The Night's Watch: Unveiling the Age-Old Secrets in Game of Thrones

George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series stands out as a remarkably intricate fantasy world in contemporary times. While the HBO show concluded in 2019, the book series still has a few seasons left to reveal. Both the conclusion of the battle for the throne of Westeros and the war against the Others have yet to be written. Nonetheless, a significant amount of information regarding the world and its numerous factions has been divulged.

An essential entity within the overarching narrative is the legendary Night's Watch. However, how long has this organization been in existence and why does it hold such importance in Martin's storyline?

When Was the Night's Watch Created?

According to legend, The Night's Watch was established during the Age of Heroes, 8,000 years prior to Aegon Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. The Long Night, a period of darkness and an extreme winter, brought forth The Others and their army of undead to eliminate and convert all living beings. During this time, Westeros was inhabited by the Children of the Forest (known as Martin's Elves) and the First Men, the continent's indigenous Viking-like humans.

Initially, the Children of the Forest and the First Men were unable to halt the southward advancement of The Others until they discovered that dragonglass possessed the ability to eliminate these malevolent ice creatures. A group of resilient survivors, armed with dragonglass weapons, successfully repelled The Others, forcing them to retreat to the northernmost regions in Westeros known as the Lands of Always Winter. These brave individuals became the first members of the Night's Watch. Their purpose was to establish an order that would ensure preparedness in the event of The Others' potential return.

With the assistance of the Giants and the Children of the Forest, Brandon the Builder, the legendary ancestor of House Stark, constructed a colossal Wall that stretched across the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms. This colossal structure, made of stone and ice, spanned three hundred miles in length and towered at a height of seven hundred feet. Imbued with the magical powers of the Children, the Wall was intended to fortify the realm against a potential invasion by the Others. To safeguard its defenses, the Night's Watch constructed and manned nineteen castles along the Wall. The vigilant sentries of the Watch devised a sophisticated system to provide advance warning of approaching entities: one horn blast signaled the return of Night's Watch rangers, two blasts indicated the presence of wildlings and Giants, while three blasts signified the imminent threat of the Others. Moreover, the men of the Night's Watch organized themselves into three distinct orders comprising stewards, builders, and rangers.

Stewards are responsible for the essential day-to-day operations of the Watch, handling tasks such as cooking, cleaning, farming, and sourcing supplies from the Seven Kingdoms. Additionally, they serve as attendants to higher-ranking members like the Lord Commander. Although stewards undergo combat training, their duties do not typically involve fighting. The highest-ranking steward holds the title of the First Steward.

Similar to stewards, Builders receive combat training but are swiftly assigned other responsibilities. Led by the First Builder, their primary focus is maintaining the Wall and its fortifications. Builders are trained in various disciplines, including masonry, carpentry, mining, and general handyman work.

The rangers, the final and most renowned order, serve as the main fighting force of the Night's Watch. They undergo specialized training to endure the harsh terrain beyond the Wall. The rangers carry out patrols in the haunted forest and venture beyond the Wall to monitor wildlings, Giants, and signs of the Others. Mirroring the customs of the other orders, the leader of the rangers assumes the title of the First Ranger.

Upon joining the Night's Watch, all members, regardless of their position, must make solemn vows to their chosen deities. These vows entail abstaining from marriage, property ownership, and fathering children. These restrictions discourage individuals from abandoning their duties or meddling in the political affairs of the Seven Kingdoms. In earlier times, prior to Aegon's Conquest, when the Seven Kingdoms were distinct entities, this was of particular significance. To ensure the Night's Watch remains devoted to its crucial mission and avoids becoming a conventional army, it adopts a policy of neutrality in all conflicts, focusing solely on the defense of the Wall. Upon taking their vows, initiates are required to sever all familial and political ties, relinquishing them both socially and legally.

Who Was the First Leader of The Night's Watch?

The leader of the Night's Watch is referred to as the Lord Commander, and they serve a lifetime appointment. They are chosen through a popular vote by all current members of the Night's Watch. In exceptional circumstances, such as during a crisis, a high-ranking member of the Watch may temporarily assume the role of acting Lord Commander after the death of the true Lord Commander. However, the Watch prohibits any acting Lord Commander from serving for an extended period of time, ensuring that elections are held to maintain the office's integrity.

The office of Lord Commander is unique compared to the lordships and thrones found in the rest of the continent, making it the only example of a democratically elected leader in the Seven Kingdoms. This deliberate distinction prevents the Watch from becoming a political force that could disrupt the balance of power among the kingdoms or lose focus on its true purpose. The first person to hold this office remains unknown, as the names and actions of individuals from that era often blend with myth and legend.

Why is The Night's Watch Still Necessary?

In the past, men joined the Night's Watch because they felt it was their duty. It was considered an honorable vocation, and everyone in the Seven Kingdoms understood that without the Watch, they would likely be dead or in a worse situation. As time passed, the stories of Others and undead wights were disregarded as mere fairy tales by those many generations removed from the Long Night. Consequently, the Watch's membership dwindled, and the Seven Kingdoms reduced their support for the organization.

By the time of Game of Thrones, the Watch had turned into Westeros' equivalent of Australia - a place to send criminals and individuals deemed politically undesirable. Both the throne and the numerous noble families of Westeros exploited the Watch's requirement for initiates to renounce their titles as a means of eliminating dangerous or embarrassing noble individuals from the line of succession. Any firstborn child who joined the Watch could no longer inherit their father's title, thereby eliminating any potential threat.

Many convicted criminals on the continent, regardless of their innocence, opted for a life sentence at the Wall instead of facing execution. Interestingly, some individuals, upon committing a crime or suspecting they would be accused of one, instinctively sought refuge at the Wall. By joining the Watch, a man became absolved of all his past crimes, and even the King had no authority to take action against him. However, the cost of this amnesty, as well as all Watch memberships, was a lifelong commitment to serving. Those who deserted were promptly put to death.

When the Others finally returned after eight thousand years, catching the Night's Watch off guard and ill-prepared, the outcome of the war remained unknown as Martin's book series had not concluded yet. The HBO series, supposedly taking cues from Martin's notes, portrayed Jon Snow leading an alliance consisting of wildlings, Night's Watch members, and Northern Houses against the Others. With Daenerys Targaryen's assistance, the Others were eventually defeated, leading to Jon Snow's return to the Wall as the Lord Commander.

However, with the defeat of the Others, the need for both the Watch and the Wall becomes uncertain. It is logical to assume that the new ruling class would require a place to detain political adversaries. Furthermore, even though the wildlings aided the Seven Kingdoms in the series, there may still be a lingering threat of future invasions. Perhaps fans, particularly those eagerly anticipating Max's upcoming Jon Snow spinoff series, will gain insight into these matters once the series airs.