The true knight is a concept that embodies all that a knight should aspire to be - exemplifying all the qualities of what knighthood stands for. He is a shining example to all and held in the very highest esteem. Very few knights are considered true knights, as achieving and maintaining such high and noble ideals is a hard duty.
The opposite of a true knight is a false knight or "no true knight."
Culture
[edit]There are Westerosi songs and stories, particularly those depicting honorable knights and chivalry, that are very popular amongst all strata of society. In particular, Sansa Stark is captivated by the concept of the true knight.[1]
Different individuals have different conceptions of what makes a true knight. For example, while Ser Arlan of Pennytree believed that hedge knights were the truest sort of knights, because they could fight for causes they believed in without being beholden to lords or other powers,[2] Lord Gormon Peake believed the hedge knights who attended the wedding tourney at Whitewalls without invite were no true knights.[3] The same knight may be declared both a true knight and no true knight by different individuals. This is the case with Ser Duncan the Tall, who is declared a true knight by several individuals,[2][4][3] but denounced as no true knight by Gormon Peake.[3]
A true knight must fully embrace the oath of knighthood:
In the name of the Warrior I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother I charge you to defend the young and innocent. In the name of the Maid I charge you to protect all women.[2]
Chivalric code
[edit]True knights are supposed to:
- Be brave and just.
- Defend the young and innocent, especially women who can not defend themselves.[5][6][7][8]
- Be cleanly as well as godly.[2]
- Act with military courtesy: in combat when nobles and knights are taken prisoner, their lives are spared and are often held for ransom.
History
[edit]After Dick Bean, a simple man-at-arms and no knight, sided with Maegor I Targaryen in his trial of seven, Ser Bernarr Brune joined Maegor's side. As he did so, Bernarr shouted, asking if there are no true knights or leal men present. His scorn led Ser Bramm of Blackhull, Ser Rayford Rosby, Ser Guy Lothston, and Ser Lucifer Massey to join Maegor's side.[9]
The fool Mushroom claimed that, although Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen longed for Ser Criston Cole, because Cole was a true knight and noble and chaste, he never kissed or declared love for her, despite being constantly in her company.[10]
As he buried his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk said that he was a true knight. Later, when seeking a seventh man to join him in his trial of seven against Prince Aerion Targaryen, Dunk asked the a crowd full of knights and lords if there were no true knights among them, but none joined his cause. For his conduct, Dunk was considered a true knight by Prince Baelor Targaryen,[2] Ser Eustace Osgrey,[4] and Ser Glendon Flowers.[3]
Recent Events
[edit]A Game of Thrones
[edit]Sansa Stark tells Prince Joffrey Baratheon that Ser Loras Tyrell is a true knight and wonders if he will win the Hand's tourney. Later, after witnessing Gregor Clegane say Ser Hugh of the Vale during the jousting, she tells his brother Sandor Clegane that he was no true knight.[1]
Ser Marq Piper denounces Gregor Clegane as a false knight after he leads raids in the riverlands, killing, raping, and pillaging.[11]
When Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard believes he failed in his duty after King Robert Baratheon sustained a mortal wound from a boar, Lord Eddard Stark tells him that even the truest knights could not protect a king from himself.[12]
When Cersei Lannister tells Barristan that he will be stripped of his white cloak and Jaime Lannister will take his place as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, he denounces Jaime as a false knight who profaned himself by killing the king he was sworn to defend, Aerys II Targaryen.[13]
Sansa tells Ser Meryn Trant he is no true knight when he arrives to escort her to the throne room at Joffrey's request, following the execution of her father. Ser Meryn does not care about the insult.[14]
A Clash of Kings
[edit]When Sansa receives a letter telling her to come to the godswood if she wants to go home, she wonders if a true knight is sent to save her, perhaps Horas Redwyne, Hobber Redwyne, Balon Swann, or Beric Dondarrion. At the godswood, she prays to the old gods to send her a true knight to champion her. On the way back from the godswood, she encounters Sandor Clegane, who tells her to sing her a song about knights and fair maids, recalling that she likes knights. Sansa specifies that she likes true knights, which the Hound mocks.[15]
After Joffrey orders the Kingsguard knights Meryn Trant and Boros Blount to beat and strip her, Sansa thinks that all the knights who stood by while it happened were no true knights. These knights include Lancel Lannister, Horas Redwyne, and Hobber Redwyne. Only Ser Dontos Hollard, who is no longer a knight, tries to help.[5]
Sansa attempts to thank Sandor Clegane for rescuing her during the riots in King's Landing, but he is hostile and mocks her for thanking him as though he was a true knight in the tales she loves. Sansa tells him that true knights protect the weak, but he declares that there are no true knights nor any gods. Sansa tells herself the stories can't be lies, and there are true knights.[16]
While singing hymns during the Battle of the Blackwater, Sansa thinks that the Hound was no true knight but still saved her in the riots. Discussing what might befall them if the battle is lost, Sansa tells Cersei Lannister that true knights would never harm women or children, though the words sound hollow. Cersei is amused and tells her to wait for Symeon Star-Eyes or Aemon the Dragonknight to rescue her.[17]
A Storm of Swords
[edit]Upon coming across the corpses of tavern wenches slain for laying with the Lannister side, Brienne of Tarth declares that no true knight would condone such butchery. Jaime Lannister counters that true knights see and do worse every time they go to war.[18]
After Ser Jorah Mormont kiss her without her permission, Daenerys Targaryen thinks to herself that to true knight would kiss a queen without her leave. She later tells him that if he were her true knight, he would never have brought her to the slave markets of Astapor.[19]
A Feast for Crows
[edit]Ser Creighton Longbough insists that Brienne ride with his part on the road, as a true knight must defend women. One of the sparrows denounces ser Illifer the Penniless and Creighton as false knights when he refuses them escort to King's Landing without payment.[6]
Ser Arys Oakheart declares that Ser Lucamore Strong, who secretly had three wives and sixteen children while a knight of the Kingsguard, was no true knight, no more than Ser Terrence Toyne, who was caught in bed with his king's mistress.[20]
Ser Hyle Hunt is declared a true knight by an old man after he tells the serjeants at the gate at Maidenpool to let the man and his wife pass. Brienne,[21] who has previously been wronged by Ser Hyle,[22] frowns at the declaration.[21]
As she lets Ser Osney Kettleblack touch her breast, Cersei tells him she thinks he is no true knight.[23]
When Brienne asks him to help her bury Dick Crabb, Hyle Hunt says that no true knight could refuse her beauty.[22]
Ser Balman Byrch tells Cersei that Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, who has wed his wife's younger sister, is no true knight. Cersei agrees and claims that he is a knight who would know true knighthood. Cersei convinces Balman to kill Bronn, and calls him a true knight when he understands her meaning and agrees.[24]
Brienne thinks that Hyle Hunt is no true knight.[25]
When Ser Lyle Crakehall declares his intent to hunt down Sandor Clegane, Lady Amerei Frey declares him a true knight for helping a lady in distress.[7]
After her husband Ser Balman Byrch is killed by Bronn in single combat, Falyse Stokeworth says Bronn is no true knight.[26]
A Dance with Dragons
[edit]In his account of his escape from King's Landing after being stripped of his white cloak, Barristan Selmy explains that a true knight such as himself is worth ten guardsmen.[27]
Barristan tells his squires—Tumco Lho, Larraq, the Red Lamb, and three Ghiscari brothers—that chivalry is what makes a true knight, not their sword. Without their honor, they are only common killers, and it is better to die with honor than to live without it.[28]
Examples
[edit]Various knights have been declared true knights:
- Ser Arlan of Pennytree[2]
- Ser Balman Byrch[24]
- Ser Criston Cole[10]
- Ser Lyle Crakehall[7]
- Ser Duncan the Tall[2]
- Ser Galladon of Morne, the Perfect Knight[22]
- Ser Hyle Hunt[21]
- Ser Barristan Selmy, the Bold[12]
- Symeon Star-Eyes,[17] despite living in an era before knighthood in Westeros
- Prince Aemon Targaryen, the Dragonknight[17]
- Ser Loras Tyrell[1]
- Brienne of Tarth, not a knight, being a woman, but lives by knightly virtues
By contrast, other knights have been denounced as no true knight or false knights:
- Ser Boros Blount[5]
- Ser Bronn of the Blackwater[24]
- Ser Gregor Clegane[1]
- Ser Duncan the Tall[3]
- Ser Hyle Hunt[25]
- Ser Illifer the Penniless[6]
- Ser Osney Kettleblack[23]
- Ser Jaime Lannister[13]
- Ser Lancel Lannister[5]
- Ser Creighton Longbough[6]
- Ser Jorah Mormont[19]
- Ser Hobber Redwyne[5]
- Ser Horas Redwyne[5]
- Ser Lucamore Strong[20]
- Ser Terrence Toyne[20]
- Ser Meryn Trant[14]
Quotes
[edit]
This man protected the weak, as every true knight must.[2]
Knights are sworn to defend the weak, protect women, and fight for the right, but none of them did a thing. Only Ser Dontos had tried to help, and he was no longer a knight. No more than the Imp was, nor the Hound … the Hound hated knights … I hate them too. They are no true knights, not one of them.[5]
—thoughts of Sansa Stark after being beaten by Boros Blount
Sansa: True knights protect the weak.
Sandor: There are no true knights, no more than there are gods. If you can't protect yourself, die and get out of the way of those who can. Sharp steel and strong arms rule this world, don't ever believe any different.[16]
A true knight must defend the gentler sex.[6]
You are a true knight, Ser Lyle, to help a lady in distress.[7]
Old or young, a true knight is sworn to protect those who are weaker than himself, or die in the attempt.[8]
—thoughts of Brienne of Tarth
It is chivalry which makes a true knight, not a sword. Without honor, a knight is no more than a common killer. It is better to die with honor than to live without it.[28]
—Barristan Selmy to his squires
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 31, Brienne VI.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 67, Sansa VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 18, Sansa II.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 52, Sansa IV.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 25, Brienne V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.