Kingsguard

The Kingsguard is the most exclusive and honored military order in the Seven Kingdoms, an elite brotherhood of seven knights sworn for life to defend the king and the royal family. Founded by Aegon the Conqueror after his unification of Westeros, the order was modeled on the household guards of the Valyrian Freehold but quickly became a distinct institution, its members bound by vows that supersede all other loyalties. A knight of the Kingsguard renounces all lands, titles, and marriage, and is forbidden from fathering children. Their oath demands they protect the king with their own lives, keep his secrets, counsel him when asked and remain silent when not, and serve his pleasure in all things. The order's history and the deeds of each member are meticulously recorded in the White Book, a leather-bound tome kept in the White Sword Tower of the Red Keep. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard is a figure of immense prestige, often wielding significant political influence as the king's most trusted martial advisor and protector.

Composition and Vows

The Kingsguard has always consisted of seven knights, a number sacred to the Faith of the Seven. Each member is chosen by the king himself, and the appointment is for life. The vows are administered before the king and the court, and they are considered irrevocable. A knight who breaks his oath is considered a traitor and an oathbreaker, subject to the harshest penalties. The vows include swearing to defend the king, to keep his secrets, to obey his commands, to serve his pleasure, and to defend his name and honor. They are also sworn to celibacy, though this vow has been broken by several members throughout history. The order's white cloak is the most visible symbol of their office, and they are often referred to simply as "the White Swords." The Lord Commander is the head of the order, responsible for assigning duties, maintaining discipline, and speaking for the brotherhood to the king.

Role and Duties

The primary duty of the Kingsguard is the physical protection of the king and the royal family. They are expected to be constantly vigilant, guarding against threats from both within and without the court. This includes standing watch in the king's chambers, accompanying him on journeys and to battle, and serving as his personal champions in trials by combat. The Lord Commander often serves as the king's chief military advisor and may be given command of armies in the field. Beyond protection, the Kingsguard also serves as a symbol of royal authority and legitimacy. Their presence at court, at tourneys, and on the battlefield projects the power and majesty of the Iron Throne. The order's reputation for unwavering loyalty and martial prowess is a cornerstone of the Targaryen and later Baratheon dynasty's claim to rule.

The Kingsguard in the War of the Five Kings

During the tumultuous events of the War of the Five Kings and its aftermath, the Kingsguard was severely tested and fractured. The order was tarnished by the actions of Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, who broke his oath by killing King Aerys II Targaryen, and by the political machinations of Queen Cersei Lannister, who appointed unworthy knights to the order to secure her power. Ser Barristan Selmy, the legendary Lord Commander, was dismissed by King Joffrey Baratheon, a profound dishonor that led him to seek out the true Targaryen heir, Daenerys Targaryen, across the Narrow Sea. The order's ranks were filled with men of questionable loyalty and skill, such as the brutal Ser Meryn Trant and the corrupt Ser Boros Blount, while true knights like Ser Balon Swann were sent on dangerous missions far from court. The Kingsguard's reputation for honor and inviolability was shattered, reflecting the broader decay of the realm.

The Kingsguard in Exile and Renewal

Across the Narrow Sea, the concept of the Kingsguard was reborn. Ser Barristan Selmy, having found Daenerys Targaryen, became the first knight of her Queensguard, an order modeled on the Kingsguard but sworn to protect the dragon queen. He began training a new generation of knights from among her freedmen, instilling in them the chivalric ideals he had upheld for decades. Meanwhile, in Westeros, the pretender Aegon Targaryen established his own Kingsguard, appointing Ser Rolly Duckfield as its first member. The order's future remained uncertain, with its legitimacy tied to the success of the various claimants to the Iron Throne. The Kingsguard, once a symbol of the realm's unity and stability, had become a prize to be claimed and a tool to be used by the warring factions.

The Kingsguard under Tommen Baratheon

Under the boy king Tommen Baratheon, the Kingsguard was a shadow of its former self. With many of its members dead, missing, or disgraced, the order was reduced to a handful of knights, including the silent and mysterious Ser Robert Strong, Queen Cersei's monstrous champion. The Lord Commander, Ser Jaime Lannister, had vanished in the riverlands, leaving the order leaderless. The Kingsguard's primary function had become the protection of a deeply divided and unstable court, its members more concerned with political survival than with the chivalric ideals of their predecessors. The order's decline mirrored the collapse of the Lannister regime and the chaos engulfing the Seven Kingdoms.