {{Date|54|57}}
|-
| {{coa|Septon|s}} Septon [[Barth]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}
| {{Date|58|98}}{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}<ref group="N" name=death>''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' states that Barth died in {{Date|99}} in "The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I". However, the more recently published ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' has changed this to {{Date|98}}.</ref>
|-
| {{coa|Redwyne|s}} Ser [[Ryam Redwyne]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}
| {{Date|99|100}}. Concurrently served as [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]].
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon Targaryen]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}
| {{Date|100|101}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{coa|Hightower|s}} Ser [[Otto Hightower]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
| {{Date|101|103}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Viserys I Targaryen]]
| {{Date|103|109}}. Removed as Hand after pushing the inheritance of his [[Alicent Hightower|daughter's]] sons over Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]].
|-
| {{coa|Strong|s}} Lord [[Lyonel Strong]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}
| {{Date|109|120}}. Died in a fire at [[Harrenhal]].
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{coa|Hightower|s}} Ser [[Otto Hightower]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
| {{Date|120|129}}. Reinstated after Lyonel's death.
|-
| rowspan="2"| {{coa|Aegon II Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon II Targaryen]]
| {{Date|129|130}}. Executed by Rhaenyra Targaryen.
|-
| {{coa|Kingsguard|s}} Ser [[Criston Cole]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|AFFC|16}}
| {{Date|130}}. Concurrently served as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Died at the [[Butcher's Ball]].
|-
| rowspan="9"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon III Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Stark|s}} Lord [[Cregan Stark]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf}}
| {{Date|131}}. Only held office for a day, before returning to the [[north]].
|-
| {{coa|Lannister|s}} Ser [[Tyland Lannister]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
| {{Date|131|133}}. Died of [[Winter Fever]].
|-
| {{coa|Peake|s}} Lord [[Unwin Peake]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| {{Date|133|134}}. Resigned the office after the king turned down a marriage proposal with his [[Myrielle Peake|daughter]].
|-
| {{coa|Rowan|s}} Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| {{Date|134|135}}. Imprisoned and tortured by plotters seeking to undermine the [[House Rogare|Rogare family's]] influence over the court.
|- 
| {{coa|Kingsguard|s}} Ser [[Marston Waters]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| {{Date|135}}. Concurrently served as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Participated in a plot to imprison Lord Thaddeus Rowan and members of the Rogare family present at court. He was then named Hand, but he died trying to arrest his sworn brother, Ser [[Mervyn Flowers]], a fortnight later.
|-
| {{coa|Rowan|s}} Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan]]{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| {{Date|135}}. Reinstalled after the imprisonment of plotters and death of Ser Marston Waters. However, after a moon's turn he was dismissed once again due to poor mental condition.
|- 
| {{coa|Grand Maester|s}} Grand Maester [[Munkun]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| {{Date|135|136}}. Served as Hand until the election of a new Hand in the [[Great Council|Council of 136 AC]].
|-
| {{coa|Manderly|s}} Lord [[Torrhen Manderly]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
| {{Date|136}}. Elected as the new Hand during the [[Great Council|Council of 136 AC]]. Dismissed when the king came of age.
|-
| rowspan="3" | {{coa|Targaryen|s}} Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]]
| Unknown<ref group="N">Ser [[Tywin Lannister]] was the youngest ever to be appointed [[Hand of the King]] at the age of twenty in {{Date|262}} ''([[The World of Ice and Fire]], The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II)''. Therefore Viserys, born in {{Date|122}} ''([[The Rogue Prince]])'', cannot have been named Hand earlier than {{Date|143}}. As Viserys was Aegon III's Hand during the final years of his reign, which ended in {{Date|157}} ''([[The World of Ice and Fire]], The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III)'', Viserys cannot have been named Hand later than {{Date|155}}. Thus, Viserys was appointed Hand of the King in or between {{Date|143}} and {{Date|155}}.</ref>–{{Date|157}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|AFFC|43}}
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Daeron I Targaryen]]
| {{Date|157|161}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Viserys II Targaryen}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}{{Ref|ASOS|59}}
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Baelor I Targaryen]]
| {{Date|161|171}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Viserys II Targaryen}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II}}{{Ref|ASOS|59}}
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Viserys II Targaryen]]
| Unknown 
| {{Date|171|172}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon IV Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Bracken|s}} [[Lord Bracken]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
| {{Date|172}}–Unknown. Father of two of the king's mistresses.
|-
| {{coa|Butterwell|s}} [[Butterwell (Hand of the King)|Lord Butterwell]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}{{Ref|TMK}}
| Unknown–Unknown
|-
| {{coa|Lothston|s}} Lord [[Lucas Lothston (husband of Falena)|Lucas Lothston]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
| {{date|178}}. Husband of a king's mistress, father to a second of the king's mistresses.
|-
| {{coa|Hightower|s}} Lord [[Jon Hightower]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}}
| Unknown–Unknown
|-
| rowspan="4"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Daeron II Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Butterwell|s}} Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]]{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}
| Unknown–{{Date|196}}. Removed for failing to contain the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}} He did not serve as Hand for long.{{Ref|TMK}}
|-
| {{coa|Hayford|s}} [[Lord Hayford]]{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}
| {{Date|196}}. Died at the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]].
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]]{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}
| Unknown–{{Date|209}}. He came to serve his father as Hand presumably right after the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field]]. Died after a blow to the head suffered in the [[trial of seven]] during the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]].
|-
| {{coa|Valarr Targaryen|s}} Prince [[Valarr Targaryen]] (Possibly){{Ref|TSS}}
| {{Date|209}}. Died during the [[Great Spring Sickness]]. It is currently unknown whether Valarr is referred to as Hand in ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'', or whether "the Hand" named as having died in the sickness is a separate individual.
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aerys I Targaryen]]
| rowspan="2" | {{coa|Bloodraven|s}} [[Brynden Rivers]]{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Maekar I}}
| {{Date|209|221}}
|-
| {{coa|Maekar I Targaryen|s}} [[Maekar I Targaryen]]
| {{Date|221|233}}
|-
| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aegon V Targaryen]]
| Unknown 
| {{Date|233|259}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Jaehaerys II Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Baratheon|s}} Lord [[Ormund Baratheon]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys II}}
| {{Date|259|260}}
|-
| {{coa|Sloane|s}} [[Edgar Sloane]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
| Unknown–{{Date|262}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| {{coa|Targaryen|s}} [[Aerys II Targaryen]]
| {{coa|Lannister|s}} Ser/Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}
| {{Date|262|281}}. Resigned his post for Aerys' slights against him.
|-
| {{coa|Merryweather|s}} Lord [[Owen Merryweather]]{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}}{{Ref|ASOS|11}}
| {{Date|281|282}}. Removed from office and exiled for failing to contain [[Robert's Rebellion]].
|-
| {{coa|Connington|s}} Lord [[Jon Connington]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}{{Ref|ASOS|11}}
| {{Date|282|283}}. Removed from his office and exiled after losing the [[Battle of the Bells]].
|-
| {{coa|Chelsted|s}} Lord [[Qarlton Chelsted]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The End}}{{Ref|ASOS|11}}
| {{Date|283}}. He resigned his position over Aerys's [[wildfire plot|plan to burn King's Landing]] and was subsequently burned alive for it.
|-
| {{coa|Rossart|s}} Wisdom [[Rossart]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The End}}{{Ref|ASOS|11}}
| {{Date|283}}. Was Hand for a fortnight. Named after the [[Battle of the Trident]].
|-
| rowspan="2"| {{coa|Baratheon|s}} [[Robert I Baratheon]]
| {{coa|Arryn|s}} Lord [[Jon Arryn]]{{Ref|AGOT|4}}
| {{Date|283|298}}
|-
| {{coa|Stark|s}} Lord [[Eddard Stark]]{{Ref|AGOT|4}}
| {{Date|298}}
|-
| {{coa|Baratheon of King's Landing|s}} [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]]
| rowspan="2"| {{coa|Lannister|s}} Lord [[Tywin Lannister]]{{Ref|AGOT|65}}{{Ref|AGOT|69}}
| rowspan="2"| {{Date|298|300}}. Served as Hand as well under [[Aerys II Targaryen]]. While Tywin is [[War of the Five Kings|campaigning in the riverlands]], his son [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] is acting Hand ({{Date|298|299}}).
|-
| rowspan="4"| {{coa|Baratheon of King's Landing|s}} [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen I Baratheon]]
|-
| {{coa|Swyft|s}} Ser [[Harys Swyft]]{{Ref|AFFC|17}}
| {{Date|300}}
|-
| {{coa|Merryweather|s}} Lord [[Orton Merryweather]]{{Ref|AFFC|39}}
| {{Date|300}}
|-
| {{coa|Tyrell|s}} Lord [[Mace Tyrell]]{{Ref|ADWD|54}}
| {{Date|300}}–Present
|}

[[File:Hand of the King.jpeg|thumb|350px|Hand of the King brooch, from ''[[Game of Thrones]]''.]]

==Hands of claimants to the Iron Throne==
* {{coa|Velaryon|s}} Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], for [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
* {{coa|Tyrell|s}} Lord [[Mace Tyrell]], for [[Renly Baratheon]] before Renly's death
* {{coa|Florent|s}} Lord [[Alester Florent]], for [[Stannis Baratheon]], later removed and executed for treason
* {{coa|Seaworth|s}} Lord [[Davos Seaworth]], for [[Stannis Baratheon]]
* {{coa|Florent|s}} Ser [[Axell Florent]], self-styled Queen's Hand for [[Selyse Florent]]
* {{coa|Queensguard|s}} Ser [[Barristan Selmy]] for [[Daenerys Targaryen]]
* {{coa|Connington|s}} Lord [[Jon Connington]] for [[Aegon Targaryen (Young Griff)|Aegon VI Targaryen]], styled Hand of the True King

==Quotes==
{{Quote|The King's Hand should have a hand. I will not have men speaking of the King's Stump.{{ref|FAB|Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I}}|[[Orys Baratheon]] to [[Aegon I Targaryen]]}}

{{Quote|The Hand of the King was the second-most powerful man in the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. He spoke with the [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|king]]'s voice, commanded the king's [[armies]], drafted the king's [[Laws and justice of the Seven Kingdoms|laws]]. At times he even sat upon the [[Iron Throne]] to dispense king's justice, when the king was absent, or sick, or otherwise indisposed. [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert]] was offering him a responsibility as large as the realm itself. It was the last thing in the world he wanted.{{Ref|AGOT|4}}|thoughts of [[Eddard Stark]]}}

{{Quote|They say the Hand dreams the king's dreams, speaks with the king's voice, and rules with the king's sword.{{Ref|AGOT|35}}|[[Petyr Baelish]] to [[Eddard Stark]]}}

{{Quote|A weak ruler needs a strong Hand, as [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] needed [[Tywin Lannister|Father]]. A strong ruler requires only a diligent servant to carry out his orders.{{Ref|AFFC|16}}|[[Cersei Lannister]] to [[Jaime Lannister]]}}

{{Quote|The Hand should speak with the king's voice.{{Ref|ADWD|19}}|thoughts of [[Davos Seaworth]]}}

{{Quote|'''Davos''': The King's Hand should be a highborn [[lord]], someone wise and learned, a battle commander or a great [[knight]]...<br>
'''Pylos''': Ser [[Ryam Redwyne]] was the greatest knight of his day, and one of the worst Hands ever to serve a king. Septon [[Murmison]]'s prayers worked miracles, but as Hand he soon had [[Seven Kingdoms|the whole realm]] praying for his death. Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell|Butterwell]] was renowned for wit, [[Myles Smallwood]] for courage, Ser [[Otto Hightower]] for learning, yet they failed as Hands, every one. As for birth, the [[dragon]]kings oft chose Hands from amongst [[House Targaryen|their own blood]], with results as various as [[Baelor Breakspear]] and [[Maegor the Cruel]]. Against this, you have Septon [[Barth]], the blacksmith's son the [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Old King]] plucked from the [[Red Keep]]'s library, who gave the realm forty years of peace and plenty. Read your history, Lord Davos, and you will see that your doubts are groundless.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}|[[Davos Seaworth]] and [[Pylos]]}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References}}

{{Hands of the King}}

[[Category:Hands of the King| ]]
[[Category:Small council]]
[[Category:Titles]]

[[es:Mano del Rey]]
[[fa:دست پادشاه]]
[[fr:Main du Roi]]
[[nl:Hand des Konings]]
[[pt:Mão do Rei]]
[[ru:Десница Короля]]
[[zh:&#22269;&#29579;&#20043;&#25163;]]