The Poor Fellows

The Poor Fellows are the re-established common infantry of the Faith Militant, a military order of the Faith of the Seven that was disbanded by King Maegor the Conqueror centuries ago and revived by the High Sparrow during the chaos of the War of the Five Kings. Unlike the knightly Warrior's Sons, who wear silver plate and rainbow cloaks, the Poor Fellows are drawn from the humblest ranks of society—beggars, smallfolk, and wandering ascetics—and are distinguished by their ragged, improvised appearance. They wear roughspun surcoats bleached white and blazoned with the seven-pointed star of the Faith, and their armor is a patchwork of dinted plate, rusted mail, and cracked leather. Their weapons are spears and axes, and they are often filthy and unshaven, a visible contrast to the polished knights of the royal court.

Origins and Revival

The Poor Fellows were originally founded during the Faith's first armed uprising against the Targaryen dynasty, but were suppressed after the Faith Militant was disbanded by King Maegor I Targaryen. For centuries, the order existed only in memory. Their revival occurs under the High Sparrow, a humble and ascetic septon who rises to become the High Septon during the turbulent period following the death of Tywin Lannister. The High Sparrow's movement, known as the sparrows, attracts thousands of commoners who flock to King's Landing seeking piety and justice. From these ranks, the Poor Fellows are re-formed, becoming the mass infantry of the Faith's renewed military power. They are first seen in force during the arrest of Queen Cersei Lannister, when they surround the Great Sept of Baelor and the Red Keep, making the city's streets their domain.

Role in the City

The Poor Fellows serve as the High Sparrow's enforcers and the visible presence of the Faith's authority in King's Landing. They patrol the streets, guard the Great Sept of Baelor, and participate in the arrest and imprisonment of highborn prisoners. During Cersei's walk of atonement, the Poor Fellows form part of her escort, shoving aside the crowds to clear a path through the mob. Their numbers are so great that they effectively control access to the Great Sept and can intimidate even the City Watch. The queen's uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister, notes that the Poor Fellows are a key reason the crown cannot simply defy the High Septon, as their presence threatens to spark open rebellion in the streets if the Faith is crossed.

Relationship with the Warrior's Sons

The Poor Fellows are the common counterpart to the Warrior's Sons, the knightly order of the Faith Militant. While the Warrior's Sons are armored in silver plate and wear rainbow cloaks, the Poor Fellows are ragged and poorly equipped. The two orders work together under the High Sparrow's command, with the Warrior's Sons often taking the lead in high-profile arrests and the Poor Fellows providing mass support. During Cersei's walk, the Warrior's Sons form her immediate escort, while the Poor Fellows line the route to keep the crowds at bay. The distinction between the two orders reflects the class divisions within the Faith itself, but both are united in their devotion to the High Sparrow and their willingness to use force to achieve the Faith's goals.

Significance

The re-emergence of the Poor Fellows marks a dramatic shift in the balance of power in King's Landing. Their presence gives the High Sparrow a military force that rivals the crown's own, allowing him to arrest and hold the queen regent, defy the Lannisters, and demand trials for the royal family. The Poor Fellows embody the anger and piety of the common people, who have been devastated by the wars and see the nobility as corrupt. Their ragged appearance and fervent faith make them a symbol of the Faith's renewed power, and their numbers make them a force that cannot be easily suppressed. The revival of the Poor Fellows, along with the Warrior's Sons, represents the most significant challenge to the Iron Throne's authority since the Dance of the Dragons, as the Faith once again becomes an armed power in the realm.