Difference between revisions of "Barristan Selmy"

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===A Dance with Dragons===
 
===A Dance with Dragons===
Ser Barristan continues his service of [[Daenerys Targaryen]] as Lord Commander of her Queensguard, attempting to lead her down an honourable path towards the safety of Meereen. Barristan opposes Daenerys' relationship with both her paramour [[Daario Naharis]] and even her marriage to [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]], which ensured temporary peace within [[Meereen]]. After Daenerys' departure on [[Drogon]]'s back, Barristan assumes the title of Hand of the Queen within Meereen, he works [[Skahaz mo Kandaq]] (despite his loathing of the man) and [[Grey Worm]] in taking Hizdahr hostage slaying his protector the formidable pit fighter [[Krazz]] in doing so and defying the Yunkish besiegers further. Barristan longs for the return of Daenerys but prepares for battle with the Yunkish, using a beacon system to call the attack should the fragile peace between the sides be broken.
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Ser Barristan continues his service of [[Daenerys Targaryen]] as Lord Commander of her Queensguard, attempting to lead her down an honorable path towards the safety of Meereen. Barristan opposes Daenerys's relationship with both her paramour [[Daario Naharis]] and even her marriage to [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]], which ensured temporary peace within [[Meereen]]. After Daenerys's departure on [[Drogon]]'s back, Barristan assumes the title of Hand of the Queen within Meereen. He works [[Skahaz mo Kandaq]],despite his loathing of the man, and [[Grey Worm]] in taking Hizdahr hostage. He slays Hizdahr's protector, the formidable pit fighter [[Krazz]]. Barristan longs for the return of Daenerys but prepares for battle with the [[Yunkai|Yunkish]], using a beacon system to call the attack should the fragile peace between the sides be broken.
  
Selmy leds with honor and refused [[Skahaz mo Kandaq]] council on killing the child hostages/cupbearers of Daenerys (the children were related to wealthy Meereen Families who opposed Danys rule). Once more showing Selmys regard for the lifes of innocent children.
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Selmy leads with honor and refused [[Skahaz mo Kandaq]]'s council on killing the Ghiscari child hostages/cupbearers of Daenerys, who were the sons and daughters of powerful Meereenese nobles.
  
 
==Appearance==
 
==Appearance==

Revision as of 03:30, 13 August 2011

Selmy.png Barristan Selmy Kingsguard.PNG
Ian McElhinney as Baristan Selmy

Aliases
  • Barristan the Bold
  • Arstan Whitebeard
  • Ser Grandfather
Title Lord Commander
Allegiances
Culture Westeros
Born 237 AL
Books

Played by Ian McElhinney

Ser Barristan Selmy, called "Barristan the Bold," is a celebrated hero and knight of the Kingsguard, serving throughout a time when the Kingsguard were considered to be the greatest knights of the realm. In the TV series he is played by Ian McElhinney.[1]

History

He squired for Lord Manfred Swann in his youth.[2][3][4] Barristan earned his epithet by donning the armor of a mystery knight and entering a tourney at the age of ten. He received his knighthood at the age of sixteen from King Aegon V. An eminently successful tourney knight throughout his career, he has also proven his worth on the battlefield, killing Maelys the Monstrous in single combat in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, ending the line of the Blackfyre pretenders after cutting a bloody swath through the Golden Company to get to him.[5] He was named to the Kingsguard at the age of twenty-three and swore his vows before Ser Gerold Hightower, during the reign of Jaehaerys II, for which he gave up the claim to his family seat, and the girl he was to wed was married to his cousin instead.[6][7] He defeated Prince Rhaegar Targaryen in the final joust to win the tourney held at Storm's End.[8]

He like his other sworn brothers of the Kingsguard was present at the tournament of Harrenhal. He was infatuated by the Lady Ashara Dayne, he knew nothing could come of his desire for her however but planned on naming her Queen of Love and Beauty if he won the Tournament but was unhorsed by Rhaegar Targaryen. He was angry at Brandon Stark who he blamed for Ashara Daynes suicide (she killed herself after birthing a stillborn daughter who Brandon was the father of). Selmy felt Stark dishonored Ashara Dayne.

During the Defiance of Duskendale, Ser Barristan avenged the death of Ser Gwayne Gaunt and rescued King Aerys II. He slew Ser Symon Hollard during the rescue. In the aftermath of the Defiance, he pleaded for the life of Dontos Hollard, to which King Aerys acquiesced.[9]

After the defeat of Lord Jon Connington at the Battle of the Bells, Ser Barristan, with Ser Jonothor Darry was sent to rally the remnants of Connington's army.[10] He was severely wounded at the Battle of the Trident . Though he fought bravely for the Targaryens during the rebellion which overthrew them, Barristan later took Robert Baratheon's pardon and became the Lord Commander of Robert's Kingsguard.[11]

Selmy had moral reservations about serving a usurper but served loyally, although Selmy recalled that if he had seen Robert smile when Tywin Lannister presented him with the bodies of Rhaegar's children, he would never have served Robert and nothing on earth would have stopped Selmy from killing him. Selmy loathes seeing the death of children as proven by his asking that the babe Dontos Hollard be spared.

Barristan is a formidable fighter even in his advanced years, having won the championship of a tourney at King's Landing at the age of 57, and unhorsing Sandor Clegane in a tilt just a year prior to the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings.[12]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Barristan served loyally as Lord Commander of Robert's Kingsguard until Robert's death. During the Tourney of the Hand he was only defeated by Ser Jaime Lannister after three tilts, having defeated men ten and twenty years younger in his first two contests.[13] In an unprecedented move, he was dismissed from the Kingsguard and the small council by Joffrey I on grounds of old age. When the king ordered him seized and questioned for a perceived threat uttered in the heat of his dismissal, Selmy killed the gold cloaks sent after him.[14]

A Clash of Kings

The events forced him reevaluate his years of service in Robert's Kingsguard alongside the likes of the Kingslayer and others whom he considered near as bad. He came to the conclusion that this service was inexcusable and that his duty was to find his true king, and die in his service.

This search led him to Illyrio Mopatis who paired him with Strong Belwas in the guise of "Arstan Whitebeard," a Westerosi squire, and sent him to King Aerys's last surviving descendant, Daenerys. At the harbor of Qarth, disguised as Arstan, Barristan stops an assassination attempt on Daenerys's life by the Sorrowful Men.[15]

A Storm of Swords

Hiding his true identity for a time to assess whether Daenerys was of a sound mind, Barristan taught her some about Westerosi culture and her family history. Upon the revelation of his identity, Daenerys nearly banished him for his deception and his service under Robert, her greatest enemy. However, when Selmy explained his deception and repented for his service in Robert's Kingsguard Dany pardoned him and readmitted him into her service, now as Lord Commander of her Queensguard.

A Dance with Dragons

Ser Barristan continues his service of Daenerys Targaryen as Lord Commander of her Queensguard, attempting to lead her down an honorable path towards the safety of Meereen. Barristan opposes Daenerys's relationship with both her paramour Daario Naharis and even her marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq, which ensured temporary peace within Meereen. After Daenerys's departure on Drogon's back, Barristan assumes the title of Hand of the Queen within Meereen. He works Skahaz mo Kandaq,despite his loathing of the man, and Grey Worm in taking Hizdahr hostage. He slays Hizdahr's protector, the formidable pit fighter Krazz. Barristan longs for the return of Daenerys but prepares for battle with the Yunkish, using a beacon system to call the attack should the fragile peace between the sides be broken.

Selmy leads with honor and refused Skahaz mo Kandaq's council on killing the Ghiscari child hostages/cupbearers of Daenerys, who were the sons and daughters of powerful Meereenese nobles.

Appearance

He wears a suit of white enameled scale armor. He has white hair, yet still looks strong and graceful.[16] He is tall and has blue eyes.[17]

References and Notes

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Characters from A Song of Ice and Fire.
The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Characters from A Song of Ice and Fire.
As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.