Difference between revisions of "Duncan the Tall"

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{{See homonyms|Duncan}}
 
{{Infobox character
 
{{Infobox character
| Character_name = [[File:Dunk.png|50px|left]] '''Duncan''' [[File:Gallows Knight.png|50px]][[File:Kingsguard.PNG|50px|right]]
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| Character_name = [[File:Dunk.png|50px|left]] Duncan [[File:Kingsguard.svg|50px|right]]<br>[[File:Gallows Knight.png|50px]]
| image         = [[File:Dunk.jpg|300px]]
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| image = [[File:Dunk.jpg|300px]]
| image_caption =  
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| image_caption =  
| Alias         = Dunk<br>Duncan the Tall<br>Dunk the Lunk<br>Ser Giant<br>The Gallows Knight
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| Alias = Dunk<br>Duncan the Tall<br>Dunk the Lunk<br>Ser Giant<br>The Gallows Knight
| Title         = [[Knight|Ser]]<br>[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]
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| Title = [[Knight|Ser]]<br>[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard]]
| Allegiance     = [[Kingsguard]]
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| Allegiance = [[Kingsguard]]
| Race           =  
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| Race =
| Culture       = [[Crownlands]]
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| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Spouse         =
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| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth = [[King's Landing]]
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| Place_of_Birth = [[King's Landing]]{{ref|THK}}
| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|191}}, {{Date|192}} or {{Date|193}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Duncan the Tall|Duncan the Tall]] calculation.''</ref>
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| Date_of_Birth = {{Date|191}}, {{Date|192}} or {{Date|193}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Duncan the Tall|Duncan the Tall]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death = [[Tragedy at Summerhall|Summerhall]]
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| Place_of_Death = [[Tragedy at Summerhall|Summerhall]]{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}
| Date_of_Death = {{Date|259}}
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| Date_of_Death = {{Date|259}}
| Books         = ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' (POV)<br>''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (POV)<br>''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]'' (mentioned)
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| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' (POV)<br>''[[The Sworn Sword]]'' (POV)<br>''[[The Mystery Knight]]'' (POV)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (mentioned)
| coat-of-arms   =
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| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by     =
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| Played_by =
| TV_series     =  
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| TV_series =
 
}}
 
}}
{{See homonyms | Duncan}}
 
  
 
Ser '''Duncan the Tall''' was a [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]] of the [[Kingsguard]] during the reign of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]]. His personal arms were a green shooting star above an elm tree proper on sunset.{{ref|thk}}<ref>The Citadel. [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/Heraldry/Other/1/ Heraldry: Houseless Hedge Knights]</ref>
 
Ser '''Duncan the Tall''' was a [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]] of the [[Kingsguard]] during the reign of King [[Aegon V Targaryen]]. His personal arms were a green shooting star above an elm tree proper on sunset.{{ref|thk}}<ref>The Citadel. [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/Heraldry/Other/1/ Heraldry: Houseless Hedge Knights]</ref>
  
Raised as '''Dunk''' in [[Flea Bottom]], Duncan became the squire of the [[hedge knight]] [[Arlan of Pennytree]]. Duncan then traveled the [[Seven Kingdoms]] as a hedge knight himself, with the young Prince Aegon as his squire. The early exploits of "Dunk and Egg" are chronicled in ''[[A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms]]'', which collects ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'', ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'', and ''[[The Mystery Knight]]''.
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Raised as '''Dunk''' in [[Flea Bottom]], Duncan became the squire of the [[hedge knight]] [[Arlan of Pennytree]]. Duncan then traveled the [[Seven Kingdoms]] as a hedge knight himself, with the young Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], called "Egg", as his squire. The early exploits of "Dunk and Egg" are chronicled in ''[[A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms]]'', which collects ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'', ''[[The Sworn Sword]]'', and ''[[The Mystery Knight]]''.
  
==Character and Appearance==
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==Appearance and Character==
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Dunk|Images of Dunk]]''
 
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of Dunk|Images of Dunk]]''
Nearly seven feet tall, Duncan had a humble personality and thought of himself as thick-headed.{{ref|THK}}
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Duncan is an inch shy of seven feet tall,{{ref|THK}}{{ref|TMK}} and has a thick mass of sun-streaked hair.{{ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}} He is strong and quick,{{ref|THK}} and has been taught jousting and swordplay.{{ref|THK}}
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Duncan has a humble personality, and frequently thinks of himself as thick-headed, recalling how Ser Arlan had often said "Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall" and referred to him as "slow as an aurochs".{{ref|THK}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Early life===
 
===Early life===
Dunk's earliest memories were of living as a street urchin in the [[Flea Bottom]] slums of [[King's Landing]], without any word or sight of either of his parents.{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}} His closest friends went by the names of [[Ferret]], [[Rafe]], and [[Pudding]]. By his own admission, they were "little monsters" with Dunk himself worst of all.{{Ref|TMK}} Sometimes they would sell{{Ref|TSS}} or even dump{{Ref|TMK}} pieces of meat of dubious origin to the local pot shops that made the [[bowl of brown|bowls of brown]]. Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]] took Dunk as a squire and raised him from a youth. Arlan's humble optimism made a positive impression on Dunk. The two of them would ride together until the death of Arlan, traveling and selling their services as [[hedge knight]]s usually do, without ever passing through [[Pennytree]].{{Ref|TMK}} Dunk never knew either of his parents, though he believes that he is probably a bastard with a thief for a father. He had hoped to someday go to the [[north]] and eventually the [[Wall]] and perhaps meet some tall stranger that might turn out to be his father.{{Ref|TSS}}
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Duncan's earliest memories were of living as a street urchin in the [[Flea Bottom]] slums of [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|THK}} His closest friends went by the names of [[Ferret]], [[Rafe]], and [[Pudding]]. By his own admission, they were "little monsters" with Duncan, at the time still known as "Dunk", the worst of all.{{Ref|TMK}} Sometimes they would sell{{Ref|TSS}} or even dump{{Ref|TMK}} pieces of meat of dubious origin to the local pot shops that made the [[bowl of brown|bowls of brown]].
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Duncan was an orphan,{{Ref|THK}} and never knew either of his parents.{{Ref|TSS}} He once hoped to someday go to the [[north]] and eventually the [[Wall]], where he could perhaps meet some tall stranger who looked like him.{{Ref|TSS}} The hedge knight [[Arlan of Pennytree]] took Duncan as his new squire about two years<ref group="N">Duncan had been serving Ser Arlan since he was five or six years old (''[[The Hedge Knight]]''), and was "no more than three or four" at the time of the Redgrass Field, when Roger died (''[[The Sworn Sword]]'')</ref> after the death of his previous squire, [[Roger of Pennytree]], during the [[Battle of the Redgrass Field|final battle]] of the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]] in {{Date|196}}.{{Ref|TSS}} He found the young Duncan, aged five or six,{{Ref|thk}} in King's Landing chasing a pig and took him on.{{Ref|tmk}} He raised Duncan and together they traveled all over Westeros, except the [[north]].{{Ref|TSS}} Though they never visited [[Pennytree]], where Arlan was from,{{Ref|TMK}} they served Lord [[Leo Tyrell]] at [[Highgarden]] during one of the first few years that Duncan served Ser Arlan,{{Ref|THK}} visited [[King's Landing]] in {{Date|205}},{{Ref|TMK}} served [[House Florent]] for half a year and joined [[House Dondarrion]] in the hunt for the [[Vulture King]], both in {{Date|206}},{{Ref|THK}} and visited [[Lannisport]] in {{Date|208}},{{Ref|THK}} amongst other places. As well, Duncan accompanied Arlan when he was one of several knights hired by a Dornish merchant who wanted to travel from [[Lannisport]] to the [[Prince's Pass]] in [[Dorne]].{{Ref|TSS}}
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Duncan learned sword-fight from Ser Arlan,{{Ref|THK}} though he still recalls his fighting experience from [[Flea Bottom]] as well.{{Ref|THK}}{{Ref|TSS}} Ever since the first time that Arlan had let Duncan hold a sword, Duncan had dreamt of becoming a [[Kingsguard]] knight.{{Ref|TMK}}
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===Tourney at Ashford Meadow===
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In {{Date|209}}, a [[tourney at Ashford Meadow|tourney]] was to be held at [[Ashford]]. Arlan died on the way to Ashford, and after Duncan had buried him, he decided to compete in the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]] in Arlan's stead. On the way he stopped at an inn. Inside, Duncan meet a [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|dunken man]] who claimed to have dreamed about Duncan, and who became distraught at the sight of him. Duncan also met a bald-headed boy, who begged him to be allowed to become Duncan's squire when Duncan left. Duncan refused, left, and shortly thereafter arrived at Ashford. Duncan made camp, and that evening discovered the bald boy from the inn at his camp, who claimed to be called "Egg" and said he came from [[King's Landing]], causing Duncan to believe the boy is an orphan from [[Flea Bottom]], just like Duncan had been. Because he does not have a squire, Duncan accepted Egg as his squire for the duration of the tourney.{{Ref|THK}}
  
===''The Hedge Knight''===
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Once at the tourney grounds, Duncan is forced to sell [[Sweetfoot]], one of his horses, and Ser Arlan's old armor, in order to be able to aquire armor of his own. He met a puppeteer named [[Tanselle]], who agreed to paint his shield with his personal sigil.{{Ref|THK}} The day after his arrival, Duncan went to register for the tourney. Knighthood was required for participation in the tourney, and Duncan told Lord Ashford's steward how Ser Arlan had knighted him before his death. Several of his thoughts and actions, as well as other facts, however, suggest that his tale is not completely true.<ref group="N" name="knighthood">The [[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1307 NOREASCON (BOSTON, MA; SEPTEMBER 2-6) (September 02, 2004)] reports a paraphrased statement saying that Martin confirmed Duncan had not been knighted by Ser Arlan. Besides this SSM, other indications have been laid out by readers. Duncan considers finding another knight to squire immediately after burying Arlan, which is considered to be at odds with his supposed new-made knighthood. Duncan also becomes uncomfortable at several occasions when him acquiring his knighthood is brought up, and is extremely hesitant to knight another young squire, feeling both relieved and guilty when another steps in to knight the boy. Lastly, Duncan admits to himself that "He knew what it was like to want something so badly that you would tell a monstrous lie just to get near it." Readers have suspected that this refers to his lie about his knighthood.</ref> The steward suggests that Duncan find someone to vouch for him and return the next day. Unable to find anyone, Duncan returned to the castle the next day, where he accidentally interrupted Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor]] and Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]], who were occupied with the missing Princes [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron]] and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon]], two of Maekar's sons. Explaining his problem to the princes, Baelor recalled jousting against Arlan years before, and vouched for Duncan, allowing his participation.{{Ref|THK}}
In {{Date|209}}, Ser Arlan died suddenly on the way to [[Ashford]]. Dunk buried Arlan and decided to compete in the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]]. On the way, he met a bald-headed boy named Egg, who begged to become his squire. Dunk eventually agreed. They camped just outside of Ashford under an elm tree and watched a shooting star fall from the evening sky. To Dunk, the moment symbolized the humble pleasures of the hedge knight lifestyle. In the morning, Dunk sold Arlan's equipment and purchased armor to his size. Needing a coat of arms, Dunk commissioned [[Tanselle]], an attractive [[Dorne|Dornish]] puppeteer, to paint a shooting star above an elm tree over a sunset field on his shield.  
 
  
Dunk claimed to the tourney organizers that Arlan knighted him before his death. His thoughts of seeking another knight to squire for after Ser Arlan's death suggest this was not the case.<ref>Author [[George R. R. Martin]] has confirmed that Dunk's story of his knighting is a lie.</ref> No one remembered Arlan, and Dunk eventually sought out Crown Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]], who had tilted against Arlan on one notable occasion. Baelor Breakspear allowed Dunk to enter the tourney. That evening, [[Aerion Targaryen]] attacked the puppeteer and Dunk rushed to her aide. After breaking several of Aerion's teeth, Dunk was subdued by Aerion's guards, but Egg, revealing his identity as Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], protected him from further harm.
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When [[Tanselle]] is attacked by Prince [[Aerion Targaryen]], Duncan rushes to her defense, attacking the Prince in the process. When Aerion's guards intervened, Egg protected Duncan from further harm by revealing his identity as Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]]. Duncan was arrested and brought to the castle, where Prince Baelor informed him how Prince Daeron had claimed to his father that the missing Aegon had been kidnapped by a robber knight, while Aerion was twisting the puppeteer story into treason. Due to the lies of both Aerion and Daeron, Maekar has become furious with Duncan, and Baelor is forced to allow Aerion a trial.{{Ref|THK}} Aerion demanded a [[trial of seven]]. With help of Aegon, Duncan found six allies - [[Robyn Rhysling]], [[Humfrey Hardyng]], Lord [[Lyonel Baratheon]], [[Humfrey Beesbury]], the newly-knighted [[Raymun Fossoway]], and ultimately Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor Targaryen]] - with whom he faced off against Aerion, Daeron, Maekar, three knights of the [[Kingsguard]], and Ser [[Steffon Fossoway]]. To his surprise, Duncan discovered that the [[small folk]] supported him, as he had remembered his vows as a knight{{Ref|THK}} ("protecting the weak and defending the innocent"){{Ref|ACOK|32}}{{Ref|ACOK|52}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}} by protecting Tanselle. During the combat, Duncan eventually found himself facing Aerion one on one, and managed to best Aerion by using his strength and his fighting skills from Flea Bottom. Duncan forced Aerion to yield. As Daeron had already faked his defeat - as he had promised Duncan the day before - Duncan was declared cleared free of all charges.{{Ref|THK}}
  
Vengeful, yet wary of Dunk's size and strength, Aerion demanded a [[trial of seven]], a trial by combat involving seven combatants on each side. Egg helped Dunk find allies, which ultimately included Baelor himself. Dunk learned that the people were with him for being a knight who remembered his vows to protect the helpless. During the combat, Dunk faced off against Aerion, and his inexperience with lance and sword nearly got him killed. Using his superior strength and the brawling skills he learned in Flea Bottom, Dunk bested Aerion and forced him to yield. The victory rang hollow, however, as two of the men who had taken Dunk's side had been killed, and shortly after the trial Baelor died of a head wound taken from his own brother. Dunk was beset by guilt for his part in the deaths of such good men, especially the crown prince. Egg's father, [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]], asked Dunk to take Egg as his squire officially, to serve as a positive influence on him. Dunk agreed but preferred to do this while remaining a hedge knight. Thus, Egg would be taught the humility that his elder brother Aerion had never learned.
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Three of the men who had given their aid to Duncan died either during or after the battle, including Prince Baelor, leaving Duncan feeling extremely guilty. Prince Maekar offered Duncan a place at [[Summerhall]], so Aegon could squire for Duncan. While Duncan agreed to take Aegon as his squire, he insisted on remaining a hedge knight, convinced it would teach Aegon humility. Maekar agreed.{{Ref|THK}}
  
===Between ''The Hedge Knight'' and ''The Sworn Sword''===
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===On the road===
At some point, Dunk and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] reached the [[Prince's Pass]] in Dorne, probably seeking [[Tanselle|Tanselle Too-Tall]].
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[[File:Marc Simonetti DunkEggtravels.jpg|300px|thumb|Duncan and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon]] travelling - by Marc Simonetti.]]
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Duncan and Aegon traveled to [[Dorne]], passing through the [[Prince's Pass]], and eventually reaching [[Vaith]], while Duncan accidentally insulted Lady [[Cassella Vaith]], the first highborn woman he had ever met. During the crossing of the desert, Duncan's horse [[Chestnut]] died,{{Ref|TSS}} and he and Aegon had to ride double on [[Thunder (horse)|Thunder]].{{Ref|TSS}} While in {{Date|209}} and {{Date|210}} the [[Great Spring Sickness]] ran its course through Westeros, Duncan and Aegon were able to avoid encountering this plague as they were in Dorne, one of the two places where the plague had not come.{{Ref|TSS}}
  
They left for [[Vaith]] and while on the crossing Dunk's horse, [[Chestnut]], died.{{Ref|TSS}} He and Egg rode double on [[Thunder (horse)|Thunder]] for an unspecified period of time until one of Egg's brothers (most likely [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]]<ref>The donkey was almost certainly given by Aemon, as it was said he received the donkey in Oldtown, where Aemon was already there forging his chain to become a maester. Also, the name of the donkey is ''Maester''. If Aemon gave Dunk the donkey, the animal was received in Oldtown, a while after visiting Vaith.</ref>) gave them [[Maester (mule)|Maester]]. Once in Vaith, Dunk met the aged Lady [[Cassella Vaith]], the first highborn lady that he ever met in person, and spoke to her with such lack of grace as to put his own life and Egg's in danger.{{Ref|TSS}} According to Egg, however, Lady Vaith was mad.{{Ref|TSS}}
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Duncan and Aegon took a poleboat down the [[Greenblood]] to [[Planky Town]], where they took passage on the galleas ''[[White Lady]]'' to [[Oldtown]].{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}} Aboard the ship, Duncan had his first experience of combat at sea when he helped repel some raiders.{{Ref|TMK}} In Oldtown, Aegon's brother [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] measured Duncan, and found he was an inch short of seven feet.{{Ref|TSS}}
  
Dunk eventually returned from Dorne with Egg aboard a ship called ''[[White Lady]]'' that brought them to [[Oldtown]].{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|TMK}} Aboard the ship Dunk had his first experience of combat at sea when he helped repel some raiders.{{Ref|TMK}} In Oldtown, Egg's brother [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] measured Dunk and found he was an inch short of seven feet.{{Ref|TSS}}
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At some point, Duncan and Aegon were gifted a mule, [[Maester (mule)|Maester]], by one of Aegon's brothers,{{Ref|TSS}} presumably Aemon.<ref group="N" name=Maester>The mule was almost certainly given by Aemon, as its name is ''Maester'', and Aegon and Duncan have been mentioned to have visited with Aemon in Oldtown, whereas no mention is made of Aegon encountering his brother Daeron, while his brother Aerion is still in Lys. If Aemon gave Dunk the mule, it was in Oldtown, sometime after they visited Vaith.</ref>
  
By that time, Dunk had given up on trying to find Tanselle or even talking about her.{{Ref|TSS}} It is not stated unequivocally whether or not they found her, but Dunk states that he should be dreaming of her and that they never actually touched each other, even in a chaste way.{{Ref|TSS}}
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===Service at Standfast===
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Duncan and Aegon took service with Ser [[Eustace Osgrey]], a poor and broken landed knight, at [[Standfast]], located in the [[Reach]]. Also employed was Ser [[Bennis]] of the Brown Shield, an old acquaintance of Duncan from his time with Arlan. Duncan and Bennis discovered that peasants of Lady [[Rohanne Webber]] of [[Coldmoat]] had dammed the [[Chequy Water]]. Bennis provoked Rohanne by cutting one of her peasants, and when Ser Eustace refused to travel to Coldmoat, Duncan went to Coldmoat to try to reason with her. Though sexual tension charged their meeting, Rohanne refused Duncan and told him about Eustace's support of [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]] during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion|Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Shocked by the revelation, Duncan attempted to leave Eustace's service, but a fire in the nearby woods caused him to suspect that Rohanne had already started her campaign against Eustace. Duncan knew that the battle was a lost cause. He disbanded Eustace's levies, but promised him to be by his side when he faced Rohanne. Meeting with Rohanne's forces, Duncan offered to settle the matter with a trial by combat. Rohanne's champion was her overbearing steward, Ser [[Lucas Inchfield|Lucas Longinch]]. Duncan's wrestling ability compensated for his lack of swordsmanship, and he managed to kill Lucas, though he received major wounds himself and almost drowned in the stream in which they had been fighting.{{Ref|TSS}}
  
===''The Sworn Sword''===
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After recuperating, Duncan discovered that Eustace and Rohanne had settled their differences and decided to marry. Duncan felt rejected, but was confronted by Rohanne shortly before he left. He took one kiss from Rohanne and cut off a length of her signature braid as a keepsake, after which he and Aegon took their leave.{{ref|TSS}}
Dunk and Egg eventually travelled within the Reach from Oldtown to [[Standfast]], and entered the service of Ser [[Eustace Osgrey]], a poor and broken landed knight who also employed an old acquaintance of Dunk, Ser [[Bennis|Bennis the Brown]].  Dunk and Bennis discover that peasants of Lady [[Rohanne Webber]] of [[Coldmoat]] have dammed the [[Chequy Water]]. Bennis provoked Rohanne by cutting one of her peasants, and Dunk eventually went to Coldmoat to try to reason with her. Though sexual tension charged their meeting, Rohanne refused Dunk and told him about Eustace's support of [[Daemon I Blackfyre|Daemon Blackfyre]] during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion|Blackfyre Rebellion]]. 
 
  
Shocked by the revelation, Dunk attempted to leave Eustace's service, but a fire in the nearby woods caused Dunk to suspect that Rohanne had already started her campaign against Eustace. After Bennis had fled, leaving only Eustace's feeble peasant levies, Dunk knew that war was a lost cause. He disbanded Eustace's levies but promised to face Rohanne with him. Meeting with Rohanne's forces, Dunk offered to settle the matter with a trial by combat. Rohanne agreed and sent her overbearing steward Ser [[Lucas Inchfield|Lucas Longinch]] to fight Dunk in the stream. Again, Dunk's wrestling ability compensated for his lack of swordsmanship. He killed Lucas, but received major wounds and almost drowned in the stream.
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===Wedding Tourney at Whitewalls===
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[[File:The mystery knight by grr martin by marcsimonetti.jpg|300px|thumb|Duncan as a [[mystery knight]], with his squire, [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon]] - by Marc Simonetti.]]
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Duncan and Aegon traveled to the [[riverlands]], where they visited the [[Stoney Sept]]. Even though they had been on their way [[north]], to take up service with Lord [[Beron Stark]] to battle the [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoys]] on the [[north]]ern coast, they changed their destination after a chance meeting on the road. They encountered a group led by Lord [[Gormon Peake]] of [[Starpike]], Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]], and a hedge knight named Ser [[Daemon II Blackfyre|John the Fiddler]]. The latter invited Duncan to attend the wedding of Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] of [[Whitewalls]] to a [[House Frey|Frey]] of [[Twins|the Crossing]], stating that the victor's prize at the celebratory [[Whitewalls tourney]] was to be a [[dragon egg]]. Though the company traveled on without him, Duncan decided to go, and befriended Ser [[Kyle|Kyle the Cat]], Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], and Ser [[Glendon Ball]] on his way to Whitewalls.{{Ref|TMK}}
  
After recuperating, Dunk discovered that Eustace and Rohanne had settled their differences and decided to marry. Feeling rejected, Dunk took one last kiss from Rohanne and cut off a length of her signature braid as a keepsake. Afterward, Dunk and Egg took their leave.{{ref|TSS}}
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At Whitewalls, Aegon became suspicious about the intentions of the wedding, and informed Duncan that the majority of the nobles present had fought for [[House Blackfyre]] during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion|Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Duncan later had an encounter with John the Fiddler, who told him that Duncan had appeared to him in a dream, where Duncan had worn the all white armor of the [[Kingsguard]]. The Fiddler said his dreams always came true, stating that he had dreamed his brothers dead once, and though they hadn't believed him, they had died. The Fiddler also informed Duncan that he had dreamed about a [[dragon]] hatching from an egg at Whitewalls.{{ref|TMK}}
  
===''The Mystery Knight''===
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Duncan entered the joust as the Gallows Knight, a [[mystery knight]] bearing the arms of [[House Trant]]. He was defeated in his first tilt by Ser [[Uthor Underleaf]], who confessed that someone had attempted to bribe him to kill Duncan in the final tilt. Whilst searching for Aegon, Duncan ran into Glendon Ball, who had been far more successful than Duncan during the tourney, and invited him to come north after the tourney, which Glendon declined. Glendon told Duncan that Gormon Peake had offered him a place at [[Starpike]], on the condition that Glendon would let the Fiddler win. Glendon had refused, angering Peake. Duncan next ran into the Fiddler, and began to realize John's true identity, as well as that the tourney had been rigged as to make the Fiddler victorious.{{Ref|TMK}}
Dunk and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]] later left [[Stoney Sept]] to take up service with Lord [[Beron Stark]], who had sent a call for men to help fend off [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoy]] raids on the [[north]]ern coast. En route Egg and Dunk encountered a group led by Lord [[Gormon Peake]] of [[Starpike]], Lord [[Alyn Cockshaw]], and a hedge knight named Ser [[Daemon II Blackfyre|John the Fiddler]]. John invited Dunk to attend the wedding of Lord [[Ambrose Butterwell]] of [[Whitewalls]] to a [[House Frey|Frey]] of [[Twins|the Crossing]]. The victor's prize at the celebratory [[Whitewalls tourney]] was to be a [[dragon egg]]. Before arriving, Dunk befriended Ser [[Kyle|Kyle the Cat]], Ser [[Maynard Plumm]], and Ser [[Glendon Ball]].
 
  
After noticing the guest list, Egg informed Dunk of his suspicions that this was a traitor's wedding and the majority of the nobles attending had fought for the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyres]]. John the Fiddler told Dunk that the hedge knight appeared to him in a dream in which Duncan wore all white armor of the [[Kingsguard]]. The Fiddler said his dreams always come true, as he dreamt his brothers dead once and also a [[dragon]] hatching from an egg at Whitewalls.  
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Lord Peake accused Glendon Ball of stealing the dragon egg, and the boy was imprisoned. When Duncan attempted to intervene, Alyn Cockshaw pulled him back, telling Duncan to follow him, if he wanted to find Aegon. Alyn attempted to kill Duncan out of jealousy for the attention the Fiddler had shown Duncan. Though injured, Duncan threw Alyn down a well to drown, an action witnessed by Maynard Plumm. Plumm helped Duncan see to his injuries, and informed him of Aegon's location.{{Ref|TMK}}
  
Dunk entered the joust as a [[mystery knight]] known as the Gallows Knight, bearing the arms of [[House Trant]], but he was defeated in his first tilt by Ser [[Uthor Underleaf]]. Uthor later informed Dunk that someone attempted to bribe him to kill Dunk in the final tilt. Before the jousting continued, Glendon Ball was imprisoned by Lord Peake for allegedly stealing the dragon egg. Whilst searching for his squire Egg, Dunk was almost killed by Lord Cockshaw, jealous of John the Fiddler's obsession with Dunk. Dunk threw Alyn down a well to drown, an action observed by Maynard Plumm.
+
Aegon had falsely told Lord Ambrose that he and Duncan were spies sent to investigate the tournament and that his father, Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]], was on his way with an army. Frightened, Lord Ambrose pleads for his innocence, but [[Tommard Heddle]] attempted to seize Aegon, and was slain by Duncan in the combat that ensued. Duncan ordered Aegon to ride for [[Maidenpool]], and next confronted the Fiddler, calling him by his true name, [[Daemon II Blackfyre|Daemon]]. Duncan accused Lord Peake of bribing the contestants in Daemon's favor, and of falsely charging Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. Furious about the accusations, Daemon challenged Glendon with a joust as a means of [[trial by combat]].{{Ref|TMK}}
  
Prince Aegon falsely told Lord Ambrose that he and Dunk were spies sent to investigate the tournament and that his father, Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar]], was on the way with an army. Ambrose's step-son, [[Tommard Heddle|Black Tom Heddle]], was slain by Dunk when he attempted to harm Egg. To buy time for Egg's escape Dunk confronted John the Fiddler, actually [[Daemon II Blackfyre]], accusing Gormon Peake of falsely charging Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. Daemon challenged Glendon with [[trial by combat]] in the lists.
+
Glendon defeated Daemon easily, and mere moments later, a loyalist army led by Lord [[Brynden Rivers]], the [[Hand of the King]], arrived at Whitewalls. Daemon was arrested, and those who had supported him executed or punished, causing the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]] to be suppressed before it had even begun. Lord Brynden allowed Duncan and Aegon to continue their travels, and hinted as to how the dragon's egg had been stolen, leading Duncan to realize the involvement of the [[dwarf]]s who had performed at the wedding.{{ref|TSS}}
  
Shortly after Glendon defeated Daemon in this joust, a loyalist army led by the [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Brynden Rivers]], arrived to suppress the [[Second Blackfyre Rebellion]]. Brynden, known as Bloodraven, told Dunk an agent of his crawled up the privy shaft of the castle to take the dragon egg to safety. While Brynden observed that a child would have been small enough, Dunk recalled the [[dwarf]]s from the wedding.{{ref|TSS}}
+
===Later life===
 +
[[File:Duncan_Lyonel.jpg|thumb|right|400px|[[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]] Duncan the Tall fighting Lord [[Lyonel Baratheon]] in [[trial by combat]], as depicted by Chase Stone in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]''.]]
 +
An unknown amount of time after Whitewalls, Duncan and Aegon visited [[Winterfell]].<ref>[[Not a Blog]]: [http://grrm.livejournal.com/365715.html Dunk and Egg (April 15th, 2014)]</ref>
  
===Later===
+
Presumably in honor of Duncan, Prince [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] named his firstborn son and heir [[Duncan Targaryen|Duncan]]. When asked in 2000, however, [[George R. R. Martin]] refused to answer.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Duncan_the_Small_and_the_Young_Starks Duncan the Small and the Young Starks (August 06, 2000)]</ref> Prince Duncan was called "Duncan the Small".{{Ref|ASOS|67}}
[[File:Duncan_Lyonel.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Lord Commander Duncan the Tall fighting Lord [[Lyonel Baratheon]] in [[trial by combat]] as depicted by Chase Stone in ''[[The World of Ice and Fire]]''.]]
 
  
Dunk eventually joined the [[Kingsguard]] and would become its [[Lord Commander of the Kingsguard|Lord Commander]]. In honor of his friend, King [[Aegon V Targaryen]] named his first son and heir Prince [[Duncan Targaryen|Duncan]], who was called Duncan the Small in contrast to his namesake. Ser Duncan escorted Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] and [[Brynden Rivers]] to the [[Wall]] on Aegon's command.{{ref|AFFC|15}}
+
In late {{Date|233}}, after Aegon had ascended the throne as [[Aegon V Targaryen]], Duncan escorted Aegon's brother [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] to [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], where Aemon was going to join the [[Night's Watch]].{{Ref|AFFC|15}}
  
In {{date|236}} Ser Duncan fought in the [[Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion]] and personally slew [[Daemon III Blackfyre]], the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre Pretender]].{{Ref|twoiaf| Aegon V}}
+
Duncan eventually joined the [[Kingsguard]]. While it is unknown when exactly he took his vows, the first known mention of him as a Kingsguard knight is in {{Date|236}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}
  
When Prince Duncan the Small broke his betrothal to Lord [[Lyonel Baratheon]]'s daughter and instead married a commonborn girl known as [[Jenny of Oldstones]], the enraged Lyonel renounced his fealty to the [[Iron Throne]]. Aegon's champion, Ser Duncan, bested Lyonel in a [[trial by combat]] which ended the short rebellion. Aegon pardoned Lyonel and, to make peace with [[House Baratheon]], arranged the betrothal of his daughter, Princess [[Rhaelle Targaryen]], to Lyonel's heir, [[Ormund Baratheon]]. Aegon sent Rhaelle to [[Storm's End]] as Lyonel's cupbearer and companion to his lady wife to make sure this wedding took place.{{Ref|twoiaf| Aegon V}}{{Ref|twoiaf|House Baratheon}}  
+
In {{Date|236}}, Ser Duncan fought in the [[Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion]] and personally slew [[Daemon III Blackfyre]], the [[House Blackfyre|Blackfyre Pretender]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} In {{Date|239}}, when Prince [[Duncan Targaryen]] broke his betrothal to Lord [[Lyonel Baratheon]]'s daughter and married a commonborn girl known as [[Jenny of Oldstones]] instead, the enraged Lyonel renounced his fealty to the [[Iron Throne]]. Duncan served as King Aegon V's champion in the [[trial by combat]], in which he bested Lord Lyonel, thereby ended Lyonel's short rebellion.{{Ref|twoiaf| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}{{Ref|twoiaf| The Stormlands: House Baratheon}}
  
Duncan perished along with King Aegon and Prince Duncan in the [[tragedy of Summerhall]].{{ref|AWOIAF| Duncan}}<ref>The Citadel: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/FAQ/Entry/What_happened_at_Summerhall FAQ: What happened at Summerhall]</ref>{{Ref|TWOIAF| Aegon V}}
+
Duncan participated in a [[History of tourneys in Westeros#Winter Tourney at King's Landing|winter tourney]] at [[King's Landing]], where he was defeated by a sixteen-year-old [[Barristan Selmy]].{{Ref|asos|67}}
 +
 
 +
In {{Date|259}}, Duncan perished along with King Aegon V and Prince Duncan, among others, in the [[tragedy of Summerhall]].{{ref|AWOIAF| Duncan}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} Little is known about the events of the tragedy, but it seems that the Lord Commander's valor saved some of the survivors from dying in the great fire that consumed [[Summerhall]].{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 +
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 +
[[Jaime Lannister]] lists Duncan the Tall among the Lords Commander of the Kingsguard. He also reads Ser [[Barristan Selmy]]'s entry in the [[White Book]], which states Barristan defeated Duncan during the [[History of tourneys in Westeros#Winter Tourney at King's Landing|winter tourney]] at [[King's Landing]] in which Barristan had participated as a [[mystery knight]].{{ref|asos|67}}
 +
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
For unknown reasons, a shield with Dunk's original arms came to reside in the armory of Lord [[Selwyn Tarth]] at [[Evenfall Hall]]. While at [[Duskendale]], Selwyn's daughter, [[Brienne of Tarth|Brienne]], has the arms painted on her shield so she can travel the [[crownlands]] and [[riverlands]] incognito.{{ref|AFFC|9}}
+
For unknown reasons, a shield with Dunk's original arms came to reside in the armory of Lord [[Selwyn Tarth]] at [[Evenfall Hall]]. While at [[Duskendale]], Selwyn's daughter, [[Brienne of Tarth|Brienne]], remembering the arms, has the painted on her shield so she can travel the [[crownlands]] and [[riverlands]] incognito.{{ref|AFFC|9}}
 +
 
 +
[[Maester]] [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] relates that when he joined the [[Night's Watch]], his brother Aegon insisted that Ser Duncan accompany him to [[Eastwatch]].{{ref|AFFC|15}}
 +
 
 +
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 +
[[Bran Stark]] has a vision of the past through [[Winterfell]]'s [[heart tree]]. Among the visions is a slender brown-haired girl kissing a knight as tall as [[Hodor]], who is most likely Dunk.{{ref|adwd|34}}
  
 
==Steeds==
 
==Steeds==
As ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' begins, Dunk has three horses, inherited from Ser Arlan.
+
As ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' begins, Dunk has three horses, inherited from Ser Arlan:
  
 
*[[Thunder (horse)|Thunder]], a destrier
 
*[[Thunder (horse)|Thunder]], a destrier
Line 88: Line 109:
 
*[[Sweetfoot]], a female palfrey that he sells early on so that he may buy armor and greathelm{{Ref|THK}}
 
*[[Sweetfoot]], a female palfrey that he sells early on so that he may buy armor and greathelm{{Ref|THK}}
  
As his adventures progressed, he would acquire other animals.
+
As his adventures progressed, he would acquire other animals:
 +
 
 
*[[Maester (mule)|Maester]], a mule, a gift from one of Egg's brothers{{Ref|TSS}}
 
*[[Maester (mule)|Maester]], a mule, a gift from one of Egg's brothers{{Ref|TSS}}
 
*[[Rain (horse)|Rain]],{{Ref|TMK}} another palfrey, a gift from [[Rohanne Webber]]{{Ref|TSS}}
 
*[[Rain (horse)|Rain]],{{Ref|TMK}} another palfrey, a gift from [[Rohanne Webber]]{{Ref|TSS}}
  
 
==Progeny==
 
==Progeny==
[[George R. R. Martin]] announced that a descendant of Dunk would be revealed in ''[[A Feast for Crows]]''. Given that [[Brienne of Tarth|Brienne]] explains how she found his shield in the armories of [[Tarth]], it is widely speculated she is descended from Duncan the Tall.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/US_Signing_Tour_Dayton_OH/ US Signing Tour (Dayton, OH)], November 10, 2005</ref><ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Mysterious_Galaxy_Signing_San_Diego/ Mysterious Galaxy Signing (San Diego, CA)], November 08, 2000</ref>
+
[[George R. R. Martin]] announced that a descendant of Dunk would be revealed in ''[[A Feast for Crows]]''. Given that [[Brienne of Tarth|Brienne]] explains how she found his shield in the armories of [[Tarth]], it is widely speculated she is descended from Duncan the Tall.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/US_Signing_Tour_Dayton_OH/ US Signing Tour (Dayton, OH) (November 10, 2005)]</ref><ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Mysterious_Galaxy_Signing_San_Diego/ Mysterious Galaxy Signing (San Diego, CA) (November 08, 2000)]</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Notes==
 +
{{Notes}}
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
{{References|2}}
  
==References and Notes==
 
{{references|2}}
 
{{EnWP|Tales of Dunk and Egg|small=yes}}
 
 
{{Lord Commanders of the Kingsguard}}
 
{{Lord Commanders of the Kingsguard}}
 
{{Small council}}
 
{{Small council}}
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[[Category:Squires]]
 
[[Category:Squires]]
 
[[Category:Members of Aegon V Targaryen's court]]
 
[[Category:Members of Aegon V Targaryen's court]]
 
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[[Category:Sworn swords]]
 
[[es:Duncan]]
 
[[es:Duncan]]
 
[[fr:Dunk]]
 
[[fr:Dunk]]
 
[[ru:Дункан Высокий]]
 
[[ru:Дункан Высокий]]

Revision as of 13:25, 21 December 2017

Dunk.png
Duncan
Kingsguard.svg

Gallows Knight.png
Dunk.jpg

Aliases
  • Dunk
  • Duncan the Tall
  • Dunk the Lunk
  • Ser Giant
  • The Gallows Knight
Titles
Allegiance Kingsguard
Culture Crownlands
Born 191 AC, 192 AC or 193 AC[1]
King's Landing[2]
Died 259 AC
Summerhall[3]
Books

Ser Duncan the Tall was a Lord Commander of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Aegon V Targaryen. His personal arms were a green shooting star above an elm tree proper on sunset.[2][4]

Raised as Dunk in Flea Bottom, Duncan became the squire of the hedge knight Arlan of Pennytree. Duncan then traveled the Seven Kingdoms as a hedge knight himself, with the young Prince Aegon Targaryen, called "Egg", as his squire. The early exploits of "Dunk and Egg" are chronicled in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which collects The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight.

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Dunk

Duncan is an inch shy of seven feet tall,[2][5] and has a thick mass of sun-streaked hair.[6][5] He is strong and quick,[2] and has been taught jousting and swordplay.[2]

Duncan has a humble personality, and frequently thinks of himself as thick-headed, recalling how Ser Arlan had often said "Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall" and referred to him as "slow as an aurochs".[2]

History

Early life

Duncan's earliest memories were of living as a street urchin in the Flea Bottom slums of King's Landing.[2] His closest friends went by the names of Ferret, Rafe, and Pudding. By his own admission, they were "little monsters" with Duncan, at the time still known as "Dunk", the worst of all.[5] Sometimes they would sell[6] or even dump[5] pieces of meat of dubious origin to the local pot shops that made the bowls of brown.

Duncan was an orphan,[2] and never knew either of his parents.[6] He once hoped to someday go to the north and eventually the Wall, where he could perhaps meet some tall stranger who looked like him.[6] The hedge knight Arlan of Pennytree took Duncan as his new squire about two years[N 1] after the death of his previous squire, Roger of Pennytree, during the final battle of the First Blackfyre Rebellion in 196 AC.[6] He found the young Duncan, aged five or six,[2] in King's Landing chasing a pig and took him on.[5] He raised Duncan and together they traveled all over Westeros, except the north.[6] Though they never visited Pennytree, where Arlan was from,[5] they served Lord Leo Tyrell at Highgarden during one of the first few years that Duncan served Ser Arlan,[2] visited King's Landing in 205 AC,[5] served House Florent for half a year and joined House Dondarrion in the hunt for the Vulture King, both in 206 AC,[2] and visited Lannisport in 208 AC,[2] amongst other places. As well, Duncan accompanied Arlan when he was one of several knights hired by a Dornish merchant who wanted to travel from Lannisport to the Prince's Pass in Dorne.[6]

Duncan learned sword-fight from Ser Arlan,[2] though he still recalls his fighting experience from Flea Bottom as well.[2][6] Ever since the first time that Arlan had let Duncan hold a sword, Duncan had dreamt of becoming a Kingsguard knight.[5]

Tourney at Ashford Meadow

In 209 AC, a tourney was to be held at Ashford. Arlan died on the way to Ashford, and after Duncan had buried him, he decided to compete in the tourney at Ashford Meadow in Arlan's stead. On the way he stopped at an inn. Inside, Duncan meet a dunken man who claimed to have dreamed about Duncan, and who became distraught at the sight of him. Duncan also met a bald-headed boy, who begged him to be allowed to become Duncan's squire when Duncan left. Duncan refused, left, and shortly thereafter arrived at Ashford. Duncan made camp, and that evening discovered the bald boy from the inn at his camp, who claimed to be called "Egg" and said he came from King's Landing, causing Duncan to believe the boy is an orphan from Flea Bottom, just like Duncan had been. Because he does not have a squire, Duncan accepted Egg as his squire for the duration of the tourney.[2]

Once at the tourney grounds, Duncan is forced to sell Sweetfoot, one of his horses, and Ser Arlan's old armor, in order to be able to aquire armor of his own. He met a puppeteer named Tanselle, who agreed to paint his shield with his personal sigil.[2] The day after his arrival, Duncan went to register for the tourney. Knighthood was required for participation in the tourney, and Duncan told Lord Ashford's steward how Ser Arlan had knighted him before his death. Several of his thoughts and actions, as well as other facts, however, suggest that his tale is not completely true.[N 2] The steward suggests that Duncan find someone to vouch for him and return the next day. Unable to find anyone, Duncan returned to the castle the next day, where he accidentally interrupted Prince Baelor and Prince Maekar Targaryen, who were occupied with the missing Princes Daeron and Aegon, two of Maekar's sons. Explaining his problem to the princes, Baelor recalled jousting against Arlan years before, and vouched for Duncan, allowing his participation.[2]

When Tanselle is attacked by Prince Aerion Targaryen, Duncan rushes to her defense, attacking the Prince in the process. When Aerion's guards intervened, Egg protected Duncan from further harm by revealing his identity as Prince Aegon Targaryen. Duncan was arrested and brought to the castle, where Prince Baelor informed him how Prince Daeron had claimed to his father that the missing Aegon had been kidnapped by a robber knight, while Aerion was twisting the puppeteer story into treason. Due to the lies of both Aerion and Daeron, Maekar has become furious with Duncan, and Baelor is forced to allow Aerion a trial.[2] Aerion demanded a trial of seven. With help of Aegon, Duncan found six allies - Robyn Rhysling, Humfrey Hardyng, Lord Lyonel Baratheon, Humfrey Beesbury, the newly-knighted Raymun Fossoway, and ultimately Prince Baelor Targaryen - with whom he faced off against Aerion, Daeron, Maekar, three knights of the Kingsguard, and Ser Steffon Fossoway. To his surprise, Duncan discovered that the small folk supported him, as he had remembered his vows as a knight[2] ("protecting the weak and defending the innocent")[7][8][9] by protecting Tanselle. During the combat, Duncan eventually found himself facing Aerion one on one, and managed to best Aerion by using his strength and his fighting skills from Flea Bottom. Duncan forced Aerion to yield. As Daeron had already faked his defeat - as he had promised Duncan the day before - Duncan was declared cleared free of all charges.[2]

Three of the men who had given their aid to Duncan died either during or after the battle, including Prince Baelor, leaving Duncan feeling extremely guilty. Prince Maekar offered Duncan a place at Summerhall, so Aegon could squire for Duncan. While Duncan agreed to take Aegon as his squire, he insisted on remaining a hedge knight, convinced it would teach Aegon humility. Maekar agreed.[2]

On the road

Duncan and Aegon travelling - by Marc Simonetti.

Duncan and Aegon traveled to Dorne, passing through the Prince's Pass, and eventually reaching Vaith, while Duncan accidentally insulted Lady Cassella Vaith, the first highborn woman he had ever met. During the crossing of the desert, Duncan's horse Chestnut died,[6] and he and Aegon had to ride double on Thunder.[6] While in 209 AC and 210 AC the Great Spring Sickness ran its course through Westeros, Duncan and Aegon were able to avoid encountering this plague as they were in Dorne, one of the two places where the plague had not come.[6]

Duncan and Aegon took a poleboat down the Greenblood to Planky Town, where they took passage on the galleas White Lady to Oldtown.[6][5] Aboard the ship, Duncan had his first experience of combat at sea when he helped repel some raiders.[5] In Oldtown, Aegon's brother Aemon measured Duncan, and found he was an inch short of seven feet.[6]

At some point, Duncan and Aegon were gifted a mule, Maester, by one of Aegon's brothers,[6] presumably Aemon.[N 3]

Service at Standfast

Duncan and Aegon took service with Ser Eustace Osgrey, a poor and broken landed knight, at Standfast, located in the Reach. Also employed was Ser Bennis of the Brown Shield, an old acquaintance of Duncan from his time with Arlan. Duncan and Bennis discovered that peasants of Lady Rohanne Webber of Coldmoat had dammed the Chequy Water. Bennis provoked Rohanne by cutting one of her peasants, and when Ser Eustace refused to travel to Coldmoat, Duncan went to Coldmoat to try to reason with her. Though sexual tension charged their meeting, Rohanne refused Duncan and told him about Eustace's support of Daemon Blackfyre during the Blackfyre Rebellion. Shocked by the revelation, Duncan attempted to leave Eustace's service, but a fire in the nearby woods caused him to suspect that Rohanne had already started her campaign against Eustace. Duncan knew that the battle was a lost cause. He disbanded Eustace's levies, but promised him to be by his side when he faced Rohanne. Meeting with Rohanne's forces, Duncan offered to settle the matter with a trial by combat. Rohanne's champion was her overbearing steward, Ser Lucas Longinch. Duncan's wrestling ability compensated for his lack of swordsmanship, and he managed to kill Lucas, though he received major wounds himself and almost drowned in the stream in which they had been fighting.[6]

After recuperating, Duncan discovered that Eustace and Rohanne had settled their differences and decided to marry. Duncan felt rejected, but was confronted by Rohanne shortly before he left. He took one kiss from Rohanne and cut off a length of her signature braid as a keepsake, after which he and Aegon took their leave.[6]

Wedding Tourney at Whitewalls

Duncan as a mystery knight, with his squire, Aegon - by Marc Simonetti.

Duncan and Aegon traveled to the riverlands, where they visited the Stoney Sept. Even though they had been on their way north, to take up service with Lord Beron Stark to battle the Greyjoys on the northern coast, they changed their destination after a chance meeting on the road. They encountered a group led by Lord Gormon Peake of Starpike, Lord Alyn Cockshaw, and a hedge knight named Ser John the Fiddler. The latter invited Duncan to attend the wedding of Lord Ambrose Butterwell of Whitewalls to a Frey of the Crossing, stating that the victor's prize at the celebratory Whitewalls tourney was to be a dragon egg. Though the company traveled on without him, Duncan decided to go, and befriended Ser Kyle the Cat, Ser Maynard Plumm, and Ser Glendon Ball on his way to Whitewalls.[5]

At Whitewalls, Aegon became suspicious about the intentions of the wedding, and informed Duncan that the majority of the nobles present had fought for House Blackfyre during the Blackfyre Rebellion. Duncan later had an encounter with John the Fiddler, who told him that Duncan had appeared to him in a dream, where Duncan had worn the all white armor of the Kingsguard. The Fiddler said his dreams always came true, stating that he had dreamed his brothers dead once, and though they hadn't believed him, they had died. The Fiddler also informed Duncan that he had dreamed about a dragon hatching from an egg at Whitewalls.[5]

Duncan entered the joust as the Gallows Knight, a mystery knight bearing the arms of House Trant. He was defeated in his first tilt by Ser Uthor Underleaf, who confessed that someone had attempted to bribe him to kill Duncan in the final tilt. Whilst searching for Aegon, Duncan ran into Glendon Ball, who had been far more successful than Duncan during the tourney, and invited him to come north after the tourney, which Glendon declined. Glendon told Duncan that Gormon Peake had offered him a place at Starpike, on the condition that Glendon would let the Fiddler win. Glendon had refused, angering Peake. Duncan next ran into the Fiddler, and began to realize John's true identity, as well as that the tourney had been rigged as to make the Fiddler victorious.[5]

Lord Peake accused Glendon Ball of stealing the dragon egg, and the boy was imprisoned. When Duncan attempted to intervene, Alyn Cockshaw pulled him back, telling Duncan to follow him, if he wanted to find Aegon. Alyn attempted to kill Duncan out of jealousy for the attention the Fiddler had shown Duncan. Though injured, Duncan threw Alyn down a well to drown, an action witnessed by Maynard Plumm. Plumm helped Duncan see to his injuries, and informed him of Aegon's location.[5]

Aegon had falsely told Lord Ambrose that he and Duncan were spies sent to investigate the tournament and that his father, Prince Maekar, was on his way with an army. Frightened, Lord Ambrose pleads for his innocence, but Tommard Heddle attempted to seize Aegon, and was slain by Duncan in the combat that ensued. Duncan ordered Aegon to ride for Maidenpool, and next confronted the Fiddler, calling him by his true name, Daemon. Duncan accused Lord Peake of bribing the contestants in Daemon's favor, and of falsely charging Glendon with the theft of the dragon egg. Furious about the accusations, Daemon challenged Glendon with a joust as a means of trial by combat.[5]

Glendon defeated Daemon easily, and mere moments later, a loyalist army led by Lord Brynden Rivers, the Hand of the King, arrived at Whitewalls. Daemon was arrested, and those who had supported him executed or punished, causing the Second Blackfyre Rebellion to be suppressed before it had even begun. Lord Brynden allowed Duncan and Aegon to continue their travels, and hinted as to how the dragon's egg had been stolen, leading Duncan to realize the involvement of the dwarfs who had performed at the wedding.[6]

Later life

Lord Commander Duncan the Tall fighting Lord Lyonel Baratheon in trial by combat, as depicted by Chase Stone in The World of Ice & Fire.

An unknown amount of time after Whitewalls, Duncan and Aegon visited Winterfell.[10]

Presumably in honor of Duncan, Prince Aegon Targaryen named his firstborn son and heir Duncan. When asked in 2000, however, George R. R. Martin refused to answer.[11] Prince Duncan was called "Duncan the Small".[12]

In late 233 AC, after Aegon had ascended the throne as Aegon V Targaryen, Duncan escorted Aegon's brother Aemon to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, where Aemon was going to join the Night's Watch.[13]

Duncan eventually joined the Kingsguard. While it is unknown when exactly he took his vows, the first known mention of him as a Kingsguard knight is in 236 AC.[3]

In 236 AC, Ser Duncan fought in the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion and personally slew Daemon III Blackfyre, the Blackfyre Pretender.[3] In 239 AC, when Prince Duncan Targaryen broke his betrothal to Lord Lyonel Baratheon's daughter and married a commonborn girl known as Jenny of Oldstones instead, the enraged Lyonel renounced his fealty to the Iron Throne. Duncan served as King Aegon V's champion in the trial by combat, in which he bested Lord Lyonel, thereby ended Lyonel's short rebellion.[3][14]

Duncan participated in a winter tourney at King's Landing, where he was defeated by a sixteen-year-old Barristan Selmy.[12]

In 259 AC, Duncan perished along with King Aegon V and Prince Duncan, among others, in the tragedy of Summerhall.[15][3] Little is known about the events of the tragedy, but it seems that the Lord Commander's valor saved some of the survivors from dying in the great fire that consumed Summerhall.[3]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Jaime Lannister lists Duncan the Tall among the Lords Commander of the Kingsguard. He also reads Ser Barristan Selmy's entry in the White Book, which states Barristan defeated Duncan during the winter tourney at King's Landing in which Barristan had participated as a mystery knight.[12]

A Feast for Crows

For unknown reasons, a shield with Dunk's original arms came to reside in the armory of Lord Selwyn Tarth at Evenfall Hall. While at Duskendale, Selwyn's daughter, Brienne, remembering the arms, has the painted on her shield so she can travel the crownlands and riverlands incognito.[16]

Maester Aemon relates that when he joined the Night's Watch, his brother Aegon insisted that Ser Duncan accompany him to Eastwatch.[13]

A Dance with Dragons

Bran Stark has a vision of the past through Winterfell's heart tree. Among the visions is a slender brown-haired girl kissing a knight as tall as Hodor, who is most likely Dunk.[17]

Steeds

As The Hedge Knight begins, Dunk has three horses, inherited from Ser Arlan:

As his adventures progressed, he would acquire other animals:

Progeny

George R. R. Martin announced that a descendant of Dunk would be revealed in A Feast for Crows. Given that Brienne explains how she found his shield in the armories of Tarth, it is widely speculated she is descended from Duncan the Tall.[18][19]

Notes

  1. Duncan had been serving Ser Arlan since he was five or six years old (The Hedge Knight), and was "no more than three or four" at the time of the Redgrass Field, when Roger died (The Sworn Sword)
  2. The So Spake Martin: NOREASCON (BOSTON, MA; SEPTEMBER 2-6) (September 02, 2004) reports a paraphrased statement saying that Martin confirmed Duncan had not been knighted by Ser Arlan. Besides this SSM, other indications have been laid out by readers. Duncan considers finding another knight to squire immediately after burying Arlan, which is considered to be at odds with his supposed new-made knighthood. Duncan also becomes uncomfortable at several occasions when him acquiring his knighthood is brought up, and is extremely hesitant to knight another young squire, feeling both relieved and guilty when another steps in to knight the boy. Lastly, Duncan admits to himself that "He knew what it was like to want something so badly that you would tell a monstrous lie just to get near it." Readers have suspected that this refers to his lie about his knighthood.
  3. The mule was almost certainly given by Aemon, as its name is Maester, and Aegon and Duncan have been mentioned to have visited with Aemon in Oldtown, whereas no mention is made of Aegon encountering his brother Daeron, while his brother Aerion is still in Lys. If Aemon gave Dunk the mule, it was in Oldtown, sometime after they visited Vaith.

References