High Sparrow
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| Alias | High Sparrow |
| Titles |
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| Allegiance | The Faith of the Seven |
| Books | |
The High Sparrow is the current High Septon of the Faith of the Seven. His real name is unknown.
Character and Appearance
He is a tall,thin, hard eyed, grey haired man with a heavily lined face. Unlike previous High Septons he does not wear rich robes or elaborate crowns of crystal and spun gold but wears a simple plain white wool tunic that goes down to his ankles. The man is truly devout to his faith and has an iron will.
History
Little is known of the history of the current High Septon. He claims to have been a Septon who walked all over the realm (his heavily callused feet support this claim), he came upon villages often that were too small to have their own septs and performed services, named newborn children, absolved sins and performed marriages, the traditional duties of a Septon.
Recent Events
A Feast of Crows
Brienne of Tarth encounters the man leading a group of fellow sparrows in a wagon carrying the bones of Holy Septons and Septas who were slain during the War of the Five Kings.[1]
After the previous High Septon is slain,[2] the Most Devout begin the selection process to see who will become the new High Septon. According to Qyburn during the selection process among the Most Devout the sparrows burst into the chambers with axes in hand and their leader on their shoulders and the Most Devout in fear relented and named him the new High Septon.
He began his term by selling all the golden crowns (including the High Septon's Crown) and robes of cloth and gold. The money earned from this was used to buy food for the sparrows and the poor. He clad himself in a humble wool robe and other Septons were forced to follow suit. Cersei Lannister, in order to secure the Faith's blessing for her son and cancel the near one million dragons the crown owed the Faith, allowed the High Septon to restore the Faith Militant, an organization that had not existed in the realm since it was disbanded by Jaehaerys I. His army of sparrows become Poor Fellows of old and soon over a hundred knights join the Warrior's Sons. The new High Septon became known as the High Sparrow by many.
The Faith, emboldened by their new power, arrest Margaery Tyrell and her cousins when Osney Kettleblack (under Cersei's orders) falsely confesses to bedding with Margaery and two of her three cousins. The High Septon however is suspicious of Osney's confession (he had never heard a confession from a man so pleased to be guilty) and had Osney scourged. Osney confesses the actual truth that Cersei had him lie and that he killed the previous High Septon under her orders.
When Cersei Lannister visits the Great Sept of Baelor, The High Septon has her arrested and imprisoned on similar, but accurate, charges.
A Dance with Dragons
Since the evidence against Margaery and her cousins is quite weak the High Septon releases them into the custody of Randyll Tarly after Tarly swears a holy oath to return them for trial.
The High Septon then sees Cersei when she said she wished to confess. To try and gain access to visitors Cersei decides to confess to the High Septon that she did have relations with her cousin Lancel and all three of the Kettleblack brothers (knowing that such sins would not earn her an execution) but still denies having ordered Osney to kill the previous High Septon or her involvement in Robert's death. The High Septon agrees to allow her one visitor a day.
The High Septon agrees to free Cersei if she does a penance walk through King's Landing and Cersei reluctantly agrees. Cersei and Margaery are still to be put on trial, Cersei has chosen trial by combat (with Ser Robert Strong as her champion) and Margaery, trial by the Faith.
Lord Regent Kevan Lannister, Master of Laws Randyll Tarly and Hand of the King Mace Tyrell are frustrated by having to give in to the demands of the "High Sparrow" but with so many rebellious subjects in the Seven Kingdoms they dare not be seen to go against the Faith, lest it drive the pious into the armies of another claimant to the Iron Throne. According to the High Septon Lord Stannis has turned from the truth of the Seven to worship a red demon, and his false faith has no place in the Seven Kingdoms.
Quotes
This man is implacable. [3]
References and Notes
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.