The Legendary Kingsguard of Game of Thrones: Unveiling Their Sacred Vows and Legendary History

In the Game of Thrones prequel - House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10 "The Black Queen," just moments before Rhaenyra Targaryen's coronation, Ser Erryk Cargyll, a former member of King Viserys Targaryen's Kingsguard, arrives at Dragonstone. He humbly pledges his allegiance to Rhaenyra and presents her with Viserys' esteemed gold crown. Clad in his Kingsguard armor, Ser Erryk removes his helmet and solemnly takes his vow in front of her uncle, Daemon, and the assembled company.

This significant event culminates in Rhaenyra's coronation, as Daemon places the golden crown upon her head and declares her his Queen. All those present, including men, women, and children, respectfully bow down before Queen Rhaenyra. However, the knights adorned in white cloak armor, who stand ready to draw their swords for her protection, distinctly stand out in the crowd.

Creation Of The Kingsguard

During the reign of Aegon I Targaryen, the lore of Game of Thrones states that the first King of Westeros did not always see the need for the Kingsguard. However, after the First Dornish War, his sister-wife, Queen Visenya, recognized the dangers of occupying the Iron Throne and convinced him to establish the Kingsguard. On two occasions, Visenya defended the King against Dornish assassins using her own sword, Dark Sister. One of these attacks occurred in 10 AC and led to the creation of the Kingsguard.

Aegon entrusted his sister-wife with the task of forming an elite brotherhood consisting of the finest seven knights in the Seven Kingdoms. Drawing inspiration from the vows of the Night's Watch, Visenya crafted similar vows for the Kingsguard. Additionally, she personally selected the seven knights to serve her brother. The Lord Commander, chosen by the king or queen, typically from within the existing members of the Kingsguard, serves as the leader of the Order. The Lord Commander is responsible for overseeing the duties of the Kingsguard and ensuring they are carried out faithfully and diligently.

The Holiest Of Vows

The Kingsguard, also known as White Cloaks or White Swords, are similar to the new members of the Night's Watch in that they make a lifelong promise. These knights forgo lands, spouses, and offspring. Notably, positions in the Kingsguard are not hereditary, as seen in the example of Ser Criston Cole, who temporarily replaced Otto Hightower as Hand of the King during the Dance in the House of the Dragon. To be accepted into the Kingsguard, sworn brothers must make the most sacred vows. According to Ser Errick's narration in House of the Dragon:

"I swear to protect the Queen with all my strength, giving my life if necessary. I shall remain unmarried, without possessions or children. I will safeguard her secrets, obey her commands, accompany her in her travels, and defend her name and honor."

The Kingsguard In Game Of Thrones

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard holds a position on the Small Council, and during council meetings, a knight from the Kingsguard must stand guard outside. The process of appointment to the Kingsguard differs depending on the ruling monarch. In the case of Ser Errick, he made his way to Dragonstone as depicted in House of the Dragon's "The Black Queen." There, he humbly kneeled before all present and pledged his loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra, vowing to protect her at all costs. According to the lore, joining the Kingsguard (or Queensguard in the instance of Rhaenyra) is a significant and formal occasion where the knight kneels before the reigning King or Queen, recites their vows, and receives the esteemed white cloak from either the Hand or the Lord Commander.

Knights like Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Barristan Selmy fulfilled their vows with a deep sense of responsibility for the well-being of the Seven Kingdoms, prioritizing their duties over mere chivalry. When it comes to the reason behind Ser Jaime Lannister's decision to stab the Mad King after the Sack of King's Landing, it was a necessary act to safeguard the entire city from destruction. In truth, the Mad King's escalating paranoia led him to hide wildfire caches all across King's Landing. As the youngest and sole member of the Kingsguard present, Ser Jaime took it upon himself to slay the Mad King, foiling his Wildfire plot. By doing so, he prevented Aerys from issuing orders to a pyromancer to unleash the destructive power of the city's hidden wildfire. In a tragic twist of fate, Jaime had to forsake his duty to defend and instead eliminate the man he had sworn to protect. The complexity of Jaime's actions reflects the core theme of morality in the Game of Thrones universe. Subsequently, both Ser Barristan and Jaime served as members of the Kingsguard under King Robert I Baratheon. However, when Joffrey assumed the Iron Throne, Cersei dismissed Ser Barristan due to his old age, replacing him with Ser Jaime as the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. In response, the honorable Lord Commander Barristan reminded Cersei:

Your Grace, the Kingsguard is an oath-bound fraternity. Our pledge is eternal, and our loyalty remains unwavering even in death.

Ser Barristan strongly challenged the council's decisions and declined the retirement perks they offered. He removed his armor, leaving it behind, and deliberately dropped his sword, urging Joffrey to forge it alongside the rest. Following this public renunciation, Ser Barristan set sail for Essos, where he faithfully served Daenerys Targaryen until his honorable demise as a knight in Game of Thrones.