Pycelle

Title	Grand Maester
Born	215 AC
Died	301 AC King's Landing
Books	A Game of Thrones A Clash of Kings A Storm of Swords A Feast for Crows A Dance with Dragons
Played by	Julian Glover
TV series	Season 1 | Season 2

Grand Maester Pycelle has served the realm for many years. He is the highest-ranking maester and answers only to the king.In the TV series he is played by Julian Glover.

History

Pycelle forged his maester's chain during the reign of Maekar I. He has been the Grand Maester of the Seven Kingdoms for forty years, serving the kings Aegon V, Jaehaerys II, Aerys II, Robert I, Joffrey I and lastly Tommen I. Despite his oath to serve the realm however Pycelle has more loyalty to House Lannister. He convinced King Aerys II to open his gates to Lord Tywin in the waning days of Robert's Rebellion in the hope that Tywin would take the throne, allowed Lord Arryn to die under his care to keep the secret of Queen Cersei's incest and generally promoted the interests of House Lannister on the small council for years.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Julian Glover as Pycelle (TV series)

Catelyn Tully reports to Eddard Stark that Maester Pycelle was helpless in saving the life of Lord Jon Arryn. Grand Maester Pycelle sits on the small council. When Eddard makes enquires about the death of Jon Arryn, Pycelle points the finger of suspicion on Varys.

After Eddard Stark is injured in a street fight with Ser Jaime Lannister, Pycelle tasks himself with maintaining Eddard's healing. When it was discovered Gregor Clegane had led raids into the riverlands burning several villages, Pycelle tries to delay any action taken against House Lannister. Eddard becomes more and more convinced that Pycelle is the Queen's creature.

Pycelle under Cersei Lannister's direction visits the grief stricken Sansa Stark after her father's death and examines her intrusively before giving her a potion to calm her.

A Clash of Kings

Tyrion tells Pycelle to send letters to Prince Doran Martell. He does, but reads them first. He shares the information with Cersei Lannister, who proceeds to use it against Tyrion. He is present when Tyrion gives his terms for peace with the North. Tyrion later confronts Pycelle in his chambers, where he is found naked in bed with a female servant girl. There and with the help of Shagga who shaves off Pycelle's signature white beard, Tyrion finds out that Pycelle has betrayed the realm over and over in service to House Lannister. He failed to stop the poisoning of Jon Arryn, convinced Aerys II to open the gates to Lannister forces during Robert's Rebellion and let Robert I die instead of saving him. Tyrion has him thrown in one of the black cells.

A Storm of Swords

Pycelle is restored to his position by Tywin Lannister after Tywin learns that the Citadel was planning on naming a member of House Tyrell as his replacement. Pycelle with his beard shaved off and weakened from his time in the Black cells appears to be a broken man. He falls asleep during the wedding of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell and is unable to take any action to prevent Joffrey's death at the banquet from poison, something that sour Queen Cersei's opinion of him. During the trial of Tyrion Lannister for Joffrey's murder, he is called as a witness for the prosecution to discuss poisons and how Tyrion might have killed the King.

A Feast for Crows

Following Joffrey's death the relationship between Pycelle and Queen Cersei as Regent becomes more strained. He opposes the naming of Qyburn, a disgraced maester, to the small council. Cersei blames him for the deplorable state of Lord Tywin Lannister's corpse. Taena of Myr casts suspicion on Pycelle when she reports to Queen Cersei that he is found often in the company of Queen Margaery Tyrell.. Pycelle objects to many of Cersei's edicts, such as her refusing to honor the debts the crown owes the Iron Bank of Braavos and her decision to allow the High Faith to re-arm. After pressure from Cersei, Pycelle admitts to giving Margaery moon tea, a contraceptive.

This discovery is crucial in Cersei's efforts to frame Margaery for adultery and treason, delivering her to the captivity of the High Septon.

Cersei considers getting him replaced and Pycelle's future at court looks uncertain. When Cersei is arrested by the Faith however, Pycelle successfully seizes control of the council. He removes Osfryd Kettleblack as commander of the [[|City Watch|Gold Cloaks]] (so Osfyrd will not be able to use the Watch to try and free Cersei and his brother Osney, both of whom were prisoners of the Faith) and raises the commander of the Dragongate to command the watch. At the end of 'A Feast of Crows Qyburn states to Cersei that the realm is effectively being ruled by Pycelle and Harys Swyft. Pycelle also dispatches a message to Ser Kevan Lannister offering him the regency.

A Dance with Dragons

Pycelle continues his duty as Grand Maester but is wary of Mace Tyrell who is wroth with Pycelle over revealing Maergary's requests for moon tea. Pycelle even requests guards from Ser Kevan out of fear for his personal safety. This fear proves justified, as Pycelle is killed in his chambers by Lord Varys, who removes both him and Kevan Lannister to ensure they cannot intervene to repair the damage Cersei had done to the Iron Throne's position.

Appearance

He has only sparse hair that runs around his bald, spotted head. His maester's chain is two dozen heavy chains wound together that stretches from neck to breast. He has a long, snowy beard that runs down to his chest.

References and Notes

See also the article on Pycella on the Game of Thrones wiki.